A few question about adding fish

[citymouse]

I asked about this on another older post but wanted to refresh the question and add to it.

I have recently added a yellow tang and 4 chromis to my tank, along with 29 hermit crabs and few snails. I'm wanting to add a 2nd Tang, it has only been a week since I put the yellow in, someone suggested a Kole Tang (which I really like), does anyone have any experience doing this? Any issues having these 2 types living together?
I also watched a video a few days ago that said not to add a 2nd if there is already one in the tank, that they should be added at the same time.

I also want to add more Chromis but don't know if there will be an issue adding about 4 more, will they become trouble makers? Will adding more cause problems with the existing 4? They are all still small and were just added last week.

I have a 75g with 2 clowns, 1 elusive Tiger Goby, 1 Coral Beauty, 1 PJ Cardinal, 1 Banngai Cardinal, the new yellow tang and 4 blue Chromis, hermit crabs and snails. No coral, I fear that coral is too difficult and that I might kill it. I am planning on upsizing as soon as I can find an affordable setup, probably 125g with a sump. I currently have 2 canister filters, this was a freshwater conversion about 5 or 6 years ago, the clowns are my original fish . I still feel like a newbie! I've been fighting hair algae for a while, this is why I added all the hermits but I think I need more..however, a new tank would solve that problem quickly!

 

[citymouse]

OH and one more questions. Are any of the smaller hermit crabs incompatible with each other? I have 12 dwarf yellow tip, 12 dwarf red tip and 5 Scarlets, but I wanted some blue legged dwarf hermits and/or the orange zebra ones. Are some dwarf or small types more aggressive towards snails than others?
I have added shells for the ones I have too. Their sole purpose is to clean up that hair algae and anything else they care to eat..besides my snails.

 

[citymouse]

I also think I might have posted this in the wrong place: Sorry, I"m new..just learning the ropes here. I see another section that is for Saltwater fish discussions...I'm confused...can I edit, delete, move a post?

 

[kamakazian]

This is a pretty good thread to start on with your hair algae (HA) problem. It's best to figure out what's REALLY going on in your tank before trying to add more livestock... Ultimately it just increases nitrate, which further feeds your algae. Most often it's a nutrient issue (nitrate or phosphate), and if they're on the higher end (phos > .10 or nitrate > 25) then that's likely your problem... But even if your levels are low, it could be because the HA is absorbing it all. Best to try and scrub as much as you can and see if your levels increase. If nutrients is your problem you can dose with vinegar or vodka- something to feed/increase your denitrifying bacteria.

As far as what you're sticking in your tank, you may want to reconsider adding the second tang once you upgrade to the larger tank. That way, the two will have equal rights to the tank and be less likely to fight each other

 

[kamakazian]

Forgot to post the thread I referred to!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2025457

 

[prsnlty]

This is a pretty good thread to start on with your hair algae (HA) problem. It's best to figure out what's REALLY going on in your tank before trying to add more livestock... Ultimately it just increases nitrate, which further feeds your algae. Most often it's a nutrient issue (nitrate or phosphate), and if they're on the higher end (phos > .10 or nitrate > 25) then that's likely your problem... But even if your levels are low, it could be because the HA is absorbing it all. Best to try and scrub as much as you can and see if your levels increase. If nutrients is your problem you can dose with vinegar or vodka- something to feed/increase your denitrifying bacteria.

As far as what you're sticking in your tank, you may want to reconsider adding the second tang once you upgrade to the larger tank. That way, the two will have equal rights to the tank and be less likely to fight each other

+1 (I agree)

 

[citymouse]

This is a pretty good thread to start on with your hair algae (HA) problem. It's best to figure out what's REALLY going on in your tank before trying to add more livestock... Ultimately it just increases nitrate, which further feeds your algae. Most often it's a nutrient issue (nitrate or phosphate), and if they're on the higher end (phos > .10 or nitrate > 25) then that's likely your problem... But even if your levels are low, it could be because the HA is absorbing it all. Best to try and scrub as much as you can and see if your levels increase. If nutrients is your problem you can dose with vinegar or vodka- something to feed/increase your denitrifying bacteria.

