Tank Cycled -- Please comment on proposed stock list

[RobG]

Is there a list somewhere of coral species that a coral beauty will pick on? Or is it just put it in the tank and hope for the best?

Yellow Tang last? I've been told that they are a perfect first fish for a reef tank for algae control early...(Can't for the life of me remember where that advice came from, though).

Thanks for the comments -- keep 'em coming...

[olgakurt]

"2) Market Leader kit from Saltwaterfish.com (1 Coral Banded Shrimp, 3 Peppermint Shrimp (Already saw an aiptasia, so I need these guys), 1 Sally Lightfoot, 2 Serpent Starts, 25 Scarlet Reef Hermits, 25 Turbo Snails, 4 Emerald Crabs, 2 Brittle Stars, 1 Flame Scallop, 1 carribean feather duster)"

JMO, but I don't like much in this kit. I would forego the coral banded shrimp, sally lightfoot, serpent stars, brittle stars, and flame scallop. The shrimp and crabs are too agressive, the stars feed on sand fauna, and the flame scallop is a specialized filter feeder which will likely starve.

I would suggest going to a site like Premium Aquatics and getting a mix of snail species (cerith, nassarious, etc.) in place of the crabs and maybe a cuke for the sand bed.

[Brian Foley]

I have to agree about the invert kit. I have had bad experiences with all crabs other than scarlet reef hermits, and I regret the addition of a coral banded shrimp. Although I cannot positively attribute any damage or deaths to him, he certainly doesn't add anything to the tank. I'd go with a fire shrimp or other cleaner shrimp instead.

FWIW, my yellow tang has been in my tank the longest, and he rarely bothers a new fish. The only exceptions have been the Naso tang, which he bothered for one day, and the copperband butterfly, which he has pestered regularly (but not excessively) since day one. I've never seen him bother any other fish.

[srgtkoons]

I dont like emerald crabs either, They are a pain, knock stuff over and iv caught mine eating gorgonians and anthelia.

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I have the mind of a 5 year old and own a fire extinquisher you cant imagine the things i do.

[mastaJ]

hello RobG...
IMO 7 fish is alot of fish to add in 6 mo! I also agree with several other people about the invert kit. As far as the coral beauty goes, there is no 'magic' list about which animals will pick on other animals, as with any other saltwater fish they have a mind of their own. HTH

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-mastaJ

[This message has been edited by mastaJ (edited 05-14-2001).]

[calypso]

Make sure you wait a month or two between new additions to give your biological filtration time to adjust to the load. That way you can also make sure each new addition hasn't brought any sickness with it, and is adjusting well.

Good luck and good reefing!

[RobG]

Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 0... It's time to start adding some critters. I have a 90g w/ PC lighting, 100 lbs of Fiji & Tonga rock, 4-5" Southdown DSB with a few extra pounds of LS on top...

Here's my proposed initial stocking list in the order I'm planning on introducing them. Please comment, as noone wants to see me accidentally kill any innocent fishes:

1) Kit from IPSF (Snails, Caulerpa, Anthelia, Live Sand, Wondermud, Amphipods)

2) Market Leader kit from Saltwaterfish.com (1 Coral Banded Shrimp, 3 Peppermint Shrimp (Already saw an aiptasia, so I need these guys), 1 Sally Lightfoot, 2 Serpent Starts, 25 Scarlet Reef Hermits, 25 Turbo Snails, 4 Emerald Crabs, 2 Brittle Stars, 1 Flame Scallop, 1 carribean feather duster)

3) Yellow Tang

4) Leather corals (Unsure of which yet...) & maybe a mushroom or green star polyps

5) Pair of true percs

6) Xenia (Probably pompom)

7) Firefish goby

8) Colt Coral, Maybe some button polyps, & E. Quad anemone for the clowns.

9) 2 Bangaii Cardinals

10) Coral Beauty (A pygmy angel, I think...)

11) If all of that goes well in 6 months +, maybe try a couple of hard corals.


Any comments, suggestions, or things I should eliminate from the list would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks!

Rob
(Sorry for the length of the post...)

[This message has been edited by RobG (edited 05-14-2001).]

[rededteck]

Be careful of the coral beauty, it may or may not nibble on your corals.

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"I got a drink in my hand, got my toes in the sand, all I really need is a beautiful girl..."

[Biomanjcs72]

I would add the Yellow tang last, they are mean little buggers.

[RobG]

Thanks for the input!

I'll probably minimize the crabs, but I do want to keep the peppermint shrimp since I already see a little baby aiptasia on one of my live rocks...I'm sure there are more to come and I don't want to have to find a syringe and start injecting chemicals...

As far as taking my time, I'll make sure I do a minimum of 1-2 months between fish additions (damn that's difficult, i sometimes have trouble being patient), but if I understand correctly, I can probably add the corals slightly quicker (meaning 2-4 weeks between additions) since they have a lesser impact on the bioload, correct?

I would be in a lot of trouble without the input from the members of this board. I don't even want to go into what the LFS told me I should do (Both equipment & livestock wise). Good thing I've had very little to do at work recently [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] Thanks again!