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I am looking for some tank comments, suggestions, and constructive criticism for my SW reef tank. Its still fairly new like 2 months or so.

Heres my tank, everyone thinks Its the craziest setup every but w/e I have a 20 gallon tank here is the stock list:

1 False Percula Clown
1 Yellowtail Damsel
1 Domino Damsel
1 Torch Coral Fragment
1 Carpet Anemone
1 Sebae Anemone
1 Bubble Anemone
1 Flowerpot
1 Flame Scallop
5 (Approximate) Hermit Crabs
20 (approximate) Dead ones
15 Serous Snails

1 Penguin 170 Bio-Wheel filter (and im probably going to add another one)

1 Heater

And i probably need a powerhead but so far my tank is completely quiet and I don't want anything that makes any noise.

The dead hermit crabs arn't a problem becuase the serous snails eat them so fast they don't mess up the water chemistry at all.

The False Percula lives in the bubble tip anemone which is really cool becuase I got the False percula first and had it for a couple of weeks then got the anemone and wouldn't take to it untill like a couple of weeks ago which is kinda cool. But the bubble tip is constantly on the move and is hiding in the back of the tank where its probably not getting enought light and cannot be seen. But I think its trying to get near the sunlight becuase my tanks right next to the window.

But despite that the anemones get along suprisingly well together in such a small tank.

Any and all suggestions and comments would be appreciated...


Last edited by ihavesomefish at 28-Dec-2004 03:38

Last edited by ihavesomefish at 28-Dec-2004 03:38

Umm...what lighting do you have?

Wow, all that in a new 20gal tank?

First, to many fish.

Second, those anemones will get WAY to big for that tank. The carpet needs a LOT of light.

Third, the scallop shoudl only be in a well established tank, and even then they very rarely survive because they are filter feeders.

I would suggest getting more light, and a much bigger tank if you want all that stuff.



Dan

Looking again, the number f fish you have is not to bad, those are mainly small fish, but I would not suggest adding any more fish.



Dan

First off, a few questions about your tank; What is your lighting type and amount on that tank? How much LR do you currently have?

IMO, get rid of the carpet anemone, as they pack a powerful sting, that if they decide to move, will most likely kill several of those corals you have listed. Besides, they get large enough to completely take over half of your entire tank. They also require extremely high lighting. I would also get rid of the sebea too. As one anemone is more than plenty in that tank. Between the BTA and the sebea, they can take over half of the tank. Anemones can kill corals 2 ways. First they can actually sting corals to death. The other is, they can move to a spot they like, and when open they can actually block the light from coral they are covering. This will cause the corals to die if they are in the shadow of the anemone too long.

I would also get rid of either the clown, or one of the damsels, as they fish will all get around 5+ inches when grown. This number will blow your biological load, and you will end up with fish and/or corals dieing off.

I agree that the scallop is a poor choice for anyone other than expert reefers. Even many of them have trouble keeping these guys. You will be doing good if it lives more than a month or two.

What color is your flowerpot? The reds do well, but the greens flowerpots are notorious for dieing of after several months of captivity. Some people have had great success, but most have not. Also, the torch is not a good suggestion for that tank, for two reasons. First, it has a very powerful sting, and will end up killing any corals it can "reach out and touch". It is a very aggressive coral. Second, it is a harder coral to keep. The frogspawn is a much more easier coral to keep, if you are really wanting one that is simular to the tourch. But the frogspawn also packs a powerful sting as well, and it too, can "reach out and touch" other corals, stinging them to death.


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There is always a bigger fish...

I currently have 50/50 actinic blue and daytime white florecent lights. I have about 12-15 pounds of live rock. And I just added another penguin 170 bio filter to my tank

Oh and I got that scallop for free becuase the bubble anenome was attached the top of it and the guy at the fish store didn't want to pry it off for fear that he might damage it.

How many watts is your lighting, how many bulbs, and are they normal output lights, or PC, VHO? I have a strong feeling you do not have enough lighting for the carpet anemone especially, and may not have enough lighting for many of the other corals as well.

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There is always a bigger fish...

I have 2 blubs 2 tone 50/50 compact flurecent. 10 watt Flurecent=50 incadescent per bulb.

I have had great luck with my scallop, but I add "microvert" twice a week...

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/misterpenguinman/detail?.dir=/ce07&.dnm=537c.jpg

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/misterpenguinman/detail?.dir=/ce07&.dnm=d0eb.jpg

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/misterpenguinman/detail?.dir=/ce07&.dnm=c264.jpg

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/misterpenguinman/detail?.dir=/ce07&.dnm=bc3d.jpg&.src=ph]http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/misterpenguinman/detail?.dir=/ce07&.dnm=bc3d.jpg&.src=ph[/link][link=http://null

A few pics of my tank

Last edited by ihavesomefish at 03-Jan-2005 17:07

Last edited by ihavesomefish at 03-Jan-2005 17:09

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/misterpenguinman/detail?.dir=/ce07&.dnm=d715.jpg

Last edited by ihavesomefish at 03-Jan-2005 17:11

Well I got rid of the Sebae because i know that the carpet alone could probably take over my whole tank.

http://www.championlighting.com/e/env/000108VJNvmUYywWQs0t3O4/Products/Lighting/current_satellite.html?link=/Products/productinfo.html&item=main:12sat1

What do you guys think of this?

Has anyone had any experiance with them?



Last edited by ihavesomefish at 04-Jan-2005 16:05

You don't have near enough light for the requirements of the carpet anemone.

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There is always a bigger fish...

i got rid of the carpet so now all is left is the bubble but he's not lookis so good. He won't eat. If he starts to die i might get rid of him as well.