Help a newbie. What direction to go from here?

Rizz24 · 12/28/2012, 12:34 PM

Hi,

Here's my story.

I have a standard 55Gal, the lighting is a Current USA Outer Orbit MH/T5 fixture, all parameters are good and salinity is stable at 1.025.

Before my problems began my stock was as follows:
1 yellow tang
2 small clowns
1 YWG
1 Fire goby
1 Engineer Goby.

My plans for this tank are mixed fish/reef. My wife wanted a bit more color on the tank and after some research we agreed on the flame angel. The LFS advised the tang souldnt have a problem with it. At first they would chase each other around, not much to worry about. Fast forward a couple of days and I come home frm work to find the angel with torn fins. I applied some melafix and kept a close eye on him, about a day later he started looking sickly and had a blurry eye. At this time I QT him to th hospital tank where he died several days later.

I read online about putting the tang through some anger management therapy, I put a mirror next to the tank and all that for about a month, before my wife surprised me with a bi-color angel. I decided to give it a try, the angel was alpha enough to fight back and hold his ground. The tang became submisive and evrything was beautiful. So I decided since all the fish are perfect its time for inverts/corals. I now have 2 anemones and a branching hammer coral, everyone is doing great.

One day the tang decides its time for round 2, they have a fight and I come home to find the angel with torn fins and the tang with a bloody face. I treat with melafix once again and to avoid finrot. Doesn't work, the angel seems like its getting finrot, dies within 2 days, the tang dies 2 days later. My wife was very happy to see the tang pay for its crimes to say the least.

My main question after all this. If it were your tank, what would you do next? Leave the fish stock as is and start building the reef? Or add fish and then build the reef?

What I want to end up with is a reef with the current stock and maybe 1 or 2 medium size centerpiece fish. Any ideas for fish that fit my plans?

I know its a lot of quesions but please hang in there with me Lol, I really have like 1000 going hrough my head. Any and all advise is appreciated. Sorry for any typos as I am accessing the site on my phone.

12/28/2012, 12:34 PM	#1
Rizz24 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1	Help a newbie. What direction to go from here? Hi, Here's my story. I have a standard 55Gal, the lighting is a Current USA Outer Orbit MH/T5 fixture, all parameters are good and salinity is stable at 1.025. Before my problems began my stock was as follows: 1 yellow tang 2 small clowns 1 YWG 1 Fire goby 1 Engineer Goby. My plans for this tank are mixed fish/reef. My wife wanted a bit more color on the tank and after some research we agreed on the flame angel. The LFS advised the tang souldnt have a problem with it. At first they would chase each other around, not much to worry about. Fast forward a couple of days and I come home frm work to find the angel with torn fins. I applied some melafix and kept a close eye on him, about a day later he started looking sickly and had a blurry eye. At this time I QT him to th hospital tank where he died several days later. I read online about putting the tang through some anger management therapy, I put a mirror next to the tank and all that for about a month, before my wife surprised me with a bi-color angel. I decided to give it a try, the angel was alpha enough to fight back and hold his ground. The tang became submisive and evrything was beautiful. So I decided since all the fish are perfect its time for inverts/corals. I now have 2 anemones and a branching hammer coral, everyone is doing great. One day the tang decides its time for round 2, they have a fight and I come home to find the angel with torn fins and the tang with a bloody face. I treat with melafix once again and to avoid finrot. Doesn't work, the angel seems like its getting finrot, dies within 2 days, the tang dies 2 days later. My wife was very happy to see the tang pay for its crimes to say the least. My main question after all this. If it were your tank, what would you do next? Leave the fish stock as is and start building the reef? Or add fish and then build the reef? What I want to end up with is a reef with the current stock and maybe 1 or 2 medium size centerpiece fish. Any ideas for fish that fit my plans? I know its a lot of quesions but please hang in there with me Lol, I really have like 1000 going hrough my head. Any and all advise is appreciated. Sorry for any typos as I am accessing the site on my phone.