68G cube becomes a 95G Reef :)

GreenSpottedPuffer · #1 12-10-2008, 10:46 PM

So this is where I am at...

Moved everything to the 95G...yeah its only 95G in the display. I was shocked. It would be 125 if I had it filled to the top but I have the water level quite low. So its a 95G with 75G sump (only about 40G water in sump though). The corals are ok but very dull after three days. The skimmer went nuts and skimmed the heck out of the water. I think its starving the sps to be honest. They still look ok but dull. I need more fish

The stand/canopy is not close to done. No doors on anything. We are choosing a stone or concrete looking tile for the stand and not sure about the canopy yet. Probably just painted though.

Here are the latest additions and tank shots.

Pair of Fang Blennies. They do not leave each others side. Sorry bad pic. I will have to try for a better one.

And the other addition that I have only seen once is this Clown Goby. I think you get an idea from the second pic of how small he is!

And the tank from both sides. Its a room divider still.

The plan now is to fill this bad boy with tiny fish! All kinds of gobies and blennies, ect. I just have to find out how well they get along. Anyone have a general rule for these small fish?

untamed · #2 12-10-2008, 11:19 PM

Your yellow tang should kick that ich. I know I have ich in my tank but my yellow tang is one of the fish that never shows any sign of it. They must have better natural resistance than something like my achilles, which always shows it to some degree.

I like the rockwork in that tank! That will look fabulous in about 1 year.

Are you planning on doing anything more with your lighting? It looks like you are lighting the reef portion with MH, but not trying to light that sandy end too much. What is your plan there?

untamed · #3 12-10-2008, 11:22 PM

Don't fang blennies feed on skin/scales of larger fish? I saw those guys the other day at JL, and I was wondering about that as I looked at them.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #4 12-10-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

Don't fang blennies feed on skin/scales of larger fish? I saw those guys the other day at JL, and I was wondering about that as I looked at them.

I don't know to be honest. I wasn't going to buy them because I haven't done any research but it was kind of an impulse buy. They ate mysis as soon as I put them in the tank and they spend all day eating pods. Its actually really cool how they hunt pods. They kind of hover, almost still just about 3" above the sand then suddenly dart down and grab a pod and dart back up to hover mode again. Very cool fish but I don't know about the skin/scales thing. I will have to read up in that.

They eat nori and pellets too. The only thing I did know about Fang Blennies is that they have a poisonous bite.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #5 12-11-2008, 07:28 PM

Can't find anything anywhere about Stripped Fang Blennies eating skin of other fish. Doesn't mean they don't though. Most sites say small foods. Mine eat like little pigs. Even nori. No aggression so far from them, which I was warned can happen. I think the tank is big enough though to keep them from getting too nasty.

Anyone have advice for keeping different gobies and blennies together? I guess body shape/color needs to be different? Any species I should stay away from? Looking for all kinds of advice here as I have never kept small fish.

Here are some of the ones I hope to keep and what I have:

Have these:

Yellow Tang
Pair of Stripped Fang Blennies
Pair of False Perc Clowns
Clown Goby

Want

:

Swissgaurd Basslet (can you keep them in pairs?)
Purple Firefish
Helfrichi Firefish (maybe not both though?)
Some kind of shrimp/goby pair (open to ideas)
Pearly Jawfish
Pair or group of Chalk Bass

There are a bunch more I like too but I can't remember names.

Can anyone recommend a nice small wrasse or two that would fit in? Any other suggestions would be great!

seanoman · #6 12-11-2008, 07:55 PM

We have a yellow fin fairy wrasse in our tank...he is the coolest fish. Tons of personality! That's what I would recommend if you can find one and they're inexpensive too. We also have a green coris wrasse, it is also a neat fish, not quite as much personality but a helpful fish in the tank as they eat pests and it's a nice colour.

GreenSpottedPuffer · #7 12-11-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanoman

We have a yellow fin fairy wrasse in our tank...he is the coolest fish. Tons of personality! That's what I would recommend if you can find one and they're inexpensive too. We also have a green coris wrasse, it is also a neat fish, not quite as much personality but a helpful fish in the tank as they eat pests and it's a nice colour.

Thanks! I just looked up the Yellow Fin Fairy Wrasse and will be adding that to my list I think! Very nice. I like the coris wrasse but I think they get a bit bigger. I want to stay small if possible with this tank. Looks like that Fairy Wrasse stays under 3".

GreenSpottedPuffer · #8 12-10-2008, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by untamed

Your yellow tang should kick that ich. I know I have ich in my tank but my yellow tang is one of the fish that never shows any sign of it. They must have better natural resistance than something like my achilles, which always shows it to some degree.

I like the rockwork in that tank! That will look fabulous in about 1 year.

Are you planning on doing anything more with your lighting? It looks like you are lighting the reef portion with MH, but not trying to light that sandy end too much. What is your plan there?

Have not decided yet on the lighting. The pictures loose the effect but the light shimmers really nicely on the far side and is not nearly as dark as in the pics. I guess it depends on if I ever add anything to that end. Right now there are some softies that seem to have enough light but I may sell those.

The tang only had the spots for half a day and they are gone again. Well there are a few still but nothing to worry about I don't think. We'll see. He doesn't rub or seem effected at all.