PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first! - Page 15

jbc123 · 08/26/2008, 07:44 PM

Hey those Banggai cardinals look nice. Anything more bottom dwelley perhaps though? I figure 2 clowns and a gramma will be crowding the middle as is.

Starry blenny compatible with those maybe?

spw4949 · 08/26/2008, 07:47 PM

I wanted to eventually add a flame angel? Any thoughts?

Sk8r · 08/26/2008, 07:56 PM

jbc, you're in the 24g? The starry is a bit large for a 24...but a bicolor would be about the right size, and they're a lot of fun.

spw: the 46g. i tend to say 50 per angel, but I think you're close enough. Just have a skimmer and be careful of water quality: and be aware they can be coral nippers.

spw4949 · 08/26/2008, 07:59 PM

Cool, thanks.

renne39 · 08/26/2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
renne39, you're good for tangs in the 10-12" adult range: yellow, tomini, chevron, purple, kole, blue hippo---but they're cranky, speedy fish that can terrorize others, so be careful to read up on types; you could have a foxface (venomous: be advised); or gobies; or dragonets; or blennies; dartfish; wrasses; a couple of colorful damsels (chase and run); a group of anthias (pricey and difficult); or chromis (inexpensive and hardy). My advice would be go to one of our sponsors and do a little windowshopping. If you go reef, you could still have any of these; if you go to multiple anemones and some mushrooms, ditto. With that size tank, you're pretty well off, but do consider getting a downflow box and a sump/skimmer rig, which will handle a larger fish load with far less work than you are having to put in now keeping filters clean. A sump/skimmer means you just dump a removable cup of gunk once a week and shove it back in for more. A lot easier, no media to replace, nada.

what is a downflow box

renne39 · 08/27/2008, 06:49 AM

anyone

Sk8r · 08/27/2008, 07:55 AM

http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategor...e-filter-Boxes
water comes in the prefilter box, then goes to the HOB box via siphon.
This duplicates what is built into a pre-drilled reef-ready tank, which has all of this internal, often in a corner.

The only change I would make here is to remove that sponge from the intake: it would collect gunk and produce nitrate in your system.

Water from the bottom of the downflow runs down into a sump underneath your tank (mine is WAY underneath: I ran a hose through the floor into the basement)...

...into a sump...
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari...rlin_sump.html
which has room for a fuge [refugium: planted area]/skimmer/heater/and a return pump to send all that cleaned water upstairs again...via a 'return hose" that inputs directly to your tank.

The only change I would make to this diagram is to remove that filter sock [white bag]; it stops copepods from circulating, and i have a fuge where i grow them in its place...sand, live rock, and rootless macroalgae [plants]. In the event of a sandbed problem in the upper tank, my fuge sandbed has saved the system by handling waste and helping the upper sandbed reestablish without a cycle.

Obviously you can DIY either of these items, if you have tools and a knack, or even can cut a straight line and glue things. Many people buy a used, scratched up aquarium and insert baffles to turn it into a fuge. The only thing not portrayed here is the hose.

One needs to have an OUTFLOW hose, coming down, that is somewhat larger than the RETURN hose, coming up---larger, because the outflow hose works by gravity and is somewhat slower than the Return hose, which is pushed by a pump. You do not want the return to go faster than the outflow.

On a mag 9.5 pump, I think I had a 3/4 inch [internal diameter] return hose and a 1" downflow hose.

lukinrats · 08/27/2008, 08:42 AM

Sk8r... I had been discussing some things with you a few pages back... Specifically, you were talking about yellow watchman gobies and diamond gobies... I got the yellow watchman yesterday, and I have him in quarantine... I have a 75 gallon tank (48 x 13 x 30) with a 4-5" DSB... Do you think the 1 x yellow watchman is enough, or should I try to find a way to pair it with another?

