PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first! - Page 14

Everyones Hero · 08/24/2008, 09:29 PM

Thanks again. I was looking through the pages of the site you linked me to & I had actually posted in the thread. I was told that what I have is not Cyanobacteria, but is actually diatoms.

Sk8r · 08/24/2008, 09:34 PM

ah! The other plague. There are a few critters that actually eat diatoms. Cerith snails. Chitons. Etc. Google "what eats diatoms?" and you will get a few choices. But ceriths are just a very good type of snail to have.

singold · 08/25/2008, 05:25 PM

Great info! I think I will be getting some Cerith Snails to help out with diatoms.

Aquarist007 · 08/25/2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
There is a very short list of things that are ok in a new tank.
1. garlic, as a fish tonic. Crushed raw garlic from the grocery does just fine.
2. phosban--gfo (granular ferric oxide) for phosphate removal.
3. kalk (pickling lime) used to maintain ph/calcium/alkalinity (used in autotopoff, among other methods: test, and get advice about this)
4. regular additives like calcium, magnesium, dkh buffer (but Test for these things!)
5. carbon, for removing organics and ammonia
6. polyfilter (at any hint of metallic contamination or just anything you suspect but can't figure what could be wrong).
I can't think of any others. My list of safe things deliberately excludes miracle cures for ich, copper, antibiotics, red slime removers, and trace element additives. Take care of your sandbed and it will take care of you. Also do not spray Windex in the same room as your tank (go to the hall to spray a cloth to use: ditto furniture polish, etc.); do not put your hands in the tank if you have been using motor oil, hand creme, Purell sanitary wash or the like, or perfumed soaps, or soaps with oils and conditioners. Or soaps. Rinse abundantly after soap use. Medical exam gloves not only protect your hands, they protect your tank: when in doubt, glove up. HTH.

with your permission I would like to add this to the Capn's log book---good basic information to know

Aquarist007 · 08/25/2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by singold
Great info! I think I will be getting some Cerith Snails to help out with diatoms.

its also a case of controlling nutrients as with algae and cyano.
You can't depend on critters to do a specific job because its not 100 percent and it is not a good idea to get a critter to eat a specific item because when the item is eaten it can lead to starvation of the critter you added.

I believe---please correct me if I am wrong--but silicates play a greater role in supporting diatom blooms.

Everyones Hero · 08/25/2008, 07:18 PM

Would a Dwarf Angel be compatible with my Springer's Dottyback & Lawnmower Blenny in my 55g? Are the reef safe?

My co-worker has one she's keeping in a 10 or 15g with a Maroon Clown & another fish. If it'll be alright in my tank I'd prefer to take it off her hands vs have her kill another fish.

Aquarist007 · 08/25/2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Everyones Hero
Would a Dwarf Angel be compatible with my Springer's Dottyback & Lawnmower Blenny in my 55g? Are the reef safe?

My co-worker has one she's keeping in a 10 or 15g with a Maroon Clown & another fish. If it'll be alright in my tank I'd prefer to take it off her hands vs have her kill another fish.

what kind of dwarf angel?

Everyones Hero · 08/25/2008, 08:04 PM

I'll have to ask her.

Is a Flame Angel considered a Dwarf Angel? If so that's what I'm going to assume it is because that's the only small Angel I've seen at the LFS we both go to. (Unless she's back to buying fish from PetCo.)

I'm more or less trying to get her to not kill this damned fish.

Aquarist007 · 08/25/2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Everyones Hero
I'll have to ask her.

Is a Flame Angel considered a Dwarf Angel? If so that's what I'm going to assume it is because that's the only small Angel I've seen at the LFS we both go to. (Unless she's back to buying fish from PetCo.)

I'm more or less trying to get her to not kill this damned fish.

Flame angels can be quite agressive towards tank members

Simon68 · 08/25/2008, 08:11 PM

Please help me decide what order I should get these fish in.
Here is my list. Tank is 75 gallons.
yellow watchman blenny (I have a pistol shrimp already)
2 false percs
royal gramma
flame angel
yellow tang
Maybe a mandarin 6 mos to a year down the road ( I have a fuge with a nice size chaeto ball)

I am thinking basically the order I put them in above, but tell me if I am wrong.
Thanks!

Everyones Hero · 08/25/2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
Flame angels can be quite agressive towards tank members

I was incorrect. It's a Half Black Angel & the only other fish is her Maroon Clown. She said she thinks it's her hermit crab that's going after it, but I told her that it was unlikely. She said they tend to avoid each other, but that she'd keep an eye out.

Aquarist007 · 08/25/2008, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Everyones Hero
I was incorrect. It's a Half Black Angel & the only other fish is her Maroon Clown. She said she thinks it's her hermit crab that's going after it, but I told her that it was unlikely. She said they tend to avoid each other, but that she'd keep an eye out.

