So everything died.

[royalstar]

Hey all,
Long time viewer, first time poster

I started a marine tank a few months back and have got a few critters in it, shown below.








However, the tank lacks a bit of colour, i dont want to try my hand at corals yet (or my wallet) so im looking at getting some more fish, but im wondering what would be compatible with whats in there at the moment.

I was thinking maybe a clown trigger, but have been warned about their temperment. Any idea's / suggestions? Any idea's welcome, im kind of leaning more towards predatory fish (im quite happy for the little black/white fella to become live food)

Info:
42gal tank
25pound live rock
1200l/hr eheim filter
aquaone filter
Used to have 4 resident crabs, thanks to the snowflake i've now got none


p.s. Ill be back on in a few days if pic's dont work. Im not all that good at this internet thingymahbob

Cheers

 

[tetra]

You might want to get something bigger than that lion...that golby looks like good dinner for him. just a suggestion.

 

[Len]

I'd stay clear of clown triggers since it will quickly outgrow a 42 gallon. Perhaps a small grouper. Miniatus groupers are REALLY colorful and, like all groupers, they don't move around much so space is not as big an issue. Or consider getting some wrasses. There are thousands of species to choose from and they can be extremely colorful as well. Take a look here and see if anything strikes your fancy:
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/fish--wrasses.html
FYI: some wrasses get very big, and some are known jumpers (which will require you to keep a lid on the tank. If any wrasse interests you, I invite you to start a new thread (in this forum or the General Reef Discussion) and ask people for their experiences on that particular species.

Unfortunately, the size of your tank limits the variety of fish you can keep, especially the bigger predatory fish.

Oh,

:welcome:

 

[jandree22]

that goby looks like good dinner for him.

try midnight snack! :lol:

 

[royalstar]

tetra - thats why he's in there :wink:

thanks guys, i'm steering away from the triggerfish as its around $200 aus.

I was thinking of a sailfin tang? Though im worried he'll outgrow the tank. If not, those wrasses look great

Or something like this:

Though i think like the tang it'll outgrow the tank
Dammit! why didnt i just buy a 7000gal tank!

 

[Anonymous]

You should get the 7000 gallon tank.
Sailfin tangs get way too big for a 42 gal. tank. In fact, I wouldn't recommend any tang for a tank your size. I second Len's grouper suggestion.
Or maybe a Boxfish?

 

[Newbler]

I'm not fond of your idea of a predator tank in a 46. Most of the fish that meet that criteria are going to get way to large. The Volitan you have is going to reach about 15 inches and is probably going to fill that tank up quite nicely. I’d maybe concentrate on a FOWLR tank or maybe delve into a full blown reef if I were you.

Save your money and do something you are going to appreciate. Don’t waste cash on big fish that are going to kill each other.

 

[Anonymous]

To be honest I wouldn't add another fish to that set up because of your current inhabitants and the limiting factor of the tank size. As those guys grow, water quality would be an issue just from the amount of waste they produce.

 

[royalstar]

EDIT: So i checked the ammonia on sun morning, there was a little in the tank, but nothing major. But something must have died beause i checked in on sunday night and it was off the charts. I tried adding so some "prime" and checking for anything dead in the tank, but couldnt find much. So i didnt know what i could do to fix the ammonia

Woke up on monday morning to find most of the fish/crabs/snails dead.
Pulled out two pieces of live rock i bought the day before and it smelt terrible.:evil: I took it out and now, 12hours later everythings settled down again.


So now i guess i gotta start again, only thing left in the tank is the eel

 

[garagebrian]

Sorry to hear about your losses That just sucks. I would just let it cycle for a while and keep the eel happy.

Good luck!

Brian

 

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry!

 

[Anonymous]

I did not see a skimmer listed on you tank information. Might I suggest adding one if you do not have it.

 

[royalstar]

Good suggestion. I thought they were mainly for reef tanks, but ill look intothem.