KC's 55gal

[Kworker]

Params are all good to go, tested all at 0. Ph is at 8.2
Tomorrow's going to be busy as I have some plumbing adjusting to do than later on in the day I will prob pick up a invert or two.
Rather wait off on a fish for a day or two. More just to make sure inverts make it.

 

[mcarroll]

I was going to add yesterday I drastically changed my mind, I saw a tomini and decided too large after placing a 6 inch portion of a ruler next to my tank later on as well, honestly had a brainfart as to how big 6 inches is. (sounded a bit perverted as well) sorry anyway...

I decided against the tang after seeing Many fairy wrasse, I would rather stock 2-3 other small fish rather than a big. Also I kind of want to add more height to my rock structure unsure though. I knew tang police would arrive eventually BUT if you do research the tomini there are large amounts of people saying 55 would be okay. I even saw a couple of 50gal as minimum.

Main reason for the tang was to replace the future flame angel, but I really don't want to risk my coral.

A copperband butterfly would be nice but I eventually want a rbta with my clowns.

Honestly a full 6" is probably not likely, but around 5" is a certainty.....still too big IMO.

People do, and say, all kinds of things. :) A 4ft tank is pushing it for a "tang house" at about any gallonage - and a 55 is the smallest 4ft tank. 6ft is the practical minimum according to me. I do tend to be more conservative in stocking fish than "most people" I see online and have met in person, so you can judge (trust?) my comments by that if you like.

You can get lucky with Copperband's, but don't be surprised if you go through a few before one "adapts" to your tank. If you aren't completely "set" on the Copperband, Klein's Butterflyfish is a great aquarium fish. Much more adaptable to tank life - and in a large tank an excellent schooling fish! In my experience they are as "reef safe" as any Butterflyfish.

Bubble-tip anemones are another one that "lots of people" do but I really recommend against in a coral tank. The risk of their "letting go" and being blown into (thus killing) every coral in the tank followed shortly by their introduction to propellor pump technology to possibly kill all the fish outweighs any attraction for me. YMMV on that attraction, of course, but IMO there are several better anem. choices in terms of your tank environment if you are also doing coral. Fish are also a concern.

Good luck! :)

-Matt

 

[Kworker]

Shouldn't I have to worry about any butterfly? The Klein butterfly you recommended, do you have personal experience with it?

As for nem. What should I look at instead? I could do frogspawn instead to mimic it I think.people do?

I'm going to work on tank later, plasti-dipping my mustangs wheels now, it's not cold and overcast so couldn't ask for better time lol.

Plus it's letting more bacteria to establish.

For my stock I'm thinking
2 clowns
1 helfrichi dart
2 diff blenny's but more of the peaceful.
1 fairy wrasse, would love a six line but I don't want to deal with their aggression

 

[Kworker]

Decided just to add 2 hermit crabs and 2 snails. Gonna wait a few more days than add a coral banded shrimp or dartfish

 

[Pkunk35]

I have barnacle blenny and yasha goby, both very peaceful, very awesome. The blennies you can keep in groups so long as hiding spots available.

Is the CB shrimp safe for fish? I've had one in the past and I wouldn't let him any where near my main display b/c he just looked like a killer. They are awesome looking tho, in particular the gold bodied variant.

Nice build, thanks for sharing!

 

[bknapp]

I never had a problem with coral banded shrimp bothering anything I was advised against and listened to the advice I was given when I got it of no other shrimp.

 

[mcarroll]

Shouldn't I have to worry about any butterfly? The Klein butterfly you recommended, do you have personal experience with it?

As for nem. What should I look at instead? I could do frogspawn instead to mimic it I think.people do?

I'm going to work on tank later, plasti-dipping my mustangs wheels now, it's not cold and overcast so couldn't ask for better time lol.

Plus it's letting more bacteria to establish.