A pygmy angel--they are okay--constant grazers so keep them well fed

I wouldn't take the maroon clown however--very agressive fish

Everyones Hero · 08/25/2008, 08:31 PM

Hmm. I'd be worried that it'd be in competition with my Lawnmower Blenny.

Looks like it would be alright in a reef tank, but don't know if I want to risk letting it nip at my corals when I start collecting them.

I really have no interest in clowns.

KatanaRamirez · 08/25/2008, 09:22 PM

Hi, I'm thinking about getting a foxface rabbitfish for my tank (6ft/1.5ft/1.5ft).
Fish already in the tank:
2 O.Clowns,
4 (soon to be 2) Bangaii Cardinals,
1 firefish
1 blue damsel

Other livestock already in:
4 peppermint shrimp
1 Maxima Clam
1 beaded anemone
3 acro frags
1 xenia fra
about 6 different kinds of small zoa colonies.
Sun Coral
Elegance coral
a couple of mushrooms and a ric.

I was thinking about getting him to control algae but have heard that once there's no algae they can start to nip corals, will he still do this if I keep him well fed? Is he okay with other tank life I have?

Also after this possible addition how many more fish could I put in my tank?

Aquarist007 · 08/25/2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KatanaRamirez
Hi, I'm thinking about getting a foxface rabbitfish for my tank (6ft/1.5ft/1.5ft).
Fish already in the tank:
2 O.Clowns,
4 (soon to be 2) Bangaii Cardinals,
1 firefish
1 blue damsel

Other livestock already in:
4 peppermint shrimp
1 Maxima Clam
1 beaded anemone
3 acro frags
1 xenia fra
about 6 different kinds of small zoa colonies.
Sun Coral
Elegance coral
a couple of mushrooms and a ric.

I was thinking about getting him to control algae but have heard that once there's no algae they can start to nip corals, will he still do this if I keep him well fed? Is he okay with other tank life I have?

Also after this possible addition how many more fish could I put in my tank?

long as you are keeping the foxface well fed there should be no problem with nipping corals. My foxface is in with 4 tangs and he behaves like them.

Sk8r · 08/26/2008, 07:47 AM

There are filter mediums that deal with silicates, btw. And one source of silicates is not using ro/di water, apparently, as with so many other tank problems. It can come in with sand, so I hear, and probably has other ways, too. This is a link to Polyfilter, which I have used, and which may help with diatoms. http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/silicates1.htm

The variety of rabbitfish I had that wreaked havoc on corals was the scribbled rabbit.

renne39 · 08/26/2008, 08:52 AM

I have a 150 gallon tank I have three o. clown fish and a anemone live rock and live sand a clean up crew also zoa's I would like to know what kind of fish I can add with what I already have and in what order

lockekeyy · 08/26/2008, 04:49 PM

Hi, I have a 72G bowfront with a pair of A. ocellaris right now with numerous feather dusters, blue legged hermits, nassarius snails, but I was thinking of EVENTUALLY adding the following

a handful of scarlet hermits
more nassarius snails
some ceriths,
a conch (maybe fighting or hawkwing)
2 peppermint shrimp
and 2 cleaner shrimp
tuxedo pincushion urchin (heard these tend to bulldoze and carry things)
mandarin (long after my tank has matured)
blue tang
BTAs (after 6 more months)
softies
zoanthids
xenia
mushrooms
maybe an LPS or two... like a torch?

I'm still a newbie, but planning ahead and reading a lot! Any advice or additions/subtractions from this list would help. suggestions for fish that school, maybe anthias? (Please don't be too harsh)

Sk8r · 08/26/2008, 05:20 PM

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.

Lockekeyy, For fish that 'school,' about 3 chromis in a 72. Schooling fish are running fish, and they need room. You're fine on your inverts. Be sure that anemone is WAY settled before you add any stony coral...warfare can result. Your plans sound good to me. I'd suggest hammer instead of torch: similar, not as 'hot'. You might end up needing a fuge with a mandy. But so far all good.

spw4949 · 08/26/2008, 05:34 PM

46 gallon bowfront, 10 gallon refugium, been up & running 3 weeks. Where should I start with fish? Is it still standard practice to start with Damsels? Could I start with a purple pseudo & fire goby or no? I've been out of the hobby for awhile so I'm a little outta the loop. Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks.

jbc123 · 08/26/2008, 05:44 PM

24 gallon Aquapod.

Looking at a pair of clowns (ocellaris) and a royal gramma.

Anything else I can squeeze in there eventually?

