Tank Stocking

[robnpg]

I currently have a lawnmower blenny, yellow tang, and niger triggerfish all overcrowded in a 55 gallon tank. I came into a 90 gallon tank and heard that would be too small for them too. I see an 120 gallon on sale ant my LFS, would this work for them?

[coral reefer]

Hey...Welcome to 3reef!!!!!
Three fish in a 55gallon tank isn't that bad...the fish aren't going to get terribly large. If you wanted to step up to a 90 or even a 120, that's fine as the bigger the tank the easier, or should I say, more forgiving it is to overcome mistakes or more drastic changes with regards to water parameters for example.
If you have a deep sand bed, live rock and a powerful skimmer, you will be fine. Remember to do weekly water changes and test water often as well!
Good luck!!!!!!!!!

[robnpg]

Thanks for the reply! I forgot to mention, in addition to the lawnblower blenny, yellow tang, and niger triggerfish, I have a snowflake eel in the 55 gallon tank! How could I forget....
So should I move on with the 90 gallon or the 120?




55 gallon; 40 pds marshall island live rock, 2" sand bed; Aqua-C Remora skimmer, HOT magnum filter

[coral reefer]

It really is up to you! In my own experience, I know many people start off with a particular size tank only to wish for or move up in tank size due to the never ending need for more fish etc. At least if you go with a bigger tank now it will save ya time and energy and the possibility of problems changing over in the future to a bigger tank and having more inhabitants.
I love those Snowflake Eels!!!!I have one in my reef tank and he is quite the character!

[Reef Lover]

Hello,
If you up grade, save the 55g and turn it into a refuge.

[RAVEN]

Go for the bigger tank. I made the mistake of getting a 120g long instead of a 220g and now I'm looking to upgrade to a 220g 2 yrs later. More water is always better IMO.

[karlas]

If you can afford it go with the 120. If you get the 90 then later on you will be kicking yourself for not going with the bigger tank.

[coral reefer]

The bigger the tank the better!!! You have more room for error with a bigger tank as changes, errors and messups are more forgiving with a bigger tank. You also have more surface are in which beneficial bacteria can grow and reproduce. And as I mentioned earlier, you have more options with regards to livestock-however the cost associated with a larger tank can not be underestimated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU HAVE TO WEIGH OUT THE OPTIONS AND CHOSE THE TANK THAT BEST SUITS YOUR BUDGET AND SPACE IN YOUR HOUSE/APARTMENT/CONDO!

[reiple]

Yup the bigger the tank the better!!!! Snowflake eels are so cooooolll (ehemmm do i sound like someone who loves these animals! yuppppp).

However with good (notever rated is better!) skimming and an enormous rock pile---i mean live rock structure (hehehehehe) you can keep these eels in a smaller space.

I still have the same two eels after over 4 years (one is about a year younger). One in the main tank of 60 gallons and one in the sump of 15 gallons!!!!!. But dont follow what I do. Both tank and sump are coverless. And not once (yes not ONCE) did these eels even try to leave their tanks. The sump eel (Hope) likes to move from chamber to chamber though. The main tank eel (Faith) grew far bigger than Hope.

I guess I get away doing these in a small tank because I have been here for a long time......NOT! My simple secret...good quantity live rock, good skimmer (not really.... its an old Sanders CC airstone driven--not the fancy ones!) regular water change of 15-20 percent a month, good mix of food, and most of all a lot of love and care.

Main tank has with Faith the eel a regal or hippo tang and 3 bannerfish. New and possibly mistakes (hehehehe) are a 3 spot Butterfly, an oriole angle and a lipstick tank. Yup crowded and inviting trouble......(OMG am I gonna be flamed!!!!!)

Good luck!

BTW I stopped keeping corals while I setup a nice nano tank. I will serialize it to these 60 gallon or I might not.