Beginner to the hobby and New tank

[Angel730]

Hi everyone,

I'm a beginner into the whole saltwater hobby. I set up a 125 saltwater tank and started it cycle back in October of 2012; I also have 100 lbs of dry rock (at the time I started the cycle), 10 lbs of live rock (adding more along the way), and about 180 lbs of dry sand. I let it cycle for two months before adding any fish. Levels kept spiking up and down for the two months and slowly I started to coralina alga starting to grow on the once dry rock. I tested the water level at the start of the 3rd month and these were the result: Ammonia: 0 ppm, Nirite: 0 ppm, Nitrate: 0 ppm, and PH: 8.3, Salinity: 1.021 I added a good clean up crew consited of the following:

20 snails
20 Blue Leg hermit crabs
1 Emerald crab
2 Brittle Star fish
1 Peppermint Shrimp
2 Mexican Turbo Snail

I know I'm still in-need of more, but I'm also no rush in stocking up the tank. Officially I added a pair of Ocellaris Clown Fish in the end of January and they are doing extermly well. Although they like only to stay one corner of the tank not sure why. Two weeks later I added 1 Yellow Tail Damsel, 1 Yellow Belly Demsel, and 1 Alage Blenny. Very strong and active eaters.

Sadly I lost few yellow belly (3) and royal dottyback (got stuck in the live rock). Also got a Firefish who was doing well, but recently he disappear. I know this guys are famous for jumpimg out of the tank. Didn't find anything. Hopefully when I get from work, shows up in the tank.

I would like to add some tangs into tank but unsure if it safe to add them yet. So my questions to you guys is: 1. When is it safe to add some tangs into the tank, since it been running for about 4 months?, 2. Which tangs are friendly towards other tangs and tank-mates?, 3. How many tangs should I get in for this tank?, and 4. How long do I need to acclimate them?
I highly appreciate for anyone help and gudie line. I just want to make I'm going the right direction.

 

[Angel730]

Sorry forgot to mention the type of filtration system running. I’mrunning 2 Fluval FX6, but I will be upgrading later on to a sump. For currents,2X 1500 Hydor Koralia Evolution as well.Not sure if this is too much current in the tank.

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

If all your levels are good and stay that way you can probably try adding a tang. Why did your damsels die? I'm not a tang expert, so I'm not sure what ones are more peaceful than others, but you could probably end up with a few peaceful ones. Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[unlimitedbulliesjavie]

my yellow tang and powder brown get along great had them for about a year and i didnt add a tang till about 3-4 months afyer tank cycles so u should be great

 

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[crystal181]

Hi and welcome!

 

[Angel730]

Thank you all for the warm welcoming. Apparently, my yellow tail damsel was picking on his new tank mates. Even had one of the dead fish as a pecking toy.

 

[unlimitedbulliesjavie]

i had a yellow tail damsel r o when i started and got rid of it caues it was aggressive aswell

 

[Longnose Hawkfish]

Get rid of the damsels

 

[rjcranor]

I would definitely get rid of damsels and any chromis. They can be very aggressive. Seen in your earlier post about koralia power head. You might look into a Jebao wp40 or a pair of wp25's for flow.

 

[Angel730]

Thanks for the input. I check out the jebao line and I am impressed with the product. I'm thinking of getting the WP 40 sometime next week.

 

[Bow]

When I put the wp40 in the tank and turned it on high I watched a sand dune move along the tank

 

[wuuzzzuuppp]

Welcome to R2R! I have a Blue hippo and a hawaiian yellow tang and they get along perfectly. I try to drip acclimate for 2 hours on my stuff.

 

[Mike J.]

I would wait a couple more months before adding a tang. The tangs are all wild caught fish and they do much better adjusting to tank life in a mature tank where they can graze. Two Koralia definitely is not too much flow, I'd say not enough. I am a fan of the WP40's and 25's. A 40 on each end and you'll have good wave action. I wouldn't get more than two of the smaller tangs in a 125.

 

[rjcranor]

A fellow reefer that I get some corals from bought 2 wp40's for his 180 and said that it was to much flow.

 

[Angel730]

I would wait a couple more months before adding a tang. The tangs are all wild caught fish and they do much better adjusting to tank life in a mature tank where they can graze. Two Koralia definitely is not too much flow, I'd say not enough. I am a fan of the WP40's and 25's. A 40 on each end and you'll have good wave action. I wouldn't get more than two of the smaller tangs in a 125.

Thanks for the advice. I was going to wait another few more months before making a purchase of either two small hippo tangs or power blues. I cakes to realized that these guys needs a lot of hiding place so I had to reorganize the lay out. Going to let the tank re-settle with the new lay out.