Lighting a hex/reef.

[severum mama]

I definitely wouldn't recommend any angels due to the relatively small footprint of the hex as compared to a standard rectangular size. The mandarin needs a really mature tank with a large pod population, and in a 40 gallon you would probably have to invest in a hang on refugium to keep it fed. The percs and clown goby are good choices. Not sure about the dottyback, some species are really aggressive little fish.

 

[hultman]

I definitely wouldn't recommend any angels due to the relatively small footprint of the hex as compared to a standard rectangular size. The mandarin needs a really mature tank with a large pod population, and in a 40 gallon you would probably have to invest in a hang on refugium to keep it fed. The percs and clown goby are good choices. Not sure about the dottyback, some species are really aggressive little fish.

I agree about the Mandarin. I'll wait on that. I've had a number of them in the past, some thrived, some didn't.

Not sure what you mean on the angels. A bicolor is a dwarf, and I've kept them in smaller tanks than this. And I thought dwarf angels were good reef fish? I suppose I could go with a pygmy. I like them too.

 

[hultman]

Not sure about the dottyback, some species are really aggressive little fish.

I agree on this one. I once had a realy nasty Bicolor Pseudochromis. Had any experience with the neon's? I notice that someone is raising them, and I really like the idea of buying tank raised fish. :grinyes:

How about a Royal Gramma?

 

[severum mama]

I just meant that I don't think any dwarf angels would have enough swimming space in a hex tank. I've always been told they need a minimum of a 3 ft tank, as horizontal swimming space is much more important for them than vertical. Also, dwarf angels are hit or miss in a reef. Some people have issues with coral munching, others have no trouble at all. When I get my 50 going I plan to chance it because I love dwarf angels, but others may recommend differently.

 

[Amphiprion]

That's probably good enough. What I really wanted was a carpet anemone for the Percs, so I figured I needed better light for that and the live rock. And once you've gone that far, it's not that big a step to some basic corals. Maybe a mushroom and a softie? I really don't want to become a full fledged reefer, but who knows!

I have bought a light. Someone had a year-old Current combo on Ebay that I bought just a few minutes ago. It's a 24" with 1x150W-MH with 2x65W-PC. Gives me a total of 280 watts and I can play with the spectrum of the PC's.

Any recommendations on suitable corals for this setup? The fish will probably be a few percs, a bicolor angel, a dottyback and a clown goby. Might even try a mandarin.

I'd appreciate any advice you may want to offer.:feedback:

Bicolor angelfish rarely do well in captivity. I think what severum mama is getting at is the lack of surface area that a hex tank would have--less than many smaller sized tanks (this is also what would limit a mandarin). Not to mention that this is one of the larger dwarf species, too. I'd try a different species that stays smaller. If you want a dottyback, I'd recommend it be added absolutely last in a situation where all other fish are well established. The other fish selections seem fine. As far as corals go in such a setup, you have lots of options. Any soft coral, most (if not all lps) and many sps would be feasible. The only other deciding factor would be water flow. Keep in mind, also, that carpet anemones get quite large--usually averaging over 24" in diameter. It will literally be an anemone tank. Heck, even my 75 may as well be considered an anemone tank, even though it will mainly accomodate "sps" type corals. Oh, and that lighting is sufficient for a typical carpet anemone (Stichodactyla haddoni--saddle or haddon's carpet anemone).

 

[hultman]

...the lack of surface area that a hex tank would have--less than many smaller sized tanks (this is also what would limit a mandarin). .....The only other deciding factor would be water flow.

Do you mean that a Mandarin needs space? The ones I have had seemed to be very slow moving, just hanging around or grazing across the rock or the bottom. Am I missing something?

As for water flow, I have a Mag 5 circulation pump and two of those weird little Hydor 400gph circulation pumps, which, but the way, I'm NOT impressed with. I've had to restart them both numerous times. I like the concept, but the execution seems lacking.

Is that enough circulation?

 

[Amphiprion]

Not that the mandarin necessarily needs the space, but added surface area provides more of the appropriate prey for the mandarin compared to a hex tank.

That water flow is somewhat slight. You barely have what most consider the minimum. If I were you, I'd upgrade to the Tunze nanostream powerheads (specifically the 6025s). I currently use 5 of them and they work flawlessly. You can also easily modify them to make more than double the advertised flow without voiding the warranty. Most look at ~25x turnover to be the minimum--I usually consider ~40x to be the minimum. In my experience, it is more difficult to get the right amount of flow in smaller tanks.

 

[hultman]

That water flow is somewhat slight. You barely have what most consider the minimum. Most look at ~25x turnover to be the minimum--I usually consider ~40x to be the minimum. In my experience, it is more difficult to get the right amount of flow in smaller tanks.

OK, I added another 400gph power head. That gives me the three power heads at 400 plus the main (Mag 5) at 500. A total of 1700gph or 42.5.

One more question: My vendor for the live rock suggested that I aerate while curing the rock. Have you heard of that? It seems like a good idea, and I've got a couple airstones running in the tank now, but I'd never heard of that before.

 

[Amphiprion]

You can if you'd like. I have always had good results with just vigorous water motion.

 

[severum mama]

I've never done the aeration thing before, and have cured live rock using just a lot of flow like Amphiprion said. You should pick up a test kit if you haven't already.