55 Gal "Comunity Tank Stock Plan" ?

[traveler]

Hello all....First, let me intoduce myslef, Im Christian, Im new to the board here. For what I see so far its a cool place.
Also, I am planning on investing in a 55 Gallon tank. Here is what im thinking for stocking, what do you think? Honest opinions please, im not entierly new to the salt water scene, I have had a salt tank before but had to get rid of all my fish cause I had to move.
Im thinking of:
2 Small True Percula Clowns
3 Yellow Tail Blue Damsels
1 Small Yellow Tang ( know he wont allways be small but I want to buy when it is small)
1 Green Mandarin Dragonet
2 Mollies
along with cleaner inverts. What do yall think? Over stocked? Not Stocked enough? Just right?

 

[b_ball12_99]

Welcome to the Board! I personally think you might have to drop the Mandarin as will most people on this bb. They don't live well in captivity because they are picky eaters and usually slowly starve. Use the search feature in the top right to look up other posts on them. I'm sure your aware of the damsels will likely end up with aggression, mostly with age. You also show you know the tang will have to be upgraded or returned when large so thats cool by me to be in your tank. I okay everything but the mandarin at this point. You know what your going to use for filtering yet?

 

[salt55]

I would advise against the yellow tailed blue damsels as well. I had only on in my tank as a starter fish. He was hardy as hell but he managed to killa lunare wrasse, three blue damsels and possibly a cat shark by his constant tormenting. I finally got rid of him and my tank is wonderful. I advise against all damsels not just the yellow tails. I know they are cheap and colorful but they WILL terrorize any newcomers to the point of deat. Go with some green chromis or other chromis...they will school in your tank and are fun to watch. Good luck

 

[traveler]

Aight Yall, Heres the **NEW** Idea hehehe...
2 True Perculas
3 Green Chromis
1 Small Yellow Tang
2 Mollies
1 Small Snow Flake (Like the tang I know he wont allways be small heheh)
I had a friend that had a 75 gal with this basic assortment of fish that I have listed (he didnt have the tang though, buy he did have the clowns, blue chromis and a lil Snowflake, He had no problems, in talking to him the other day, he said basicly my plans should be okay as long as I make sure in my lean up crew I have no shrimp, as they would be **TOAST**)
As far as filtration, I was going to basicly use the filter that comes with the 55 Kit, you know whe one im talking about, Its proabably like whisper 45-55 or somthing to that affect, and add a protien skimmer (aight whats up with these, i was reading that alot of people dont use these anymore, what are your feelings on them) And power heads.
As far as substrait, do you think I should use coral sand, or can I use just flat out sand? I would like to have a sand bed, but is that alot of work to clean? Also, I will be living about 45 miles away from the oregon coast, could I use sand that I have cleaned well from the beach?
Thanks!
Christian

 

[b_ball12_99]

You have about the shrimp right. If you add a skimmer than a whisper filter will do. Don't use just regualar sand. There is only one type of sand sold on the east coast in home depot call tropical play sand by southdawn that is tank safe. Other wise you have to get reef sand from your lfs (local fish store). You can use all dead sand or you can mix dead sand with some bags of live sand which is better. Last thing is the snow flake eel will be okay as long as you get one that isn't aggressive and as long as none of your other fish swim in front of it, especially during feeding. Might want to drop the eel too though since technically they are considered aggressive but other people on this board should be able to help you more about the eel.

 

[traveler]

Just thought about this too, I believe snowflakes like to dine on small crustations, so would an type of smaller crab (Sally Lightfoot, Blue, Scarlet hermits) have to be nixed from the clean up crew too?
Christian

 

[b_ball12_99]

I believe BlueBerry and fixit have blue and red hermits, snails, and crabs in the tank with their snowflake. What snowflakes will eat when they are hungry I dont' know.

 

[traveler]

SnowFlakeEel.......nope, why?
Christian

 

[traveler]

TTT