Hello! I'm a newbie :-)

[sealegs]

Hello all,
I've been lurking here for a while, and have learned a whole bunch! I decided to introduce myself, and tell a little about my tank. I had a 14 gal biocube that I purchased in January. I outgrew it in 2 months, and now have a 45 gal tall set up. I am looking for any help I can get regarding stocking. I have a clown, and a sixline, and cleaner shrimp that made the transition from the biocube. However, I'm not a fan of clowns really, and the sixline is tiny in the big tank. I did add a beautiful small Yellow tang, which I have fallen in love with. She is really the only thing you can see in my tank! What can I get to go with her, given that I take the clown and sixline back? Thanks :-)

45 gal
30 lbs live sand
30 lbs live rock
1 filstar xp2 filter
1 marineland 350 biowheel filter
1 hydor nano powerhead

1 x-large frogspawn
1 bubble coral
1 small frogspawn
1 large pipe organ
several pulsating xenias
1 small pink birdsnest
1 small leather
4 mushrooms
1 greenstar
yellow polyps

1 yellow tang
1 clown (that beat up the mate months ago)
1 tiny sixline
1 cleaner shrimp
3 astrea (sp) snails
1 blue leg hermit

[Dnazta]

You really cant add anything because the tank isnt big enough for the tang. It may be ok for now but it will outgrow that tank in a hurry

[YLChik]

sealegs welcome to trt!!!!!!!!!!

I see you, like us, have been bit by the reef bug, welcome to the crazy club!

Just so ya know you have what is considered a small tank - I know it seems crazy, but 45 gallons to most reefers is still a nano

May I as what a filstar filter and the biowheel is for?

I think you could have about 4 fish in this tank
provided they are on the smaller size
firefish
gobies
blennies
cardinals
a reef safe wrasse - check tank allowances
clowns
damsels- though aggressive
dottybacks -
hawkfish - if you don't mind the shrimp being a snack.

to name a few

I think a 6 line is a great fish to have in a reef tank - they take care of pests and have fun qurky swimming patterns, plus a lot of color.

(speaks in a gentle voice knowing you aren't going to like what ya hear...)

the tang is too big at any size for you tank.
They need lots of long space swimming room to keep from being stressed - (think 6 ft long tank).

I highly suggest you take the tang or try a trade. I agree they are beautiful fish, but it will be prone to stress and therefor ich in your tank.

[sealegs]

Thanks to both of you :-) I will take the tang back I guess. In fact, I may take everything except he shrimp back. It's just so strange to me to have this big tall tank, and nothing you can see swimming in it. I've had aquariums since the age of 5, so (27 years...oh my!) and the adjustment to hardly any fish is killing me more than anything! lol Ok, the other question about my filters, I went with the Rena xp2 canister filter because I didn't want a sump. The biowheel was left over from other water adventures so I kept it. I want to get a protein skimmer (looking at the CPR bak pak 2r) to hang on the tank and get rid of the biowheel. Thanks again, I look forward to meeting you all!

[aquawolf]

Welcome to TRT!!!

The CPR BakPak 2R is a good skimmer, especially if you get it with the Accela pump.

Unfortunately the tall tanks do make it a little more difficult for salt at times. This can be true not only for fish selections, but for lighting the corals as well.

I see you are in Columbia. Have you found the Columbia Marine Aquarium Club yet? I am a member of that club as well as the Palmetto Marine Aquarium Club, which has a hosted forum on here. You can send me a PM if you would like more details.

[HD Fatboy®]

Welcome to TRT!

[sealegs]

Thanks Guys! Aquawolf, yes I am in Cola town :-) I would love more info on the clubs. I am glad to hear about the bak pak, and will def look into the accela pump. Thanks for understanding my grief being the owner of a "tall tank". It's 2 feet deep, lol. But, I had this tank in storage from my african chiclid days, and I knew that this tank is just a stepping stone, so why buy one? My sixline acts like he has "died and gone to heaven", going from top to bottom like a roller coaster. Too bad he is only a little bigger than an inch, and you can't see him unless you get beside the tank. I have my live rock stacked high, and try to put my high light corals near the top. All the corals seem to be happy with the lights. I have a 36" current sundial with 2 460nm Actinic and 2 10,000°K T-5 HO lamps. They have individual reflectors, and 4 leds for night time. I am trying to figure out how to get more flow to the bottom without having 2 feet of cord in the water from a korilla. Hey, if that's my biggest problem, then life is real good! I'm so glad to be back into the box of water hobby, and am having a ball with salt. Happy Cinco de mayo

[aquawolf]

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Welcome to the addiction known as reefkeeping.

You have a private message as well.

[sealegs]

Thanks Aquawolf! I got it and will take care of that soon :-) I always joke with the guys at fb and tell them they need to start an automatic draft from my paycheck, lol. I really do appreciate the warm welcome here!

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT!Glad your taking the Tang back(he needs more room).

[aquawolf]

You are welcome.