Damsels Advice

[gregory9770]

Hi all,

Youngfisher has directed me here as a place to gain advice. I've bought a complete set up which is all in all pretty good. There are a couple of small issues. It is a 4ft by 2ft by 2ft with a LOT of fijian live rock (somewhere between sixty and a hundred kilos - too much?), good lighting, a good sized sump (with some new caulerpa that has just gone in). The skimmer is a V2 600 which I'm told is straining like a mini in the fast lane (but is working). Those are my set up issues. My main problem is that it came stocked with original fish from a 3-4 year old set up - good strong, mature fish which survived a long hold up in transit on the M1. Three are damsels (well, plus two clowns (sorry, Youngfisher - got kids!)) - two of which are real bullies. Now, long term, I'd like a colourful, peaceful, pretty tank and I can't see it working with my Domino and his Al Capone buddy around. I've floated the idea of a school of Chromis which would add interest, be light on the wallet and might school due to the damsels' aggression? I thought? The other route would be to find a home for at least two of the three damsels (I'm hoping I could keep the blue, which is beautiful and currently peaceful - but that may be because of the dominant ones). Then I could develop what I really want - a yellow tang, a regal tang, perhaps a mandarin or blenny plus other pretty fellas - not decided yet.

Any thoughts guys?

G.

P.S. Sixth tank member is a diadem dottyback.

 

[youngfisher]

Hey Greg.
Glad to see you have joined up, you wont regret it.
Im sure someone will give you an anwser ASAP.


YF

 

[bagu]

hmmm

a mandy is possible when your tank is matured as they feed of little bugs called copepods, and it is also great if you can get them to eat frozen on top of that.

Yellow tail damsels are the only ones ive heard in all honesty

 

[gregory9770]

Yes - they are meant to be slightly more peaceable aren't they? I wonder if my dull browny-black damsel might be one though that has lost colouration over time - the tail is slightly yellowish.

Cheers guys,

G.

 

[seffieuk]

Hi all,

Youngfisher has directed me here as a place to gain advice.

to TFF

I take it this is your first leap in to salty water?


I've bought a complete set up which is all in all pretty good.



There are a couple of small issues.

It is a 4ft by 2ft by 2ft good size, how much water?

with a LOT of fijian live rock (somewhere between sixty and a hundred kilos - too much?) not much difference! Can we have a picture of what it looks like in the tank please?

good lighting - what is the lighting?

a good sized sump (with some new caulerpa that has just gone in).

The skimmer is a V2 600 which I'm told is straining like a mini in the fast lane (but is working). ok for now

Those are my set up issues. My main problem is that it came stocked with original fish from a 3-4 year old set up - good strong, mature fish which survived a long hold up in transit on the M1. Three are damsels (well, plus two clowns (sorry, Youngfisher - got kids!)) - two of which are real bullies.

Keep the clowns and ditch the damsels - it is more than likely there will always be trouble in your tank Damsels, which includes the clowns are very aggressive to others outside of a mated pair.

Now, long term, I'd like a colourful, peaceful, pretty tank and I can't see it working with my Domino and his Al Capone buddy around.

You are right, it wont

I've floated the idea of a school of Chromis which would add interest, be light on the wallet and might school due to the damsels' aggression?

yes a school of chromis would look nice x 6

I thought? The other route would be to find a home for at least two of the three damsels (I'm hoping I could keep the blue, which is beautiful and currently peaceful - but that may be because of the dominant ones).

re-home all the damsels except the clowns

Then I could develop what I really want - a yellow tang, a regal tang, perhaps a mandarin or blenny plus other pretty fellas - not decided yet.

Tangs are ich prone and until we know how much water you have it is difficult for us to say, but my first thought is that you do not have enough swimming space - but lets wait and find out how many litres/gallons you have

Any thoughts guys? Many, but often I can't type them on here

G.

P.S. Sixth tank member is a diadem dottyback. So remember not to buy anything that looks like him or is a dottyback or there will be even more trouble in paradise

seffie x



ps - ok, just worked out that your tank is holding approx 100 gallons without the sump - so big enough for a tang