- Joined
- Aug 24, 2019
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- 10
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- 10
I'm thinking of getting back into the hobby from a decades-long absence. I'm selling my cruising boat and want to have a hobby that continues to connect me to the ocean, so taking some of the proceeds from the boat sale and putting it into a really nice tank seems somehow appropriate. And if there is one thing I can say about a tank, however extravagant, is that it will cost a whole lot less than the boat did ... LOL.
So I am interested in getting an approximately 200-odd gallon reef tank focusing on Anthias, soft corals and compatible fish. As you probably know, the tank needs to be set up and humming for a fairly long period of time (I'm guessing at least six months) before the Anthias can be added. And the Anthias need to be put in all at once. So if I hypothetically want two dozen Anthias (advice on exactly how many would be of interest) it seems difficult to see how quarantine would be possible. Certainly I know that even with the largest QT in the world, the Anthias would be cramped, miserable and would probably tear each other to shreds. It also seems cruel to the fish themselves.
Is the best solution to order the fish from the local store and have them quarantine the Anthias? How much would a store generally charge for such a service?
A simple rule of thumb that's been mentioned is that you should not double the bio load on your tank in a month. How can this be handled if I'm likely to start from a low bio load when it's time to add the Anthias?
Any recommendations for good fish and corals to go with the Anthias? Are the Anthias compatible with wavy soft corals? I'm already thinking Zebra Barred Dartfish, Fairy Wrasse and Mandarin.
Is it better to have one species of Anthias or mix them up?
Is it possible to grow enough Copepods in the tank to feed the Anthias, if I introduce them a few months before the Anthias? From everything being said, that seems like the best way to feed them if feasible.
Wow. Lots of questions! Hope they spark some entertaining discussion.
So I am interested in getting an approximately 200-odd gallon reef tank focusing on Anthias, soft corals and compatible fish. As you probably know, the tank needs to be set up and humming for a fairly long period of time (I'm guessing at least six months) before the Anthias can be added. And the Anthias need to be put in all at once. So if I hypothetically want two dozen Anthias (advice on exactly how many would be of interest) it seems difficult to see how quarantine would be possible. Certainly I know that even with the largest QT in the world, the Anthias would be cramped, miserable and would probably tear each other to shreds. It also seems cruel to the fish themselves.
Is the best solution to order the fish from the local store and have them quarantine the Anthias? How much would a store generally charge for such a service?
A simple rule of thumb that's been mentioned is that you should not double the bio load on your tank in a month. How can this be handled if I'm likely to start from a low bio load when it's time to add the Anthias?
Any recommendations for good fish and corals to go with the Anthias? Are the Anthias compatible with wavy soft corals? I'm already thinking Zebra Barred Dartfish, Fairy Wrasse and Mandarin.
Is it better to have one species of Anthias or mix them up?
Is it possible to grow enough Copepods in the tank to feed the Anthias, if I introduce them a few months before the Anthias? From everything being said, that seems like the best way to feed them if feasible.
Wow. Lots of questions! Hope they spark some entertaining discussion.