2 Damsels in my 210g Reef. Help!

mkarston · 09/13/2006, 01:42 PM

Hi all,

My 210g reef tank has been up for about a month now. While it was cycling I had 2 blue damsels in the tank, and about 200lbs of live rock curing in buckets. The buckets I was curing the rocks in sprung a leak which forced me to add them to the tank after only 2.5 weeks of good curing.

Anyways, my problem is this, in the commotion of preventing a flood, cleaning off the live rock, and stacking the rock in my tank I forgot to first remove the 2 damsels. They have been in there, along with my Hippo tang, which took a ride out of water in a large piece of live rock I took from my other tank, for a couple weeks now.

I would like to get your opinion on removing these damsels before I start to add other fish. I really like my rock stack, and really donâ€™t want to tear it down to catch these fish. I donâ€™t really mind the fish in there, but from experience know they are not as cute and innocent as they look. And will only cause me and the fish I add headache in the future.

Do you think I am over-reacting and that they will be fine, in such a large tank, or should I trap then? What is the best method to trap/catch them? Help!!

Thanks,
Craig

ACBlinky · 09/13/2006, 02:34 PM

I think it depends on what else you want to keep in the tank. I have a few damsels and really like them - they're beautiful fish with interesting personalities. They can be agressive, but if you're planning on keeping tangs, angels, clowns, wrasses etc. I wouldn't worry; these fish can hold their own. If, OTOH you want a peaceful tank with firefish and gobies, you might want to remove the damsels.

johnnybravo234 · 09/13/2006, 05:13 PM

Id get those little F@(#ers out of there while you still can. You dont want to have compatability problems 2 years down the road when your tank is full of delicate fish and inverts... plus try using a trap when you've got tangs in the tank. Good luck

09/13/2006, 01:42 PM	#1
mkarston Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 449	2 Damsels in my 210g Reef. Help! Hi all, My 210g reef tank has been up for about a month now. While it was cycling I had 2 blue damsels in the tank, and about 200lbs of live rock curing in buckets. The buckets I was curing the rocks in sprung a leak which forced me to add them to the tank after only 2.5 weeks of good curing. Anyways, my problem is this, in the commotion of preventing a flood, cleaning off the live rock, and stacking the rock in my tank I forgot to first remove the 2 damsels. They have been in there, along with my Hippo tang, which took a ride out of water in a large piece of live rock I took from my other tank, for a couple weeks now. I would like to get your opinion on removing these damsels before I start to add other fish. I really like my rock stack, and really donâ€™t want to tear it down to catch these fish. I donâ€™t really mind the fish in there, but from experience know they are not as cute and innocent as they look. And will only cause me and the fish I add headache in the future. Do you think I am over-reacting and that they will be fine, in such a large tank, or should I trap then? What is the best method to trap/catch them? Help!! Thanks, Craig

09/13/2006, 02:34 PM	#2
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	I think it depends on what else you want to keep in the tank. I have a few damsels and really like them - they're beautiful fish with interesting personalities. They can be agressive, but if you're planning on keeping tangs, angels, clowns, wrasses etc. I wouldn't worry; these fish can hold their own. If, OTOH you want a peaceful tank with firefish and gobies, you might want to remove the damsels. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

09/13/2006, 05:13 PM	#3
johnnybravo234 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Litchfield County, CT Posts: 771	Id get those little F@(#ers out of there while you still can. You dont want to have compatability problems 2 years down the road when your tank is full of delicate fish and inverts... plus try using a trap when you've got tangs in the tank. Good luck