Also, I wanted to know if I will be able to get a mandy, since the goby will probably pick on the pods too... I have not had any fish in the tank for about 4 weeks now, and the tank has exploded with pods

Thanks,
NathanS

Sk8r · 08/27/2008, 10:34 AM

Actually the goby doesn't make a real dent in the pod pop: mostly likes the fluffy brown (yuck!) detritus---or anything else it can get in its mouth. I wouldn't try another yellow watchman: they're homicidal with their own kind, peaceful (well, they bluster) with other species. Your mandy will do fine with him; mine gets annoyed with my mandy wandering through his burrow and will forcefully eject her, grabbing her in his little teeth and shoving her several inches out and away---she hardly even pauses in her pod search, just immediately resumes her hunt.

lukinrats · 08/27/2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
Actually the goby doesn't make a real dent in the pod pop: mostly likes the fluffy brown (yuck!) detritus---or anything else it can get in its mouth. I wouldn't try another yellow watchman: they're homicidal with their own kind, peaceful (well, they bluster) with other species. Your mandy will do fine with him; mine gets annoyed with my mandy wandering through his burrow and will forcefully eject her, grabbing her in his little teeth and shoving her several inches out and away---she hardly even pauses in her pod search, just immediately resumes her hunt.

So you thiink the watchman can keep my DSB clean?... I know that you stated a diamond would keep an entire 75 DSB clean, but that the watchman can't... Is there any other type of fish I could add to help him out?

renne39 · 08/27/2008, 11:05 AM

thanks

Sk8r · 08/27/2008, 04:36 PM

The watchman will do a pretty good job: get him a tiger pistol shrimp and between the two of them they will go to town on the sandbed around the rockwork...digging and burrowing and sandsifting. Besides, they're a funny pair and fun to watch. My shrimp has gotten nearly as big as the watchman, though he started out quite small.

jenjen · 08/27/2008, 09:02 PM

Is the blue reef chromis (chromis cyaneus) actually peaceful and able to live in groups? Looks that way from what I'm reading online, but I'm sceptical.

pong · 08/27/2008, 09:14 PM

this is what i currently have now...

3 blue damsels
2 yellow tail damsels
2 pajama cardinals
1 strawberry pseudochromis
1 foxface
2 3stripe damsel
-------------------------
planning to add
1 blue tang
1 javanese damsel (this is in my sump right now)

was wondering how aggressive the javanese damsel is...

singold · 08/27/2008, 09:18 PM

+1 Watchman Goby & Tiger Pistol Shrimp. I have this pair & one of favorite things in tank. Great example of a symbiotic relationship that occurs in the ocean.

greatXss · 08/27/2008, 11:14 PM

im at least a month out for stocking but im getting ideas together...

29g with 10g fuge, will be 250w MH, lots of flow, lots of coral

Im thinking of -

A pair of Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish
One Red Stripe Angelfish (live aquaria says it is a dwarf angel)
Catalina Goby
Yellow Watchman Goby

Pistol Shrimp
Pair of Bumble Bee Shrimp

Thats all i can think of for the moment...what else?

lukinrats · 08/28/2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
The watchman will do a pretty good job: get him a tiger pistol shrimp and between the two of them they will go to town on the sandbed around the rockwork...digging and burrowing and sandsifting. Besides, they're a funny pair and fun to watch. My shrimp has gotten nearly as big as the watchman, though he started out quite small.

Ok... Cool!!! I guess I need to wait, and see, but I think that I have a pistol shrimp in my tank already... I have never seen it, but I hear a popping noise coming from my tank at night... Is that what I hear? That is what I alway thought it was anyway... If not then I will get the goby a tiger pistol

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

I have another question regarding the mandy...When I get ready to order one, I think I am going to get it from BlueZoo... They have males and females listed... Is there any reason why either one would be better than the other?... Is one more colorful/attractive?
I was also wondering if I should try to get a pair... I feel like that would be pretty cool, but do not want to starve them... If I could do that, it would make me happy though!!!

Later,
NathanS

zippopunk1 · 08/28/2008, 10:01 AM

have a 40 gallon
want to add
2 pipefish
2 seahorses
and a prawn goby
what should i use for my clean up crew

Sk8r · 08/28/2008, 10:26 AM

Boy, am I behind!
Let me go in reverse order, because that's how my scroll delivers them.
Zippopunk, I would say some cerith snails would keep things pretty well. Most planted tanks don't have the algae problem of bare tanks, but if you do get some small problem, I'd say the ceriths, a modest sized snail who also eat diatoms, would be a good crew. I'd avoid hermits with this tank.
I would worry about the prawn goby possibly nipping up the young of the horses and pipefish: they ARE carnivores at opportunity. I'd leave out the goby/blenny. Trying to think of a real obligate (mandatory) algae eater that wouldn't bother the fry, but I'm kind of stuck: most algae eaters WILL take live food at opportunity. You might ask in the seahorse forum. Anybody?

