Stocking A New 100...

[metalhead]

I have a relatively new 100 gallon reef setup with over 100lbs of liverock from a well established tank along with the sand. All water parameters seem to be nice and stable with no measurable levels of nitrate or ammonia. I'm planning to start stocking bio soon and have a few questions in regard...

Should I stock fish or detrivores first?

Should I wait for algae to become better established before adding detrivores/janitors?

What marinelife in general would you recommend for this setup?

Thanks in advance!

[metalhead]

bump

[Seige]

Has your tank cycled? If not you should wait before adding any livestock.

Is your sand just ordinary sand or did you seed it with "live" sand? You may want to do that first. Don't get the "live sand" that comes in sealed bags from the LFS.

Fish should go to a quarantine tank first unless your absolutely positive and have a high trust level with your supplier and they've had them for 2-4 weeks.

You can add detrivores anytime after cycling is complete. How bad is your algae? Your rocks look pretty clean but it's hard to tell so you might just want to get a couple snails or whatever.

What marine life are you interested in? You have a fair bit of choice for a 100g reef tank.

[metalhead]

Has your tank cycled? If not you should wait before adding any livestock.

Is your sand just ordinary sand or did you seed it with "live" sand? You may want to do that first. Don't get the "live sand" that comes in sealed bags from the LFS.

Fish should go to a quarantine tank first unless your absolutely positive and have a high trust level with your supplier and they've had them for 2-4 weeks.

You can add detrivores anytime after cycling is complete. How bad is your algae? Your rocks look pretty clean but it's hard to tell so you might just want to get a couple snails or whatever.

What marine life are you interested in? You have a fair bit of choice for a 100g reef tank.

Tank is cycled... It was set up with rock/sand from another well established reef.

I'm planning to set up a QT tank when I start stocking fish. How long do you QT yours?

Algae's not bad yet, starting to get some here and there though. I think it's definitely ready for a few more grazers.

I'll get a list together of what I'm thinking about so far.... What kind of cleaning crew is in your tank?

Thanks

[metalhead]

Ok, here's what I've come up with so far for a possible cleaning crew...

5 Trochus snails
2 Turbo snails (already one in there)
2 each Ceriths/Nerites/Chitons
3 Red Scarlet Hermits (already one in there)
2 Scarlet Skunk cleaner shrimp
2 Blood Fire shrimp
1 Blue Tuxedo Urchin (after tank has aged a few months)

I was also thinking of adding a Serpent Star but have already noticed a few very small what appear to be Serpent Stars in there. Could this be the miniature variety? I have also noticed one larger Brittle Star so I'll probably hold off on adding any starfish for now. Fish list coming soon... Let me know what you guys/gals think.

[Seige]

I've only had 2 clownfish so far. Both were in QT, got lymph and died after about 4 weeks. In general I'd QT for 4 "healthy" weeks. You could go less if you know they were isolated and healthy at the LFS. Don't trust what your LFS says though unless they have a known good reputation.

I have a relatively large cleaning crew for my 55g.
2 skunk shrimp
1 fire shrimp
3 Blue hermits crab (too many really since they kill snails)
1 Red hermit crab
1 Green Emerald crab (a risk but it's been good so far)
1 Sally Lightfoot crab (a very active feeder)
1 Mexican Turbo (because I "had" a long hair algae problem)
11 Cerith snails
10 Nassarius snails (fun to watch)
5 Turbo snails
3 Astrea snails
1 Strombus cronch (dissapears for days but fun to see it toss a cc)
1 Bumble Bee (a risk but it's been good)

plus about a dozen baby 1-3mm snails of various types. At least their were last night.

Ok, here's what I've come up with so far for a possible cleaning crew...

5 Trochus snails
2 Turbo snails (already one in there)
2 each Ceriths/Nerites/Chitons
3 Red Scarlet Hermits (already one in there)
2 Scarlet Skunk cleaner shrimp
2 Blood Fire shrimp
1 Blue Tuxedo Urchin (after tank has aged a few months)

Looks ok. I'd go with just the 1 red hermit and buy about a bunch of extra shells for them and scatter them around your tank. Keep the 2 shrimp species apart (one at each end).

Urchin may eat your coraline too quickly.

[metalhead]

Thanks

[Seige]

Let us know what you eventually decide to get.

My cc is doing a great job. Hardly any algae. I'm about to double my lighting though so I could have an issue again.

That 1 Mexican Turbo made a huge difference.

I highly recommend Nassarius snails. They help stir up your DSB so it doesn't harden and they are fun to watch when they interact with each other sometimes. Chasing each other, flipping each other, charging up from under the surface in a race after some food. ;-)

[Doodaa]

My cc is doing a great job. Hardly any algae.

What is a "cc"?

[denhay14]

I don't know what a cc is either but from what i've read maybe cleanup crew? And for your fish I would suggest clown fish because they are very hardy fish and cool looking.

[metalhead]

What is a "cc"?

cc = cleaning crew

[metalhead]

I don't know what a cc is either but from what i've read maybe cleanup crew?

Yes, cc = cleaning crew

And for your fish I would suggest clown fish because they are very hardy fish and cool looking.

Thanks, I really like anemonefish and anemones so I was leaning towards having a couple eventually. I like the black and white variety and know a guy locally that used to breed them with great results and relatively little effort. He was getting $25 per fish at the LFS for them at the time so hopefully I will have similar results someday!!!

[Seige]

Doodaa, Glad the others identified the acronym for you. I was trying to locate the Acronym thread on here but couldn't find it.

This might help you though in the future...
Glossary of FOWLR Terms

[Doodaa]

Doodaa, Glad the others identified the acronym for you. I was trying to locate the Acronym thread on here but couldn't find it.

I just never saw cc used for cleanup crew. Saw it used for crushed coral a few times. I was trying to figure out a species of animal you were describing that ate your algae...never thought of cleanup crew

Thanks!

[metalhead]

I just never saw cc used for cleanup crew. Saw it used for crushed coral a few times. I was trying to figure out a species of animal you were describing that ate your algae...never thought of cleanup crew

Thanks!

Hehe... I'd like to find some algae-eating crushed coral myself!

[Seige]

I just never saw cc used for cleanup crew. Saw it used for crushed coral a few times. I was trying to figure out a species of animal you were describing that ate your algae...never thought of cleanup crew

Thanks!

ROFL

You think I'd just have crushed coral and miss out on all my inverts? They are more fun then the fish. Don't tell my fish I said that.