Hi All....

[john_lfc_uk]

First time posting on this site and would just like to say hello to everyone. I am new to saltwater and hope to gain some valuable knowledge and share mine in time when I can be of some help to less experienced than me.

I am in the process of setting up a 56uk gallon tank. 4ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft.
I am going to use an external filter, protein skimmer, two 150w heaters and normal output flourescent tube for lighting. I would appreciate any help in what extra equipment will be required. I intend to create a fish only enviroment will also not be using live rock...good or bad???.

The biggest problem for me is I can not seem to get any confirmed information regarding fish to stock. I have read about many different species and read many different stocking levels however am still not sure. I know it is important to decide what fish you wish to have and in what order to introduce.

Sorry to pose many questions but I am very keen to ensure I do this right and also keep happy healthy fish.

Any comments good/bad would be greatly appreciated.

Here's to hopefully many a happy day messaging....and lets hope I can be some use to someone someday soon.:)

[OrionGirl]

Well, without much to go on here...

It sounds like your set for equipment, depending on the filtration. Using sand and rock is easier, since it's less maintenance for you once you have a crew (hermits, snails, etc). If you can't/don't want these critters, some mechanical filtration will be helpful, as long as you clean it regularly. What kind of filter is it?

We can try helping you out with fish sizes. If you can list some fish you're interested in, we can help you, especially if it's a fish someone here keeps. As always, keep in mind that the body size of the fish is only one part of the equation. Life style and habits, and feeding must be considered.

I prefer to keep the stocking on the low side. It's hard to understand packing a tank, and then being shocked when the water parameters fall apart. Low stocking levels also reduce territory and aggression problems. I would rather get to see and know a few fish very well, than a mass that are just there.

[OrionGirl]

Oh yeah--Welcome to AC! Glad to have another saltie floating around. :)

[john_lfc_uk]

Thanks for reply Orion girl. I was thinking about the following fish but read so much conflicting information I am still not sure, I appreciate all fish can be different so was thinking along these lines:

1 Maroon Clown
1 Yellow tailed blue damsel
1 bi colour dottyback
1 cleaner wrasse
1 Flame angel
1 Purple Tang

Does this sound reasonable?

[OrionGirl]

The maroon will get big--about 5-6 inches easily. I've seen them this size. They can be very territorial (same family as damsels), but usually are content claiming a small patch or coral.

Damsels are highly aggressive and territorial. On the reef, they claim a large chunk of territory for grazing. I've seen damsels beat up and chase off fish 2-3 times their size. I wouldn't add one, since they really aren't much to look at, IMO, and their behavior isn't interesting, just mean.

Dottybacks can be aggressive buggers as well. Should be okay, as long as it stays small (which I will defer to someone else to comment on). I suspect it will be okay, but you'll want confirmation

Cleaner wrasse tend to stay small, but you need to be very careful. Many are obligate feeders, and will starve in an aquarium. There just aren't enough parasites/skin flakes to maintain them. Be very sure of what you're buying, and watch it eat prepared foods first.

Flame angel will be fine, size-wise. Hold out for good stock, even though it will mean big bucks. Cheaper specimens are likely not as hardy. A potters or rusty would be a comparable color fish, though the hardiness of dwarf angels isn't among the best.

Tangs of all kinds will be cramped in a 4 foot tank as adults. these are fish that swim a LOT, and need all the room they can get. If they aren't comfortable, they tend to get stressed, and then get sick. I wouldn't advise it, but I know lots of people that have them in their tanks, FWIW.

Look into some of the gobies, and hawks. Staying with the aggressive theme, I would go with:

Maroon clown. Buy it as big as you can find.

Dottyback, depending on feedback for size.

Flame angel.

Striped Hawk.

This would leave you with a fairly active, colorful tank that shouldn't get too big, or beat each other up too much. You could even add a few inverts, maybe.

[john_lfc_uk]

THanks again Orion.

What about a non aggresive tank. I would like to add maybe 6 in total over the period of about 12 months. I am looking to have as much colour as poss and also interested in fish with some character.......any ideas or am I in need of fewer fish in this tank?

[OrionGirl]

Check out some of the smaller wrasses (though I don't think a wrasse will do well with a hawk).

There are some smaller tangs you could look at, but all of them will want more swimming room.

Check out cardinals, anthias, and basslets. Saltwater tanks just won't hold as many/much fish at the same size community FW setup. The bio-load balance is harder to maintain.

[john_lfc_uk]

Hi again,

Sorry to keep pestering with this one but am keen to sort out fish list so I know exactly where I am going with this.

How do these sound, introduced in this order:

1 Maroon Clown
1 Royal Gramma Basslet
1 Purple Queen Anthias
1 Yellow Clown Goby
1 Flame Angel

I have read various bit of info on these and they all appear to be relatively peaceful fish, nothing to aggresive, what do the more experienced think?

