What are my options...

[sfloridasalty]

Well, I finally got a nice 100 gal tank and stand/hood that my wife would actually let me put in the house ;-) My original intentions were to go completely reef (lots of LR, etc.). I've been dreaming of creating the kind of coral wonderland that I see posted here all the time. As fate would have it though, my best friend decided to buy a house and not put up his tank in his new home (he wants to build it into his wall). Since I've helped him remodel the house, he decided to bequeath his awesome collection of fish to me. Well, there goes the pure reef idea... but I did get a pretty great selection of livestock: 2 purple tangs, 1 sailfin, 1 Achilles, 1 Fiji wrasse, 1 cleaner wrasse. Add to that my Arrow Crab, a coral banded shrimp, 2 yellow fin damsels, and a couple of Cerianthus. As if that weren't bad enough, I received an orphaned Flame scallop and good size brittle star as well (I appear to be the home for wayward sea creatures). 8O Needless to say, all these folks need room to swim, live and breath. Since they were raised together in rather tight quarters, they get along fine. I've added about as much LR as I think I can (I've created a small rubble field and an island on one side to provide hiding spots for the smaller guys). :?: My question is this: given all the life I've got in there now, what are my options (if any) for adding coral to this tank? I've definitely got the lights and the tank is established. Am I stuck with a fish only or can I create a more realistic environment and with what?

Thanks,

sfloridasalty

 

[xKEIGOx]

Well, adding some lights and temperature maintaining will get you to a reef tank.
Could you tell us what kinda equipment you having now?

 

[Cracker]

:wink:
Let me save you some burns. That many tangs in that small of a tank can, should and will get you flamed around here. Corals should be the least of your worries, right now. I would seriously recommend liquidating some livestock. Trade a couple tangs for some liverock or corals so you can create the tank you want. Good luck!!
Whitey

 

[sfloridasalty]

Yeah, I guess that would have been good info to include on the first post huh? :?

Lights are 4 PC 65 W (2 daylight, 2 act)

Sealife 100 wet/dry with a SeaClone skimmer

about 3" of LS and currently 40 lbs of LR

 

[sfloridasalty]

:wink:
Let me save you some burns. That many tangs in that small of a tank can, should and will get you flamed around here. Corals should be the least of your worries, right now. I would seriously recommend liquidating some livestock. Trade a couple tangs for some liverock or corals so you can create the tank you want. Good luck!!
Whitey

<nod> aggreed. What would you recommend would be the optimal number of tangs for a tank this size? And which ones would you recommend keeping? I'll starting find the rest new homes tomorrow.

 

[Len]

I'd like to think that our members aren't flamers

Anyhow, good news for you: With the lighting/filtration setup and the current stock list, you are still left with lots of coral stocking options. Most soft corals and LPS corals are possiblities for inclusion in your tank. I would recommend removing at least one tang (my pick would be one of the Purple Tangs since same species = higher competitition). If you're Achilles tang has been doing well in captivity for years, keep it! A.achilles usually doesn't fare well in captivity, so a successfully kept one is a prized possesion in my book.

BTW, I'm not sure what species Fiji wrasse is, but if you meant Fuji wrassse (Coris aygula), I recommend you give it to your LFS.

 

[sfloridasalty]

Thanks for your help eveyone. I agree, I think one of the purple's will have to go. I just hated to do it because they amazigly got along so well, but in the interest of all their tank mates its better to separate them. The achilles is doing great, he was always going to be one of the keepers.

Len you are correct, I did mean the Fuji Wrasse, please excuse the typo. Just curious as to why you suggest getting rid of that one as well. He seems be doing very well and plays well with others. As I said, I inherited him so I'm just learing about them. To that end, could you post some links to more info about the species? I've tried to find things, but I'm having difficulty. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure now if this fish was identified to me correctly or not. Would you do a newbie a favor and let me know what this guy is:

Thank for all the valuable info... lots to learn and loving it.

 

[Len]

Ah, that's a Halichoeres sp. It's reef-safe, for the most part (may predate smaller clams and crustaceans though). It's a sand digger and is efficient at hunting infauna in the substrate. The genus Halichoreres has several dozen valid species (plus many not yet described), so it's hard to ID your specimen. It really looks like H.lapillus to me, but those come from African waters, and aren't as regularly imported. However, Fuji wrasses (Coris aygula) are also collected from those waters, so there is a possibliity the collector/transhipped/wholesaler/retailer mixed the name up in the chain of custody, explaining why it was given to you as a Fuji wrasse. Just thinking aloud .....

Whatever species it is, that is a gorgeous specimen. Feed it well so it doesn't disturb your sandbed too much.

 

[sfloridasalty]

Thanks Len! I'm off to find some good info now. So far there isn't much he won't eat. I'm glad to kow what he is now... I don't think my kids can pronounce Halichoeres... so they'll probably just keep calling him Rainbow Fish.

You made one statement though that raises a question. You mentioned that they are quite adept at hunting in the sandbed. I've actually just ordered some wondermud (with stars, etc.... all the good stuff). Obviously these critters will serve as a source of food, but will these organisms have time to reproduce before he eats them all?

 

[sfloridasalty]

Len,

Thanks! You sir are a taxonomical genius. You nailed it right on:

http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Species ... e=lapillus

Thank you!

 

[Len]

I won't lie to you: I don't know the probability your new detrivores have of maturing and spawning. My guess? Some species should service, while others (particularly non-burrowing polycheates) will be fish food.