How big can I go while keeping the same light?

TheReefGeek · #1 03-09-2006, 08:17 PM

What fish do you have? In my 50g I had 13 fish or so. It depends on the size of the fish, not the number. And it depends on your filtration, I ran that on a CPR BakPak II, and I ran an 18w UV sterilizer. No sump, no fuge at that time, and I had no algae problems with that equipment and bioload.

Coral Beauty, yellow tang, 2 clowns, firefish, 2 lyretail anthias, clown goby, scooter blenny, couple other gobies, and can't remember the other 2 right now.

Sand sifting fish don't hide in the sand at all, they hover around and scoop up the sand and sift it, my dragon goby is one of my favorite fish to watch! He is always out in the open, and it is great to watch him sift huge mouthfulls of sand and drop it everywhere (including my corals, I think he aims for them too!)

OCDP · #2 03-09-2006, 08:27 PM

Wow 13 fish eh.. interesting.

The fish I have now are , 2 true percs, 1 yellow watchman (which i plan to get rid of soon.. but im not sure because I dont think I am doing BB after all that

I realized I would probably miss sand too much... and I do find it looks somewhat un-natural to some degree.. so sand stays, oh well.. I'll stay on top of cleaning it.

Anywhoo.. 2 true percs, 1 yellow watchman, 1 lawnmower blenny, and the flame (being the biggest by far in the tank) You barely ever see the YWG and lawnmower. Now that I think about it.. I may remove the blenny instead.. I never see the little guy! Like... hardly ever, once a week or so...

TheReefGeek · #3 03-09-2006, 08:35 PM

My lawnmower blenny is out and about all the time. Maybe when you re-aquascape you will have better luck. I leave a big area of open sand in the front middle of my tank for my fish to congregate in, just a couple small rocks for the gobies to purch on. My orange spotted watchman gobie took about 6 months before he decided he didn't need to hide anymore, so give it time.

TheReefGeek · #4 03-09-2006, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Also, understock where ever possible to avoid algae problems down the road.

Sure it is always possible to understock, but he primarily wants this tank for fish. I say load up, and stay on top of filtering the water. As long as the inhabitants are all peacefull too, they need a certain amount of swimming room, and an area to claim there own territory.

Lots of rock for bacteria, good skimmer, UV sterilizer maybe, and 15% weekly water changes. Monitor the nitrates and keep them reasonable, use RO water so you dont feed phosphates to the tank. This worked really well on my 50g with the above bioload.

OCDP · #5 03-09-2006, 08:44 PM

Bev, when the time is nearing to setup the new tank.. I'll definitely be coming to you for BA removal advice! Thanks for your offer

Ever since I've had the blenny he has been very, very timid and shy. This is not typical lawnmower personality (from what ive read) The only reason I would remove him now is because it's easiest. I wouldn't be able to (not easily) remove him in the new system. He also does not eat prepared foods.. and I fear one day he will just starve to death on me.