As far as what you're sticking in your tank, you may want to reconsider adding the second tang once you upgrade to the larger tank. That way, the two will have equal rights to the tank and be less likely to fight each other

Thanks! I've been in a battle with the hair algae, it goes away and comes back, I cleaned it all off the live rock, the clowns weren't too happy, they seem to use it as a substitute anemone...I got a bunch of turbo snails who went to town in there, cleaning all the leftovers, then a couple months later it was back! I clean it out, it keeps growing. I do have to check my levels today and get ready to change the water since I added the new fish last week, so I'll see where my nitrate and phosphate levels are. Vodka? party time in the tank, drunk fish? lol I didn't know these things were safe for the fish, snails, and crabs.

Yes, I was thinking that maybe I'll get the second tang and when he's ready to leave quarantine, I'll get a new tank all set up and put him in at the same time as the other..hoping to do this very soon, while they'd both still be small. The new tank could help eliminate the hair algae issues. Unless I move the live rock over, but I don't know if it's going to make the transition,

ALSO, in a new and much larger tank, I have no idea how to do water changes, any advice? I currently have 5g jugs that I mix the salt in, my last water change was 30g of water, I had to lift those up and dump them into the tank, it's messy and it's a pain in the butt! I have a bad shoulder just coming out of a frozen state, I can't imagine how much water needs to be changed in a larger tank. I'm looking at 150 to 250g, I have no experience with a sump, but I'm def switching to one.

 

[Bdog4u2]

Hard to keep nitrates down with canister filters unless you clean them a lot. I'd take all the rocks out and scrub them and shake them really good in seawater to get the crud that's inside them out

 

[citymouse]

yeah, there are a lot of things I dislike about the canister filters I have, they're just old and I'm feeling like it's time to update to "real" saltwater set up Although, corals are the one thing I won't tackle, as much as I want them, I don't want the responsibility or the cost.

 

[citymouse]

yeah, there are a lot of things I dislike about the canister filters I have, they're just old and I'm feeling like it's time to update to "real" saltwater set up Although, corals are the one thing I won't tackle, as much as I want them, I don't want the responsibility or the cost.

P.S. My tank is getting a huge overhaul! Cleaning temporarily, upgrading, upsizing, everything!

 

[kamakazian]

Thanks! I've been in a battle with the hair algae, it goes away and comes back, I cleaned it all off the live rock, the clowns weren't too happy, they seem to use it as a substitute anemone...I got a bunch of turbo snails who went to town in there, cleaning all the leftovers, then a couple months later it was back! I clean it out, it keeps growing. I do have to check my levels today and get ready to change the water since I added the new fish last week, so I'll see where my nitrate and phosphate levels are. Vodka? party time in the tank, drunk fish? lol I didn't know these things were safe for the fish, snails, and crabs.

Yes, I was thinking that maybe I'll get the second tang and when he's ready to leave quarantine, I'll get a new tank all set up and put him in at the same time as the other..hoping to do this very soon, while they'd both still be small. The new tank could help eliminate the hair algae issues. Unless I move the live rock over, but I don't know if it's going to make the transition,

ALSO, in a new and much larger tank, I have no idea how to do water changes, any advice? I currently have 5g jugs that I mix the salt in, my last water change was 30g of water, I had to lift those up and dump them into the tank, it's messy and it's a pain in the butt! I have a bad shoulder just coming out of a frozen state, I can't imagine how much water needs to be changed in a larger tank. I'm looking at 150 to 250g, I have no experience with a sump, but I'm def switching to one.

Some people use a 35gal drum (large trash can on wheels) to fill up with ro/di water and mix salt. Then use a return pump connected to a vinyl hose and just pump water back into the tank. As far as getting rid of the water... A garden hose that dumps out in the tub or outside is my favorite solution just gotta create a siphon to pull water from the tank. Pm me if you need more specific details.

 

[prsnlty]

I use a 35g grey brute can. They are safe and don't leach toxins as some other cans do. I also have it on the cart that is made specifically for that can. I drilled a hole in the top side of the can a couple inches down and placed a float there so that the water will stop running once it's full. I also have another 35 gallon can that I use for emptying old tank water into. This can is also safe. If my water that I was removing from my tank is in good shape I will reuse that water in another tank. If not I just dump it.

 

[citymouse]

This is a great idea, any particular pump that works best? I tried one once, it was an external pump to pump the water out of the 5g containers I got from the fish store, but it was loud and never worked right. I use a python to drain and clean my tank, so easy, but fillings the part I hate. I also have 75g freshwater, so much easier to change the water using the python!