PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[jsharp1]

Originally Posted by Tylt33

Chromis are hit or miss. If you search the forums you'll see a number of people that have tried them and had the usual aggression issues, resulting in the death of all but one or two- they can get nasty when they get big. However, there are a number of people that have luck with them in groups. All depends on how much of a gambler you are

Well if I decide to go ahead with the chromis, I'll have to make sure I buy them at the same time. Maybe that will help with the aggression. As far as the mandarin, what are your thoughts? I should be ok with the amount of LR and LS I have right?

[Tylt33]

Originally Posted by thebkramer

Hi again! Hope you don't mind me asking again. Things have changed a bit!
My 16 mo. tank crashed recently. Ready to get back in game. What I have now is what survived. I do 10% water changes every week with distilled water.
I have a 55g reef tank:
I use a red sea skimmer (with carbon), aquaclear 110 (phoslock carbon, nitratelock, and bio media) powerhead (koraline 3 i think) heater of course.
I have about 3 in. live sand, live rock (unsure of lbs. about 40) I have 2 fake castles in there that are now covered in "good stuff"
1-tri-colored hermit (small..does he get big? he's over a year old)
1-yellow-tipped hermit (medium to large) 1-zebra hermit (HUGE claw med to big)
2-nassarius snails 2- magarita snails 3-cerith snails (the round ones?)
Huge colony of Green/yellow button polyps (also smaller ones..planning on selling)
Green Star Polyp colony Red Chili Cactus Coral (huge) Green/yellow Zoas
Black Tubastrea (not sure if still alive) Montiporo (tiny piece of originally huge monti possibly alive) brain coral (small fist..possibly also dead, not sure)
having trouble getting "reef bugs" back in tank. do have iso's, brittle stars (just got yesterday), bristleworms, usual tubeworms, featherdusters(the hitchhiker ones not the big pretty ones), no copepods (argh!!) and a pistol shrimp who is behaving as of now. Aips of course! ugh! I also have a tiny baby porcelin (anemone right?) crab in the tank. He must of come in from LR, doubt he will make it though right?
So...
Yesterday I bought 2 Bleen Chromis, Fighting Conch and Astrea Snail. Today I bought Starry Blenny and 2 Very Very Large Peppermint Shrimp.
I have no intention on buying anything in the nearest future. However, my daughter really wants to buy a cubicus boxfish, which I am trying to get her to forget about because of all the horror stories I've heard. She would also like a Longnose Hawkfish! I looked him up on liveaquaria. He seems pretty decent, but what are the ins and outs of this little guy? I know what you read and what you get can be very different sometimes.
Thanks for your time!!

Shrimp and worms are hawkfish food, and other small fish might be bullied or eaten. I'd stay away from the boxfish at all costs....

[Tylt33]

Originally Posted by jsharp1

Well if I decide to go ahead with the chromis, I'll have to make sure I buy them at the same time. Maybe that will help with the aggression. As far as the mandarin, what are your thoughts? I should be ok with the amount of LR and LS I have right?

Mandarins are finicky. If you can find one that's eating prepared foods (they can be trained) or live black worms, you'd be fine. I'd be a little concerned otherwise, they eat a LOT. Like non-stop. Most pod populations get decimated quickly.

[jsharp1]

Originally Posted by Tylt33

Mandarins are finicky. If you can find one that's eating prepared foods (they can be trained) or live black worms, you'd be fine. I'd be a little concerned otherwise, they eat a LOT. Like non-stop. Most pod populations get decimated quickly.

Ok, may wait awhile longer for the mandarin then. May be a good addition once I get my refugium up and running. Thanks alot! You've been very helpful

[Darth Skab]

Right now i have a 20 high fish only tank. i want to do a mild upgrade to a 30 gal and get some corals and im wondering what i should buy. other than the obvious things like filter, live rock/sand, and heater im lost. i dont like asking peeps at the store cuz i always feel bad cuz i have so many questions and typically cant afford their suggestions.

i have a protein skimmer about the size of a 20oz bottle, will that suffice for a 30 gal?

Lighting is the big thing. what lights, how many "K", wattage and what not. i dont want corals that are for the expert hobbyist yet of course.

any and all suggestions will be appreciated!

[Tylt33]

Originally Posted by Darth Skab

Right now i have a 20 high fish only tank. i want to do a mild upgrade to a 30 gal and get some corals and im wondering what i should buy. other than the obvious things like filter, live rock/sand, and heater im lost. i dont like asking peeps at the store cuz i always feel bad cuz i have so many questions and typically cant afford their suggestions.

i have a protein skimmer about the size of a 20oz bottle, will that suffice for a 30 gal?

