KC's 55gal
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Kworker
Tang Lover
Thanks, gotta put a stock list together before than, dartfish will probably be first
What do you think of
1 or 2 purple catfish or 1 helfichi
Pair of occ. Clowns
1 flame angel
Don't have any others in mind. Love fairy wrasses but heard they lose color if no females, wanted to do chromis but heard they'll kill eachother
What do you think of
1 or 2 purple catfish or 1 helfichi
Pair of occ. Clowns
1 flame angel
Don't have any others in mind. Love fairy wrasses but heard they lose color if no females, wanted to do chromis but heard they'll kill eachother
bknapp
Has been left unattended
I am no fish expert so I hope someone else chimes in. But I also like chromis, I have read that a lower number like three is a good number and that they tend to lower themselves to a certain number that the school likes. I am unsure of the purple catfish, can't seem to find anything. And the Flame Angel is a "with caution" fish according to LiveAquaria and I would personally be apprehensive on adding one.
As far as a top off box goes I have an Atomic Reef ATO box that holds around ten gallons and use a JBJ ATO system to keep the right water level. In my opinion adding an ATO system is one of the best things a reefer can do, no matter the tank size. It will make your life easier and keep your salinity even.
Hope this helps.
As far as a top off box goes I have an Atomic Reef ATO box that holds around ten gallons and use a JBJ ATO system to keep the right water level. In my opinion adding an ATO system is one of the best things a reefer can do, no matter the tank size. It will make your life easier and keep your salinity even.
Hope this helps.
Last edited:
OP
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Kworker
Tang Lover
at 2 1/2 week mark. As of last night perams look close...
ph is in 8.2-8.4 range.
Ammonia at .25 ppm
Nitrite at 0 and
Nitrate around 2.5
I'm going to test the water again in a bit, write down my results than bring a sample to my LFS and have them test i just want to make sure my kit is accurate and hasnt went down the sinker. If my water ends up being good today (doubt it) I may pick up a small invert. Just to have something to look at haha
ph is in 8.2-8.4 range.
Ammonia at .25 ppm
Nitrite at 0 and
Nitrate around 2.5
I'm going to test the water again in a bit, write down my results than bring a sample to my LFS and have them test i just want to make sure my kit is accurate and hasnt went down the sinker. If my water ends up being good today (doubt it) I may pick up a small invert. Just to have something to look at haha
OP
OP
Kworker
Tang Lover
Ph was actually 7.8 i got false readings bc i was using a freshwater kit instead of salt so i pickedu p a new kit
ammonia is still .25
nitrite is 0
nitrate is 0
picked up seachem ph buffer to increase to 8.3
ammonia is still .25
nitrite is 0
nitrate is 0
picked up seachem ph buffer to increase to 8.3
bknapp
Has been left unattended
I wouldn't worry too much about buffering your pH, especially during the cycle. Mine was right around 7.8 until the end of my cycle and now it hovers around 8.1 during the day and 7.9 at night. A lot of people will say not to chase the 8.3 mark and just let it sit where it does, stability is more important than hitting the mark. Unless of course it is super low. I would start doing daily tests and follow your nitrogen cycle, watch your nitrite rise and fall than wait for you nitrate spike. Be patient here, I know it's tough. Hope this help.
OP
OP
Kworker
Tang Lover
It's close to 3 weeks now, I've watch both nitrate and nitrite fall somewhat elevated levels to 0, ammonia was still .25 last night
I added ph buffer, I tested a half hour ago and its at 8.2 now, I bought a small container so if I end up never needing again than oh well..
If I'm correct the nitrates and nitrite should not increase again all I have to wait for is ammonia to fall to 0 which should be by next week.
I only added 5 pounds of live rock to my 35 pounds of dry so I would assume die off is very small and I wouldn't have huge increases in ammonia which I have not had. Highest was .5 and its been .25 for about a week now.
I added ph buffer, I tested a half hour ago and its at 8.2 now, I bought a small container so if I end up never needing again than oh well..
If I'm correct the nitrates and nitrite should not increase again all I have to wait for is ammonia to fall to 0 which should be by next week.
I only added 5 pounds of live rock to my 35 pounds of dry so I would assume die off is very small and I wouldn't have huge increases in ammonia which I have not had. Highest was .5 and its been .25 for about a week now.
OP
OP
Kworker
Tang Lover
with nothing else to do I've come up with a stock list I'm confident and happy about
2 either occ. or percula clowns
1 Helfrichi Dartfish
1 Tomini Tang
I'm content with only those 4, I want to keep my stock down low.
Besides that a few shrimp and starfish will be in the lineup too but be added before fish.
2 either occ. or percula clowns
1 Helfrichi Dartfish
1 Tomini Tang
I'm content with only those 4, I want to keep my stock down low.
