Future Wish List

[debbs2207]

Hello,

i'm making up my with list for my new Marine tank (not ready yet), what do you think of the following...

Moorish Idol (lush)
Picasso or Clown triggerfish (fish that thinks it's a dog)?
Powder Blue Tang
Green Mandarin fish
Yellow Longnose butterfly Fish
Flame Angel Fish
Black and White Percula

I have 180 litres, do you think I could keep all of these fish (only 1 trigger)?

 

[callell]

Percs
Dwarf Angel
& Mandarin (Dependant on your Pod population)
YES


the rest - NO

 

[debbs2207]

Hi, thanks for reply, What are Percs and Pods??

i'm leaning still so i'm going on what people are telling me in various aquariums. Do you not think triggers are ok to keep or the powder blue tang???

 

[sparklefuzz]

The tang will need a much larger tank, all tangs do... I have the same size tank, so I've looked it up. I also have read that mandarins are hard to keep in a new tank, so I don't know about those. I'm sure butterflys were no good either, though I can't remember why...! perculas (percs) absolutely yes. I want a black and white one myself! I think with 180l (or so I've been told) you want to be thinking of around 4-6 fish, obviously depending on which you choose etc, you can't have as many as you would in 180l of freshwater.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Percs are the before mentioned Percula clown fish. Alot of things are written short hand or abbreviated here, and alot of other places. Here are some common abbreviations and terms!

I agree with callel though:

Morish Idol: Need alot to eat, and grow large, a 180l isnt enough space, and wouldnt hold suitable quantities of LR (Live rock).

PBT (powder Blue Tang): Very difficult to keep, seasoned reefers ont try them, not for the beginner. Too small tank, and not enough LR.

Picasso/Clown Trigger: Sorry, not 100% sure about there tank size requirement, but a nogo with other peaceful fish and inverts, best left out of a reef.

Yellow Long NOse: Again, not enough space, and LR to accomodate one. They are also difficult for beginners.

Id suggest some Gobies, Damsels, Cardinal fish, Dottybacks, Basslets, things like this for a beginner.

An Amphipod or POd for short is a small crustacean found on your LR and in sediments, here is a pic: The pod is at the top left. These are4 the natural prey of Mandarin fish, and if the mandarin is not feeding on frozen foods, they need (pods) to be in abundance and constant supply.

 

[debbs2207]

Ok...you will have to excuse my tone here....BUT, are you saying that I can only have 4-5 fish in a 180 litre tank???
Obviously the place I intend to buy my fish from are hoping for me to spend more money as they have told me 8-12 depending on size of fish. Real shame about the moorish idol as I really would love to have him.

Grinds me that I get advice from so called "professionals" and it turns out to be a bit rubbish, yesterday they told me I could keep (in MY tank), the Powder Blue Tang, Yellow Sailfin Tang, flame angel fish and my Clown trigger and as long as they were fed various difenrt meals at different times they would all be fine together. Basically all the fish I want except the inverts due to trigger.

Now obviously I do not want to spend lots and lots of money on marine fish (and aren't they expensive), so I want to get this right. I do have some thoughts that these fish were taken from the wild and i'm going to have to care for them and make sure they are in a good enviroment, so i'm not happy putting ANYTHING into my tank I have been advised will get too big or for any other reason wouldn't be suitable!!!

Must admit i'm starting to go off the idea of keeping marine fish, maybe I ought to stick with my tropical fish...they are happy!

 

[robbhp]

yea i too love the looks of the moorish idol, but after hearing lots of sob storys i myself have been well put off them.

i think the problem you have is you have picked fish that need far more space than you have (tangs) now they aare a great looking fish but they are aways swimming up and down you tank it will drive you mad , also it will drive the fish mad too. at some point it will get white spot and then the end is close . to give you an idea of tank size i will only be having one or two tangs in my 150 gal tank http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=161594 , think that works out to about 600L (and some still say that that is far to small for them )

what ever you do, stay on the salty side i have done tropical for a longish time now and i am so happy that i am just making the move to the salty side . trying to find a nice mix of fish in tropical is just as hard as it is in marine, so just go back to the drawing board and get some new ideas. one of the main problems i can see is the fact that the mix of fish is a bit and the trigger may end it all in . but have a look around both on here and othere places, to find fish lists and different types that you like

hope that helps a bit ROB

 

[debbs2207]

What a nice tank!!! (like your floor tiles too)!

I never thought i'd be able to keeo the fish I chose, it's purely the information that has been given to me by shops selling the marine fish that has I guess built up my hopes...so the hopes are obviously gone now!

