Month three -fish aquisition period - help

oregonanenome · 09/08/2006, 11:04 PM

Ok, I am still working on stocking fish in my tank. help me out

60 gallon +20 gallon sump refugium + coralife skimmer-60g capacity
0 no3
0 no2
1.24 sg
80-81 degrees

75 lbs of lr
40 lbs sand
Fish so far-
lm blenny, transparent cave goby, 2 chromis viridis of 8 survived, one 6line wrasse
all are very happy with the exception of the bum batch of chromis

Suggestions on what next? I like gobies, but want a mid tank fish. Also want to build up chromis pop again unless someone has a better idea.
Maybe a small tang? Flame angel?
Please give me suggestion on two or three small ,but "pretty" fish to complete my fish stocking phase.

sir_dudeguy · 09/08/2006, 11:07 PM

is this your 60 g tank? if so, imo stay away from the tang. I gues you could keep one while its still really small, but they need lots of swimming room. Flame angel is gonna stick to the rocks mostly...pretty much like the sixline (i've also got one and love it..the 6line i mean)

The chromis...they probably killed each other off? I'm guessing so, because chromis are related to damsels, and usually establish a pecking order between themselves, in which case some will often die. In your case multiples died. So imo...chromis areent really the greatest, but if you do have luck w/them, well done

oregonanenome · 09/08/2006, 11:16 PM

So.. besides the flame maybe bangai cardinals, a gramma? Or is there any thing "pretty" that is fairly easy to keep.

sir_dudeguy · 09/08/2006, 11:29 PM

Bangaii cardinals would work yes. They just kinda hover in mid-water. However they get rather ugly once they grow up.

rkelman · 09/09/2006, 05:32 AM

I had a flame angel that was fun to watch dart in and out of the rocks but he swam out in the open alot too. You could also do a Coral Beauty... I have one and he's fun to watch as well. Also watch your bioload that skimmer is a bit small for a 60gal tank. I know they says its rated for 60 but they won't cut it if you have a moderate / large bioload..

chuckh · 09/09/2006, 06:58 AM

royal gramas are fun so are Lyretail Anthias, i have a male one he is pink females are orange. I would get a PJ cardinal over any other card. they are cute and just kinda hover there.

sir_dudeguy · 09/09/2006, 10:01 AM

yes that skimmer probably isnt gonna do too well on a 60g, because the css65 is only rated to 65 gallons...skimmers are all overrated (gallon wise...i'm not saying css is overrated in the sense that people say they're better than they are, because i too love them) So the biggest i'd use a 65 on is like a 45 or maybe a 50.

Sure, it will probably pull out some nasty lookin stuff...but is it getting enough compaired to..say...a css 125? If you can, i'd switch your skimmer for the css 125. You'll get better results with that.

Sk8r · 09/09/2006, 10:36 AM

Your chromis have decided how many chromises that tank/space can accommodate; believe them.

Personally, I went with many micro-fish rather than a big show fish, and my yellow watchman has taken over: he's bright, he's maxing his size, and he's personality. And with many small fish and lots of cave space, my reef is pretty busy.

A gramma is a fine fish---so is a flame angel. They'll tend to hang a lot, but so does my dartfish and the male of my highfin gobies. The only negative to the flame angel is that some pester corals and clams, and that seems more the personality of the invidual fish, not a species-wide trait, so you just can't say. I've had one gramma be a PITA and super-aggressive, and another be a perfect citizen. It depends on what they're housed with, and how readily they flee. If you've got a fish that will stand up and bluster back this puts a brake on bad behavior.

oregonanenome · 09/09/2006, 03:30 PM

So the verdict is... bigger skimmer and a royal gramma. The gramma will be the last fish.

I thought my css 65 would do it. any suggestions? I have a 20 gallon sump with a screen divider for a refugium. The height of the cabinet is 36 inches so im pretty flexible there. Ideas on a bigger skimmer?

rkelman · 09/10/2006, 03:39 AM

Well your 80gal with the sump... In the lower price range I would go with the CSS220. That's what I have on mine and it works good. If you want a really good one go with a Euroreef/Deltec or ASM. I am happy with my CSS220 it skims well I'm sure the 125 would do the trick but the 220 isn't that much more. My wife thinks I'm nuts for buying such a big skimmer but hey our tank is clean and our fish / corals /inverts are healthy

sir_dudeguy · 09/10/2006, 08:26 AM

its only a 60 gallon w/sump. If you've got a 20 gallon sump, i sure hope you dont fill the thing all the way up. If either the siphon or return fails...lets just say you wont be happy when you come home.

