[Bianca]

Hello
Setting up a second tank with just damsels(my other tank is 75 hex its fowler to but jawfish ,clowns,hawkfish and blue damsel that attacks them all he/she is going in 55)
I love damsels know most dont like them.
My set up is as follows 55 gallon tank-2 Emperor 400 for carbon media or polyfilter pad but more for top water circulation no bio wheels.
50lbs live rock. I than would like 6 damsels 2 blue devils-2 fiji orange fins-2 yellow damsels.
All stay roughly 2 to 2.5 inches . Can it be done ?

Oh yes I intend to have some starfish small sand stars and urchins that I find by local pier the no spine type no other fish ofcourse .

thanks

[leebca]

Despite your great location for weather, be cautious about putting local marine life in the aquarium. Aquarium temperatures will usually exceed the local water temperatures and slowly cook some marine species. It is worth a try, though.

From the equipment list provided, it sounds like you expect the live rock to perform the nitrification process. This requires a circulation of over 8 tank volumes per hour. I'm unfamiliar with that brand/type of filter, however you can add up the circulation to be sure it comes to no less than 450 gallons per hour.

If the above is satisfied, then the system is a bit on the weak side for maintaining a bio-load. It could probably handle about 8 or 9 bio load units.

Each of the damsels you've listed will utilize about 1 bio-load unit at the start and grow into needing 2 units later. 8 Damsels from that list would be a reasonable start. After 8 months, you could probably add another 3 Damsels.

[Bianca]

Thanks I got some stars white sand stars from the low tide for first tank the water was mid 70s my tank is 78 so they did/are fine but yes some areas the water temp is lower but some is higher actually warm to the skin those are lagoon areas and interestingly enough see damsels there and feather dusters.
All drab colored damsels think brownish faded domino types. The filters are 400 gph each .
I use one on the hex tank works well . I am glad 6 damsels can work as they are feisty that was my concern. I think will probably add a skimmer as they help .
I am partial to damsels I see them all over active ,hardy though the ones around here are dominos and striped never saw the blue ones I like by piers or lagoons.

Thanks

I wanted to add that you give great info.
I was reading some other posts and mistakes I made that others are making you corrected before they made them. Not to mention your right the temp where I find starfish,etc varies lots from area to area but I stick with a 'lagoon" that has temp same as mine .
Thanks again