Husbandry requirements

[Erin O]

Hi all! What would be the best source to get the husbandry requirements (such as best temp., size of tank, tanks mates, etc.) so I can make sure all of my possible fish, shrimp, crabs, etc. are compatible. For example, in the freshwater hobby, I was told to check on the Seriously Fish website. Is there a saltwater equivalent?

 

[mta_morrow]

Hi all! What would be the best source to get the husbandry requirements (such as best temp., size of tank, tanks mates, etc.) so I can make sure all of my possible fish, shrimp, crabs, etc. are compatible. For example, in the freshwater hobby, I was told to check on the Seriously Fish website. Is there a saltwater equivalent?

It’s best to ask questions in each forum so that you get the best experienced answers.

 

[S2G]

You have the stickies here and mainly just research. There's a fish compatibility chart, but the rest is readily available on numerous threads.

Im not really aware of a seriously fishy type sw site. It's more broken up. One person will have very detailed info on eels, angels, tangs, wrasse etc. Every question you have has probably been answered in detail though from startup to sps coral care.

Welcome to the darkside

 

[Erin O]

Is Live Aquaria fairly accurate in their information? I'm mainly looking for tank size and temp. Live Aquaria seems to have all temp ranges, at least for the fish I've been looking at, between 72*-78*. Do you find this to be true?

 

[mta_morrow]

Is Live Aquaria fairly accurate in their information? I'm mainly looking for tank size and temp. Live Aquaria seems to have all temp ranges, at least for the fish I've been looking at, between 72*-78*. Do you find this to be true?

Will you have coral or inverts?

 

[Erin O]

To start, it will be a FOWLR. I may switch it to a reef once I have some experience. I want to have shrimp, hermits, emeralds, and if my tank can handle them, maybe a sea star and/or urchin.

 

[S2G]

Is Live Aquaria fairly accurate in their information? I'm mainly looking for tank size and temp. Live Aquaria seems to have all temp ranges, at least for the fish I've been looking at, between 72*-78*. Do you find this to be true?

They're pretty accurate and will get you started. They do recommend a 125 for a 5' eel so you'll have to use your judgement on things like that.

Unless it's something special you'll usually be in the 78 range.

 

[S2G]

To start, it will be a FOWLR. I may switch it to a reef once I have some experience. I want to have shrimp, hermits, emeralds, and if my tank can handle them, maybe a sea star and/or urchin.

What fish are thinking about?

 

[stanleo]

Is Live Aquaria fairly accurate in their information? I'm mainly looking for tank size and temp. Live Aquaria seems to have all temp ranges, at least for the fish I've been looking at, between 72*-78*. Do you find this to be true?

I find to them to be fairly accurate but I never take what they say for gospel. I always research other sites and read through forums and ask my own specific questions on here.

No one site is going to have all the answers. For instance, I want a mandarin. Most who have them (and all the articles I find on them) say they require a well established tank with a thriving pod population before thinking about adding them. But there are some people, like someone just told me in another thread that start out with this fish and are successful. I go with the majority answer. If the majority of responses I see are that my tank is too small for a powder blue tang, and they are people with loads of experience and knowledge, I won't get one.

Never stopped researching. Even if you think you find the answer, keep digging for a while longer, that answer may have been wrong.

Pick three or four must have fish and build your stock and tank around them. If you have to have a mandarin, then find other fish that will be good for them. Don't get say a copperband butterfly that might out compete it for food. And always add them most aggressive fish on your list last.

 

[mta_morrow]

LA is accurate for 95%. Always ask here first to get some different opinions. My reef runs 76-78 and I have inverts, clam, nems, coral, and fish.

 

[Erin O]

What fish are thinking about?

The tank is a 29g. I'm planning on: 2 Ocellaris clowns, 1 Simple damsel or 1 Royal gramma, 1 Bangaii cardinal, 1 goby (maybe a Diamond, but I'm not sold on this based on some of my reading) and the CUC listed above.
Pretty much the only thing I'm absolutely set on are the clowns. I do know that I want a variety of colors.

 

[AnacapaReefs]

Tank shout be about 78 degrees

The tank is a 29g. I'm planning on: 2 Ocellaris clowns, 1 Simple damsel or 1 Royal gramma, 1 Bangaii cardinal, 1 goby (maybe a Diamond, but I'm not sold on this based on some of my reading) and the CUC listed above.
Pretty much the only thing I'm absolutely set on are the clowns. I do know that I want a variety of colors.

 

[S2G]

The tank is a 29g. I'm planning on: 2 Ocellaris clowns, 1 Simple damsel or 1 Royal gramma, 1 Bangaii cardinal, 1 goby (maybe a Diamond, but I'm not sold on this based on some of my reading) and the CUC listed above.
Pretty much the only thing I'm absolutely set on are the clowns. I do know that I want a variety of colors.

2 clowns in a 29 may be a warzone once mature. I'm not sure a diamond goby would be good. They're very efficient sand cleaners and might not do too good once it whipes out the sand bed.

I have a 3-4" percula clown and it was a thunder dome in a 40b holding tank. I never saw the dottyback and was pretty relentless with the other fish.

