Non-photosythetic, low-light fish recommendations

[keddre]

Well, I was thinking of cashing in my nem and fish and turning my tank into my specialty, a filter feeder tank. The tank would be higher-flow with blue-only led's for a couple hours a day, and whatever light (if any) my room provides for the rest. While I'm setting it up to be a filter feeding invert tank, I don't know what (if any) fish could survive in this and was looking for inspiration. Again, I'm thinking about this but not sure if I'll go through with it...Thanks

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

This is a fun idea, albeit a difficult one in that you will need to dose lots of different food to keep the non-photosynthetic corals thriving. So have to be very very careful about water quality. With that said, there are several fish that would be appropriate. You could do a search on the Jewel Tank at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific for inspiration. It was awesome when it was in it's full glory. Here's some good and expensive fish:
Ventralis Anthias Males & Females
Helfriechi Firefish
Sunburst Anthias
Swales Swissguard Basslet (cheaper) or Candy Basslet ($$$$$)
Black Cap Basslet
There are some others that are super expensive I'll leave out.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Food for thought.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...osynthetic-corals-by-matt-wandell-macna-2016/

https://reefbuilders.com/2011/01/10/nonphotosynthetic-reef-tank-mike-cao/

And keep in mind, it doesn't have to be dark dark. Consider this, if a kessil 16o produces 300 par
(1800lux) at 12 over a tank and is a weak light, my living room with the widows open on a sunny day and the light on right now is 150 lux.
Your bathroom is probably 90 to 200 lux.

 

[keddre]

This is a fun idea, albeit a difficult one in that you will need to dose lots of different food to keep the non-photosynthetic corals thriving. So have to be very very careful about water quality

This is the only part I feel confident about. Due to currently having feather dusters and a flame scallop, I'm used to running a tank full of food and already have established culture of "pods" and phyto. Plus there are so many in my fuge and DT, you can see them at all times of the day.

You could do a search on the Jewel Tank at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific for inspiration

I'll look it up when I get home

Black Cap Basslet

I went through all those fish, but I really like this one. Definitely an option, thanks

Food for thought

Thanks, I'll check the video out when I get home but the article was cool.

it doesn't have to be dark dark

It's not so much that I want it "dark darl" but I have the Marineland LED that sits on top of the tank, plus I can't control the white to blue balance, so I was thinking of setting the whites to come on at 7 then go off at 7:01, and have the blues on the for five or six hours while I'm home between school and work.

 

[Tahoe61]

How large is the tank? With NPS the difficulty is providing sufficient nutrition without compromising water quality.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

This is the only part I feel confident about. Due to currently having feather dusters and a flame scallop, I'm used to running a tank full of food and already have established culture of "pods" and phyto. Plus there are so many in my fuge and DT, you can see them at all times of the day.


I'll look it up when I get home


I went through all those fish, but I really like this one. Definitely an option, thanks


Thanks, I'll check the video out when I get home but the article was cool.


It's not so much that I want it "dark darl" but I have the Marineland LED that sits on top of the tank, plus I can't control the white to blue balance, so I was thinking of setting the whites to come on at 7 then go off at 7:01, and have the blues on the for five or six hours while I'm home between school and work.

It won't let you control intensity?

 

[ngoodermuth]

Marine Betta! I think @eatbreakfast has a pair? I believe they like dimmer lighting and dark overhangs.

 

[Gweeds1980]

@AcroNem....one for your input?

 

[keddre]

How large is the tank? With NPS the difficulty is providing sufficient nutrition without compromising water quality.

It's a 55 with 20 actual gallons of a fuge containing live rock and caulerpa. I also have an ATS that I'll expand, a dsb and will probably add a reactor if I see nitrates creeping up. Fuge is on 16 hours a day.

It won't let you control intensity?

Correct, it's one of those cheap beginner ones where it only has blue only, white only, or both and can only grow soft corals. I'm also unable to unscrew some of the leds. Maybe I can tape of one of the three rows since it didn't get hot.

Marine Betta!

I can't believe I forgot this one. I was looking at it before too ‍

@AcroNem....one for your input?

I can't believe I forgot to ask you two too

 

[Gweeds1980]

Oh and to answer the question... gonna struggle a little as you'll need proper nocturnal fish really and they tend to be predators... black cap would be goid, cardinals are the obvious choice and how about a striped squirrelfish (Sargocentron xantherythrum) depending on space and crabs etc? It might do a number on your feather duster tho...

 

[sk8]

Big eye solider fish like low light as well as dwarf lions

 

[saltyhog]

Do all photosynthetic corals require low/no light? I see all kinds of sun coral, NPS gorgonians in the wide open on reefs. Being nocturnal doesn't mean they can't tolerate light does it?

 

[AcroNem]

Do all photosynthetic corals require low/no light? I see all kinds of sun coral, NPS gorgonians in the wide open on reefs. Being nocturnal doesn't mean they can't tolerate light does it?

Not really. They can pretty much all tolerate higher light levels, but usually do better with it being a little more subdued.

I like the squirrelfish/soldierfish ideas, cardinals too. Basslets also come to mind. The problem is your bioload is going to be so high that having a big eater in there won't help. What species of predatory/filter feeding corals are you thinking of housing? I'll add more when I know what you're adding

 

[keddre]

gonna struggle a little as you'll need proper nocturnal fish really and they tend to be predators

I want to say "unfortunately I know", but I'm not too worried as this was intended to be an invert tank anyway. Maybe one show fish that doesn't touch inverts too much, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if I couldn't

cardinals are the obvious choice

I have 3 banggai's, maybe they can sit back and enjoy the ride

dwarf lions

This could be an option, I like the look but need to look into the size, diet, etc

Do all photosynthetic corals require low/no light[?/QUOTE]
No, almost all can do any, but for the ones I'm interested in, it helps. Especially sponges, which can suffer if microalgae grow on them

 

[keddre]

@AcroNem here is my current ideas in priority wise

Absolutely getting as I have them and they have been with me for 4/5 months now:
- Both feather dusters (assuming the one my pistol shrimp repeatedly buries is still alive)
- My flame scallop

Truley want:
- another scallop
- Blueberry gorgonians
- Tunicates, preferance to Tiger
- Some silk corals

Want but will get towards the end:
- Sea Apple
- Ornamental Sponges

Want but won't be upset without:
- Strawberry corals
- Barnacles

 

[eatbreakfast]

All the fish options are good, here are some others not mentioned:
Yellow assessor, any Liopropoma basslet, flashlight fish, sunburst or borbonus anthias, school of mini dartfish.

 

[mort]

Sunburst anthias would be first on my list but I'd likely also have a geometric pygmy hawkfish or similar and maybe a chalk bass or three.

Don't know if you've seen this thread, it's a slightly bigger tank but great inspiration https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/r2r-r...ight-marks-rimless-nps-paradise-may-2017.288/

 

[keddre]

All the fish options are good, here are some others not mentioned

Thanks for the input, I'll do research on these too

Don't know if you've seen this thread, it's a slightly bigger tank but great inspiration

Thanks, I'm looking at this now and it seems like it has good info

All:
I've decided to go through with it and have started a thread here -> https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/55-gallon-softie-to-nps-filter-feeder-tank-build.322954/