For my stock I'm thinking
2 clowns
1 helfrichi dart
2 diff blenny's but more of the peaceful.
1 fairy wrasse, would love a six line but I don't want to deal with their aggression

Butterflyfish
Lots of experience with Klein's in about a dozen or more systems. :thumb: All of the "reef safe" Butterflyfish come with the same set of caveats, more or less. Polyps are a part of their diet in the wild. (Why you see them recommended for Aiptasia and Mojano control...at which they excel when properly motivated.) For Klein's in particular, it's leather polyps..especially Sarcophyton...at least according to the books. In a home setting where they don't have to fend for themselves, polyps no longer seem to be a favored meal. That's not to say they will never nip a coral - they are what they are - but experience says they are a reasonable risk if you're aware of what they are. :)

I do think the Klein's is the safest of the "reef safe" Butterflyfish, and as mentioned it also happens to be much more hardy and a better schooler than all the more common Butterflyfish. Bonuses!

Anemone
Really depends on what your goal is. FWIW, your clowns don't "need" an anemone....unless you want them to need it. And even then I've known it to take 8 months or longer in extreme cases for clowns to "settle" into a resident anemone. If the goal was just to make the clowns happy, you'll do all they need by having a healthy tank with some rocks and sand.

If you were going to have coral, there's a good chance that anything with a wavy quality (polyps, tentacles...) will be a candidate for the clowns to settle. I've seen them settle in all kinds of Euphyllia (Torch, Frogspawn, etc), Whisker coral, on a big Montipora plate, Star Polyps, green and peach Briarium...even a cluster of rocks will work, though. Had some black clowns in a tank full of RBTA's that wouldn't go near any of the Anemone, but would spawn regularly on the back side of one of the rocks in the tank and defended that spot vigorously.

Beyond the rocks and sand, as far as the clowns will be concerned the rest is really "for you" and what you have planned for the tank. :) If you really want to go anemone (I generally recommend against - especially if you're going to have $150 fish in the tank.) I would suggest a sand-anemone like a Purple (or less expensive variety) Long Tentacle.

Fish
I'm a huge fan of Barnacle Blennies (see a typical pic of one of my three in Post #7 here.) They will appreciate a cooler tank (around 79 vs around 82ºF) if you can swing it, but are generally hearty even at tropical temps and are fearless little fish! They only get about 1"+ so they don't bother anyone. I've seen them co-habitate with Helfrichi's in a 20 gal without a problem. Blennies in general however, I would never classify as "peaceful". There are a few like the Midas and the small ones like the Barnacles (some other less common ones too) which always seem to have nice personalities....but the Bicolors, red-lips, lawnmowers, etc are all fairly large, boistrous (if not downright nasty...looking at you Mr. Red-lip!! Been bitten by more than one!) fish for a small tank. Not necessarily bad citizens one and all....but again, not peaceful in my book. This quality makes them good tankmates for more fish-heavy tanks where you might need a fish that's not nasty, but can hold its own without a problem. The Tailspot Blenny would probably be another on the more-peaceful side of the family.

Fairy wrasses are cool - very peaceful. Depending on the nature of your clowns (some are more or less territorial) fairy wrasse like the McCosker's might become a target. (The more settled your clowns are to one spot, the less likely this will be.) Got your eye on any in particular?

-Matt

 

[Kworker]

If im going to something that is with caution I would definitely swing more towards a dwarf angel, i love flame angels or lemonpeels although i heard lemons are probably worse. Plus i've read klein butterflys need to be fed 3 times per day, i do not have the time to do such.

You did make me think about the anemone, still considering it but more inclined for frogspawn now since i can choose where it goes plus the excuse (i want people to think i have a anemone) is stupid because people not in hobby would think frogspawn is some type of a anemone. especially if they see "nemo" swimming around in the danged thing. I could use ignorance to my advantage lol.

I'm torn between purple firefish or a helfrichi, If i were to go purple i would try 2-3. If the hel than just solo. I love the helfrichi though.

As for blenny's, the barnacles look pretty **** cool. I was actually thinking about the orangethroat pikeblenny
And type of wrasse, im unsure. Most likely a single specimen of whatever I would end up seeing at the LFS. To my understanding any of the fairy wrasse's are peacefull as long as another male fairy is around.

