Started a 56G FOWLR tank and could use some help with picking fish

kenman345

kenman345

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeriDoc http:///t/397624/started-a-56g-fowlr-tank-and-could-use-some-help-with-picking-fish/40#post_3545312
I couldn't agree more. It drives me nuts to see people obsessing on what $70 heater to get, or which set of lights to use, and not quarantine their new stock. The best investment ever is a quarantine tank!
Yes, the other investments I made was for an ATO and for a book from Mr SWT (not sure if we can say him by name here) on quarantining fish. I havent decided what my plan of attack will be entirely, but I was thinking of maybe a 3-4 week Quarantining period where I observe and figure out their feeding habits. I will obviously treat whatever I see they have but otherwise they will just be observed. I think I may do a freshwater dip for a little bit between my QT and the DT, just because if it can help at all then that's worth doing at least once. I dont have multiple tanks or the time to allow me to clean my QT between dipping 2-3 times like what I've read about but even what I am doing now is better than just taking my chances getting new fish.

Next are gonna be the clownfish and I am so excited about those little guys. My GF and I agreed on getting Extreme Misbar Ocellaris Clownfish. I am going to talk to my LFS about ordering them in for me when the time is right since I dont want to pay the extra money for a Saturday delivery.
 
kenman345

kenman345

Member
It's been a week now with the Red Firefish in the Quarantine tank. They are looking nice and healthy, as well as taking to food quite well. I had some trouble with my Protein skimmer so I decided on selling it on craigslist and getting a slightly better one that has a drain pipe on the collection cup. This will be a better solution for me in the long run so I might as well have it from the start, right?

Once that unit comes in, I will be able to hook it up and get to work on the screen top. Hopefully I'll have this done by the 3-4 week mark when I was hoping to add the firefish to the main tank.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Good plan. Its better to get the best u can upfront it will save u headaches in the long term
 
kenman345

kenman345

Member
kenman345

kenman345

Member
kenman345

kenman345

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by jay0705 http:///t/397624/started-a-56g-fowlr-tank-and-could-use-some-help-with-picking-fish/60#post_3545669
Agreed
Recommendation needed:

I hear protein skimmers take some time to build up dirt in their system to begin working at optimal efficiency. My water levels are within proper recommended levels, but it's been about 4 weeks with this water in a brand new tank. Should I do a water change this weekend or wait till i get the protein skimmer working for a day or two to help it get to that optimal efficiency quicker? While Amazon says the skimmer could arrive as early as today, I dont think it will arrive till monday or tuesday.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
I would let stuff build up, worse case tho it just doesnt remove anything bc its not there yet
 
kenman345

kenman345

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by jay0705 http:///t/397624/started-a-56g-fowlr-tank-and-could-use-some-help-with-picking-fish/60#post_3545672
I would let stuff build up, worse case tho it just doesnt remove anything bc its not there yet
I did a water change over the weekend, but it's okay because the Protein Skimmer is supposed to arrive today, so it's had a few days for build-up to occur again.

The red Firefish are looking nice and healthy in the QT. They have been looking out at me when I pass by or whenever I am near they will look over for a few seconds and go back and forth with swimming in the current and looking at me. From everything I have read, that's a good indication that they are getting used to their new environment which happened after about 8-9 days of getting them. Hopefully the transition to the display tank will not cause too much stress for them.

I am looking forward to getting my clownfish next. I added some more hermit crabs to the tank, so I am now at 11 hermit crabs and they seem to cover a lot of the tank now. I have not yet decided if I will want to get another fish or two after the clownfish, but at the moment I am just going to decide on new fish if I feel their is still plenty of hiding spots for whatever I will get since I will already have two pairings of fish in the tank and each pair will likely show some aggression towards their own kind.
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
The only concern is that when they die they do an outstanding job of polluting the tank. Otherwise, they are under the sand bed and out out sight.
 
silverado61

silverado61

Well-Known Member
If they're under the sand when they go to that big tank in the sky, I don't know if the cuc would know how to get to it to clean it up. Or if they did, would they get to it before it fowles the tank. I would be worried about that if it were me.
Just saying.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/397624/started-a-56g-fowlr-tank-and-could-use-some-help-with-picking-fish/60#post_3546062
If they're under the sand when they go to that big tank in the sky, I don't know if the cuc would know how to get to it to clean it up. Or if they did, would they get to it before it fowles the tank. I would be worried about that if it were me.
Just saying.

Hi,

Trust me, a bristle worm will find that good yummy dead meat and gobble it right up...not even dying in the sand will stop them.
 
silverado61

silverado61

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/397624/started-a-56g-fowlr-tank-and-could-use-some-help-with-picking-fish/60#post_3546072
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/397624/started-a-56g-fowlr-tank-and-could-use-some-help-with-picking-fish/60#post_3546062
If they're under the sand when they go to that big tank in the sky, I don't know if the cuc would know how to get to it to clean it up. Or if they did, would they get to it before it fowles the tank. I would be worried about that if it were me.
Just saying.

Hi,

Trust me, a bristle worm will find that good yummy dead meat and gobble it right up...not even dying in the sand will stop them.
If he has bristle worms. Remember, I didn't have any in my tank till I got them from you.
 
silverado61

silverado61

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenman345 http:///t/397624/started-a-56g-fowlr-tank-and-could-use-some-help-with-picking-fish/60#post_3546065
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/397624/started-a-56g-fowlr-tank-and-could-use-some-help-with-picking-fish/60#post_3546062
If they're under the sand when they go to that big tank in the sky, I don't know if the cuc would know how to get to it to clean it up. Or if they did, would they get to it before it fowles the tank. I would be worried about that if it were me.
Just saying.
I thought Clams open up when they die
If it opens under the sand it's still covered by the sand.

Do you have bristle worms?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenman345 http:///t/397624/started-a-56g-fowlr-tank-and-could-use-some-help-with-picking-fish/60#post_3546184
I do not have Bristle Worms, what are they, where can I find out more about them, and where can one get them?


Hi,

If you have live rock...you have bristle worms. They usually come out at night and they are a natural part of the CUC (clean up crew). If you don't see them now, you will later on when the population grows. The only way you wouldn't have any is if you used only dry rock in your tank without any live...or had a bad tank crash that killed everything.
 
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