[BrianH]

IMHO that fish list would be fine.

Brian

[VoodooChild]

I thought that the maroons get to be pretty nasty...

[quantim0]

that list is good except for the anthias. that fish is an almost guarenteed death. i've know a few people who have tried to keep them and they die like it's their job. they never eat, solo or in groups. they are also expensive and they are definitely a bad choice for anyone. if you want anthias try some lyretail (P. squampinnis). they are very pretty and one of the easiest anthias to keep.

anthias are definitely not for the beginning aquarist. i would say that they are one of the more difficult fish to keep. they need to be fed a minimum of 3 times a day to stay healthy. once you have the ability to keep fish alive for a long time with no problems you might be ready to move on to the easier anthias species.

[OrionGirl]

I wasn't aware that anthias had such poor survival rates! Thanks for the correction.

Maroons are like all damsels--they pick a 'turf' and are very defensive about intrusion, especially from other damsels/clowns. They pretty well ignore fish anywhere else. With clowns, the territory is usually small--a specific coral, or shell. Damsels will decide they need to entire tank...Which causes some problems for other fish.

[Kara]

I'm a big fan of gobies.. LOTS of color and small size.

Clown Gobies can lose a lot of their colorful markings and turn drab-ish as they get bigger.

A yellow watchman goby gets to be a decent size (4-5") and is a bright yellow with tiny blue dots. The Catalina gobies are gorgeous, but tiny and some people don't have good luck with them (usually, they need cooler tank temps). I have 3 and they are awsome. Firefish Gobies are really pretty and seem to be pretty hardy. I love the Yashia Goby but they aren't easy to acquire.

Gobies should have places to hide. They need rocks and sand. They aren't usually out and about all the time, but when you do see them it's very exciting. My Yellow Watchman goby has finally started taking food from my hand and he's out whenever I walk over to the tank.

I have a Royal Gramma who has a really neat personality. He rarely swims normally. He's always hovering on his side or upside down or nose down/up, except when it's feeding time then he's zooming around the tank like normal. They are very curious fish. When he sees me looking in the tank he comes over and stares at me. It took him several months to get over his initial shyness but now he wants to be in on whatever you are doing in or near the tank.

REFERENCE PIX

•Yashia Goby (http://www.cosmos.ne.jp/~acropora/l/li/l1325mys.jpg)
•Yellow Watchman Goby (http://bonsai_reef.tripod.com/yellow_watchman_goby.html)
•Catalina Goby (http://www.exotictropicals.com/encyclo/marine/goby_ble/catalina.htm)

[john_lfc_uk]

Thanks for info Karra.
I have read a little about the yellow watchman goby and the tiger pistol shrimp, the relationship with these two sounds fantastic and I think I will cater for these two in my tank.

My revised fish list again....now reads

1 Maroon Clown
1 Royal Gramma Baslet
1 Yellow Watchman Goby (1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp)
1 Flame Angel

I was thinking of introducing in this order but do people think I may be better introducing the goby and shrimp first?

[OrionGirl]

Good luck finding a pair. This relationship is initiated very early, and I am not sure you can just buy an goby and any shrimp and have them pair up. In 4 years, I have seen a matched pair for sale one time, and they were asking $175 for the pair.

Not saying don't try it, just warning you that this might be a hard find.

For the order, I would introduce the angel and the clown last. The clown will be more aggressive than the angel. The goby and shrimp should go first.

[john_lfc_uk]

Thanks again for all the good info I have received, sure others will get some tips too.

Okay another revised fish list but here goes:

1 Maroon Clown
1 Royal Gramma Baslet
1 Fire Fish Goby
1 Neon Goby
1 Flame Angel

Not sure about 2 gobies in same tank but hopefully will be ok.
Would be glad to hear any comments regarding yet another list.

Thanks Again All!

[quantim0]

in my 40g right now i have a purple firefish and a neon goby. they get along fine. the neon goby tends to hang around the LR and the firefish is out in the water column all day. no problems there. introduce the flame angel last so the other fish can establish a terratory.

[Kara]

I don't have a problem with all my Gobies in the same tank. I have 5 different species of Goby in my tank.. (tank is 46 gallons, with about 3 inches of sand and about 50 pounds of live rock.)

I was lucky enough to get a Black-ray Shrimp Goby & Tiger Pistol Shrimp (http://www.fishid.com/photo/ind2002/pages/Ind024.htm) pair. They are wonderful to watch! If you do get the opportunity to buy a set.. DO IT! You won't be sorry!

[john_lfc_uk]

Thanks again all!!......looks like I am finally set with the fish list.

Those two of yours karra look great.....I would prob struggle to find a pair with being in uk...prices tend to be a fair bit higher over here by the looks of things.

Will be keeping eyes peeled though as something like that may be too good to miss.