I have some serious microbubbles coming out of the current setup in my sump but i think it should die down in a bit as i did some switching of stuff so i would think it needs to rebreak in. I'm going to lose it if it doesnt die down soon.

 

[mcarroll]

If im going to something that is with caution I would definitely swing more towards a dwarf angel, i love flame angels or lemonpeels although i heard lemons are probably worse. Plus i've read klein butterflys need to be fed 3 times per day, i do not have the time to do such.

It's probably debatable but the Angels you named are a worse risk for corals than the Klein's IMO. People do get away with them, but I've met quite a few people who've had to swear off of Angels.

There are a couple lesser risks in the group, IIRC...but their colors are less exotic. Eibli's and Bellus.

And FWIW I think that three times a day feedings would be a nice insurance policy if you could manage it, but I'm pretty sure any variety of "well fed" will suffice. He's not a fish you will want to just "ignore with your corals" though....like any fish you could pick (esp. wild-caught) it will require some dedication and close observation on your part. Not on the easy list, but then neither are most saltwater fish! :)

If "easy" is really a key factor (be honest!) then you should stick with true or false clowns and their kin, watchmen or neon gobies, Midas, Tail-spot or Barnacle Blennies and maybe a standard or purple firefish. Could probably include Pajama or Bangai Cardinals on that list too. Might be one or two others I'm not thinking of, but that's really about it for easy fish. Everything else really has some or other significant consideration in diet or behavior (or both) that makes them "not easy."

Hope this helps! :)

-Matt

 

[Kworker]

It's probably debatable but the Angels you named are a worse risk for corals than the Klein's IMO. People do get away with them, but I've met quite a few people who've had to swear off of Angels.

There are a couple lesser risks in the group, IIRC...but their colors are less exotic. Eibli's and Bellus.

And FWIW I think that three times a day feedings would be a nice insurance policy if you could manage it, but I'm pretty sure any variety of "well fed" will suffice. He's not a fish you will want to just "ignore with your corals" though....like any fish you could pick (esp. wild-caught) it will require some dedication and close observation on your part. Not on the easy list, but then neither are most saltwater fish! :)

If "easy" is really a key factor (be honest!) then you should stick with true or false clowns and their kin, watchmen or neon gobies, Midas, Tail-spot or Barnacle Blennies and maybe a standard or purple firefish. Could probably include Pajama or Bangai Cardinals on that list too. Might be one or two others I'm not thinking of, but that's really about it for easy fish. Everything else really has some or other significant consideration in diet or behavior (or both) that makes them "not easy."

Hope this helps! :)

-Matt

I dont want to sound like I am not dedicated, but fish with easy care is pretty important. I'm not home during the day to be able to feed 3 times per day. Best i could possibly do is once in morning once at night.

My main stock list consists of the two clowns, some type of dartfish. now im leaning towards a purple rather than the helfrichi. a wrasse of some type and a bottome dweller. Either goby or blenny.
how do you feel about adding clowns as first fish?
I still am holding off on fish since my father and I have not gotten around to making the canopy/light fixture combo. So currently the tank is open top with a shop light on top. I do have my 1 mixed color Rapidled par38 with 80optics to help with the build. I may supplement in a single 48" t5 fixture that my lfs sells for 60 bucks

My params have been good for almost a week now i think, but still holding off. Only 2 snails and 2 hermits although i think 1 hermit is dead. When i was on my way home from the LFS with them i saw a snail on top of the hermit looking like he was trying to eat it. Later that night i saw the legs on the floor and some legs sticking out of the shell and he hasnt moved since. The other hermit and snails are doing great moving around my live rock so im not concerned.

 

[mcarroll]

I dont want to sound like I am not dedicated, but fish with easy care is pretty important. I'm not home during the day to be able to feed 3 times per day. Best i could possibly do is once in morning once at night.