Sk8r · 08/26/2008, 06:33 PM

spw, no, leave the damsels be unless you want to have a damsel tank. You can do the pseudochromis (dottyback, I believe: aggressive) or his lookalike basslet the royal gramma, a bit quieter. Firefish, fine, but in that shallow tank, take antijump precautions: dartfish as a class are among the best at finding the tiniest hole to jump through.
If you've been out as long as 10 years, many things iwll have changed: it's all berlin method, or newer things; and we can keep fish and corals we couldn't in the last century. Take a windowshopping tour through the fish sellers in our Sponsors list and check out anything that stays 5" or smaller as an adult. That means most gobies, blennies, fairy or flasher wrasses. I'd try to balance herbivore and carnivore in that tank, to help you with algae maintenance and bio-load, and you won't go far wrong. And don't forget a healthy selection of inverts, the micro hermits, snails (ceriths, astraeas, turbos); and the like, which will also help. Bristleworms are now recognized not as a potential new predator, but as a helpful member of the cleanup crew.

jbc, Some of the very smallest gobies would be a good fit, some of the shrimp gobies very entertaining as well as a minor hit on the biomass scale.

Everyones Hero · 08/26/2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
[B]spw, no, leave the damsels be unless you want to have a damsel tank. You can do the pseudochromis (dottyback, I believe: aggressive) or his lookalike basslet the royal gramma, a bit quieter. Firefish, fine, but in that shallow tank, take antijump precautions: dartfish as a class are among the best at finding the tiniest hole to jump through.

I just want to say two things about the Pseudochromis: some are docile while others are very aggressive. From what I read the Sunrise (extremely beautiful fish) & Neon Dottybacks are both fairly aggressive. On the other hand you have the Springer's & Sankey's Dottybacks that are docile.

You don't want to mix Dottybacks with other Dottybacks or fish that have similar body shapes or colors.

A couple of things I learned from the book I picked up. I've got a Springer's Dottyback & I like him. I really wanted to get a Sunrise but I'm doing a community tank & my LFS has never had one in stock.

Sk8r · 08/26/2008, 07:06 PM

Thanks, hero. I've had the yellow dottyback, and a real character, but ultimately one of the most aggressive fish I had, and that included a raft of the tougher (and larger) damsels. Glad to know these beautiful fish also come in a milder disposition.

Aquarist007 · 08/26/2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jbc123
24 gallon Aquapod.

Looking at a pair of clowns (ocellaris) and a royal gramma.

Anything else I can squeeze in there eventually?

To Reef Central

a couple of bangi cardinals or a pajamma cardinal perhaps.

08/24/2008, 09:34 PM	#327
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	ah! The other plague. There are a few critters that actually eat diatoms. Cerith snails. Chitons. Etc. Google "what eats diatoms?" and you will get a few choices. But ceriths are just a very good type of snail to have. __________________ 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%.

08/25/2008, 05:25 PM	#328
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	Great info! I think I will be getting some Cerith Snails to help out with diatoms. __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium

08/26/2008, 07:47 AM	#341
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	There are filter mediums that deal with silicates, btw. And one source of silicates is not using ro/di water, apparently, as with so many other tank problems. It can come in with sand, so I hear, and probably has other ways, too. This is a link to Polyfilter, which I have used, and which may help with diatoms. http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/silicates1.htm The variety of rabbitfish I had that wreaked havoc on corals was the scribbled rabbit. __________________ 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, 04:49 PM	#343
lockekeyy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 1,027	Hi, I have a 72G bowfront with a pair of A. ocellaris right now with numerous feather dusters, blue legged hermits, nassarius snails, but I was thinking of EVENTUALLY adding the following a handful of scarlet hermits more nassarius snails some ceriths, a conch (maybe fighting or hawkwing) 2 peppermint shrimp and 2 cleaner shrimp tuxedo pincushion urchin (heard these tend to bulldoze and carry things) mandarin (long after my tank has matured) blue tang BTAs (after 6 more months) softies zoanthids xenia mushrooms maybe an LPS or two... like a torch? I'm still a newbie, but planning ahead and reading a lot! Any advice or additions/subtractions from this list would help. suggestions for fish that school, maybe anthias? (Please don't be too harsh) __________________ I attribute the little I know to my not having been ashamed to ask for information - John Locke Last edited by lockekeyy; 08/26/2008 at 04:55 PM.

08/26/2008, 05:20 PM	#344
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	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. Lockekeyy, For fish that 'school,' about 3 chromis in a 72. Schooling fish are running fish, and they need room. You're fine on your inverts. Be sure that anemone is WAY settled before you add any stony coral...warfare can result. Your plans sound good to me. I'd suggest hammer instead of torch: similar, not as 'hot'. You might end up needing a fuge with a mandy. But so far all good. __________________ 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%.

