New Tank

[BooRadley]

So I set up a 55 US Gal marine aquarium. I have a little over 60 pounds of live rock, and an inch or two of live gravel and sand substrate. The water is good and has remained stable. So far I've stocked it with:

Fish:
3 Red Firefish
2 Ocellaris (False Percula) Clownfish
1 Bicolor Angelfish
1 Royal Gramma Basslet
1 Catalina Goby
1 Blood Red Fire Shrimp
5 Cerith Snails
5 Turbo Snails

Corals:
1 Button Polyp
1 Yellow Colony Polyp
1 Hairy Mushroom
1 Bullseye Mushroom

All of the fish except the dwarf angel are peaceful and small, so I'm sure I'm okay on those, but the yellow & blue dwarf angel is questionable. He's testy, he nips at one of my corals, and he doesn't like any of the food I've tried to feed him. Unfortunately, he's also the prettiest fish I have. Very, very nice looking fish.

Should I keep him, or give him to a friend, and, if I do give him away, do you think it would be pretty safe to add more livestock, since they're all small, peaceful fish?

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...I'm surprised you haven't had a bit more trouble. Most marine species, unless mated pairs, do not do well together. They become territorial and can harass each other. Angels, in particular, are aggressive. The least aggressive angelfish (small) that I know of is the yellowtail damsel. Gobies are pretty safe...some wrasses are safe ( I have a sixline that is cool), basslets. Dottybacks can be very aggressive as can some hawkfish.

I'd return the angelfish and with that size tank...I think you have room for a few more small ones. SH

 

[BooRadley]

Thanks! I did research, and knew all of those species to be okay together, so long as they're not over crowded. That specific angel is supposed to be semi-aggressive and semi-reef safe, but he needs room and lots of food. So far, I don't think it's going very well.

A friend of mine wants that fish, and he gave me a bunch of salt, so I think I'll just give it to him. I got it on sale for $14, so it's no major loss. I haven't decided if I want to replace him with a few more small fish, or with a Yellow Tang, which I think should also be fine so long as he's the only Tang in the tank. They're supposed to be aggressive mostly just towards Tangs, especially other Yellow Tangs.

It just looks good to have one mediumish sized fish in with the smaller ones. If I don't do that, I may get some other, odder stuff, like an orange sea star, or some feather duster worms or something that can sift out the food I feed the corals.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[canyoubelieveit]

I would advise against keeping the yellow tang in a 55 gallon tank. While some people are successful with this, the fish is often "stressed" in such a small enviroment. Please consider your other options.

If you get rid of your bicolor angel, consider the flame angelfish. I know several people who keep these with their corals and they are not a problem.

 

[steelhealr]

The flame angel isn't the greatest choice either...but I agree with CYB re: the tang. Navarre states they shouldn't be in anything under a 125. I don't mean to be a pain, but, big fish eat smaller fish. Putting a 'medium' size fish in with smaller fish may not be so good to start either. I think if you started out small, you should keep with it and if you want a medium size fish, put in lower numbers with same size fish that will grow to medium size together. JMO. SH

 

[BooRadley]

Thanks to both of you. It's kind of a shame that the coolest looking fish are the least easy to keep. I built a really nice looking complex of caverns and caves out of my liverock, and it's starting to grow some good, rich reds and purples from coralline algae. That's the basis of the display, itself, and having the small fish swimming around to add some activity makes it look really nice, but having one mediumish sized fish taht's really attractive in itself really makes the display complete. On the asthetic side, I couldn't be happier with the angel I have. It's just that he's . . . a jerk, so to speak.

If I weren't in a rental, I'd set up a bigger aquarium. I know I'm going to move within a couple of years, though, so I want to wait until I buy.

Well, I'm definately learning.

 

[steelhealr]

Look into a sixline wrasse....check out compatibility charts first..if you want your caves to be utitilized, this guy will do it. Good luck and WTG. SH

 

[Navarre]

Hi,
Sorry to hear about the Bi Colour, they are usually fine with other species and with corals. i guess with all angels its a risk to see if they will be fine or not. So far i have got a med/large asfur angel nad it hasnt looked at the corals at all.

If you are looking for a fish to be the centerpiece of your tank then Do not have a tang, these are not medium fish (they just sell them this size) and will grow enormous and get extremly aggressive and territorial as time goes by.

You are better off keeping with a dwarf angel or a pygmy angel. Coral beautys seem to be the safest of the dwaf angel and many have alot of success with them. If you can find a Potters Angel or a Golden Angel then these are spectacular additions ot hte tank (they carry higher price tags though). I would say that a Flame angel is OK for a tank of this size, just add him last and i dont think he will give your other fish a problem (cant make any guarentees on the corals though )
I would keep clear of a lempeel angel as these seem the most prone to coral munching. Venusta Angels are very peaceul and great additions to the tank (make sure its feeding first)

My first tank was a 40UK gallon system and i sucessfully kept dwarf angels in there so the size doesnt overly worry me, if however you feel size is an issue then perhaps the pygmy angels? A flameback/fireball angel or a cherub angel would be ideal for a tank of this size.

 

[BooRadley]

Thanks. This forum is a lifesaver for a newbie.

On a somewhat related note, what do you guys think of the idea of getting a very small version of fish that will grow large, like a huma/picasso trigger, then selling it back to the LFS when it starts to get too big? It was something someone had suggested, but I don't know if it sounds safe because the LFS may not want to buy it back, and it may end up dead for no reason.

 

[keane]

Thanks. This forum is a lifesaver for a newbie.

On a somewhat related note, what do you guys think of the idea of getting a very small version of fish that will grow large, like a huma/picasso trigger, then selling it back to the LFS when it starts to get too big? It was something someone had suggested, but I don't know if it sounds safe because the LFS may not want to buy it back, and it may end up dead for no reason.

This is not a rant, but merely my opinion. I don't understand the idea of getting a fish knowing that at some stage you are going to have to get rid of it. It just seems pointless.

I appreciate that larger tanks may come later but there is no guarantee.

Your tank already sounds fantastic and I suggest you go with the smaller fish that Navarre has recommended and that way you can watch them grow from small until full maturity and beyond.

That's what fish keeping is about IMO.

steve