Newbie with ?? on ls and agressive fish

[deuse]

I am new to the SW world and man am I glad I found this website!! There is soooo much info. here. It has been a life saver. I just got a 55 gallon tank (not yet set up) and plan to run a 75 Pro wet/dry filter (lfs recommended) with agressive fish. I haven't quite figured out what fish yet. I went to a fish store here in town and they gave me a bag of crushed coral, but after reading all the posts, I have changed my mind and will probably go to ls instead. My question is, if I use the sand how do I keep it clean with agressive fish? I keep reading about the clean up crews, but won't agressive fish eat them? Will the filter the lfs recommeded work with ls? It has a protien skimmer built in. I have also been told that I can use lace rock and that over time it will turn into live rock. Are they right and is it ok to use that? Any advise is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[airforceb2]

Hi and welcome to the boards!!
Good call on the CC (Crushed Coral) you will want LS. With an agressive tank, you are the clean-up crew. You might be able to get away with some larger Turbo snails but you will do the majority of the cleaning.
I'm not familiar with that filter but you will probably want a better skimmer for an agressive tank.
Yes, you can use base rock that is a lot cheaper and seed it with a few pieces of LR. A lot of people do that to save some money.

 

[mxer485]

With my tank before i got my clean up crew every couple off days i would use my hand to stir up the sand really good and it worked just fine it will make your tank alittle cloudy for a hour or so but your skimmer and filter will have it lookin great in no time!!!!!

 

[tankgirl1]

With an agressive tank, you are the clean-up crew. You might be able to get away with some larger Turbo snails but you will do the majority of the cleaning.
No Turbo snails w/ aggressive fishies. Each time I have added snails, especially the largers or the Turbo Snails, my Trigger fish thinks that it is lunch time. I have spent upwards of $100 in the last month on cleanup crews myself. I am done replacing my cleanup crew as long as I have my Trigger fish!

You will be the clean-up crew. The key I have found is not overfeeding and weekly or bi-weekly water changes.
Also, my Trigger fish will throttle my crabs and snails until they are dead. I feed the heck out of him, so I know that he is not malnourished -- he just thinks it is fun to traumatize my cleaners. The aggresive fish are called that for a reason....they are aggresive towards everything.
By the way -- Humu Picasso Trigger for sale or trade. He is 3 inches long and will hand feed. Local pickup in Baltimore ONLY! :cheer:

 

[offshore80]

I would consider on getting a bigger tank for an aggressive set up. If you can swing a 75 gallon that would be the minimum on keeping a trigger. Or you will be getting rid of them as they get past the 4"- 5" mark. They also need lots of live rock to chew on and hide in along with a good skimmer. I have a Huma, Niger & Clown in a 175. I couldn't imagine a smaller tank with these fish. They are around 5-8 inches and thrash through the tank at warp speed.