Besides that a few shrimp and starfish will be in the lineup too but be added before fish.
bknapp
Has been left unattended
The fish list looks good. I would research the tang before adding, a lot of people and places such as LiveAquaria say that they need plenty of swimming room. I really like the Helfrichi Dartfish.
OP
OP
Kworker
Tang Lover
I did a good bit of research just on the tang, saw people keeping them happily in a 55 and people saying it's fine. Most of what was said about there personality is they are not as active as other tang species. Plus honestly I would be one of the first in many cases to say to research about it but I've made the decision as of now.. that realistically when I look at it I see it like this, I plan in finding a small one from my lfs and honestly I think the odds of that fish making it into a tank smaller than the 55 is pretty much against its favor. The amount of fish I happily keep alive greatly outweigh the few I have lost. I dedicate my time to my tanks, where some mention a 55 is borderline and only for experienced I feel I am capable. I am basing everything around the tomini, stocking only 3 other fish and going to open up more swimming room for him.
Although I do plan to upgrade in the near future, I won't throw that as an excuse.
Although I do plan to upgrade in the near future, I won't throw that as an excuse.
mcarroll
10K Club member
I like your plans to not go crazy on the fish list and great inentions for making more space for them, but still a few comments to share:
Tang Police!
The Tomini, being a Bristletooth (usually a loaner vs schooler) and a relatively small tang, is definitely one of the best Tang choices for an aquarium. He will outgrow your 55, and end up an unhappy fish however - that's only four square feet of space no matter how you slice it!
If you don't have pretty solid plans for (and resources to enable) a tank upgrade to at least a fairly large 4' tank in the next year or so, I would still make another fish selection from other than the Tang family.
Firefish
I would also think long and hard about that Helfrichi.....very expensive and a likely jumper. The common Fire Fish comes with a price tag that is smaller by an order of magnitude (!!) and still has great looks if that's your kind of fish. (Still a likely jumper IME....get only one for safest results.) Stay away from serpent or brittle stars with any of these fish (or really any fish that sleeps in a cave, nook or cranny.)
Clowns
Hard to go wrong with clownfish. Something to keep in mind is that if you like 'em enough you could go with a colony of them so you wind up with a female and harem of males.
Good luck!
-Matt
Tang Police!
The Tomini, being a Bristletooth (usually a loaner vs schooler) and a relatively small tang, is definitely one of the best Tang choices for an aquarium. He will outgrow your 55, and end up an unhappy fish however - that's only four square feet of space no matter how you slice it!
If you don't have pretty solid plans for (and resources to enable) a tank upgrade to at least a fairly large 4' tank in the next year or so, I would still make another fish selection from other than the Tang family.
Firefish
I would also think long and hard about that Helfrichi.....very expensive and a likely jumper. The common Fire Fish comes with a price tag that is smaller by an order of magnitude (!!) and still has great looks if that's your kind of fish. (Still a likely jumper IME....get only one for safest results.) Stay away from serpent or brittle stars with any of these fish (or really any fish that sleeps in a cave, nook or cranny.)
Clowns
Hard to go wrong with clownfish. Something to keep in mind is that if you like 'em enough you could go with a colony of them so you wind up with a female and harem of males.
Good luck!
-Matt
OP
OP
Kworker
Tang Lover
I was going to add yesterday I drastically changed my mind, I saw a tomini and decided too large after placing a 6 inch portion of a ruler next to my tank later on as well, honestly had a brainfart as to how big 6 inches is. (sounded a bit perverted as well) sorry anyway...
I decided against the tang after seeing Many fairy wrasse, I would rather stock 2-3 other small fish rather than a big. Also I kind of want to add more height to my rock structure unsure though. I knew tang police would arrive eventually BUT if you do research the tomini there are large amounts of people saying 55 would be okay. I even saw a couple of 50gal as minimum.
Main reason for the tang was to replace the future flame angel, but I really don't want to risk my coral.
A copperband butterfly would be nice but I eventually want a rbta with my clowns.
I decided against the tang after seeing Many fairy wrasse, I would rather stock 2-3 other small fish rather than a big. Also I kind of want to add more height to my rock structure unsure though. I knew tang police would arrive eventually BUT if you do research the tomini there are large amounts of people saying 55 would be okay. I even saw a couple of 50gal as minimum.
Main reason for the tang was to replace the future flame angel, but I really don't want to risk my coral.
A copperband butterfly would be nice but I eventually want a rbta with my clowns.
bknapp
Has been left unattended
I really like your attitude and thought that you're putting into this. It's refreshing. Some people aren't very good with criticism. Continual learning, an open mind and, great equipment are great things to start a reef tank with. I am sure your tank will be amazing. Good job!
OP
OP
Kworker
Tang Lover
My rapidled 12led par38 mixed color with uv's in it should be at my house, so hopefully tonight I'll be getting the plans together for my canopy/fixture build plan on the way. Plan on four par38 bulbs on tracklights 2 actinic and two of the mixed. Than possibly adding two more 7 led white par30 bulbs.