Lukinrats, yep, a popping sound from the tank is most likely some sort of pistol. Some will shack up with a goby, and some won't. I think the Atlantic ones are less likely.

Great Xss, pass on the Catalina goby: beautiful, but a cold water species: it can survive up to 78 degrees, but prefers 75, and your tank is happier at 79-82. An angel is also a problem: ultimately it will eat your corals. And is a bit large, even the dwarfs. I would suggest a pair of highfin redstripe gobies to sub for the Catalina: striking and absolutely safe with corals. That 250 w mh is going to be quite bright for a 29, possible able to burn corals. I use one in a 54g. Suggest you ask in the equipment forum where they know lighting better than I do, by a long shot, but I'd think a 150 would do.

pong, you should be ok. Never seen the Javanese. Looks very similar to the blue velvet---which I can swear to you on personal experience exceeds 4" and is built like a tank. Beautiful fish. Very hardy, great damsel. My only concern is whether some of the damsels will harass the tang, which is a bit mild-mannered, for a tang. If you get into trouble, use eggcrate grid to create a safe zone in your tank until the tang can settle in.

jenjen, my advice on the blue reef chromis is different from Foster Smith. They survive alone quite happily. You'll note the dominant fish in each group is the only one colored up to the max. Mine, solo, is ALWAYs colored up like that, and is approaching the body conformation of a small fat tuna.

They kill off members of their pack until they feel comfortable with the number in the tank, a trait they apparently also share with anthias. Alone, or in a suitable size group (I would say 3 chromis might be ok in a 75)...they are healthy, always in motion, and only occasionally fuss with other fishes, never seriously.

lukinrats · 08/28/2008, 10:42 AM

Sk8r... Thanks for the info on the pistol!!!

There was another part to my question, but I did not realize that it was hard to notice, like it was... Here is what I asked:

"I have another question regarding the mandy...When I get ready to order one, I think I am going to get it from BlueZoo... They have males and females listed... Is there any reason why either one would be better than the other?... Is one more colorful/attractive?
I was also wondering if I should try to get a pair... I feel like that would be pretty cool, but do not want to starve them... If I could do that, it would make me happy though!!!

Thanks,
NathanS

KoTToN18 · 08/28/2008, 12:37 PM

Hey guys,

This is my first post, but I have been referencing this site for a long time. Anyway this is my first saltwater tank and heres whats going on.

115 gallon basic rectangular tank.
60 gallon sump
protein skimmer
1300gph Quietone pump
100lbs live rock
75lbs sand
Basic lighting

The tank has been cycled and has been housing these fish/critters for 2 weeks.

5-blue/green chromis
1-fire shrimp
10-hermit crabs

So far so good, i have been using RO/DI water for the top offs and havent had any probs.

Fish in consideration

-Clowns(how many?)
-Yellow tang
-Copper banded butterfly
-Snails to help with the glass
-pistol shrimp/watchmen combo
-Boxfish

Any other reccomendations?

Im just taking it slow with this as its my first try. And if any of these arent compatible with the chromis I wont hesitate to return them to the LFS.

Thank you for the help!

KoTToN18 · 08/28/2008, 03:06 PM

I forgot to mention that I was also checking out featherdusters, but then I read some threads about people having worm outbreaks.

Would these be benefitial to the tank?

Sk8r · 08/28/2008, 04:30 PM

Lukinrats, the male mandys have larger finnage and will display to their reflection. You MIGHT be able to get a pair, but make sure they come in as a pair: they're hard to pair up, and these gentle creatures can kill a potential partner if territory is at issue. Buy them as a pair, and put them in as a pair and you should be ok. Just go for a smallish pair: some psychedelic mandys get 4 inches long, and fat, and have unusually large appetites. Better in your smaller tank you go for any sort of mandy, but check out how big that particular fish (pair) is. They don't grow much. My little psycho is only 2 1/2 inches long, though fat.

Sk8r · 08/28/2008, 04:38 PM

Kotton,

To Reef Central
I'm concerned about 2 fish: the copperband and the boxfish. The first is a very picky eater, and many starve. Be sure that the fish you buy IS eating and know what it's eating before you buy it.

The boxfish has other problems. From Liveaquaria.com: " It should have a minimum of a 125 gallon tank. Use caution if placing the Spotted Boxfish in a reef tank as they will often nibble at tubeworms. If stressed, the Cubicus Boxfish releases a poisonous substance, called ostracitoxin, from its mucous glands which will kill other fish in the tank very quickly."