 

[Erin O]

2 clowns in a 29 may be a warzone once mature. I'm not sure a diamond goby would be good. They're very efficient sand cleaners and might not do too good once it whipes out the sand bed.

I have a 3-4" percula clown and it was a thunder dome in a 40b holding tank. I never saw the dottyback and was pretty relentless with the other fish.

I had wondered if 2 clowns might be too risky, and I had only planned on one when I started planning this tank. But people on this forum suggested that I get two. From what I have read, as long as they were little (juvenile), the fighting shouldn't be too bad. Is that not the case?
As far as the Diamond goby, my concern (and why I'm not sure that I want one) is that, as you said, my sand bed may not be big enough for him in a 29g. To be honest, I'm leaning towards getting one for my 75g instead, if and when I decide to convert it from fresh to salt.

 

[S2G]

I had wondered if 2 clowns might be too risky, and I had only planned on one when I started planning this tank. But people on this forum suggested that I get two. From what I have read, as long as they were little (juvenile), the fighting shouldn't be too bad. Is that not the case?
As far as the Diamond goby, my concern (and why I'm not sure that I want one) is that, as you said, my sand bed may not be big enough for him in a 29g. To be honest, I'm leaning towards getting one for my 75g instead, if and when I decide to convert it from fresh to salt.

If babies they'll be ok for awhile. Once your sand gets dirty you can try the goby. Worst case you take it back or sell. Just let it be your only sand cleaner instead of getting the usual nassaurus snails or conchs.

You want to add you cuc slowly as you need them. Trochus snails are cheap & can flip themselves. If you want a cleaner shrimp mine is roughly 2.5-3" with long antenna and has no problem snatching food out of the mouth of a fish so just be aware. Tuxedo urchins are relatively small urchins and are sold at small sizes. Hermits are cool but will eat your snails if they can. Sea stars I'd pass with a tank this size. Emeralds can get a pretty good size and I bet if given the opportunity would snatch a small fish.

Aside from that 78 temp, 10x flow or hang on, with rock, & sand should get you rolling. Regular instant ocean salt and use weekly waterchanges with rodi water to control your nitrates. You probably already know that though.

 

[Erin O]

If babies they'll be ok for awhile. Once your sand gets dirty you can try the goby. Worst case you take it back or sell. Just let it be your only sand cleaner instead of getting the usual nassaurus snails or conchs.

You want to add you cuc slowly as you need them. Trochus snails are cheap & can flip themselves. If you want a cleaner shrimp mine is roughly 2.5-3" with long antenna and has no problem snatching food out of the mouth of a fish so just be aware. Tuxedo urchins are relatively small urchins and are sold at small sizes. Hermits are cool but will eat your snails if they can. Sea stars I'd pass with a tank this size. Emeralds can get a pretty good size and I bet if given the opportunity would snatch a small fish.

Aside from that 78 temp, 10x flow or hang on, with rock, & sand should get you rolling. Regular instant ocean salt and use weekly waterchanges with rodi water to control your nitrates. You probably already know that though.

I do know, but I appreciate that you reiterated it! I'm going to have a Tidal, either the 55 or 75, and 2 Hydor Koralia Nano 565power heads. To start, I'll be getting my water from my LFS. I'm planning on live sand and dry rock. I know it takes longer for a tank to cycle with dry rock, but I figure I'll use that time QTing my first fish.
I wasn't going to get snails because of the hermits, although, I have read that if you keep them well fed and have plenty of empty shells for them, they usually leave the snails alone. I just figured I'd skip them altogether. I'll wait on the sea star and the emerald, then. Maybe put them in the 75, if I get it switched.

 

[Peace River]

I had wondered if 2 clowns might be too risky, and I had only planned on one when I started planning this tank. But people on this forum suggested that I get two. From what I have read, as long as they were little (juvenile), the fighting shouldn't be too bad. Is that not the case?
As far as the Diamond goby, my concern (and why I'm not sure that I want one) is that, as you said, my sand bed may not be big enough for him in a 29g. To be honest, I'm leaning towards getting one for my 75g instead, if and when I decide to convert it from fresh to salt.

IMO and experience you will be usually be fine with two oscellaris in a 29g. Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[S2G]

I do know, but I appreciate that you reiterated it! I'm going to have a Tidal, either the 55 or 75, and 2 Hydor Koralia Nano 565power heads. To start, I'll be getting my water from my LFS. I'm planning on live sand and dry rock. I know it takes longer for a tank to cycle with dry rock, but I figure I'll use that time QTing my first fish.
I wasn't going to get snails because of the hermits, although, I have read that if you keep them well fed and have plenty of empty shells for them, they usually leave the snails alone. I just figured I'd skip them altogether. I'll wait on the sea star and the emerald, then. Maybe put them in the 75, if I get it switched.

Word of advice. Test your lfs water. Ive gotten straight rodi, crazy salinities, etc before I made my own.

 

[Erin O]

Word of advice. Test your lfs water. Ive gotten straight rodi, crazy salinities, etc before I made my own.

I will do that, thank you! The LFS I go to is owned by a guy that is REALLY into saltwater, so I'm hopeful that that will mean that his water is good, but I will definitely check it before I add it to my tank

 

[Awesome Dennis]

I use tidal 75s on my 2- 29g QT tanks, love them!