Anyway, will get sorted with some SMALL fish. Will let you know in a few weeks the outcome!

Thank you for your information
Debbie

 

[Mr Miagi]

Ok...you will have to excuse my tone here....BUT, are you saying that I can only have 4-5 fish in a 180 litre tank???

Definately not! Depending on species chosen, you could keep ALOT. But if your LFS recomended you could add a PBT (POwder Blue Tang) and a Moorish Idol along with the other fish mentioned, you need to find a better LFS, thats rediculous, and they are after your money, clearly. They either dont have the best interests of the fish in mind, want money (and your continued business once the fish keep dying) or they just dont know anything about keeping marine fish. This is the good thing about advice gven over forums (whislt advice/opinion may differ) we dont make profit from your purchase, and whilst size limits on tanks are in high debate, we are trying to look out for your future purchases.

As mentioned in my previous post ( ):

Gobies, Damsels, Cardinal fish, Dottybacks, Basslets

but you could add to that clownfish, Dwarf Angel fish, Blennies, Wrasses, Hawkfish, and dart fish.

You could add your mandarin, there is nothing stopping you. Make sure its feeding on frozen foods before it leaves your LFS if you do buy one, that will make your life ALOT easier. Make sure its also got a roundfull stomach, rather than a shrunken belly (goes for all fish none the less).

When we put down fish on a list, that list isnt a rule of thumb for your particular tank, nor does it define how many of that particular group of fish. You need to research the individual requirements of fish, and make sure each fish will get along with others, keeping away from boistrous or territorial fish etc etc.

A good site to look at ( the recomended aquarium size there is ok with most species, but a little small in some cases, but non the less more honest with you than your LFS) is liveaquaria.com. Get a feel for what fish youd like, and what aquarium they might need.

There is really no "inches per so many litres/gallons" rule in SW (just high medium or low stocking). Theres more enphasis placed on the individuals behaviour of the species, and their relationships with other fish.

 

[MoonTang]

Like the other said.....


Moorish Idol (lush) - No
Picasso or Clown triggerfish (fish that thinks it's a dog)? - No and No
Powder Blue Tang - No
Green Mandarin fish - Ok but needs a well-established tank unless feeding on frozen
Yellow Longnose butterfly Fish - No
Flame Angel Fish - Yes
Black and White Percula - Yes

You really need to start reading and planning first.

Here's a fish site http/www.peteducation.com/category_summa...16&cat=1830

Here's the compatibility chart http/www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cl...;articleid=2605



Hope that helps

 

[debbs2207]

Thank you very much for all your advice.

MoonTang I actually have done quite alot of reading and planning but it doesn't help when you go to your local professionals (aparantly) and are told completly conflicting information...which is why I have joined this forum and am seeking further help!

As I have mentioned this is all new to me and it's alot to remember and take in if you don't know what your doing.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

If you want a mandarin it'd be best to set up a refugium, that'll provide it with all the food it needs. the main problem with them is you'll struggle to get them to eat. there are reports of some specimins taking flake and frozen food but this is definately not the case for all of them, bear in mind as well the fish store wants your money so they may well tell you it's feeding fine when it's not. we're just setting up our tank and Ian wants a mandarin so we're just leaving room in our stocking for one and next year when the tanks established we'll think about making a refugium and getting one

 

[debbs2207]

refugium???

i've completley changed my list now I've had some information about the fish I wanted...so....no tangs...no triggers.

Isn't the Mandirin Fish beautifull! I've been reading up about them so hopefully one day i'll be able to keep one succesfully, let me know how your tank goes.

Alos, I am not planning on putting naything in my tank untill January as i'm going away for christmas (2 weeks) and am certainly not going leav someone else in charge of my Marine tank!!! So my Bristle Worm will have to fend for himself!

 

[Miss Wiggle]

refugium???

i've completley changed my list now I've had some information about the fish I wanted...so....no tangs...no triggers.

Isn't the Mandirin Fish beautifull! I've been reading up about them so hopefully one day i'll be able to keep one succesfully, let me know how your tank goes.

Alos, I am not planning on putting naything in my tank untill January as i'm going away for christmas (2 weeks) and am certainly not going leav someone else in charge of my Marine tank!!! So my Bristle Worm will have to fend for himself!

yeah a refuigum is an area away from the main tank, kind of like a sump, where you have some LR and different types of algae and you have a light for it, this grows the plankton and pods and stuff that the mandarin goby eats. please someone correct me if that's wrong, my understanding of it is a little sketchy and it'll be a while before we set one up ourselves.