I have corresponded with an RC member who lost a large tank to a relative, the cowfish. I would suggest a species-only tank for this sort of critter. Tubeworm= featherduster. That species, along with crustaceans, etc, would be food for this fish.

Worms are good for a tank. Featherdusters are filterfeeders, mostly taking very small things. Bristleworms are carrion eaters and detritus feeders who are not above sucking down a micropellet of fish food, but are otherwise harmless. The main worm that is a problem is the Eunicid, who looks like a centipede with tentacles on its head: that one is bad news. The rest are mostly friendlies.

Aerowen · 08/28/2008, 05:52 PM

Hi i have a cycled 3 G pico. its BB and has a couple snails. i saw in the earlier pages that a neon goby would fit, how about a yasha goby w/ tiger pistol? or maybe a smaller pistol shrimp? they would be the only 2 in the tank apart from all the zoos that i will add when they fall off the main colonies.
i have 2 pieces of LR in there, and i am not sure about adding a HOB nano filter maybe w/ purigen or something.

08/26/2008, 07:47 PM	#352
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	I wanted to eventually add a flame angel? Any thoughts? __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

08/26/2008, 07:56 PM	#353
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	jbc, you're in the 24g? The starry is a bit large for a 24...but a bicolor would be about the right size, and they're a lot of fun. spw: the 46g. i tend to say 50 per angel, but I think you're close enough. Just have a skimmer and be careful of water quality: and be aware they can be coral nippers. __________________ 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%.

08/26/2008, 07:59 PM	#354
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Cool, thanks. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

08/27/2008, 07:55 AM	#357
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategor...e-filter-Boxes water comes in the prefilter box, then goes to the HOB box via siphon. This duplicates what is built into a pre-drilled reef-ready tank, which has all of this internal, often in a corner. The only change I would make here is to remove that sponge from the intake: it would collect gunk and produce nitrate in your system. Water from the bottom of the downflow runs down into a sump underneath your tank (mine is WAY underneath: I ran a hose through the floor into the basement)... ...into a sump... http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari...rlin_sump.html which has room for a fuge [refugium: planted area]/skimmer/heater/and a return pump to send all that cleaned water upstairs again...via a 'return hose" that inputs directly to your tank. The only change I would make to this diagram is to remove that filter sock [white bag]; it stops copepods from circulating, and i have a fuge where i grow them in its place...sand, live rock, and rootless macroalgae [plants]. In the event of a sandbed problem in the upper tank, my fuge sandbed has saved the system by handling waste and helping the upper sandbed reestablish without a cycle. Obviously you can DIY either of these items, if you have tools and a knack, or even can cut a straight line and glue things. Many people buy a used, scratched up aquarium and insert baffles to turn it into a fuge. The only thing not portrayed here is the hose. One needs to have an OUTFLOW hose, coming down, that is somewhat larger than the RETURN hose, coming up---larger, because the outflow hose works by gravity and is somewhat slower than the Return hose, which is pushed by a pump. You do not want the return to go faster than the outflow. On a mag 9.5 pump, I think I had a 3/4 inch [internal diameter] return hose and a 1" downflow hose. __________________ 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%. Last edited by Sk8r; 08/27/2008 at 08:00 AM.

08/27/2008, 10:34 AM	#359
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Actually the goby doesn't make a real dent in the pod pop: mostly likes the fluffy brown (yuck!) detritus---or anything else it can get in its mouth. I wouldn't try another yellow watchman: they're homicidal with their own kind, peaceful (well, they bluster) with other species. Your mandy will do fine with him; mine gets annoyed with my mandy wandering through his burrow and will forcefully eject her, grabbing her in his little teeth and shoving her several inches out and away---she hardly even pauses in her pod search, just immediately resumes her hunt. __________________ 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%.

08/26/2008, 07:44 PM	#351
jbc123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 177	Hey those Banggai cardinals look nice. Anything more bottom dwelley perhaps though? I figure 2 clowns and a gramma will be crowding the middle as is. Starry blenny compatible with those maybe?

