Planning on a 4x2x2

[pinkspid3r]

Hi Guys,

I am a newbie to saltwater tank and am thinking of starting a 4x2x2 fowlr. Still in the midst of reading up, not gonna rush into this project. Maybe can slowly gather equipments in the meantime, as i want to keep the budget to the minimal.

need advice regarding the stock list, whether is it feasible. listed below are some of the fishes i plan to get.

Porcupine puffer

Saddle Valentini Puffer

Flame Angelfish

Bicolor Dottyback

1 butterfly fish

a pair of clownfish

and probably 1 of the lesser aggressive triggerfish

As i am a puffer lover, they will be the main fishes i would want. Will the list be overstocking and is there other recommendation on the other type of fishes to get?

Would also appreciate if you guys can recommend me which brand/model skimmer to get for a 4x2x2. I might have the intention to covert to a 5ft in the future as well.

[onizukaa]

4x2x2 for the above stock list is more then enough! your tank might be abit empty didn't keep puffer before so unable to advise much.

Let us know your skimmer price range so as we can advise you further

for FOWLR, beckett skimmer is cheap and a good skimmer (but higher electricity comsumption)

depending on your skimmer/water change routine, tangs are a very good choice of FOWRL as they are not shy swimmers and the colour are quite attractive!

Attached the below of my FOWLR before i decom might give you a better idea of what type of fishes you want!

all the best~

[Terryz_]

Hi Guys,

I am a newbie to saltwater tank and am thinking of starting a 4x2x2 fowlr. Still in the midst of reading up, not gonna rush into this project. Maybe can slowly gather equipments in the meantime, as i want to keep the budget to the minimal.

need advice regarding the stock list, whether is it feasible. listed below are some of the fishes i plan to get.

Porcupine puffer

Saddle Valentini Puffer

Flame Angelfish

Bicolor Dottyback

1 butterfly fish

a pair of clownfish

and probably 1 of the lesser aggressive triggerfish

As i am a puffer lover, they will be the main fishes i would want. Will the list be overstocking and is there other recommendation on the other type of fishes to get?

Would also appreciate if you guys can recommend me which brand/model skimmer to get for a 4x2x2. I might have the intention to covert to a 5ft in the future as well.

Have no experience with Porcupine Puffer but they look docile enough... Valentini Puffer is actually a toby and they are known to be fin nippers, so you have to watch out on that...I suggest you leave butterfly out of the list unless you can say which one you are going to keep as most butterflies are obligate coral feeder... The rest of the fishes is okay...

Due to their feeding, their bioload will be quite high although so little fishes... So a good and oversized skimmer is a good investment to have...

[pinkspid3r]

Thanks bros for the replies.

onizuka: Nice tank you have there =) i did consider getting a tang too, but they will grow till quite a huge size, so i am not too sure will it be overload, as the porc puffer will grow till quite a huge size as well. or is there any small species of fishes to suggest so as to make the tank less empty? i am tempted to add a dogface puffer, but i guess it will be too much.

Terryz_: I read that those fish i mentioned are mostly not coral safe, so i think butterfly should be alright? I think the porc puffer might fin nip as well. Do you think is it possible to add some zoas or mushroom in there? i do not plan to add any chiller to this set up.

my budget for skimmer is probably about 300, but im going to look for 2nd hand items. is it too little to get a good skimmer?

Thank you =)

[DUCADOS]

With puffer in tank,try avoid having small fish. Anything that is small enough to them will eventually become their snacks...

As for skimmer,visit our pasar malam. Got 1 fellow selling his deltec skimmer at a very good price(lower then your budget)

happy reefing...

[Terryz_]

Thanks bros for the replies.

onizuka: Nice tank you have there =) i did consider getting a tang too, but they will grow till quite a huge size, so i am not too sure will it be overload, as the porc puffer will grow till quite a huge size as well. or is there any small species of fishes to suggest so as to make the tank less empty? i am tempted to add a dogface puffer, but i guess it will be too much.

