Reef Tank?

s_l_pugh

New Member
What is considered a reef tank?
I have a 55 gal allglass, twin strip hood. I have had two yellowtales since 1994. I have (had) live rock. I am not sure how many pounds. I left my tank, SEVERAL fish and rocks in Tennessee for a year with a friend to maintain/keep until my house sold and I could do the final move. I lost most of the mushrooms, corals, etc. growing on the rocks, and all but the two yellowtales. I have since moved the tank to Wyoming, set it up at my parents house, added the rock also, and just last night added a maroon clown. I am running a fluval, which is new to me. I have crushed shells, the (once) live rock, and the three fish. I am wondering if the rocks will grow new things again? How long will it take? Has anyone had a similar experience?
I have had the salt tank since '94, but still don't feel I know enough to do much more. Wyoming is not a happening "fish" place. What is your luck with Saltwater.com?
Thanks, Sarah
 
The main difference between a regular saltwater fish tank (FISH ONLY TANK) and a reef tank is that a reef tank has lots of other stuff going on besides fish. For instance... a reef tank would have a lot of live rock and corals and inverts and things like this. But a fish only tank would be more or less like a freshwater tank but only with saltwater fish. A reef tank is exactly what it says. Its a small scale model of everything you would find on a coral reef in the ocean. You can have all different types of reef tanks. You can go with all soft corals, all hard corals, SPS and etc... The great thing about a reef tank is that you can make it look and act anyway you want it too. You are the ******** decorator. You decide what colors and what shapes go in the tank. You decide the lighting and the inhabitants of the tank. When done right... there is nothing more rewarding than setting back and watching the world you have created live and breath for you.
Thats what a reef tank is.
 

s_l_pugh

New Member
Thanks for the advise.
The maroon seems to be doing just fine.
Now my question is, if I order a minimum $75 order from saltwater.com, is it harmful to add all these fish at once? (But I do not have much choice.) I am afraid of an amonia spike or worse. What is your opinion? What should I be prepared for?
Why all the crabs, etc. people list in their inhabitants? What is the benefit of "the clean up crew"? Please specify the difference if any.
Thanks again.
Sarah
 

s_l_pugh

New Member
I was looking to buy a scalett cleaner shrimp, umbrella mushroom, royal gramma, scotter blenny, yellow tang, and a six line wrasse for now.
If I put all this in at once what should I expect?
 

goldrush

Member
What you should expect is for everyone on this board to tell you not to put all those fish in a 55. Be prepared for the bombardment. It really is all constructive.
 

jonthefb

Active Member
hey srah, where in wyoming are you??? if its close, one of these days you should take a trip down to greeley colorado and visit the shop i work at. I feel that we are one of the best in norhtern colorado, and have a pretty nice selection of sw fish/inverts.
anyhow about your fish selection...first question...how long ahs the tank been set up at its current location...if its less than 6 months i would pass on the scooter blenny simply because your rock isnt mature enough to support one ofthese guys.. Scooter spend all day hovering over live rock picking little bugs and critters off the rock...a young system just doesnt have the population to support one of these guys...but definately down the road. Now for th esixline wrasse...this little guy will cruise over lr picking at the same sorts of critters as teh scooter blenny however he can be easily fed frozen foods, whereas it is much more difficult to get a scooter eating frozen stuff. Royal gramma...no problems here....Yellow tang...if you get a small one you could keep him in a 55, however you must realize that they get to be about 6-8 nches long eventually and would need a larger tanks a couple years down the road. If you invest in this fish, you really need ot maketh ecommittment to keep him alive by looking at your long term plans for a fish tank. other than that everythign else should be allright, depending on how long your tank has been up!
good luck
jon
 

s_l_pugh

New Member
Regarding Greely CO :
I now live in Sheridan, Wyoming.
I have had the tank since 1994. I moved it from TN to WY in October 2002. It has been set up since the first week of September, 2002. I used the crushed shell I had in the tank. I used about 1/2 to 2/3 of it (I use a fluval 404 and do not have an undergravel filter now). I see bristle worms in the crushed shell.
As far as putting all those fish in, that is what I had in there before I lost them (explained previously) and moved the tank. I did not have the bleeny, but have been told by my LFS that it would help with the bristle worms. I know I shouldn't put them in all at once, but if I order from saltwaterfish.com what choice do I have? They require a minimum $75 order.
Greely is too far to drive for a fish, sorry. The next time I am down that way I will stop by, but can't promise anything. Thanks for the invite.
Sarah
 

cliffrouse11bas

Active Member
From what I understand add one fish per month until you have reached your maximum bio-load. What is your maxim bio-load some say that it is 1 inch of fish per 5 gallons of water. So say you have a 55 gallon tank by this rule you can have 11 inches of fish. I think you may be able to stretch that rule somewhat, but I think it is a bad no, no to add all of them fish in at once you will have an ammonia spike....Go with a couple of scarlet cleaner shrimp,15 scarlet hermits, 15 snails, and one fish to start with. I think this would put you somewhere around 75 dollars...
 

s_l_pugh

New Member
So basically, what I understand is, I should spend the $28.00 for the cleaner shrimp my LFS quoted me as the "internet price" and the other overpriced fish in his store, rather than saving the money and buy from Saltwaterfish.com. Why such the "$75 minimum" amount if it is going to spike the levels in my aquarium? What is SWF.com trying to do - atract the LFS or the home buyer?
I am not interested in that many crabs and such to "clean up" my aquarium.
This is frustrating.
Sarah
 
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