08/27/2008, 06:49 AM	#356
renne39 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: louisville kentucky Posts: 157	anyone

08/27/2008, 08:42 AM	#358
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	Sk8r... I had been discussing some things with you a few pages back... Specifically, you were talking about yellow watchman gobies and diamond gobies... I got the yellow watchman yesterday, and I have him in quarantine... I have a 75 gallon tank (48 x 13 x 30) with a 4-5" DSB... Do you think the 1 x yellow watchman is enough, or should I try to find a way to pair it with another? Also, I wanted to know if I will be able to get a mandy, since the goby will probably pick on the pods too... I have not had any fish in the tank for about 4 weeks now, and the tank has exploded with pods Thanks, NathanS

08/27/2008, 11:05 AM	#361
renne39 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: louisville kentucky Posts: 157	thanks

08/27/2008, 04:36 PM	#362
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The watchman will do a pretty good job: get him a tiger pistol shrimp and between the two of them they will go to town on the sandbed around the rockwork...digging and burrowing and sandsifting. Besides, they're a funny pair and fun to watch. My shrimp has gotten nearly as big as the watchman, though he started out quite small. __________________ 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%.

08/27/2008, 09:02 PM	#363
jenjen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Langley BC, Canada Posts: 1,710	Is the blue reef chromis (chromis cyaneus) actually peaceful and able to live in groups? Looks that way from what I'm reading online, but I'm sceptical. __________________ "Challenges forge the greatness in you" Current Tank Info: 180gal softy reef (Apr '09)

08/27/2008, 09:14 PM	#364
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	this is what i currently have now... 3 blue damsels 2 yellow tail damsels 2 pajama cardinals 1 strawberry pseudochromis 1 foxface 2 3stripe damsel ------------------------- planning to add 1 blue tang 1 javanese damsel (this is in my sump right now) was wondering how aggressive the javanese damsel is...

08/27/2008, 09:18 PM	#365
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	+1 Watchman Goby & Tiger Pistol Shrimp. I have this pair & one of favorite things in tank. Great example of a symbiotic relationship that occurs in the ocean. __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

08/27/2008, 11:14 PM	#366
greatXss Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Nicholasville, KY Posts: 267	im at least a month out for stocking but im getting ideas together... 29g with 10g fuge, will be 250w MH, lots of flow, lots of coral Im thinking of - A pair of Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish One Red Stripe Angelfish (live aquaria says it is a dwarf angel) Catalina Goby Yellow Watchman Goby Pistol Shrimp Pair of Bumble Bee Shrimp Thats all i can think of for the moment...what else?

08/28/2008, 10:01 AM	#368
zippopunk1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: cali Posts: 746	have a 40 gallon want to add 2 pipefish 2 seahorses and a prawn goby what should i use for my clean up crew

08/28/2008, 10:26 AM	#369
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Boy, am I behind! Let me go in reverse order, because that's how my scroll delivers them. Zippopunk, I would say some cerith snails would keep things pretty well. Most planted tanks don't have the algae problem of bare tanks, but if you do get some small problem, I'd say the ceriths, a modest sized snail who also eat diatoms, would be a good crew. I'd avoid hermits with this tank. I would worry about the prawn goby possibly nipping up the young of the horses and pipefish: they ARE carnivores at opportunity. I'd leave out the goby/blenny. Trying to think of a real obligate (mandatory) algae eater that wouldn't bother the fry, but I'm kind of stuck: most algae eaters WILL take live food at opportunity. You might ask in the seahorse forum. Anybody? Lukinrats, yep, a popping sound from the tank is most likely some sort of pistol. Some will shack up with a goby, and some won't. I think the Atlantic ones are less likely. Great Xss, pass on the Catalina goby: beautiful, but a cold water species: it can survive up to 78 degrees, but prefers 75, and your tank is happier at 79-82. An angel is also a problem: ultimately it will eat your corals. And is a bit large, even the dwarfs. I would suggest a pair of highfin redstripe gobies to sub for the Catalina: striking and absolutely safe with corals. That 250 w mh is going to be quite bright for a 29, possible able to burn corals. I use one in a 54g. Suggest you ask in the equipment forum where they know lighting better than I do, by a long shot, but I'd think a 150 would do. pong, you should be ok. Never seen the Javanese. Looks very similar to the blue velvet---which I can swear to you on personal experience exceeds 4" and is built like a tank. Beautiful fish. Very hardy, great damsel. My only concern is whether some of the damsels will harass the tang, which is a bit mild-mannered, for a tang. If you get into trouble, use eggcrate grid to create a safe zone in your tank until the tang can settle in. jenjen, my advice on the blue reef chromis is different from Foster Smith. They survive alone quite happily. You'll note the dominant fish in each group is the only one colored up to the max. Mine, solo, is ALWAYs colored up like that, and is approaching the body conformation of a small fat tuna. They kill off members of their pack until they feel comfortable with the number in the tank, a trait they apparently also share with anthias. Alone, or in a suitable size group (I would say 3 chromis might be ok in a 75)...they are healthy, always in motion, and only occasionally fuss with other fishes, never seriously. __________________ 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%.

