Marine fish-only options

[darthodo]

I have a 5-ft, 100 gallon tank and a 6-ft, 125 gallon that are currently freshwater cichlid tanks. Can I do FOWLR marine fish in these tanks with minimal additional cost? I don't have to spend as much on lighting as I would with a reef tank. I think I'll still need to get sumps and skimmers for these tanks. Does everyone still use RO/DI water for these tanks as well? I use tap w/ dechlorinator for my freshwater tanks. What about waterchanges for FOWLR? I do weekly 60% waterchanges on the tanks I have now. I'm new to salt, so don't assume I know much about it. My experience is all with freshwater cichlids.

Any info you can give on the triggers (especially Picasso and Niger), angels (blueface and emporer), the harlequin tuskfish, and any other fish that may do well. Do you have to keep triggers alone? I was hoping for about 4-5 fish in both of the tanks. If I kept a trigger I would keep but one trigger per tank. I'd like to Keep an angel, a trigger, and a harequin tusk, and maybe a blue tang in the 125 and maybe one less of a similar combination in the 100. Any other fish types I'm overlooking? Puffers?

 

[lee1]

Depends on the substrate that you currently have if you have cichlid mix you can use that or you can buy carbsea substrate fairly cheap also go to local store or craigslist to get some cheap baserock.

Triggers can be kepted with each other you just have to be careful nigers humu humus and picassos and pinktails are fairly mild tempered( be careful triggers can have a mind of their own) clown triggers can be holly terrors and undulateds and queens are the devil.

As far as angels emperators have a tendency to get hole in the head and blue face angels can be really picky eaters. I would start with a koran or some of the dwarf angels (flames, flamebacks pygmies.Big angels can be very terriotorial.

H tusk are one of my favorites usually will not mess with anything unless he can put his mouth around it.

If you have the money and patience I would use cheappies to cycle your tank the add the angel and trigger at the same time, always add the least aggressive species first.Hope this helps out.I have learned in my years in the hobby is that nothing is a sure thing especiaaly invoving sw fish.

 

[SimonL]

You can use your regular freahwater filters, I recommend a skimmer, but it's not absolutely needed. Regular tap water is fine, you don't need RO. Do yourself a favour and set up a big rubbermaid tub or garbage can and mix your WC water a few days in advance. And get a refractometer over those crappy swing arm hydrometers.

 

[mr.reef24]

I have a 5-ft, 100 gallon tank and a 6-ft, 125 gallon that are currently freshwater cichlid tanks. Can I do FOWLR marine fish in these tanks with minimal additional cost? Yes I don't have to spend as much on lighting as I would with a reef tank. I think I'll still need to get sumps and skimmers for these tanks. Does everyone still use RO/DI water for these tanks as well? most definitely I use tap w/ dechlorinator for my freshwater tanks. What about waterchanges for FOWLR? Have some Ro/DI water in a 5 gallon bucket ( of course you'll have to do more then 5 gallon's but you get the point )with salt and pump mixing prior to water change and that's all you have to do is replace what you take out and use PH buffer and test salinity. I do weekly 60% waterchanges on the tanks I have now. I'm new to salt, so don't assume I know much about it. My experience is all with freshwater cichlids. You can do a 5% change weekly or 20% monthly just check water parameter's and go by your reading's to get a better feel of your water changing needs.

Any info you can give on the triggers (especially Picasso and Niger), angels (blueface and emporer), the harlequin tuskfish, and any other fish that may do well. Do you have to keep triggers alone? NO I was hoping for about 4-5 fish in both of the tanks. If I kept a trigger I would keep but one trigger per tank. I'd like to Keep an angel, a trigger, and a harequin tusk, and maybe a blue tang in the 125 and maybe one less of a similar combination in the 100. Any other fish types I'm overlooking? could be okay but you would have to do some research on the species your looking to get first then go from there.Puffers? depend's on tankmates

mr.reef24

 

[darthodo]

Thanks folks. All good stuff.

Here is a list I've developed of the fish I'm interested in. I have the ones that may give me trouble (based on your comments) in red text.

Yellow tang
Pacific blue tang
Mimic Tellow Peel tang
Yellow Belly Regal Blue Tang
Harlequin tusk
Banana wrasse
Majestic angel
Imperator angel
Blueface angel
Picasso trigger
Niger trigger
Arugia butterfly
Raccon butterfly

I'll have to do hang-on skimmers because sumps are gonna be hard to do because of where the tanks are. I'm thinking of replacing the AC 500s I have on these tanks with hang on protein skimmers and running crushed live rock in my canisters (XP-3 on the 100 and an XP-4 on the 125). What hang-on skimmers would anyone recommend? I've seen some for $150.00 and some for $600.00. If I run the live rock in the canisters, will it lead to nitrate buildup? I already have plenty of heaters.

 

[jawtec]

I had a Niger Trigger and found they were dull coloured when looking face on.. I now have a Red Tail Trigger which i believe is the most peacefull trigger but also one of the best looking..