Coralgurls tank build 180 - it's ALIVE

[Gripenfelter]

Get a blue throat trigger or cross hatch trigger.. Way more reef safe than a Niger.

[Coralgurl]

Thanks for the suggestions. I really like the crosshatch, I will start looking for one in a few weeks. Also just checked out a redline wrasse, cool coloring/markings. Any issues with these? I love the fairy wrasses and will likely add a few more. Tangs - how about a Tomini? I like the powder browns and this looks fairly similar. Are they difficult fish? Am also thinking of a diamond watchman gobie to help keep the sand clean and perhaps another blenny. I loved my bicolor and he just disappeared one day....

Would also love a mandarin, but I'm not seeing any pods in this tank yet and would wait at least a year before adding one. A fathead sunburst anthia, cool looking fish - are anthias ok to be single or do they need more than one in a tank?

Whatever my fish list looks like, I will make sure I add the least agressive first. I don't want all big fish so a few tangs, the trigger should be enough to still allow for more small/med guys.

[Gripenfelter]

I have a diamond spotted watchman goby. Awesome. Lots of personality.

Powder brown...just introduce him slowly. Use an introduction tank...search under my name for "introduction tank".

Tomini is hardy.

[globaldesigns]

You have a snowflake!!!!!????

Do you have a top on your aquarium, if not, how is it going with it trying to escape? I always wanted one, but haven't due to my open top.

Nice tank!

[Coralgurl]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

You have a snowflake!!!!!????

Do you have a top on your aquarium, if not, how is it going with it trying to escape? I always wanted one, but haven't due to my open top.

Nice tank!

I've had him for just over 2 weeks with no cover on the tank. I didn't want to take him before we went away, but it was either now or never due to the other person shutting their system down and previous arrangements made. I got him a few days before we left and I didn't have a chance to make a cover before we left - its the plan for this weekend. So far, I have not seen any attempt whatsoever of an escape. He's in the tank by himself with the CUC, so no harrassment.

[Coralgurl]

I just tested tank parameters as I get ready for a water change

Ca 460
Kh 6
Mag1250
Ph 8.1
Salinity 1.025
Temp between 79-80.5 - noticing with warmer weather, temp increasing so need to adjust.

Kh and mag are low, will dose to bring them up. Overall, happy with tank...have some new corals and a fish coming Monday. Everything is doing great...

[Coralgurl]

Well the tank is doing alright. I have added a few fish, including a male blue throat trigger (I LOVE this guy), diamond watchman goby, red velvet wrasse, tomini tang and a two spot hogfish I know its a lot at once, but this weekend added a yellow tang, red coris wrasse and a leopard wrasse. Both wrasses dug into the sand as soon as they hit the water, so I expect it might take a few days before they venture out. I love all the movement of the fish and its interesting how they interact with each other. The hippo tang swims with the radiant wrasse and is very territorial with him. The tomini gave the yellow a few slaps yesterday, but seemed ok by lights out. The hippo does not like the trigger at all, so this makes me a bit nervous...I had been good at adding only 1 per week, but the last 3 were a good deal...no more fish for a while.

I also added a rose tip anenome accidentally to this tank...I bought it for my 55, but wasn't ready to put it in there as I had just made changes to the 55. Well, my clown found the nem within 2 days of it going in and I don't think I'm going to move it to the other tank, they both seem happy. I'm concerned with the coloring of the nem, its tips are pinkish, but the bottoms of its tentacles are whitish. I'm assuming good water quality and feedings will help this guy color back up?

As for corals, haven't added too much recently. Still trying to help the ones that have been struggling for a while. No worse, but no better....

One thing that is troubling me is my salinity has dropped. I checked late yesterday and it was down to 1.022. I mixed up water last night and will change today. I can change about 25-30gls, what should I have the salinity at in the mixed water to make a difference in the tank? It normally sits at 1.025-1.026.

Will add pics later.

[subman]

+1 for the blue throat. Had one for a couple years, just sold him after he ate the foot off my anemone. In his defence it parked it self right in his favorite spot. Cam't blame him but he had to go after that.