OK, so this is going to be my first adventure in saltwater! I'm really excited and want to get as much info as i can before i start! Going with FOWLR.... just so everyone know I have not even put water in the tank yet. just trying to get prepared.
First I will start with how i plan on creating an enriching enviroment!
Right now I have
1. 60 lbs of aragonite sugar fine sand.
2. emperor 350 HOB filter
3. heater 200 watts x 2 (also hav and extra 150 watt for mixing bucket.
what I still need.
1. dry rock (thinking 40 lbs.)
2. live rock (thinking another 25 lbs)
3. protien skimmer (not sure yet.. will not have a sump at this time so HOB it will have to be.
4. lighting (again i'm not sure what i'll be getting here)
5. probably most important... water test kit!!!
6. powerhead (liked one of the hydor models, but not sure which to get)
Anything that I'm missing?
I plan on running this tank for a while before i actually put the fishes in but here is what I'm coming up with as far as fish goes.
1. clownfish x2 (thinking occelaris, percula, or clarkii)
2. Banggaii Cardinal and/or Pajama Cardinal x 2-3
3. bicolor dottyback (or Royal garama) (will there be enough room for multiples of either species)
4. Catalina Goby x2-3 (dont really know much about these beautiful fish except the dont get very big)
5. Bicolor Blenny x1 (will this guy do his thing with pistol shrimp like the watchman)
or should i just get a watchman
6. Coral Beauty x1
7. Flame Angel x1 (my personal fav)
will the coral beauty and flame angel be able to get along? LFS says maybe if put in together at same time. I would drop the coral beauty if they wont get along.
OK, so now another very important part the inverts i would like to get...
1. Sexy Shrimp X4-5
2. pepermint shrimp x 2-3 (maybe) heard they wouldnt get along with sexy shrimp
3. emerald crabs x 2-3
4. hermits (red and blue) how big do these guys really get? I had a friend that had a hermit crab so big it could barely turn around in her 55 gal tank. I dont want anything that gets that big for sure.
5. i would love some sort of starfish, but really dont know what i could get.
6. I also think coral banded shrimp are really awesome looking, but thought they could be mean to the sexy shrimp and even they Catalina goby.
Please leave comments on items that i may need and opinions, advice on the fishes/inverts i have thought about... also would this be too much bioload for a 55? what about once all 65 lbs of rock? OR could i still get more fishes?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
First I will start with how i plan on creating an enriching enviroment!
Right now I have
1. 60 lbs of aragonite sugar fine sand.
2. emperor 350 HOB filter
3. heater 200 watts x 2 (also hav and extra 150 watt for mixing bucket.
what I still need.
1. dry rock (thinking 40 lbs.)
2. live rock (thinking another 25 lbs)
3. protien skimmer (not sure yet.. will not have a sump at this time so HOB it will have to be.
4. lighting (again i'm not sure what i'll be getting here)
5. probably most important... water test kit!!!
6. powerhead (liked one of the hydor models, but not sure which to get)
Anything that I'm missing?
I plan on running this tank for a while before i actually put the fishes in but here is what I'm coming up with as far as fish goes.
1. clownfish x2 (thinking occelaris, percula, or clarkii)
2. Banggaii Cardinal and/or Pajama Cardinal x 2-3
3. bicolor dottyback (or Royal garama) (will there be enough room for multiples of either species)
4. Catalina Goby x2-3 (dont really know much about these beautiful fish except the dont get very big)
5. Bicolor Blenny x1 (will this guy do his thing with pistol shrimp like the watchman)
or should i just get a watchman
6. Coral Beauty x1
7. Flame Angel x1 (my personal fav)
will the coral beauty and flame angel be able to get along? LFS says maybe if put in together at same time. I would drop the coral beauty if they wont get along.
OK, so now another very important part the inverts i would like to get...
1. Sexy Shrimp X4-5
2. pepermint shrimp x 2-3 (maybe) heard they wouldnt get along with sexy shrimp
3. emerald crabs x 2-3
4. hermits (red and blue) how big do these guys really get? I had a friend that had a hermit crab so big it could barely turn around in her 55 gal tank. I dont want anything that gets that big for sure.
5. i would love some sort of starfish, but really dont know what i could get.
6. I also think coral banded shrimp are really awesome looking, but thought they could be mean to the sexy shrimp and even they Catalina goby.
Please leave comments on items that i may need and opinions, advice on the fishes/inverts i have thought about... also would this be too much bioload for a 55? what about once all 65 lbs of rock? OR could i still get more fishes?
Thanks in advance for the advice!