How many pumps do I need?

[Bifferwine]

Skip the seahorses unless they have their own tank. Seahorses do not do well in community tanks with other fish. Not only are they not compatible with other fish, but they have different feeding needs, different temperature needs and different flow needs. You'll have to pick one or the other -- a reef tank or a seahorse tank.

Also keep in mind that butterflyfish and angelfish are not reef safe. I know of no butterflyfish that can be kept in a reef tank. There are some angels that are reef safeish and can do well in reef tanks if they are kept well fed. But that's no guarantee that they won't eat your corals.

The jawfish will do just fine with sand.

[dustin_P74]

so if you get an angel you shouldnt put it in a tank that has corals?

[Bifferwine]

Most angels will eat corals. That's why they're not considered reef safe. There are a few that won't always eat corals, but even with those it's a 50/50 chance. No angels are 100% safe around corals.

[fatman]

At most the Jaw fish just need a few rocks or shells to line the ledges of there pits or holes, otherwise the sand is fine , but there will be times of cloudiness when they decide to rerrange their swqand pits. Biffer is right about the sea horses, about the only thing I have seen successfully kept with sea horses is file fish. About the only butterfly fish I would keep in a reef is a Copper Band Butterfly fish and that would only be on a temporary short term basis to clean out an infestation of apitasia (glass anemones) as a Copperband seems to do better than I do at eliminating them.

[AngelLeah1981]

My goodness what FANTASTIC detailed info. THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!!
Why do you suggest to get the most expensive best rock I can afford? It's not all the same?

With bio balls nitrate checks should be done as often as every other day unless the balls are cleaned regularly on a rotational basis. Meaning some should be removed at least weekly and cleaned then placed back into filter. A week later part of the bio balls not washed the week before should be washed. Just like all mechanical filter media should be regularly cleaned or replaced.

Is it true I can just use the rock for filtration or do I need an actual filtration system besides the skimmer? (and later on macro algae)

So in a 120 gallon system with normal to deep sand bed how many rocks would you put in the tank and in what fashion? ...just get a handful and lay them in a one spot? ....two spots if you get two yellow faced jawfish?
When you say you would only keep the Copper Band Butterfly fish temporarily - what would you do with it then? lol. Are they reef safe? I guess not.

Is there anything extra you can do to prevent apitasia? I googled it - hadn't heard of it before.

Thanks so much you guys !!!!

[RyanG]

If you get a copperband for apitasia after the problem is cured either take it back to the LFS for store credit or find a local reefer and rent him/her out. Your live rock will be the basis for biologic filtration, your skimmer will the the base of mechanical filtration. You could get a canister filter for running chemicals but it isnt needed per say. Definately not needed in the beginning.

[fatman]

Live rock varies immensely in that with good rock you also get some life forms on and or with your rock. It is taken for granted that live rock is aragonite or calcium carbonate based. Meaning it is old coral skeletons over grown with coraline algae as a cementing agent. It is also taken for granted that it will have colorful coraline algae growing on its surface. However, to be live rock the only requirement is that it is marine environment safe rock covered with and or infused with certain bacteria that can bring about nitrification, meaning to turn organic waste into ammonia, then ammonia into nitrite, then finally nitrite into to nitrate. Live rock should however be pourous, and preferably have a low density, as the good less dense rock also contains deep within it, where there is almost no oxygen, denitrifing bacteria that turns nitrate into nitrous gas. As you get into better live rock you start getting colorful coraline algaes, and with even better live rock , you usually get what is referred to as hitch hikers. These run a broad range, but can include small corals, polyps, anemones, starfish, crabs, snails, sponges, worms, tube worms, macro algae and as some would say, a diverse microfauna. For really exciting looking live rock check out this site http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com

[yote]

In a new tank,Skip the copperband altogether.They are a difficult fish to keep.
IMO,They are a lot like a cross between mandrine dragonettes and anemones.They need mature stable tanks with a lot of live rock.They actively feed on the pods and SMALL apitasia anemones.

[fatman]

I cheat, I maintain some reef tanks so I just make the rotation of the Copperband part of the maintenance plan on the tanks. I have had customers ask why, but have never had a customer suggest saying no as an option. I have had customers tht did not want me to remove the Copperband. I have been lucky in getting quite a few Copperbands over the years that would eat a variety of frozen foods. I think they are a handsome fish. I have had several though that went straight for the coral polyps as soon as they were put into a tank.

[AngelLeah1981]

So when I am looking to buy rock how do I know if I'm getting the good, low density and porous kind? What do I look for? FatMan, the website you gave me with the rock is the "good" kind?
Thanks.