new 46g build

sspeter78

sspeter78

New Member
I am starting a 46g bow front fish only tank with mechanical filtration, and no live rock. I will run an eheim ecco 80g canister and a HOB 50g filter, with no sump. I will not have an overflow and am curious how this will affect the surface of the water. I have had fish only freshwater tanks with no surface film, can i expect the same with marine fish?

I have many years experience with reef tanks but now want to build a fish only tank so i can finally enjoy some of the species that I've wanted but are not reef safe. I am looking for suggestions for fish to add. Two fish that I know I would like are a Picasso Trigger and a Dogface puffer. what other fish would do well with these two? Will these species do well in a tank of this size? Will their semi aggressive nature be an issue?

Thanks for any advice you can give.
 
mr llimpid

mr llimpid

Member
Both are large fish and will not live a long and happy life in any tank smaller than 180 gal tank. They are very aggressive fish and need large tank mates. Sorry to be the barer of bad news
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by sspeter78 http:///t/396557/new-46g-build#post_3533487
I am starting a 46g bow front fish only tank with mechanical filtration, and no live rock. I will run an eheim ecco 80g canister and a HOB 50g filter, with no sump. I will not have an overflow and am curious how this will affect the surface of the water. I have had fish only freshwater tanks with no surface film, can i expect the same with marine fish?

I have many years experience with reef tanks but now want to build a fish only tank so i can finally enjoy some of the species that I've wanted but are not reef safe. I am looking for suggestions for fish to add. Two fish that I know I would like are a Picasso Trigger and a Dogface puffer. what other fish would do well with these two? Will these species do well in a tank of this size? Will their semi aggressive nature be an issue?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Hi,

Welcome to the site...

I can't imagine a tank with no live rock. Fish nip and hunt "sea bugs" among the rock all day. Rock also gives them a place to feel safe and secure, since all SW fish claim their territory. Live rock is also great for natural filtration. The only difference between fish only tanks and a reef set up, is coral...everything else is basically the same. Your CUC (Clean Up Crew) has to be tweaked if you keep fish that eats shrimp and snails, but you still need a CUC.

You do still need to have water movement, since SW has less oxygen, so power heads are still needed even if you don't have a reef. That movement will prevent surface film. The wave is the life of the ocean and our SW tanks.

As for selecting your fish, this book is awesome:

Example page: Click in the picture to see it enlarged to be able to read it easier....
 
zoidberg01

zoidberg01

Member
You should get a wrasse like a blue head or a banana wrasse and some tangs you should only keep fish that are semi aggressive because they will be to aggressive or to soft
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by zoidberg01 http:///t/396557/new-46g-build#post_3533681
You should get a wrasse like a blue head or a banana wrasse and some tangs you should only keep fish that are semi aggressive because they will be to aggressive or to soft

You can't keep tangs in a tank that size. The Yellow eyed kole tang can go in a 75g, and it requires the least space.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by zoidberg01 http:///t/396557/new-46g-build#post_3533723
I know but babies


You have no idea how stressed a fish gets when you move to another "world" literally. While you chase it down you also stress all the other fish in the tank besides. Best thing is to purchase fish that can live out it's life in a tank best suited for it. Re-homing a fish isn't as easy as you think...you have to catch the little bugger first, and often that requires you to completely break down the tank to get to it.

It's nice to have folks to want to help and give advice, but you should give good advice on what a new hobbyist SHOULD do.
 
zoidberg01

zoidberg01

Member
Yeah but my baby hippo tang grows slowly and I when they grow it's hard for them to swim and you can catch them
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by zoidberg01 http:///t/396557/new-46g-build#post_3533739
Yeah but my baby hippo tang grows slowly and I when they grow it's hard for them to swim and you can catch them

Hippo tangs go flat, a huge Hippo can hide in the tiniest places...you will have to dismantle the tank to get to it, that's not a maybe....you will find it under the last rock you remove from the tank...I speak from experience. all while I kept a reef I had a Hippo tang, be was the size of my pinky nail when I first got him. he was 5 inches when a 4 day power outage killed him. I had moved the tank 3Xs over the years, and it was always the hardest fish of all to get out of the tank.

I have never had a sixline, I don't like their look. However, the beautiful fairy wrasse is suicidal, they jump to their death on purpose...that's the only explanation. I had my tank covered with mesh...it actually waited until I was feeding the fish, and had a corner of the mesh pulled back. It not only jumped, but went into the back of the tank where I couldn't reach it to save it. That's why I'm sure it WANTED to be dead.
 
zoidberg01

zoidberg01

Member
Im sorry about the fish , but he can get another tang like one of 3 bristle tooth tangs that don't grow much or a clown tang
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by zoidberg01 http:///t/396557/new-46g-build#post_3533751
And maybe some dwarf Angels like a coral beauty or a flame


Hi,

Not SOME dwarf angels...ONE dwarf angelfish, because two will fight to the death. Most stores (even on-line stores) will not even sell you two at a time, unless you confirm they will be kept in separate tanks
The tangs you mentioned, need a minimum 75g tank. That's the smallest tank to keep any of the tangs in, such as Kole or the Bristle tooth.
 
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