A Few Questions

[EinsteinsTwin19]

Hello, I've set up a 55 gallon tank, in the hopes of having a fish only tank. I have powerheads, and an adequate filter. As of now, I have about 18 pounds o rock in it, about 7 of which is live, along with some live sand and crushed coral. I hope to eventually get about 40 or 50 pounds of good live rock in there. I like the rock, even though I'll never get any corals, probably. Its been up and running for about three weeks, a local fish store was going out of Saltwater, all their stuff was AMAZINGLY cheap, so I have already bought some fish, even though I should have probably waited. There were two Blue Devil Damsels and a Lunare Wrasse, I took out one of the Damsels, he was just too much for the wrasse, but the other one seems much less aggressive. Both are eating flake and a frozen Marine mix. Everything seems fine. There is a very small amount of ammonia, I know its to be expected since the tanks so new, but it hasn't fluctuated any in five days. I've had the fish for a week, and the rock for two. My questions are as follow:


Should I still worry about Ammonia, and the host of other "nasty" chemicals? Nitrites, etc., have all tested fine. The fish seem fine still, plus all of the live rock I do get is cured, but, the tank is still new, and it can change at anytime, I know ...


Is about 40 pounds of rock too much for a fish only tank? I'll list the fish I want eventually below, I know they are a factor into live rock stocking.


I definitely want to have a Lionfish (Antennata or Radiata) one day, and perhaps a Tang (Zebrasoma or Acanthurus) and/or larger Dwarf Angel. I really like the Wimplefish (Heniochus acuminatus) too (but I know they get a little big, I'd love Moorish Idols, but, I'll let them stay in the wild). Would a Lion and any of the fish I've mentioned above work out in a 55? I don't think I would ever be able to upgrade to a bigger tank, so these fish would need to be permanent residents.

Finally, do you really think a skimmer would be a good investment? I have a 25 gallon with a Tomato Clown and Coral Beauty Angel, with tons of rock, an anemone, and a few inverts, it's done fine for almost three years without one.


Thanks for any suggestions/comments. This is my first big Saltwater tank, I want it to be a good experience. I'm sorry if any questions seem repetitive or anything, I'm still archiving the board looking at all the info that might help me. I've kept about every freshwater fish on the planet, and the 25 gallon salt for a while, so at least I have a little bit of experience under my belt.

 

[Anonymous]

40 - 50lbs of LR wouldn't be too much at all. I've never kept Lionfish or Tangs, but I'm sure others will chime in pretty soon.

Good Luck,
po


oh, you might want to have a back-up plan in case your nitrites started to skyrocket :wink:

 

[reefsRcool]

a 55 is WAY small for a lunar wrass the guide says 75min but i think even that is optimistic. darn shame too because they are simply cool i would love to have one myself. he is a strong swimmer and will be miserable in a tiny tank if he even makes it through the cycle. small lions are fine in a 55. skimmer wise the thing you should think about with a fish only tank is that the reason these fish (most) are not considered reef safe is that they eat and poop an awful lot. i would definatly recomend getting the best skimmer you can afford. plan on being able to afford at least $150 too a seaclone isn't going to cut it.

for what it's worth i am tossing around going fish only in my 55 once my reef is fully moved to my new 75. my thoughts are for a small lion, piccaso trigger, spiney puffer and maybe a moray. i think that would be a cool combo. cycle with damsels then let the other's eat them.

 

[y2kbombsu]

No lions in a 55gal maybe a 120gal but no 55gal! And as long as it's not wall to wall liverock your fine! I would only worry about low ammonia levels with Seahorses and Invertebrates, most fishes can handle it fine!
8)

 

[reefsRcool]

hey y2k i think you may be a bit confused. the two lions he mentioned are both listed as ok in a 30 gallon. i think 30 is pushing it but a 55 should be ok for either of those species.

 

[y2kbombsu]

Oh, Your talking about dwarf lions (the little fellers)! Can't you see I'm giving him an excuse to get a bigger aquarium, who wouldn't want a 120 anyway!

 

[goldenboy]

Well just to put my .02 cents in I have seen "dwarf" lions that are 10". Thats not much of a dwarf now is it. so I wouldn't put one in anything smaller than 75 gallons. I dont know wht book your getting you info from but a 10" fish would not fit in a 30 gal tank.

 

[goldenboy]

BTW cycling with damsels is inhumane just use a piece of shrimp.
Please dont do it.

 

[OhsCC]

Ok here is what I would do. Let another fish store hold your fish for you untill you do some research first. Once you do some research you will learn that you can't add fish in there without cycling first. I have a 55 gal and cycled my tank with some dead shrimp that you can purchase at the grocery store. Yes, it is inhumane to leave your fish in there even if they survive( my first tank I let my fish go through the cycle because I was just looking for a quick tank and I was stupid and thought I knew everything at fish keeping is so easy.....wrong(all lived because they were damsels but I was lucky)). Read up on cycling with shrimp (do a search) and LET YOUR FISH STORE HOLD YOUR FISH. By the way welcome to the board and yes it is one of the harder hobbies I have been in.
Hope this helps,
What equipment do you have?
may want to read up on that too
let us know what u decide to do