08/24/2008, 09:29 PM	#326
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	Thanks again. I was looking through the pages of the site you linked me to & I had actually posted in the thread. I was told that what I have is not Cyanobacteria, but is actually diatoms.

08/25/2008, 07:18 PM	#331
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	Would a Dwarf Angel be compatible with my Springer's Dottyback & Lawnmower Blenny in my 55g? Are the reef safe? My co-worker has one she's keeping in a 10 or 15g with a Maroon Clown & another fish. If it'll be alright in my tank I'd prefer to take it off her hands vs have her kill another fish.

08/25/2008, 08:04 PM	#333
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	I'll have to ask her. Is a Flame Angel considered a Dwarf Angel? If so that's what I'm going to assume it is because that's the only small Angel I've seen at the LFS we both go to. (Unless she's back to buying fish from PetCo.) I'm more or less trying to get her to not kill this damned fish.

08/25/2008, 08:11 PM	#335
Simon68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bergen County, NJ Posts: 230	Please help me decide what order I should get these fish in. Here is my list. Tank is 75 gallons. yellow watchman blenny (I have a pistol shrimp already) 2 false percs royal gramma flame angel yellow tang Maybe a mandarin 6 mos to a year down the road ( I have a fuge with a nice size chaeto ball) I am thinking basically the order I put them in above, but tell me if I am wrong. Thanks!

08/25/2008, 08:31 PM	#338
Everyones Hero Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Leonardtown, MD Posts: 1,154	Hmm. I'd be worried that it'd be in competition with my Lawnmower Blenny. Looks like it would be alright in a reef tank, but don't know if I want to risk letting it nip at my corals when I start collecting them. I really have no interest in clowns.

08/25/2008, 09:22 PM	#339
KatanaRamirez Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 39	Hi, I'm thinking about getting a foxface rabbitfish for my tank (6ft/1.5ft/1.5ft). Fish already in the tank: 2 O.Clowns, 4 (soon to be 2) Bangaii Cardinals, 1 firefish 1 blue damsel Other livestock already in: 4 peppermint shrimp 1 Maxima Clam 1 beaded anemone 3 acro frags 1 xenia fra about 6 different kinds of small zoa colonies. Sun Coral Elegance coral a couple of mushrooms and a ric. I was thinking about getting him to control algae but have heard that once there's no algae they can start to nip corals, will he still do this if I keep him well fed? Is he okay with other tank life I have? Also after this possible addition how many more fish could I put in my tank?

08/26/2008, 08:52 AM	#342
renne39 Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: louisville kentucky Posts: 157	I have a 150 gallon tank I have three o. clown fish and a anemone live rock and live sand a clean up crew also zoa's I would like to know what kind of fish I can add with what I already have and in what order

08/26/2008, 05:34 PM	#345
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	46 gallon bowfront, 10 gallon refugium, been up & running 3 weeks. Where should I start with fish? Is it still standard practice to start with Damsels? Could I start with a purple pseudo & fire goby or no? I've been out of the hobby for awhile so I'm a little outta the loop. Any feedback is appreciated. 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.

08/26/2008, 05:44 PM	#346
jbc123 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 177	24 gallon Aquapod. Looking at a pair of clowns (ocellaris) and a royal gramma. Anything else I can squeeze in there eventually?

08/26/2008, 06:33 PM	#347
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	spw, no, leave the damsels be unless you want to have a damsel tank. You can do the pseudochromis (dottyback, I believe: aggressive) or his lookalike basslet the royal gramma, a bit quieter. Firefish, fine, but in that shallow tank, take antijump precautions: dartfish as a class are among the best at finding the tiniest hole to jump through. If you've been out as long as 10 years, many things iwll have changed: it's all berlin method, or newer things; and we can keep fish and corals we couldn't in the last century. Take a windowshopping tour through the fish sellers in our Sponsors list and check out anything that stays 5" or smaller as an adult. That means most gobies, blennies, fairy or flasher wrasses. I'd try to balance herbivore and carnivore in that tank, to help you with algae maintenance and bio-load, and you won't go far wrong. And don't forget a healthy selection of inverts, the micro hermits, snails (ceriths, astraeas, turbos); and the like, which will also help. Bristleworms are now recognized not as a potential new predator, but as a helpful member of the cleanup crew. jbc, Some of the very smallest gobies would be a good fit, some of the shrimp gobies very entertaining as well as a minor hit on the biomass scale. __________________ 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, 07:06 PM	#349
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Thanks, hero. I've had the yellow dottyback, and a real character, but ultimately one of the most aggressive fish I had, and that included a raft of the tougher (and larger) damsels. Glad to know these beautiful fish also come in a milder disposition. __________________ 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%.