[dreams]

i will probably be asking a lot of questions....so, please please take pity on mr...i am writing every detail down before i start this new tank....don't want to screw it up.....although, i think i fanilly got the 40g under control

i know the jawfish needs a mixed bed....but not how mixed.....is it like 1/3 fine sand...1/3 course sand....& 1/3 crushed coral?

also, i have read that you should put pvc in there, so the rocks will not tumble....how in that done?....with the pvc on it's side, filled w/ sand?....the sandbed will be about 6"

i have a pair of firefish that i have decided will go in this tank.....so, do i put the firefish in first or the jawfish, both being quite shy?.....the firefish seems fine as long as there are no aggressors in the tank (much improved since removing the stalking menacing shrimp)

[almostdiva]

Dreams,

You don't need a mixed bed, actually. And your bed will function better if it is one grain. When I kept jaws, my sandbed was all sugar-sized sand. What you can do is get a bag (a small one... ) of the big shell pieces and put some (not all) of that on top, so the jaws can have covers for their burrows.

They will tunnel around your reef structure, so it can be a good idea to sit your rocks on tubes of pvc pipe that are standing up (so the rocks are sitting on the open ring...). How big is your tank? You can keep about 1 jaw for every ten gallons. They like to be in groups. When I kept them, I used to have 3 in my 55 g. It doesn't really matter whether you add them first or your firefish, since they are all very peaceful fish.

Something else you should know with BOTH these fish. They are shy and can get easily spooked, especially in the beginning. The JUMP. Your tank needs to be completely covered, so you don't have fire or jawfish carpet surfing.

Good luck!

Rebecca

[dreams]

thanks for the help, almostdive!

yes, i know they jump....right now i have a galss cover...i open it when i am in the room, to let the tank breath and close it when not, ....that way, at least, if someting happens i am there....the most aggressive thing i intend to keep are cleaner shrimp;-)....hopefully, everyone will be happy

the new tanl will also have a glasscover & canapy

another thing i read about the sandbeds.....put sand in first, then the LR....let it cycle.....and then add the LS on top.....the reasoning was that the sandbed is an important filtration element of the tank.....so, you would want s little die-off as possible.....and that the die-of from the LR would act as food for the critters in the LS

[almostdiva]

If you are adding live rock to sand out of the bag, you will have "live sand". You don't need to spend lots of extra bucks on somethig that purports itself to be "live". Save your money. Is your rock going to be pre-cured at all? If not, you probably want to cure it without the sand in the tank (it can be smelly). Put the rock in a rubermaid tub (they are cheap!) with a powerhead and a heater and let it cure. A skimmer is a good idea, too. If your rock is pre-cured, and you have it shipped to you, there will be a tiny bit of "die-off", but not much. You can put it right in on top of the sand.

Your tank can have some exposure at the top -- it doesn't have to ALL be glass. I used to cover the 1 to 1 1/2 inch opening from the back of my tank to the glass covers wtih saran wrap, taped to the back -- just enough to keep everyone inside.

Good luck!

Rebecca

[dreams]

thanks, rebecca!...i appreciate the help:-)