Suggestions.

[vrlover]

I have a 55gal fish only tank. The base is Crushed Coral. I have a singaporo Angel, a Rusty Angel, two Clowns and 1 Damsel. They are all fairly small.. 1-2 inches max - ecept for the singapor angel - his is 2-3 inches big. I only have 1 Rock (with a whole in it) and 2 Corals.
I wanted to know what else I should add. I think the angels are looking for places to hide. Should I take out the Coral and add more rocK?
Alos, what is the deal with Live Rock, what does that do for the tank?
As for bottom feeders, is there such thing for saltware tanks?
Open to suggestions.
Raf

 

[broncofish]

O.K. hopefully I post this before people start ripping in to you....but you should have researched this before buying, that should satisfy everyones need for lecture. Here is my advice, you may not like it but here you go. If you are going to keep corals, or have an urge for a true reef tank then start over. Pull that crushed coral out. Get a Deep Sand Bed(DSB) 4" and seed it with at least 10% live sand, go with about 1lb of live rock, for each gallon of water. The live rock is full of all kinds of nifty live things that help break down fish waste and nitrates, same with the live sand. Are you using a protein skimmer? Do you know the potnetial size of your angel? What is your current filttration methods?

 

[a_fender69]

You definetly need to provide more hiding spaces for the fish! Naturally all reef fish, meaning any fish that is taken from a reef environment will need places to hide. Add both coral and rock! Live rock would be a great idea but keep in mind that it gets expensive and needs better lighting. The lighting is important so the good coraline algea on the rock can grow(purples, pinks, blues, and greens) Also live rock provides naturally food i.e. worms, algeas, and other inverts. Live rock also contains enemys to the tank. Crabs, mantis shrimp, and bristle worms. These guys eat fish and destroy corals. You can remove them by placeing the new rock in a 5gal bucket with the salenity level at around 1.035-1.040. They will run out of there hiding spots and go to the bottom.
Good fish to add will be tangs(yellow are the easiest, wrasses(except lunare) Niger trigger(these are not aggresive) Other small angels that are not similar in color to the rusty.
Bad fish are other triggers than above, lion fish, other types of clowns, butterflys(typical very dosil)

 

[broncofish]

If it looks like your angels are looking for a place to hide you are probably right, they also need a lot of room to swim, and they thrive on seeweed, and algae foods best placed in the tank on a feeding clip. How long did you let your tank cycle?

 

[broncofish]

I don't usualy like to contradict any bodies posts because god knows I'm not an expert, but tangs need more swimming room than 55 gal, lionfish are excellent fish as long as nothing in your tank can fit in there mouths, I have bought hundreds of pounds, and have seen several reef tanks setup, and have never ever seen a mantis shrimp(except for pic's on here from random people) all the crabs I have ever had on live rock, stone crabs and such have all been beneficial to my tanks. Oh yeah and crushed coral is a thing of the past for substrate. It does not look natural, and provides little to no filter value. Also intense lighting helps coraline growth on the rock, but is not a must right away, and yet another but if you already have corals they are most likely going to need light to survive.

 

[overanalyzer]

First- welcome to the board
vrlover - I am assuming you are talking about bleached coral skeletons and not a living coral?
If so then you can leave it in the tank and add live rock. I'd also seriously look @ changing your substrate (especially if you are going to add and live corals).
a_fender69 - The Tang police are going to be all over you for suggesting Tangs in a 55 gallon. In terms of reef safe tangs the question of the Niger Trigger being reef safe has arisen and most people find that it is not reef safe. PLus most triggers get fairly large and a 55 gallon might not be the best home for them.
The assertion that Bristle Worms will eat fish is incorrect - Bristle Worms are Detrivores and thus eat detris (fish waste - uneaten food, die off from rocks). Bristle worms are generally view as a good thing.
Crabs and Mantis shrimps are hazards and a_fender69's suggestion of a low salinty dip is a good one to chase them off. Others also suggest a fereshwater dip which will also start a die off of everything on the rock and will cause your tank to begin another mini-cycle. Note that most crabs that come in are detrivores as well .... the Mantis Shrimp - he is another story ....
I'd suggest adding live rock and providing some much needed hiding space - the natural environment of these fish is not open water but rather a place filled with hundreds of thousands of hiding places. Obviously in a 55 gallon tank you can't mirro their home environment exactly, but the closer the better. Plus once your fish start to feel safer they will come out more. As for adding corals - you will need to get into your lighting and what type of corlas you want to add (unless you just want to add bleached out skeletons).
I'd make some of the changes suggested before thinking about adding anymore stock. Then after things have stabilized and you have some rocks (living or dead) for hiding and such then post again. In the meantime - hang out on the boards and learn as much as you can!

 

[leboeuf]

if you want to save the expense of protein skimmer and DSB, look into macroalgae for filtration. It will provide a more natural enviroment for your creatures.
As for the earlier response from fender69........crabs and worms don't destroy fish and corals. They are apart of a needed cycle. The mantis shrimp onthe other hand is bad. The niger trigger will destroy your corals and chew up LR........
Filter all the advice your get too ! Some of it is crap........

