New S/W tank-Some questions about my fish

F

fishinak

AC Members
Apr 16, 2006
24
0
0
I just bought a 20 gallon salt water fish tank and this is my first time at doing this. I got a great deal on a full set up from my local fish store. I decided on not doing any live rock or live sand (at least not for now) but instead i have great rock work of fake coral and lots of shells(all included in the setup) I am only running a penguin bio wheel filter as my filtration and it seems to be doing a great job. I have had it about 5 weeks. I currently have 1 large yellow tailed damsal(surprisingly he grew really fast and is looking vary healthy) I planed on keeping him only to cycle my tank but decided to keep him. I also have a Dwarf Fuzzy Lionfish(really rare green and red in colour). He had not been eating for about a week but i finaly got him a gostshimp and he decided that was the food for him so hes doing great. Just today I bought a big green starfish. Im not quite sure what species he is but he is quite large and meaty. Hes vary beautifull.Now for my questions
-Can i add just 1 more fish- I reallly wanted a percular clown
-Do you think getting a protine skimmer would be wise my local fish store seemes to think i could get anouther fish and still dont have to get one,they say that a common mistake is that people over skimm there water and strip there water of usefull protines and vitamins.

Thanks for your help
 
Welcome to Aquaria Central! I would not add another fish especially a Clown as the Damsel will terrorize it. I would HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest putting live rock in that tank as Lions are HUGE waste producers and you will have continual bad water quality if you don't. What are your water parameters as Lions really don't do well in newly established tanks? Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, pH, specific gravity. I would say a protein skimmer would help some but not near as much as live rock. Also Dwarf Lions can be tricky to feed frozen/dead foods so you will need to give enriched ghost shrimp as its staple for awhile. Anyway hope this helps and good luck and welcome to Aquaria!
 
i do know my salt is at 1.230 but im not sure the other things.( i have to go to the pet store to get a good water testing). Im still not sure of the live rock mabey i might pick some up but it is vary expensive in Alaska(14 dollers a lb.) My tank is doing great right now so im not going to be too woried about anything. My lion fish is doing really well. I think that i am going to get rid of the yellow tailed damsal so i can get some nice fish in there.
 
welcome to the salty side of the hobby = ) but please dont get anymore fish a serious warning about the starfish when you are mixing your salt please make sure its exact because inverts esp starfish ,shrimp and crabs are sensitive to changes and they will die. live sand and live rock are tank stablizers. they have all the good bacteria and other goodies that will you can not get anywhere else. becareful of petstores that give blanket policies for everything protien skimmers are great for beginners and i encourage you to get one esp for fish only systems but they are right skimmers are not always good for everthing. I have had very good luck with remoras but might be a bit big DO NOT GET A SEACLONE if they suggest it to you RUN THE OTHER WAY !!!!!!!!! i can not stress this enough.
lions are one of my favorite fish though i never have had a dwarf i have heard they can be tricksy.
my advice for feeding them is get some meaty frozen food like prime reef or silversides get a nice size get a feeding stick and gentally wave it in the water that if you do not feed him for a few days he very well could eat it i have trained like five lionfish to eat that way.
also remember they will eat anything they can fit in there mouth watch your damsel there may be a time when he will try same goes for the clown if you get one. dont over feed him they very rarely refuse food.once a week ought to be fine.
i am sure you know about the lionfish and the spines if you get stung put your hand in the hottest water you can stand (dont burn yourself) remember if you get stung once there is a chance the next time you get stung it will be worse then the first becareful.

Ashley
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom