Can you nice folks help decide my future reef inhabitants?!

[southfla]

Greetings all and happy holidays from Miami Florida

Was hoping to get some feedback on my reef inhabitants plan. It's my first reef, so I'm trying to take it slow and start with the "beginner" critters...Tank seems to be finishing it's first cycle after huge ammonia/nitrite spikes, so as soon as I'm confident in test levels being right, I'll grab some sand critters and cleanup crews from IA/IPSF.

My fish "short-list" is as follows:

Butter Hamlet (H. unicolor)...I LOVE hamlets hehe

Royal Gramma (G. loreto)
Yellow Jawfish (O. aurifrons)...a pair maybe?
Flame Hawkfish (N. armatus)
Coral Beauty (C. bispinsosa)
Sixline Wrasse (P. hexataenia)
Neon Goby (G. oceanops)
Fire Goby (N. magnifica)


For inverts, my thoughts were as follows:

Assorted star polyps (Pachyclavularia sp.)
Assorted leather corals (Lobophytum & Sarcophyton sp.)
Assorted mushrooms (various Corallimorpharians)
and if things work out I'd love to try some hammer coral (Euphyllia sp.) in the upper portions of the tank.

I'm a little unsure as to the number of fish that would be reasonable for my small tank (details of which are at the bottom), so any
suggestions as to how many would be wonderful. I also have problems mixing Atlantic and Pacific specimens. Not so much because of compatibility, but because the little voice in the back of my head that I started hearing after graduating w/a Marine Biology degree from Univ. of Miami would scream out every time I looked at the tank w/mixed species LOL

.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments, especially concerning how many fish would be suitable for the tank, mixing species of different oceans, and whatever else comes to mind

... Thanks so much for your time!

ja

Setup:
55 gallon w/corner overflow
20 gallon sump (12 g water)
70 lbs. MI LR from Jeff's
120 lbs. Nature's Ocean sand
(2) MaxiJet 1200 powerheads for tank current
Rio 2500 return to full length spray bar(soon to be replaced w/mag950)
100 g venturi skimmer/Rio 2500 (soon to be replaced w/mag700)
WON titanium heater & grounding probe
Kalk drip
(2) 96W PC 10,00K/actinic bulbs
(1) 30W 6,000K/Actinic NO

 

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by southfla:
<strong>Greetings all and happy holidays from Miami Florida

</strong>

Yellow Jawfish (O. aurifrons)...a pair maybe?

Better have a tight hood...they're jumpers.

Coral Beauty (C. bispinsosa)

Are known to nip corals. Mine was okay for the seven months I had it, and each fish is different in personality, but more often than not they'll nip at softies.

Sixline Wrasse (P. hexataenia)

Mine turned out to be very aggressive toward my firefish and banggai cardinal. They are advertised as good community fish, but I didn't see it at all.

Hope my experience helps ya.

Peace,

Chip

[ December 25, 2001: Message edited by: marillion ]</p>

 

[ddavis4um]

I vote for mushrooms and one tang. For a 55g, it would have to be a smaller one but I would go for it.
I would also avoid an angel, especially with the clam and potential for hammer.

Good luck... it is a beautiful setup!

dpd

 

[Rich-n-poor]

Beautiful Setup

Royal Gramma excellent choice and usually very hearty, but kinda timid and may hide a lot

Coral Beauties I just love this fish

Star Polyupsesmitte has had trouble with these but other polyups do great for most

Mushrooms easiest coral ever made almost impossible to kill

_________________
Honda Z50A

 

[southfla]

Thanks for the helpful feedback (and compliments

) mates! Happy Holidays,

ja

 

[MandarinFish]

Captive bred only, please.

It will make the fish, reefs, and you happier.

Do you want big fish? Many fish? A school? Variety?