55 Gallon Newbie Build

wake49

Parapercis Hexopthalma is the scientific name for the spotted sand perch. On liveaquaria.com, the Parapercis genus is grouped with the blennies. I have personally kept blennies, but of the Salarius genus (more commonly, the algae blenny). This was a very personable fish. They seem to recognize people; I had one playing hide and seek with me.

I have read that the Spotted Sand Perch can attack ornamental shrimp and hermit crabs.

The Scooter Blenny has feeding habits very close to Mandarins. They sift through the sand looking for microfauna. They could be hard to feed in a 55 gallon tank.

I was a big fan of the algae blenny, just to let you know he jumped. And I have seen that blennies are also called "mudskippers", and they jump from lagoon to lagoon. So maybe a tight top would've been a good precaution : -)
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pretzelsz

So if I got one would I not be able to have shrimp? also it's a jumper?
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wake49

I know the algae blenny can e a jumper (from personal experience) and I don't think that you wouldn't be able to keep a shrimp, just don't be surprised if it disappeared. Now I would tell you to start with a cheaper shrimp, say a peppermint, but they tend to be nocturnal and you might never see it anyway. I have half a dozen peppermints that I see once in a great while.

The Spotted Sand Perch looks like a cool fish, and I think that if it is anything like the blennies it is grouped with, you will have a ball with this specimen.

pretzelsz

So I went to the Boston Aquarium today and saw a cowfish and it seemed really intelligent and fun....Could I get one for my tank?

Highland lake13

Unfortunately it would not be a good fit for your tank. I am assuming you liked the fish because it was swimming around out in the open? Well this is the reason that a fish like this would not be a good fit for a tank your size. It needs a tank at least double the size of your tank. It is also known to eat many types of coral and sometimes even inverts. They will also secrete a poisonous slime that will kill other inhabitants of your aquarium. They may seem cute but they are very dangerous so I would skip over this one.

pretzelsz

ok thank you for the input. I liked them because they were very like friendly coming up to the glass following my finger kind of greeting me or something it was cool. Just like a puffer fish would(or my betta)

pretzelsz

So I'm going to get my dry rocks and some sand tomorrow or Tuesday and i need to get salt tomorrow and the Alkalinity and what other test do i need and what do i need for the water? I will also get a refractometer and maybe some live rock and sand if they have it to seed the dry rock and I am not sure if the sand is live or not. and please say what else i need I belive i have the money but i am not entirely sure i have alittle over 90 with some birthday money on the way and I can get some pitched in as well.

pretzelsz

So I got salt a refractometer API test kit tap water conditioners along with Buffers for all sorts of things.

-should I start mixing the salt and how should I do this? Should I put the water conditioner in too?

-Do I need all of the stuff I have?

-Were should I buy lights for a 36" light?

-PH is alkilinity right?

-What else do I need? it has been awhile since doing all the research for this day.

wake49

Are you going Reef? I would use RO/Di water if you are. And in that case, you don't need the water conditioner.

pretzelsz

It will be a Marine aquarium filtered with a Protien skimmer live rock and live sand. I dont have a RO filter and I don't have the cash for one either.... Do I really need one?