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#1
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FOWLR questions.....
I'm wondering if I could tap into the intelligence of the masses out there. I've got a 50 gallon breeder tank (36x18x18) with a 20g sump/refugium. Probably around 70-80 lbs of live rock. Currently in the tank I've got an orchid dottyback, a six-line wrasse, a false percula clown, a midas blenny, a yellow tail damsel, and an auriga butterfly. Don't yell at me about the butterfly it was an impulse buy, I had an aiptasia problem (that it cleaned up beautifully), and the guy at the store said that a 50 gallon tank is perfect for that fish. I've since read that it's not and I may have to sell it when it gets bigger unfortunately. Anyways, that being said am I crazy to think that I could possibly add another fish?
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#2
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How long has this tank been running? I'm sure there are people with 50g tanks that have more fish in it than you do. Does not mean that that's a good idea though. I'm sure you'll get other opinions but mine would be that you have plenty of fish in your 50g. With that much live rock in there it doesn't seem like there is a lot of swimming room left. Are you doing anything special for nutrient control? Running a refugium with macro algae, mangroves, bio pellets, zeovit, etc? If you employed a somewhat aggressive nutrient reduction method then maybe you could get away with another small fish that doesn't really swim much. Or you could get some inverts like shrimp, crabs, etc.
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#3
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Thanks for the reply. I kind of figured im close to the max. I've got a good bit of the live rock in the sump and what's in the display is off the back so they can swim on both sides quite easily. In the sump I've got chaeto and live rock.
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#4
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i dont believe your close to your limit at all. I am sure that you can add at least a 2-5 more fish depending on what they are. no tangs or angels or anything big, but a firefish, another clown, gobies, cardinals, or even a scooter blenny. but 5 or 6 fish is not your limit for your tank at all
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#5
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What type/size of skimmer are you using? What is are your current nitrate and phosphate readings?
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Last edited by Myka; 04-28-2010 at 01:59 AM. |
#6
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I'm using a vertex in-100 for my skimmer and also running a small refugium with a dsb (added the dsb about 4 weeks ago) and chaeto in the sump. Nitrates have been 5-10 for the last 5-6 weeks. I'll post some pics so you guys can see the set up. I don't think I'd want to get a firefish cause I think the wrasse and the orchid dottyback will harass it to no end. Whatever the fish, if I add a fish, I'd want to keep it small. I've considered adding another clown to keep the other one company but am concerned the one I've got wouldn't get along with the new one as it was the first fish in the tank. I don't know, definitely open to suggestions.....
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#7
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Here are a couple pics of the tank. What I've tried to do is stack the rocks on quite in the middle of the tank but still allow space for the fish to swim on both sides and in between the rocks. I've got a pump circulating water around the back to the front and another pump circulating the front along with my return from the sump.
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#8
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adding fish
Buddy, besides the butterfly, all your fish are relatively small fish. I've seen guys with nanos with more fish than you. I think you could easily add a couple of small gobies or dragonets. Maybe even one small flame angel. Your system looks pretty good and should support it no problem. Just don't feed everyday and you'll have no problem with excess nutrients. Even if your nitrates get a little on the high side, you don't have any corals to worry about.
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Last tank was 210 reef with 90 gal sump 120 , lps. 2xKessil A350W Tuna Blues, 2xvortech mp40 for flow,aqualogic 1/4 hp chiller, 160 lbs live rock. sohal, , pair of percs,flame dotty back , royal gramma, pair of black percs, niger trigger, mandarin 55 corner bowfront freshwater, African cichlids kessil a350 30 gal 36x36 coffee table fish tank. 3 red ear sliders. 5.5 gal nano, live rock, arrow crab, baby perc, firefish. |