 

[a_fender69]

For those who believe that bristle worms do not kill corals, next time you find one, put it on one of your most expensive corals. I bet you wont because you will be to afraid to see your prize die. When refering to crabs, I do not mean reef safe ones that you would buy in a store, I am refering to hitch hikers. They most common are stone crabs who do eat fish!
Niger Trigger--I guess there is a huge debate out there about a Niger trigger. Things you have seen must differ from my own. If you are going to talk about a fish and say that every fish of that type is the same, then you are mistaken.
Tangs--Yes they need swimming space but I am not talking about a full grown of any species. Please do not be so close minded to all you EXPERTS out there.

 

[vrlover]

I guess I should have taken more time and explained my self a little better.
I have DEAD CORAL - dried up - cheap make believe coral - and DEAD ROCK Lava type.
Since this is my first tank, I didnt want to go all out.
I guess what I will do, is go out and get more DEAD ROCK and add it to the tank. That ought to help these guys a bit - more places to hide.
Thank yoou all for your responses.

 

[larrylwill]

I don't want to start a flame thread, however please explain why crushed coral is now out? I started my last 55 about 7 years ago with about 2" of live sand, a year later I added a layer of crushed coral, then more live sand, then more crushed coral. I add a small layer of crushed coral every year or so now. I'm up to about 4-5". It seems to keep the calcium up. I have never had a calcium problem.
I have about 150lbs of LR and plenty of Pink/purple corline algae. I also have many micro critters, including coapads, spaghetti worms, tube worms, etc. I'm always seeing something new.
You suggest nothing but live sand? Is this a new consensus? I have seen may coral reefs close up in nature and they all have crush coral at the base. I started my first about 9 years ago and made about every mistake in the book mostly following the suggestions in the reefs newsgroup. I now only skim about 6 hours per day and get about 1 cup per week of the good stuff, anymore and things stop growing from overskimming. I use only RO water, and cut back on water changes. I add strontium and calcium when needed to keep the levels up, not very often. I have 1-175W MV bulb and 1-250W MH, 2-40w Actinic. The shrooms and plops like the MV. I have made everything myself, light system, overflow, hood, the first 2 skimmers. I now use a good commercial one. Never had an algae problem other than too much coralin growing on the glass.
I have to admit I haven't read much in the NG and forums in the last 3 years.

 

[sebae0]

and if were talking about space for tangs iwouldnt even consider the lionfish suggested above unless you go with a dwarf. no flame intended to the person who said it im just elobarating, i have a 14" lion in a 135gal and he takes up alot of space.

 

[larrylwill]

since I already have about 3" of LS under crushed coral, would you suggest that I leave it, clean it or start completly over with only LS? There is no visible detritus on the surface of the sand most of it gets trapped in the back side where its sloaped to. I would hate to loose all my critters now.

 

[katara]

I would suggest throwing out as much of the cc as possible.I threw out 50 lbs of cc about 9 months ago and switched to a dsb and am still amazed at the difference in maintenance I now have to do..it's great!

 

[javatech]

http://www.simplifiedreefkeeping.com/faq/faq.htm

 

[broncofish]

Originally posted by sebae0
and if were talking about space for tangs iwouldnt even consider the lionfish suggested above unless you go with a dwarf. no flame intended to the person who said it im just elobarating, i have a 14" lion in a 135gal and he takes up alot of space.
Not taken as a flame...but let's not forget that there are lion fish of many shapes and sizes. Even baby tangs need 75 gallons of swimming room, but a good size Dwarf lionfish will just chill out occasionaly cruising around. Hey sebae0 do you have any pics of that beauty I would love to see it. When they get that big they look awesome.

 

[overanalyzer]

Originally posted by a_fender69
Tangs--Yes they need swimming space but I am not talking about a full grown of any species. Please do not be so close minded to all you EXPERTS out there.
I would seriously question why anyone would buy a fish that will outgrow their tank then remove the fish and sell it back to the LFS as it grows up. Unlike in freshwater tanks where several species of fish stop growing to fit their environments salt water fish will continue to grow regardles of tank size. Personally - that is stupid and cruel. The fish has already been removed from its natural environment and transported to your tank with at least two stops in between. To move that poor fish back to an LFS and then on again just becuase of lack of planning is down right cruel. To suggest to someone to buy baby fish to watch them grow and then have to be removed is stupid (and cruel). It would be likte getting a kitten and getting rid of it in 6-12 months becuase it has become full grown. Not to mention the ick issues a stresed out tang would go through ....
2 things to remember:
Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance - anyone in this hobby knows the costs can mount quickly ... why not plan and try to contain your costs?
And - as Broomer says -
Your Tank ~ Your Choice
Lastly - not sure what qualifies as an expert but I'm just a guy who currently has at least 3 tanks going and I've had tanks going every since '89. All varieties - all kinds - and I must say after throwing a few hundred dollars away on my first disatrous attempt @ SWF I am stick to the prior planning.