Id Please

[Darren Taylor]

This is my very first post so here goes. Can ayone id this coral and sea anemone please. I got them today from my lfs and all i was told was that they are easy to keep.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well the first is whats commonly known as a finger leather and a fantastic starter coral. That particular one may be known as "Devils Finger" but I'm not positive on that. Either way, nice easy specemin, got great advice from the LFS there.

The second is an Atlantic Anemone of some sort and not looking to healthy at all , looks like you got some poor advice from the LFS here. Anemones are exceptionally difficult creatures to keep alive as they require more lighting than you have now, occasional direct feedings, and most important, stable water conditions, something most beginning saltwater aquarists are not capable of. I would exchange the anemone for another soft coral and read up on nems before you buy any more.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Chac, a member of this board has helped put together a quick guide for beginners to Anemone care. HERE!

As Ski suggested, it doesnt look like a particularly healthy specimen, it might be best to return it to the shop and exchange it for another coral, similar to your first.

Welcome to TFF anyway Darren!

 

[Darren Taylor]

Thanks for the information guys i will have a word with the lfs today and find out what i can do about exchanging the anemone.

 

[bobf]

Hi Darren

Don't know what your longer term tank plans are, or if this has been asked before, but 37 uk galls isn't likely to be enough for one, let alone two regal tangs.

I don't have these fish myself but gather they can get to around 12 inches in size and even then should be better kept as single specimins. A lot of sites recommend 70-75 gallon (US - say around 60 uk galls).

Do you plan to keep these fish long term or re-house them at some point?

 

[Darren Taylor]

Well Bobf, I have only been in this game for 6 months and usualy go on directions from my lfs and they say what i am doing at the moment is fine i have let them handle my tank from day one but i also know that they may just let me buy whatever i want just to turn over profits so now that you mention it i dont really know how much room to give my fish all i was told was my tank can handle around 8 to 10 fish of a small size but again i dont know if this is correct. One thing about this hobby is that everyone has a different opinion about everything and it can be confusing for a newbie like myself. I want the best for my tank and fish and i look forward to hear everyone's advice.

 

[bobf]

Well Bobf, I have only been in this game for 6 months and usualy go on directions from my lfs and they say what i am doing at the moment is fine i have let them handle my tank from day one but i also know that they may just let me buy whatever i want just to turn over profits so now that you mention it i dont really know how much room to give my fish all i was told was my tank can handle around 8 to 10 fish of a small size but again i dont know if this is correct. One thing about this hobby is that everyone has a different opinion about everything and it can be confusing for a newbie like myself. I want the best for my tank and fish and i look forward to hear everyone's advice.

What you are doing at the moment probably is fine - It's in a few months time, as your fish mature and grow problems will arise. We all go through that learning curve and have all taken advice from LFSs (for better or worse!) in the past too!

There are lots of good websites giving profiles and requirements for many of the more common marine fish - a quick search on google for regal tang offers this site first which also has profiles on other fish too;

Regal Tang

Searching these forums too reveals quite a lot of useful stuff - just restrict your search to the correct forums.

I think your best soloution would be to look at swapping out your tangs at your LFS (if not now, certainly in a month or two) for something like a (single) dwarf angel of some sort (Coral Beauty, Flame Angel, that sort of thing), and maybe some more corals if you have any credit left over? Xenia are really easy to grow and look really nice as they move too and fro in the water flow.

I'm sure others will offer their advice too - it's reading these forums which inspired me down the salty route, and has 'held my hand' along the way.

You've started off well - good luck with it!

 

[hubbard_shark]

when i first started, i felt that everything my LFS said was true, but being on this forum, u will learn u cant get any more reliable info then from fellow reefers and aquarists. sad to say, but there are LFS just out to look to make a buck, rather than help you keep an amazing tank. i learned that the hard way. good luck though with the tank!

 

[Darren Taylor]

Thanks Everyone