But yes, the 220 would be better than the 125 probably, so if you can get it, go for it.

also, if you dont really want a gramma, theres plenty of fish that would work...go to liveaquaria.com and look at the fish there. Find one you like and ask about them here.

rkelman · 09/10/2006, 03:49 PM

Shows what I know about sumps

09/08/2006, 11:04 PM	#1
oregonanenome Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 87	Month three -fish aquisition period - help Ok, I am still working on stocking fish in my tank. help me out 60 gallon +20 gallon sump refugium + coralife skimmer-60g capacity 0 no3 0 no2 1.24 sg 80-81 degrees 75 lbs of lr 40 lbs sand Fish so far- lm blenny, transparent cave goby, 2 chromis viridis of 8 survived, one 6line wrasse all are very happy with the exception of the bum batch of chromis Suggestions on what next? I like gobies, but want a mid tank fish. Also want to build up chromis pop again unless someone has a better idea. Maybe a small tang? Flame angel? Please give me suggestion on two or three small ,but "pretty" fish to complete my fish stocking phase.

09/08/2006, 11:07 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	is this your 60 g tank? if so, imo stay away from the tang. I gues you could keep one while its still really small, but they need lots of swimming room. Flame angel is gonna stick to the rocks mostly...pretty much like the sixline (i've also got one and love it..the 6line i mean) The chromis...they probably killed each other off? I'm guessing so, because chromis are related to damsels, and usually establish a pecking order between themselves, in which case some will often die. In your case multiples died. So imo...chromis areent really the greatest, but if you do have luck w/them, well done __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/08/2006, 11:29 PM	#4
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Bangaii cardinals would work yes. They just kinda hover in mid-water. However they get rather ugly once they grow up. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/09/2006, 10:01 AM	#7
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	yes that skimmer probably isnt gonna do too well on a 60g, because the css65 is only rated to 65 gallons...skimmers are all overrated (gallon wise...i'm not saying css is overrated in the sense that people say they're better than they are, because i too love them) So the biggest i'd use a 65 on is like a 45 or maybe a 50. Sure, it will probably pull out some nasty lookin stuff...but is it getting enough compaired to..say...a css 125? If you can, i'd switch your skimmer for the css 125. You'll get better results with that. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/09/2006, 10:36 AM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Your chromis have decided how many chromises that tank/space can accommodate; believe them. Personally, I went with many micro-fish rather than a big show fish, and my yellow watchman has taken over: he's bright, he's maxing his size, and he's personality. And with many small fish and lots of cave space, my reef is pretty busy. A gramma is a fine fish---so is a flame angel. They'll tend to hang a lot, but so does my dartfish and the male of my highfin gobies. The only negative to the flame angel is that some pester corals and clams, and that seems more the personality of the invidual fish, not a species-wide trait, so you just can't say. I've had one gramma be a PITA and super-aggressive, and another be a perfect citizen. It depends on what they're housed with, and how readily they flee. If you've got a fish that will stand up and bluster back this puts a brake on bad behavior. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/08/2006, 11:16 PM	#3
oregonanenome Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 87	So.. besides the flame maybe bangai cardinals, a gramma? Or is there any thing "pretty" that is fairly easy to keep.

09/09/2006, 05:32 AM	#5
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	I had a flame angel that was fun to watch dart in and out of the rocks but he swam out in the open alot too. You could also do a Coral Beauty... I have one and he's fun to watch as well. Also watch your bioload that skimmer is a bit small for a 60gal tank. I know they says its rated for 60 but they won't cut it if you have a moderate / large bioload..

09/09/2006, 06:58 AM	#6
chuckh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Erie, PA Posts: 286	royal gramas are fun so are Lyretail Anthias, i have a male one he is pink females are orange. I would get a PJ cardinal over any other card. they are cute and just kinda hover there.

09/09/2006, 03:30 PM	#9
oregonanenome Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 87	So the verdict is... bigger skimmer and a royal gramma. The gramma will be the last fish. I thought my css 65 would do it. any suggestions? I have a 20 gallon sump with a screen divider for a refugium. The height of the cabinet is 36 inches so im pretty flexible there. Ideas on a bigger skimmer?

09/10/2006, 03:39 AM	#10
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	Well your 80gal with the sump... In the lower price range I would go with the CSS220. That's what I have on mine and it works good. If you want a really good one go with a Euroreef/Deltec or ASM. I am happy with my CSS220 it skims well I'm sure the 125 would do the trick but the 220 isn't that much more. My wife thinks I'm nuts for buying such a big skimmer but hey our tank is clean and our fish / corals /inverts are healthy

09/10/2006, 08:26 AM	#11
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	its only a 60 gallon w/sump. If you've got a 20 gallon sump, i sure hope you dont fill the thing all the way up. If either the siphon or return fails...lets just say you wont be happy when you come home. But yes, the 220 would be better than the 125 probably, so if you can get it, go for it. also, if you dont really want a gramma, theres plenty of fish that would work...go to liveaquaria.com and look at the fish there. Find one you like and ask about them here. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/10/2006, 03:49 PM	#12
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	Shows what I know about sumps