Stocking ideas

[Lofus]

I was hoping some of you might be able to give me some pointers on a livestock plan. I have a 72 gal bowfront with 100lbs of live rock and a 3" sand bed. I'm running a Berlin classic skimmer in a 25 gal sump (wet/dry with the bio balls removed). The main pump is a little giant 3mdqxdc and circulation is enhanced by 3 maxi-jet 1200's. The tank has been running with just live rock for two weeks and Amonia, nitrite and nitrate are all 0.

I've set up a 10 gal quarentine tank for adding fish and it is nearing the end of its cycle.

This is going to be a FOWLR and I was thinking of adding the following fish. I would really appreciate any comments. This is the first aquarium I've ever set up so I need all the help I can get.

the fish are:

1 - Ocellaris Clownfish
1 - Purple Tang or 1 - Regal Tang
5 - Green Chromis or 5 - Lyretail Anthias (or a mix)
1 - Lawnmower Blenny
1 - Ribbon Eel

for inverts

1 - Red Marble Star
2-3 - Peppermint Shrimp
2 - Cleaner Shrimp
20 - Astrea Snails
45 - Blue Legged Hermit Crabs.

If I get any corals growing from the LR I will decide if I want to keep them but the lights are 2 48" 10,000K full spectrum and one 48" 40W 03 Actinic so I don't expect to get any growing. Once I get the hang of this I will upgrade the lights to MH and start on some corals but that is probably a year or so down the road.

Thanks.

 

[ride928]

I would stay away from the Ribbon eel. They have a dismal survival rate in captivity.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, I'd nix the ribbon eel, that's cuz I'm assuming you're a beginner. Also, if you're gonna go for an ocellaris, I'd go for two or three. Purple over Regal (just personal preference), and you could consider (though be careful and try to get a juvenile) a Niger trigger instead of the eel (they're planktivores).

 

[Anonymous]

Hi ride!

 

[ride928]

Hey stranger :lol:

 

[naesco]

I will comment on the fish.
Check out www.wetwebmedia.com and get yourself Robert Fenners Concientious Reef Aquarist before you add fish to your tank.

The ribbon eel is an impossible to keep species. In most cases they do well for a while and die.

Scott Michael, the fish guru and author, recommends a minimum of 75 gallons for tangs of the zebrasoma species (like the yellow, purple black etc.
Your tank is too small for a regal/blue tang.

The lawnmower is difficult unless it is an established tank with algae.
I would not recommend an anthias to a novice reefer either as they are iffy.
Sorry for the above.
After two or three months, add the clowns you like and after reading the above and checking here (never believe a LFS), start adding fish, one at a time one month apart.
Good for you in asking before you buy.

 

[Lofus]

Thanks for the comments.

I have posted to wetwebmedia.com with the same question.

After reading a couple dozen FAQ's from there, I think I will buy the concientious reef aquarist. It sounds like an excellent resource.

 

[Anonymous]

It is, and now I'll go look and see if Bob or Jason kicked your query to my inbox.

 

[Anonymous]

Damn double posts...DAMNED ADELPHIA! Can you believe we PAY for this "service"?

 

[naesco]

Excellent decision Lofus.
There is also a western Canadian board with a Calgary forum
www.canreef.com Join in.

 

[Lofus]

I figure the clean-up crew should go in first and then the fish but which fish should I put in first?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[Mouse]

Snails, tubo's, cerith & Nassarus about 1-2 per gallon

Dont bother with hermits, unless you want em just for fun

& some fighting queen conch for the sand bed

maybee a serpent star or two just to get any missed bits from the fish, but dont forgett to feed them too & stay away from the green ones.

 

[wombat1]

1-2 snails per gallon? I think the number of snails and hermits you plan on adding is way too much. Lots of the online "cleanup crews" are a huge overkill. I have 2 turbos, 2 margaritas, 6 nassaurius, one conch, one sally lightfoot, and two small hermits in my 30 gallon with very little algae growth on the rocks. This is in a tank lit with Metal Halides, BTW. I'd add a couple at a time and see how they do. I also like to get just a couple of several different species to munch on different kinds of algae. I think you may also run into some problems with the cleaners and peppermints. The bigger guys may decide to eat the little ones.