what do you think?

15 posts • Page 1 of 2

Discuss all topics related to saltwater / reef tanks.


jav36
 
Posts: 101
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:32 pm

what do you think?

by jav36

alright heres afew questions

1.i have a 30 gallon reef. what is a good, inexpensive skimmer for it?

2.does anybody have experience with fuzzy lionfish? are they very timid? hard to care for?


Snowboss4492
 
Posts: 2098
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:24 pm

by Snowboss4492

if your into a HOB skimmer I am using a red sea prizm {not the deluxe model} on a 20 long - -it's quiet and just runs and runs and runs..bout 100 bucks, i love it for a smaller tank

dont know nothin about lions

Boss


fihsboy
 
Posts: 1837
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:20 pm

by fihsboy

If you have a sump.......go with the coralife 65....it will pull more gunk out that thought believable. It can also be used as HOB but i wouldnt advise it.....I have it on my back and the powerhead is HUGE. Takes a good part of the back of my aquarium........lame! I have heard good things about the red sea prizm as well.


jav36
 
Posts: 101
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:32 pm

by jav36

thanks guys

i looked into the prism and found this

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~ ... tab~0.html

is that a good deal? good product?
the reveiws for it are all over the place so im not sure what to expect


snowboss
 
Posts: 458
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:53 pm

by snowboss

yep, thats the exact skimmer im useing ....as long as shipping isn't to bad ....thats a good deal


jav36
 
Posts: 101
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:32 pm

by jav36

thanks for the help guys
one more question,,,,

does anyone know anything about leopard wrasses?
hardiness? tank size? foods?


schigara
 
Posts: 468
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:42 pm

by schigara

Wow, you just asked my favorite question. Forgive me in advance for the long winded post you are about to receive.

The Leopard Wrasse's are my favorite fish. I have a Bipartitus Leopard and they are just the sweetest and most personable fish. I am waiting for my LFS to get me a juvenile Potter's(Geoffroyi) Leopard.

They range from 4-6 inches and need a minimum 30g tank. They are quite hardy once they enter a well established reef tank. They constantly forage for small crustaceans like copepods and tiny starfish. They do eat prepared foods but have to be very small particle size as they have tiny mouths. They chow down on cyclops and will try to eat brine and mysis but usually take it in and spit them out numerous times because the pieces are too large.

They need a minimum 2inch deep, fine sand bed to sleep in and to dive into for cover when they are scared.

They are classified as poor shippers because of the sand issue. When they are in a shipping bag, there is no sand, they get scared and try to dive into the "substrate" and smash their mouth into the hard bottom of the bag and damage their mouth. From this point and with this damage, they will rarely recover or start eating again and end up starving to death. They have tiny, delicate little mouths. If you see one at a store, look very closely at it's mouth. If it's crooked or doesn't meet evenly top to bottom, it won't make it.

If you really want one and have a system of the proper size and maturity, have your LFS order the one you want and have them specify that you want it shipped in a bag with at least an inch of sand and you'll have a much better chance of getting a healthy specimen.

Also keep in mind the Leopards are very peaceful and also very easily picked on, so be careful about what fish are already in the tank and especially other Wrasses. My Sixline Wrasse almost killed my Leopard by the time I was finally able to catch the damn Sixline and remove his common, bullying ass from the tank.

My LFS has an awesome 300g SPS reef display that includes 2 Bipartitus, 1 Black, 1 Potter's and 1 Ornatus Leopard Wrasses and they all get along famously together and are the "show fish" in the tank.

Excellent fish and highly recommended but not for a novice or a new tank. They are a bit like a Mandarin when it comes to food. They will eat small particle food but they really need a constant copepod population as their primary diet.

As an example, I have a 75g main display, a 55g sump that has 15g as a refugium and a secondary 29g display refugium and am able to support a Scooter Blenny(Dragonette) and the Bipartitus Leopard. They are both growing fast and getting fat. I will be pushing the limits of the copepod population once I get the Potter's Leopard as all 3 will be pod eaters. Hmmmm...might call for an upgrade from the 29g to a 55g secondary refugium..........shit.......it's only money!


jav36
 
Posts: 101
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:32 pm

by jav36

WOW! thanks so much for all the info, i appreciate it

The leopard sounds like it could fit in my tank
i have the sand bed, 30 gallon tank, i could supply small food particles, fish arent too agressive, but im not sure about the copepods.. i dont have a sump but im getting a new bak pak skimmer so after i get that running im gonna try to turn my aquaclear 70 filter into a small refrigium where i can raise the copepods.
would this work out?


schigara
 
Posts: 468
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:42 pm

by schigara

I guess that could work. Just stuff the whole thing full of LR rubble. How old is your tank setup?


jav36
 
Posts: 101
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:32 pm

by jav36

its been up and running for around 9 months

what do you think?

15 posts • Page 1 of 2

12
Display posts from previous: Sort by: