Reef suggestions for 50gal bow tank. Coral, fish, etc thnx

[Casey_Lamm]

Hello, I am waundering if anyone can help me with a setup. Below is listed the equiptment I have setup and running. What I want to know is what kinds of fish should I look into and same for corals, I really like the bubble corals, i think they are neat, so ill probably at least do one of those.

Thanks,
Casey

Current setup

50gal bow 2 tank
2 hang cpr backpack skimmers/bio
magnum 300 in polish mode
heater
jbj 2x 96 watt power compaqs (1 -actinic blue 1- 10K) running on timers
40lbs live rock
20 lbs live sand
===============================================

Thats my current setup its been running for about 2-3mths. seems to have cycled and settled. I have a clown trigger and a picasso trigger in there now, but I am selling the to do my new setup.

MY MAIN GOAL IS HAVING COLORFULL FISH WITH SOME NEAT LOOKING CORAL AND ROCK

tHANKS
AGAIN

cASEY

 

[kcinminni]

Casey--
You started out right by waiting before getting anything. I'm new at this myself and I'm definitely no expert, but there are two things I will comment on:

1) I believe Triggers will feed on invertebrates, and they are territorial (will sometimes feed on tankmates). Might not be the best choice depending upon what you're planning to keep longer term.
2) Your lighting will probably be sufficient only for soft corals. A bubble coral will likely need more than you currently have. This one is tough with a bowfront because of limited space (I have the 46 gal bowfront as well).

Just my two cents.

KC

 

[Casey_Lamm]

HUMM...a few local hobby stores seem to think bubble corals will do well since they are relatively low light corals, maybe im thinking of bubble annomies, is there a difference?

I already have it established w/2 triggers but am selling them

 

[kcinminni]

You are right--bubble coral (physogyra) requires relatively low light. Bubble tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) requires significant lighting (as do all anemones, I believe).

 

[danmhippo]

If you are thinking of putting some colorful corals into the tank, you must upgrade your lighting, eg. add 2x175w MH, or add 2 more VHO tubes.

Otherwise, with the current 2x96W PC, you can only resort to the lower light demanding mushroom anemone or non-photosynthetic sponge and gorgonians.

As for fish, A pair of flasher wrass and canary blenny will definetly brighten up the tank with constant action.

 

[slojmn1]

I love royal grammas and they are certainly colorful. I have a royal gramma and a false percula (waiting for a mate) in my 40g softy lower light tank and they are quite splashy. I think there are soem corals you can keep under your present lighting. I have kept blastomussa merletti under PC's for a while now and they are growing great, open brains will do well, some zooanthid colonies prefer low light. the list goes on..for sure mushrooms and these come in a variety of colors.

 

[TurboRook]

I have 2x96w on my 40g. I am successfully keeping sinularia, sarcpophyton, and litophyton leathers, xenia, green star polyps, bubble coral, hammer coral, cupcoral, fox coral, and a couple types of mushrooms. In fact the 2x96w has even been too strong for some of my mushrooms.

My suggestion would be to start off slow, with maybe mucshrooms, polyps, and a leather or two. See how that goes and add additional lighting as necessary. Good luck!

Mike

 

[KMTaquarium]

i have 4x 55 watts on a 55 gallon and i am able the keep- montipora acropora brains, plate coral(i think- dont know specific name)
1 bulb is 6700 k and an actinic

 

[KMTaquarium]

i have a 30 gallon with 56 watt pc and i have mansina, blastumusa, hammer, and elegance- and 30 watts of normal 15" flourescent with montipora growing under them!!

 

[Casey_Lamm]

Thanks for all your help, im going to start out with a bubble coral at the bottom of the tank and if it does well there, ill add in a few other things higher up. With bubble corals, how can you tell if they are getting proper lighting