New tank build, first time saltwater

[alex.mccann99]

Since this is your first Saltwater tank experience, as other's have said, I would wait on some of those fish, mostly because of the cost of them and the care required for them. I'd hate to lose a Purple Tang all because I was a newbie and didn't quite know what I was doing, that's an expensive fish to lose. I'd start off with some fish like some Chromis, then move on to a pair of clowns. Pick some of the more common fish that are very hardy. For example, Leopard Wrasses are not easy fish to keep and have requirements, they are best left to experienced tank owners. They're awesome fish, one of my favorites, but all too often people get them because they look so cool, only to have them die within a couple weeks, very sad especially since they are wild caught fish. A more hardy Wrasse that will add a nice flash of color would be a Yellow Coris. Do not buy Damsels, they are pain in the butt, they're cheap for a reason, LOL. You might also check out a Tomini Tang, they're one of my favorites, saw a couple on Diver's Den that looked great just recently. Definitely wait on the Green Mandarin, that's for like at least 6 months down the road or longer. Maroon Clowns get 5 inches or so and can end up very aggressive. There's some great looking pairs on Divers Den from ORA, can't go wrong with those.

 

[MaiReef]

I read that the coral beauty and flame are reef safe so il, cross my fingers.

I do have a Flame Angel and a Coral Beauty that don't touch each other after years in my 100 gallon and they don't touch coral. I added the Coral Beauty second and the Flame Angel is still top dog in the tank though.

 

[Maacc]

I do have a Flame Angel and a Coral Beauty that don't touch each other after years in my 100 gallon and they don't touch coral. I added the Coral Beauty second and the Flame Angel is still top dog in the tank though.

Coral beauty and Flame angels can be reef safe, but they can after months/years of being model citizens turn into nippers. Just something you need to keep an eye on if corals looking unhappy.

 

[cdmckinzie]

I was definitely going to wait on the more expensive fish like the purple, I really do want to make sure we know what we're doing before adding a $150.00 + fish [emoji4] . I like the Vlamingi tang and tomini tang too, are they easier than the Atlantic blue? That is my favorite along with the clown tang and green mandarin. I was told by my local LFS to add the flame angel and clown tang last due to aggression, and I was told that the chromis are much better behaved than damsels. Shame because my fave color is blue and the damsels are the prettiest blue. Is this true? I would like to get a shrimp gobie/pistol shrimp combo, and I'd like an anemone or two, which are the best ones? I wanted to get the chromis and mandarin first, I heard mandarins can't be drip acclimated so what's the best way of adding him to tank? I really appreciate all the help everyone is giving us. I have learned more from R2R in the past 2 months than I have reading books and searching elsewhere, and you guys are so friendly, No one has been judgemental either even though I'm sure you get tired of stupid people like me asking tons of questions [emoji12]. We can't thank you enough!

 

[Maacc]

Blue reef chromis tend to have very high mortality. They don't ship very well and unfortunately the ones that do have a nasty habit of schooling up, picking out the weak member, harassing it to death and then starting all over again so that a school of 6-8 is often down to 1 in a month or 2. Blue green chromis generally fair much better. The mandarin you really want to wait until the tank matures for 6 months plus for a pod population to establish itself unless you want to commit to newly hatched brine shrimp/black worms in a feeder multiple times per day. You have lots of options on the pistol shrimp goby combos, there is the yellow watchman, the aurora and yasha. All are fairly hardy. An anemone is also good to wait on 6 months plus for the system to stabilize. Nems can be sensitive to water condition swings. There are no stupid questions everyone has to learn and everyone is here to help each other out.

 

[cdmckinzie]

Well I want to take good care of the fish and I care more about setting up tank and getting the right livestock to start with than getting what I want first thing. I want my tank cycled, everything healty and the right starter fish. I'm home all the time because I'm disabled, my hubby works full time plus, so I can feed multiple times a day if need be, as long as I know what I'm doing. My hubby is doing all the plumbing and mechanical, etc. Because he knows what he's doing there. I am learning about how to take care of the fish, the feeding, Meds., etc. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and David and I make the best team in everything [emoji7]

 

[cdmckinzie]

There is a LFS about 45 min away from us that had huge blue reef chromis about a week ago. I had no idea they got that big! They were about 3" long and a dark blue/black, just beautiful, I hope they still have some in a month or so.

 

[Mako_SnowflakeEel]

Any other fish you are thinking for what gallon again

 

[cdmckinzie]

It's a 150g. David likes the bargain and pj cardinals, and I would also like a purple or Orchid dotty back. There are several wrasses other than the bird and Leopard we like. David loves brittle stars, serpent stars, any star really. I would get some pipe fish and seahorses if they could go into the tank with everyone else, if we have enough room we'll probably get a blue throat trigger. Anything different or cool that is reef safe.

 

[cdmckinzie]

I swear I type what I want to, stupid spell check, and my tablet keeps randomly capitalizing words [emoji16]

 

[cdmckinzie]

I just recently saw a picture of an indigo hamlet that I liked alot too and I would love to get a blue maxima clam at some point down the road.

 

[cdmckinzie]

My hubby has been looking for a good company where he can get a sump/fuse kit for an Aqueon 40 gallon breeder tank for out new tank, I'm hoping Octo Aquatics can do it. http://octoaquatics.com/ato-containers-dosing-containers-sumps-refugiums/
I would also love the feeder they have, that would be awsome.

 

[Mako_SnowflakeEel]

If you want to add some personality to your tank you should get a snowflake eel but he might eat some smaller shrimp and crabs as a baby the seahorses might be hard to care for in a 150 because the other fish will outcompete them

 

[cdmckinzie]

Does anyone know if they or someone else can do a good sump kit for an Aqueon 40g breeder tank or do you think we need something larger for a sump/refugium on a 150g tank? I'm also not quite sure on the size of the tank, if we put into a calculator the measurements it comes out to 143g but my hubby says he's pretty sure it is 150g. Does that tiny bit make a difference?

 

[Reef2zach]

Does anyone know if they or someone else can do a good sump kit for an Aqueon 40g breeder tank or do you think we need something larger for a sump/refugium on a 150g tank? I'm also not quite sure on the size of the tank, if we put into a calculator the measurements it comes out to 143g but my hubby says he's pretty sure it is 150g. Does that tiny bit make a difference?

I have a 75 gallon sump on my 220. I'd say a 40 gallon would work fine. Might be a little tight inside to fit all your equipment but if it's done right that shouldn't be a problem. I also don't think my sump runs the same way most people's do lol. I have my returns and equipment in the middle of the sump and the overflows drop water into bio balls on each side. Most sump I've seen run from one end to the other.

 

[cdmckinzie]

Yes I see that. My hubby can put it together but he's been looking for the best place to get the kit, with the holes for socks, skimmer, fuge and return areas. And we need a new overflow box because the one that came with the tank had alot of broken teeth

 

[cdmckinzie]

I would love a snowflake eel or a blue/black eel I think they're called. Is that one reef safe too

 

[Mako_SnowflakeEel]

I would say so some research but a lot of eels are reef safe never met one that wasn't they just mock over corals

 

[cdmckinzie]

Cool, thanks

 

[USMA36]

I am also just learning. Check out YouTube. I have picked up a ton of info there. BRS makes great videos especially the 52 FAQ and the BRS 160 series. Check out mr saltwater tank and tidal gardens. They all have great info. As far as sumps check out the trigger 39.