Pics of my live stock just added the last fish

I do have live rock in the tank about 20lbs in clusters around the artificial insert the mandarin has been eating i will keep an eye on him. We wanted a challenging fish for the last fish. My lfs said they'd buy it back if it's too much to handle

 

Actually, this is a very good salinity for a FOWLR IMO. The lower salinity allows for more dissolved oxygen in the water, which is always a good thing. No need to raise it unless there are corals or clams

 

Please do watch the Mandarin. We picked one up for our 90 because we had so many pods they were literally crawling on the glass in swarms. They swamped the chaeto in the sump... we thought we had enough food for him in our 90 (+30 gallon sump water). He blew through those pods in about 2 weeks... then refused the live food he was eating in store.

 

Ya marshal I read that a lower salinity in a no. reef system reduces stress as well

 

Nice tank and fish. If the mandarin lasts 3 months I'd be suprised. Get some live sand and live rock in there asap!!! The more rock the better. Thats your means of biological filtration and without it your gonna have problems. I learned the hard way with my mandarin when I started my first tank last year. Good luck.

 

As i said i do have 20lbs of live rock in the tank

 

not to be negative but 20lbs.= not enough.

a mandarin can reduce the pod population in a healthy 55 gallon reef tank to nothing in a short period of time.

 

+1 Not trying to come down on you in any way, just trying to help. You need atleast double the amount of rock and you need live sand. Your LFS should be a bit more responsible by selling you a "challenging fish" where all that means is lets see how long it takes to starve him. Were all here to help as we've all made mistakes but we also bear responsibilities as these fish are alive.

 

I went to a store that i normally don't go too because i was given a gift card there. When I went to my store for pods my guy just shook his head and said if he starts looking bad that they would buy the little dude and give me store credit for their store. My lfs i normally go to is awesome and very informed. But we are getting side tracked here. I way Pumped on my other fish. And i love them so much

 

Its always best to shop at a place you trust. I was sold my first mandarin as a starter fish. Crazy. Keep up with pics as you progress, hex tanks look great.