Terryz_: I read that those fish i mentioned are mostly not coral safe, so i think butterfly should be alright? I think the porc puffer might fin nip as well. Do you think is it possible to add some zoas or mushroom in there? i do not plan to add any chiller to this set up.

my budget for skimmer is probably about 300, but im going to look for 2nd hand items. is it too little to get a good skimmer?

Thank you =)

I mean the butterfly will be difficult to keep as they are more difficult to wean onto frozen food or pellet with exception of some species... Normal zoas and mushroom should be fine...

[yikai]

don't keep any butterflies unless you have already decided what you want and post here. alot of butterflies are obligate coral eaters. this means they eat nothing but a certain type of coral in the wild. usually acropora. this means in your tank, they will eat nothing else and die.

there are some hardy and easy butterflies. but before you decide to buy, post here first and we'll advice you if it's feasible or not.

this was what terryz meant...

[DUCADOS]

True... I myself love butterfly so much due to their colouration but also never keep coz know very hard to keep n survive

[pinkspid3r]

Thanks for all the inputs.

That's something new i learn about butterfly fish. Guess i will give them a miss, probably will replace it with a tang. Yeap i understand it will be a risk to have too small fished which might end up being meal for the puffer, so still trying to understand the different type of fishes which i can add in.

[DUCADOS]

Yeah man! In marine life,live stock combination is very important.

1 item u mixed wrongly,u will end up losing $$$.

So got to think,research n ask before purchase

Happy reefing!

[yikai]

True... I myself love butterfly so much due to their colouration but also never keep coz know very hard to keep n survive

not true.

there are MANY hardy and beautiful butterflies that you can keep. these do not have specialised diets so you can feed them frozen food/ pellets.

I'll list down all the butterflies that are common, and can be kept in the home aquaria. some are more difficult than others.

i'll list down scientific name, common name, and hardiness level. Do note that although some can be very easy, easy means in terms of feeding and overall adaptability to our tanks. butterflies are very disease prone and can succumb to disease very easily. so no matter how easy they might be, they can die just as easily. They must be provided with good water quality, liverocks and stable water. otherwise, they will get stressed very easily

Chaetodon burgessi (Burgess butterflyfish) - Very easy

Chaetodon tinkeri (Tinker's butterflyfish) - Very easy

Chaetodon mitratus (Mitratus butterflyfish) - Very easy

Chaetodon declivis (Declivis butterflyfish) - Very easy

Chelmon marginalis (Marginalis butterflyfish) - Easy

Chelmon rostratus (Copperband butterflyfish) - Difficult

Forcipiger flavissimus (Yellow longnose butterflyfish) - Very easy

Forcipiger longirostris (Yellow Long-longnosed butterflyfish) - Difficult

Chaetodon semeion (Dotted/Semeion butterflyfish) - Medium

Chaetodon ephippium (Sddled-back butterflyfish) - Easy

Chaetodon lunula (Raccoon butterflyfish) - Easy

Chaetodon semilarvatus (Golden butterflyfish) - Medium

Chaetodon auriga (Threadfin butterflyfish) - Very easy

Chaetodon xanthurus (Pearlscale butterflyfish) - Easy

Hemitaurichthys polyepis (Pyramid butterflyfish) - Very easy

Hemitaurichthys zoster (Black pyramid butterflyfish) - Very easy

Heniochus sp. (All the bannerfishes) - Medium

Chaetodon fremblii (Bluestriped butterflyfish) - Medium

Chaetodon miliaris (Lemon butterflyfish) - Very easy

Prognathodes aya (Banks butterflyfish) - Medium

Prognathodes marcellae (Marcell's butterflyfish) - Medium

the above are some of the commonly/less commonly/rarely offered species that are suitable for our home aquarium. of course there are more, but there's no need to type all. you can search on your own too if you like.

