Established 50 gallon marine tank - looking for suggestions.

[dirtyblacksocks]

I've got a 50 gallon marine tank with the following setup going:

Roughly 40 lbs. of live rock - most of it is premium grade with a good amount of coralline algae.

About a 3" sand bed consisting of fine live sand and coarser aragonite.

A JBJ Powerhead pushing around 400 GPH through the back of the rock (the rocks are set towards center so there are no dead spots in the tank).

Another powerhead on the opposing end pushing 500 GPH.

Two smaller nano powerheads pushing 250 GPH on a 45 second alternating timer.

Corals:
Devil's hand.
Xenia
Frogspawn
Torch/Hammer
Leather
Various polyps and mushrooms
Blue sponge
Orange Sponge
Two small bubble tip anenomes (hitchikers)

Livestock:
Around 120 hermit crabs
10 turbo snails
2 peppermint shrimp
Other cleanup crew necessities.
Orange spine sea urchin
Fire goby/flame goby
Fuzzy dwarf lionfish
Emerald crab

4 bulb T5-HO strip with two actinics that run 12 hours of the day and 2 10k bulbs that run 6 hours of the day.

Venturi protein skimmer producing close to 1 cup every other day.

Dose Lugol's every other day, calcium twice a week, strontium twice a week.

Everything is thriving, after a bit of an algae battle - and I can't make up my mind on final, and suitable additions to the tank.

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions - note that as the corals grow the tank size is likely to grow as well. I was interested in doing a small school of 4 fire goby's and 5 of the purple fire goby's. Or possibly a wild caught maroon clown fish to host in somthing (I'm aware of their aggression).

I'm also very interested in anthias, but while the LFS tell me a 50 gallon is large enough for them. Somthing tells me it's a bit on the small side and they would be happier in somthing with a 6' long footprint.

I'm brand new to salt water, very experienced in fresh water (15+ years). Recently had to dump everything but this one reef tank - suggestions are appreciated.

Also, I'm seeing a few bristle worms in the tank - the jury seems to be out on them. Half the people I talk to say get an arrow crab to eat them, the other half say leave them be and that they aren't that much of a danger.

Thanks!

 

[Mantis411]

well the lion will probably eat the flame gobys when he gets bigger so i would avoid getting more... they would be expencive food... everything else seems great though, a maroon clown would be able to live with a fuzzy lion (so long as it won't fit in its mouth) but IME with firefish they are every easily bullied and will hide continusly if kept with more agressive fish like maroon clowns. we're in the same boat when it comes to bristle worms but i do love arrow crabs so if it was up to me i would add one, i don't see how it could hurt.


Ps. i would love to see pics, ive been thinking of getting a lionfish tank myself..... sweet avatar btw

 

[sweeTang21]

Anthias would be okay if you were getting a single Species, but i rarely see them fair well in captivity. They require very consitent feedings at multiple intervals a day. they will for the most part get a long with the other fish and provided they grow at a good rate or you get a larger one to begin with, will most likely not be in any danger of the lionfish.

Id look at some wrasses. I have a radiant wrasse now and am waiting for christmas wrasses to become availiable at my LFS to get one of them. You have a ton of choices and color variations, there peaceful and dont have feeding habits like that of the anthias.

Otherwise the tank is just a tad to small for anything else like puffers, triggers and most butterfly fish.

 

[BIGgourami]

Anthias would be okay if you were getting a single Species, but i rarely see them fair well in captivity. They require very consitent feedings at multiple intervals a day.

i'd tend to disagree with this.. i doubt they get fed more than once a day at the store (mine does an auto QT period) and the ones at work have been doing fine for about 7-8 years on once daily and twice weekly fasting.. there are bartlet's, squarespot and evan's

i do agree about the wrasses though.. try looking for a pinknose pencil wrasse.. i just saw one at the store and it got me hankering for one