Lighting is the big thing. what lights, how many "K", wattage and what not. i dont want corals that are for the expert hobbyist yet of course.

any and all suggestions will be appreciated!

Protein Skimmers vary in quality, depending on the make and brand, as well as the tanks bioload. The best way is to fire it up and take a look. I wouldn't consider buying a new one until you know how well your current works.

T5s and Metal Halides are the way to go with lighting. You might not want that level of light now, but eventually, you probably will. T5s are a little easier on the wallet, and you can get some nice setups from the various online retailers.

Then again, if you're just doing mushrooms, softies, etc., you'll probably be ok with a nice Compact Fluorescent setup. What kind of coral are you looking at right now?

[Darth Skab]

Originally Posted by Tylt33

Protein Skimmers vary in quality, depending on the make and brand, as well as the tanks bioload. The best way is to fire it up and take a look. I wouldn't consider buying a new one until you know how well your current works.

T5s and Metal Halides are the way to go with lighting. You might not want that level of light now, but eventually, you probably will. T5s are a little easier on the wallet, and you can get some nice setups from the various online retailers.

Then again, if you're just doing mushrooms, softies, etc., you'll probably be ok with a nice Compact Fluorescent setup. What kind of coral are you looking at right now?

Something on the easy side. Recommendations?

[thebkramer]

Hiya! I posted this to main page, but no response. Maybe you can help me here.
I've decided to get another dusky jawfish! I love them so why not do again. (by another I don't mean 2nd addition to same tank, I've had a dusky in past.)
What I'm wondering is, what size rock should he technically have?? I hope this isn't retarded, I just need to know if I need more rock depending on answer. Thanks alot.

[Tylt33]

Originally Posted by thebkramer

Hiya! I posted this to main page, but no response. Maybe you can help me here.
I've decided to get another dusky jawfish! I love them so why not do again. (by another I don't mean 2nd addition to same tank, I've had a dusky in past.)
What I'm wondering is, what size rock should he technically have?? I hope this isn't retarded, I just need to know if I need more rock depending on answer. Thanks alot.

I responded in your other thread, take a look.

[Tylt33]

Originally Posted by Darth Skab

Something on the easy side. Recommendations?

Go with T5s. That'll give you enough light to do pretty much anything, with room to get more advanced corals in the future if you should desire. I'd poke around on the Foster Smith website and look at their T5 high output selection. I don't know what your tank dimensions are, so it's hard to recommend a specific unit. You can also post/search the Lighting and Equipment section for discussions on specific units/brands.

[thebkramer]

Hey again Tylt33! I understand "risks" with dusky. I loved my last one so much though.
I need to know what is minimum sized rock that he needs?? I don't want to go buy more LR if I don't need to. The rock my previous one used, I no longer have, so how small is too small?

[Larah]

I have a 100 gallon Reef/30 gallon Sump/ 20 Gallon Fuge/Octopus Skimmer/Fluval 450 Canister
Filter for Media/ 90 lbs of Live rock/ 3 Inch Sand Bed/ with the following inhabitants.

2 Tomato Clowns
1 Coral Beauty Angel
1 Flame Hawkfish
1 Blue Jaw trigger
1 Flame Angel
1 6 Line Wrasse
1 Yellow Tang
Various snails and small hermits 1 Brittle Star fish

I would like to add something, but I'm not sure what... Was htinking of a
small puffer.... Black Saddle toby Maybe????
I do have corals, mostly softies and some LPS, I have one
SPS frag that someone gave me.....


So what do you think?

[Tylt33]

Originally Posted by thebkramer

Hey again Tylt33! I understand "risks" with dusky. I loved my last one so much though.
I need to know what is minimum sized rock that he needs?? I don't want to go buy more LR if I don't need to. The rock my previous one used, I no longer have, so how small is too small?

Give him pieces ranging from penny to quarter size- break up larger rocks if you have them. They like to have a variety of sizes and shapes to move. If you're talking about just having one big rock on the top of the den, make sure it's big enough that it is stable and won't crush him if he digs under it. Still provide the small pieces so he can make his entrance/door.

[Tylt33]

Originally Posted by Larah

I have a 100 gallon Reef/30 gallon Sump/ 20 Gallon Fuge/Octopus Skimmer/Fluval 450 Canister
Filter for Media/ 90 lbs of Live rock/ 3 Inch Sand Bed/ with the following inhabitants.