08/28/2008, 10:42 AM	#370
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	Sk8r... Thanks for the info on the pistol!!! There was another part to my question, but I did not realize that it was hard to notice, like it was... Here is what I asked: "I have another question regarding the mandy...When I get ready to order one, I think I am going to get it from BlueZoo... They have males and females listed... Is there any reason why either one would be better than the other?... Is one more colorful/attractive? I was also wondering if I should try to get a pair... I feel like that would be pretty cool, but do not want to starve them... If I could do that, it would make me happy though!!! Thanks, NathanS

08/28/2008, 12:37 PM	#371
KoTToN18 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Orange Posts: 42	Hey guys, This is my first post, but I have been referencing this site for a long time. Anyway this is my first saltwater tank and heres whats going on. 115 gallon basic rectangular tank. 60 gallon sump protein skimmer 1300gph Quietone pump 100lbs live rock 75lbs sand Basic lighting The tank has been cycled and has been housing these fish/critters for 2 weeks. 5-blue/green chromis 1-fire shrimp 10-hermit crabs So far so good, i have been using RO/DI water for the top offs and havent had any probs. Fish in consideration -Clowns(how many?) -Yellow tang -Copper banded butterfly -Snails to help with the glass -pistol shrimp/watchmen combo -Boxfish Any other reccomendations? Im just taking it slow with this as its my first try. And if any of these arent compatible with the chromis I wont hesitate to return them to the LFS. Thank you for the help!

08/28/2008, 03:06 PM	#372
KoTToN18 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Orange Posts: 42	I forgot to mention that I was also checking out featherdusters, but then I read some threads about people having worm outbreaks. Would these be benefitial to the tank?

08/28/2008, 04:30 PM	#373
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Lukinrats, the male mandys have larger finnage and will display to their reflection. You MIGHT be able to get a pair, but make sure they come in as a pair: they're hard to pair up, and these gentle creatures can kill a potential partner if territory is at issue. Buy them as a pair, and put them in as a pair and you should be ok. Just go for a smallish pair: some psychedelic mandys get 4 inches long, and fat, and have unusually large appetites. Better in your smaller tank you go for any sort of mandy, but check out how big that particular fish (pair) is. They don't grow much. My little psycho is only 2 1/2 inches long, though fat. __________________ 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%.

08/28/2008, 04:38 PM	#374
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Kotton, *To Reef Central* I'm concerned about 2 fish: the copperband and the boxfish. The first is a very picky eater, and many starve. Be sure that the fish you buy IS eating and know what it's eating before you buy it. The boxfish has other problems. From Liveaquaria.com: " It should have a minimum of a 125 gallon tank. Use caution if placing the Spotted Boxfish in a reef tank as they will often nibble at tubeworms. If stressed, the Cubicus Boxfish releases a poisonous substance, called ostracitoxin, from its mucous glands which will kill other fish in the tank very quickly." I have corresponded with an RC member who lost a large tank to a relative, the cowfish. I would suggest a species-only tank for this sort of critter. Tubeworm= featherduster. That species, along with crustaceans, etc, would be food for this fish. Worms are good for a tank. Featherdusters are filterfeeders, mostly taking very small things. Bristleworms are carrion eaters and detritus feeders who are not above sucking down a micropellet of fish food, but are otherwise harmless. The main worm that is a problem is the Eunicid, who looks like a centipede with tentacles on its head: that one is bad news. The rest are mostly friendlies. __________________ 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%.

08/28/2008, 05:52 PM	#375
Aerowen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long island, NY Posts: 497	Hi i have a cycled 3 G pico. its BB and has a couple snails. i saw in the earlier pages that a neon goby would fit, how about a yasha goby w/ tiger pistol? or maybe a smaller pistol shrimp? they would be the only 2 in the tank apart from all the zoos that i will add when they fall off the main colonies. i have 2 pieces of LR in there, and i am not sure about adding a HOB nano filter maybe w/ purigen or something.