55 Gallon Community Stocking Idea

[froglover007]

Here is my idea for my first SW tank (FOWLR). Any suggestions?

1. Common clown, pink skunk clown, or percula clown X1
2. Bangaii cardinalfish X1
3. Some kind of pygmy angel, preferably an African flameback angel

Inverts:
1.Cone shell hermit crab, up to three
2.Decorator crab X1
3.Emerald crab, up to three
4.Skunk cleaner shrimp, fire cleaner shrimp, or marbled shrimp X3
5.Turbo snails X3, spider conch X1, or tiger cowrie X1
6.Crimson knobbed starfish X1, chocolate chip starfish X2, or serpent star X1
7.Urchin, any kind except toxic sea urchin

As you can see I am focusing much of the tank on invertebrates. I would really would like a spider conch but would it eat my other inverts?
Tom

[reeferbill]

I like the picks you have for a 55. I do not know anything about the spider conchs and I have only read one article abour cowries but there is alot of info on the web. Do the research and Happy Reefing!!

[froglover007]

Thanks. I want the first tank to have something colourful because I know that once I really get into SW I will always pick strange and incompatible critters for species tanks. I don't think my family could stand it if I got another nocturnal predator "That is just brown and ugly" right off the bat ;) .

[Jessie Nicoletti]

From waht i have read almost all urchins are toxic and are pretty sensative to water parameters and may want t0o get 3 cardinals and a pair of clowns it will keep them happy ( i know it seems silly but by happy i mean less stressed as these fish are used to liveing in groups) if you ditched the cc stars and crimson and added lykenias instead you can have corals in the future should you ever change your mind ( and most people that start fowlr get into corals eventualy) i am not sure on the conch although i think you may want 15 turbo snails and 15 hermit crabs ( red legs and blues mainly some of the other spiecies can get rather large and become quite a pian in the but by topoling rocks. the urchins i think a long spine or pencil urchin will do after a few months of set up/cycle ect emerald crabs are good scavangers and good at cleaning hair alage 3 sounds good but be cautios and add them at the same time i have heard stories of them fighting also you may want to consider adding 1 anenome for the clowns. my clowns love thier long tentacle anenome .
also waht kind of lights and or filters do you have

[froglover007]

I do not have equipment yet, I am just preparing for a tank that will be purchased in a couple of months. I like to do my research well before purchase ;) . I am thinking the conch will be instead of the turbos but I can compensate with turbo snail for whatever the conch doesn't eat. They do have pretty big appetites though so it probably won't be required. I am considering either a fire urchin or a pencil-slate urchin for the time being. I will definitely look into the hermit crabs and I will get a shoal of bangaii cardinals if possible. The anemone will probably wait until I have more experience .

[Original Fin]

Just a heads up on the turbos...especially the Mexican variety get really big and like to bulldoze your aquascape. 15 of them would be way overkill on a 55 IMO. I have 4 in mine, but I go with something different on a do over.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I just wanted to add that emerald crabs are evil ( at least in my opinion ). I had one and the little ate one of my cleaner shrimps. Be careful.

[froglover007]

Yep I will definitely add the snails slowly as needed. I will also keep in mind that emerald crabs are evil ;) . I might pass them by (I have enough inverts anyway).

[leebca]

Planning is very important. I wish more hobbyists did plan and talk over their plan with other hobbyists BEFORE staring.

I only don't know the dimensions of the 55 you have in mind. If it is the 'show' model (tall) then that changes what you can stock -- it requires you lower your stocking.

Even if the tank is of a low profile with a large 'foot print' you should forgo the Star. An urchin can be very destructive to the point of hurting corals, rocks, and even the glass (if it will be a glass aquarium). Their 'teeth' are incredibly strong. Check this out from those who know more about urchins.

If the tank is of the low profile, I think the stock you've listed looks to be about right, assuming you have the proper filtration and dutifully control the water quality according to suggestions in this post: What is Water Quality

[froglover007]

I will definitely pay attention to proper water quality and not feed Nemo cherrios ;) . I was just wondering what you meant exactly when you said urchins damage glass. Did you mean they scratch glass or break it altogether?

[leebca]

Keep in mind I am not an expert with regards to mobile invertebrates. I have kept many of them to compliment my FOWLR systems in the past 45 years, but still no expert.

The general group of 'urchins' have amazing 'teeth.' They can crush and destroy coral skeletons and rocks! They can also scratch a glass aquarium -- their teeth are able to leave marks on glass when they attempt to graze on it.

[froglover007]

OK. I will look up which kinds are likely to destroy glass and make decisions from there . I know longspine and pincushion urchins tend to do that but I am not sure about the smaller ones. I will definitely research before purchase

[Original Fin]

I can tell you that my black urchin (shorter spines, not sure of the taxonomy) loves to munch on coraline where ever it can be found. So far, there's been no dmage or destruction to report, but I wouldn't say he's been beneficial to the CUC either. He is fun to watch, but he's mostly in hiding durring the day.

I don't allow coraline to grow on the front/side glass, but it does what it does on the back, and he does occasionally graze there. Since the back glass has a vinyl sheet on the back, I couldn't say if the glass has become damaged. I probably wouldn't care back there anyway, unless it decided to start mowing on the seals.

[froglover007]

Maybe your urchin is a tuxedo urchin? I know they love coralline and many hunt for corals to. I don't really have a problem with that necessarily. I would have a problem if it destroyed my front glass but I suppose if I keep it nice and clean I should be fairly safe. Anyway, I am still considering my options here.