Reef Fish...

[postie]

Getting the new 55 going. Wanted a little bigger, but had to be careful about floors. I'll end up with a total of about 60 or so lbs of LR (can always buy more if it won't fill the tank to the brim). Will be moving from two small tanks a pistol shrimp (which I'm sure will travel with his rock), a yellow-spotted goby, a yellow-tailed damsel, a mated pair of percula clowns and what clean-up crew I can gather (also have a couple of softie corals that will go along). I'll cycle the 55 with 25 lbs. of LR, then transfer my LR from the smaller tanks to make up the difference to probably around the 60 lbs. OH, and I will also be taking my 8 yr. old hippo tang.

Any suggestions for one or two other smaller fish that might fit in with the group? I will be using biological filtration and skimmer (haven't got that yet) and will have dual 250-watt MH lighting (shipment is in route). I don't want to just see the tang and an occasional damsel....I'd like at least one more that will swim in the open, even if just once in awhile. I don't really mind a medium to heavy bioload, since I don't mind water changes, etc.

Any suggestions for fish??? I'm sure I will be adding corals with the good lighting, so keep that in mind. I don't know what kind of corals yet. Just sitting back waiting on the cycling for now. LR in shipment for cycling...so I have a few weeks to think on it.........IDEAS guys!!! Thanks...

 

[fishfirst]

So wait, you have a hippo tang that you are trying to fit into a 55? 8 years old? Isn't it huge??? Sounds cramped already to me... I wouldn't put a hippo in anything less than 125 gallons... where was he prior to this? How big of a tank?

 

[WRASSER]

Blennies, dawrf angles, small coris wrasse, dottie backs, basslets, cardinals, a tile fish, darwf loin fish, yellow grouper (they stay small), sie-line wrasse just to name a few

 

[postie]

Wrasser, those all sound VERY interesting! Gives me an idea of what to look for!!!!

As for the tang....nevermind where he is at the moment (not flaming or being rude).....let's just say it's too small and I know it. He'll do fine in a 55....he's about 7" head to tail and never....ever...had a sick day in his life! He's so fat (if you can envision a FAT tang) that his face is wrinkled! He's very friendly unless something invades the water....like a hand...lol. But, he's happy, safe, and moving up!

I really do like the lionfish....would a dwarf lion not be too big with the tang as far as bioload? Wrasses are great too and there's a wide variety.

Also, maybe a good question is this: which fish should I definitely AVOID?
I know I can't have anymore large fish...but there are plenty of small ones that can play outlaw! Thanks again...

 

[WRASSER]

postie lets see some pics of that fat fish? LOL, I know where you are coming from i too have three fat tangs in my 150,
as for a bio-load on the 55, it depends on your filter, I have a wet-dry for a 75 gal tank. If you have a piggy-back, it's probably to small to keep up with the load. As for wrasse family, the yellow coris wrasse aren't too big of a fish,and if you have a filter system to keep up with the fish a fu man shu will make a nice addition to the tank. :wink: Let us know what you decide 8)

 

[fishfirst]

My blue is 1 year old and he's grown from dime size to 2 to 3 inches... the "fatness" you see maybe because of stunting. Good fish for a 55 without the tang and would be open swimmers would be perc clowns, dwarf angels, cardinalfish, chromis, fairy wrasses/6 lines, and dartfish. If you don't want small fish in your aquarium, get the fuzzy dwarf.

 

[postie]

I don't think the tang is stunted....it's a good 7"+. That, of course, is only an estimate as he is not inclined to be measured...lol. What do you guys think about the hawkfish? I like the way they perch and peep around...what are the pros and cons?

For filtration, I'm going to try to go strictly biological...maybe with an empty biowheel just to churn a little top water and give me a space to throw in carbon if necessary at some point. But I won't use any media for mechanical filtration. I will use a good skimmer and plenty of live rock. It should all balance out, just takes some time. Seems like when you use all the different methods and modes of filtration, it works more quickly and great for awhile, then problems arise....and when you try to go to just biological filtration....it takes a real long time for the change to adjust. I've taken everything off my 20 except the skimmer and things are truly looking better by the day. Same with my other tanks as well.

Anyway...back to the hawkfish....good choice or bad? And which type is best?

Thanks again!

 

[WRASSER]

Hawk fish are good. I believe you will get away with one in 55. I like the Flame hawk, the long nose is second.
Let us know what you deciede.