AVOID THESE AT ALL COST.

Chaetodon ornatissimus (Ornate butterflyfish)

Chaetodon lunulatus (Red fin butterflyfish)

Chaetodon trifasciatus (Melon butterflyfish)

Chaetodon trifascialis (Chevroned butterflyfish)

Chaetodon meyeri (Scrawled butterflyfish)

Chaetodon baronessa (Triangular butterflyfish)

Chaetodon plebeius (Blue-spot butterflyfish)

Chaetodon speculum (Mirror butterflyfish)

Chaetodon bennetti (Bennet's butterflyfish)

there are more too. the list i've provided is not even close to half of all butterflyfish species in the world. these are just some commonly offered ones that you might come across in LFS.

maybe a little bit confusing and hard to read, but this is a very comprehensive beginner's list to butterflyfish and you might want to stick to it if you intend to keep them. any other questions can just post and i'll help.

butterflies are often seen as difficult and touchy but as you can see, many are very hardy when provided the right care!

this is a big misunderstanding that should be cleared.

[marshalllee]

hey bro you cant keep porcuppine puffer with clownfish and dottyback. they'll definitely be eaten up.

[DUCADOS]

Wow... Didn't know got so much butterfly fish which can keep wan haha...

Knowledge not much so Bo bian always hear say hear say

[pinkspid3r]

Wow..thanks lemonlemon..that is a very long list of butterflies. Will take time to check out each of them =)

lionfishall: will adult clownfish that reaches the size of 5" be eaten up as well? Is there any recommendation for porc puffer tankmates? Thank you

[marshalllee]

Wow..thanks lemonlemon..that is a very long list of butterflies. Will take time to check out each of them =)

lionfishall: will adult clownfish that reaches the size of 5" be eaten up as well? Is there any recommendation for porc puffer tankmates? Thank you

sorry for super late reply...

porc puffer are best kept alone. im pretty sure clownfish no matter what size will be eaten up.

you can keep eels with them and both will be unharm. =)just not tooo small fishes.

all the best!

[pinkspid3r]

After much consideration i have decided not to keep a porcupine puffer as it will need the entire tank to itself, and it will be in the living room also, so might be better to keep different variety of fishes where everyone can enjoy.

Currently these are the livestock im thinking of getting. Will it overstock? Or is there any other fishes to recommend?

Yellowtail Damselfish x 3

Ocellaris Clownfish x 2

Firefish x 2

Bicolor Dottyback x 2

Blue/Green Reef Chromis x 4

Chalk Bass x 1

Flame Angelfish x 1

Coral Beauty Angelfish x 1

neon goby x 2

Pinkbar Goby x 1

yellow prawn goby x 1

and maybe some shrimps or crab

i am not sure if we are able to get these fishes locally, as i just do my research online. and i will be reusing my 3ft T5HO light for it, is it possible for me to add any kind of easy to maintain corals into the tank? zoas?

Thanks for viewing =)

[JizzHut]

hello pinkspid3r!

have you thot of keeping a school of firefish ?

Or Blue Reef Chromis

Check this out!

[TayHongSiang]

i can give u my 4x2x2 tank with sump if u want...matter of time i want to decomm and start another one...but u have to arrange for tank movers like sgbros to help you shift and fix up the pipings...unfortunately my cabinet's condition not too good...

can save u some $$$ n u can use the rebate to get a good skimmer

[pinkspid3r]

Nope..havnt thought about it, but i would prefer it to have diff species of fishes rather than a single species tank eh

[pinkspid3r]

i can give u my 4x2x2 tank with sump if u want...matter of time i want to decomm and start another one...but u have to arrange for tank movers like sgbros to help you shift and fix up the pipings...unfortunately my cabinet's condition not too good...

can save u some $$$ n u can use the rebate to get a good skimmer

Thanks for the kind gesture AhSiang =) i have gotten my tank from a kind reefer here already =)