2 Tomato Clowns
1 Coral Beauty Angel
1 Flame Hawkfish
1 Blue Jaw trigger
1 Flame Angel
1 6 Line Wrasse
1 Yellow Tang
Various snails and small hermits 1 Brittle Star fish

I would like to add something, but I'm not sure what... Was htinking of a
small puffer.... Black Saddle toby Maybe????
I do have corals, mostly softies and some LPS, I have one
SPS frag that someone gave me.....


So what do you think?

Puffers aren't an area that I have a lot of experience in- mainly because I don't run any FOWLR tanks. They're very likely to eat your inverts, and may nip fins on your other fish. Your coral could be toast too... risky fish for a non-FOWLR tank.

[treszoks]

I'm dreaming up a 6 foot 180g FOWLR setup. Will these tangs be okay assuming they are introduced in the least aggressive order?

GSM Clownfish
Flame Angelfish
Emperor Angelfish
Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Naso Tang
Sohal Tang

[Tylt33]

Originally Posted by treszoks

I'm dreaming up a 6 foot 180g FOWLR setup. Will these tangs be okay assuming they are introduced in the least aggressive order?

GSM Clownfish
Flame Angelfish
Emperor Angelfish
Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Naso Tang
Sohal Tang

Blue and yellow tangs, sure. Sohal and Naso are where you run into a gamble. Those things get big (12"+) and depending on the individual fish, can be very naughty (mean). Flame Angels are tiny little guys compared to those big meanies. GSM Clownfish can probably hold their own assuming they're one of the first in... those are really mean clowns, lol. The testosterone level is going to be off the hook in your tank!

[Larah]

LOL! I agree off the hook! And I thought my tank was full of a bunch of toughs......

[Korrine]

Originally Posted by treszoks

I'm dreaming up a 6 foot 180g FOWLR setup. Will these tangs be okay assuming they are introduced in the least aggressive order?

GSM Clownfish
Flame Angelfish
Emperor Angelfish
Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Naso Tang
Sohal Tang

I'd skip the sohal or substitute it

[Korrine]

Originally Posted by Larah

I have a 100 gallon Reef/30 gallon Sump/ 20 Gallon Fuge/Octopus Skimmer/Fluval 450 Canister
Filter for Media/ 90 lbs of Live rock/ 3 Inch Sand Bed/ with the following inhabitants.

2 Tomato Clowns
1 Coral Beauty Angel
1 Flame Hawkfish
1 Blue Jaw trigger
1 Flame Angel
1 6 Line Wrasse
1 Yellow Tang
Various snails and small hermits 1 Brittle Star fish

I would like to add something, but I'm not sure what... Was htinking of a
small puffer.... Black Saddle toby Maybe????
I do have corals, mostly softies and some LPS, I have one
SPS frag that someone gave me.....


So what do you think?

ummm here:

Environmental Conditions:

The habitat for displaying puffers should reflect their reef existence, with rock and rubble to gain comfort in cover, and sand to search and blow through looking for food.
Puffers for other than fish-only systems? Oh, they love invertebrates- to eat. Even the smallest species will sample corals, anemones, echinoderms, crustaceans et al. to bedevilment; yes, & they'll even eat smaller unaware fishes.
What else? They bite; more than tankmates, they'll cut into decor including electrical cords. Make sure and conceal your power lines if they're in with puffers.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/puffers.htm

[Korrine]

Originally Posted by thebkramer

Hiya! I posted this to main page, but no response. Maybe you can help me here.
I've decided to get another dusky jawfish! I love them so why not do again. (by another I don't mean 2nd addition to same tank, I've had a dusky in past.)
What I'm wondering is, what size rock should he technically have?? I hope this isn't retarded, I just need to know if I need more rock depending on answer. Thanks alot.

You mean sand or substrate?

A good mix of substrates for them is about three quarters fine (1/16-1/4"), and one quarter coarse (1/4-3/4", coin shape/size pieces) material, of a 2-3" depth minimum.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/jawfishe.htm

[Larah]

egads! Well I have the rocks work and substrate, but I also have corals and other fish... damn....... Even the little saddle back puffers are that agressive? Hmmmmmmmm.......

[Korrine]

Larah, go ahead and read further into that. That statement is a generalization about puffers, but they should have a TON more info.

Here are toby compatibility FAQ's.

[Larah]

Did you have alink inthere? I didn't see it.....

[Larah]

Ha saw it! Duh...........

[Korrine]

Originally Posted by Larah

Did you have alink inthere? I didn't see it.....

Sorry I meant to have a link in my last post

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tobyfaqs.htm

I don't have a whole lot of first hand experience, but I've read so much that I can find almost anything I'm surprised my hubby hasn't banned me from the computer