My main stock list consists of the two clowns, some type of dartfish. now im leaning towards a purple rather than the helfrichi. a wrasse of some type and a bottome dweller. Either goby or blenny.
how do you feel about adding clowns as first fish?
I still am holding off on fish since my father and I have not gotten around to making the canopy/light fixture combo. So currently the tank is open top with a shop light on top. I do have my 1 mixed color Rapidled par38 with 80optics to help with the build. I may supplement in a single 48" t5 fixture that my lfs sells for 60 bucks

My params have been good for almost a week now i think, but still holding off. Only 2 snails and 2 hermits although i think 1 hermit is dead. When i was on my way home from the LFS with them i saw a snail on top of the hermit looking like he was trying to eat it. Later that night i saw the legs on the floor and some legs sticking out of the shell and he hasnt moved since. The other hermit and snails are doing great moving around my live rock so im not concerned.

You sound like you'll be plenty dedicated - which was my point! :) Feeding flake three times a day isn't really a tall order, and isn't really the only way to accomplish the goal. If you have adequate algae growth in the tank, there' a chance between the algae and its associated pods and worms they'd have plenty to nibble on all the time, and you feeding flake twice a day would be plenty. As another option, you can train them onto nori if your tank doesn't have adequate algae growth. Even if flake was your only resource, you could feed twice in the morning and once at night..or once a.m. and twice p.m. I'm sure if you gave it some thought you could come up with some other simple ways that would also work for you.

Adding clowns can be dicey, depending on how yours end up behaving. Sometimes they'll settle right in, establish a small territory/patch of sand and outside of that area won't bother anyone. Sometimes they don't seem as prone to settling and can display territorial aggressing tank-wide. I think adding two or more helps as you end up getting the male/female pairing which should lock in their settling. You kind of have to see how it goes - even clownfish can turn out not to be "community oriented". (They are Damsel's at heart, after all.) Some people will choose to add them last, for this reason. If the clown(s) turn out to be nastier than expected, at least the other residents already have an established "home base" to run to.

One of your hermits probably (hopefully) just molted - very common when they get introduced to a new tank. Their shed exoskeleton looks just like what you'd think a dead hermit crab looks and acts like. If you look close, you'll see no eye-stalks and a large hole in the rear-end where the animal exited. If so, he'll show up again when his new exoskeleton has hardened up and he's not so vulnerable. :)

-Matt

 

[Kworker]

You sound like you'll be plenty dedicated - which was my point! :) Feeding flake three times a day isn't really a tall order, and isn't really the only way to accomplish the goal. If you have adequate algae growth in the tank, there' a chance between the algae and its associated pods and worms they'd have plenty to nibble on all the time, and you feeding flake twice a day would be plenty. As another option, you can train them onto nori if your tank doesn't have adequate algae growth. Even if flake was your only resource, you could feed twice in the morning and once at night..or once a.m. and twice p.m. I'm sure if you gave it some thought you could come up with some other simple ways that would also work for you.

Adding clowns can be dicey, depending on how yours end up behaving. Sometimes they'll settle right in, establish a small territory/patch of sand and outside of that area won't bother anyone. Sometimes they don't seem as prone to settling and can display territorial aggressing tank-wide. I think adding two or more helps as you end up getting the male/female pairing which should lock in their settling. You kind of have to see how it goes - even clownfish can turn out not to be "community oriented". (They are Damsel's at heart, after all.) Some people will choose to add them last, for this reason. If the clown(s) turn out to be nastier than expected, at least the other residents already have an established "home base" to run to.

One of your hermits probably (hopefully) just molted - very common when they get introduced to a new tank. Their shed exoskeleton looks just like what you'd think a dead hermit crab looks and acts like. If you look close, you'll see no eye-stalks and a large hole in the rear-end where the animal exited. If so, he'll show up again when his new exoskeleton has hardened up and he's not so vulnerable. :)

-Matt

I am committed, its not much of an issue that I dont want to. Its an issue that feeding multiple times a day is potentially not possible for me. With school, work and lacrosse oh and cant forget spending time with the girlfriend lol. I sometimes wont be home at all, Most of the time i feed my freshwater tanks 2 times a day, sometimes once and sometimes they miss a day. But only one day.

I mean November and December I only have school and work, its not much of an issue. Thats when I plan to really spend time building this thing into a coral garden but come january after i go on my annual cruise in the Caribbean the day after I begin practice again every day so lacrosse consumes time of my day 6 days a week hopefully until memorial day in may (championships we hope :P) Away games mean I will be away from home for majority of weekends. So I'm not really sure if I should commit to a fish that in order to thrive to be fed such like this. But hey, it just gives me a reason that I have to take my time with everything. I may have more time this spring (not sure 100% on schedule) but with this said heres my current stock list idea

2 Occ. clowns
1-3 Firefish
1 Royal Gramma (love candy basslets but dont have that cash :P)

I would love a butterfly but I probably would like to get into clams once my tank matures.
The anemone is thrown out of my list right now since I dont like fact they can move around themselves destroying coral. I would like to do torch or frogspawn like you said in place of it, most people who would see them wouldnt know the difference unless they know the hobby. I'm just worried about the clowns if they actually decide to host within the frogspawn/torch stressing it out and it dying. But i rather take that risk as of right now.

 

[Kworker]

I am building the canopy later if things go according to plan, I will be doing track lighting along the top/back of the canopy with par38 bulbs from rapidled. Right now i only have the one Par38 mixed color with UV's 80degree. I would begetting another for the other side, but unsure if i should do 4 of theses or the planned 2mixed/uv than 2 actinic.

along with the par38's I will be getting one of the deepblue t5ho fixtures with the moonlights and mounting/suspending it within the canopy. I think i would have to use the 36" fixture as the 48" one would be too tight within the canopy and cram things up. Also I would believe with the 4 par38's and 2 36" t5's i should have adequate lighting for most coral. I do plan on modifying the fixture to run the moonlights seperately from the t5's so everything would be on timers. Also main reason behind the t5's is to give the tank a more smooth light look, the par38's give spotlight affect near surface unless you put them high enough from surface but that reduces par at the bottom of tank of course.

I chose par38's because i like the ease of tracklight and being able to switch out the bulb if i wish. Plus t5 and led combo seems to be most efficient. I probably wont be too concerned with replacing t5's unless they break honestly, because i feel the par38's should give the coral the light they need, the t5's are really just there for the spread and moonlights.

 

[Kworker]

Just picked up 4 green chromis, were 4 for 20. Kinda expecting dieoff but well see. Honestly didn't want to take to big of a hit if things go wrong. I was gonna get 2 purple darts but opted I would be more devastated losing darts.

 

[mcarroll]

Well, take it slow and I think everything should work out!

-Matt

 

[Kworker]

Update with pics, sorry on quality theyre with a camera phone.
Picked up a bunch of stuff yesterday, (2) Koralia 550's also (2) LED fixtures custom made by one of my LFS they each have 25 LED's running at 50W each.

Also I picked up 3 coral frags for 45 bucks. 1 Zoa which is the one i picked out. My father picked out the other 2. I believe theyre a sympodium and Starburst Polyp. Im sure you guys could help me with ID's

 

[Davesgt]

Dang if you lived closer id unload all the starburst that you could handle lol. i bought some starburt and put it in one of my small tanks and now its all over the place lol.

 

[Kworker]

haha I think its Starburst, I was not there when it was bagged i was looking around the store.
My father picked it out, I let him have fun.. Get him alittle more interested into it. We were at another store today looking at Coral hes pretty into picking it out but i doubt he would ever get into it enough to want to start another tank or take care of it. But hey if I could find a way to make everyone a bit more into it, it makes things easier for me since im the care-taker. My plan to to let everybody pick something living that goes into the tank. with my Mother/Father/girlfriend and so on. Except it would have to pass my checklist so in reality im not sure if theyre really picking anything :xd:

 

[Davesgt]

Man thats the best part of having aquariums. My fiance and her boy seem to enjoy them just about more than i do ( plus it helps that she owns a LFS lol ). My mom and dad like them but dad seems to enjoy them a little more ( he mostly enjoys feeding my arowana tank lol )

 

[Davesgt]

Making others interested is a treat within itself