im new to the hobby and i want to know if i am going the right way for a reef tank

[jesatfis]

im new and i want to know if i am going the right way for a reef tank
90 gal tank
1 fluval 404
1 sea clone 100
1 aqua clear powerhead 901
4 bags 25 lb sand ( 2 live 2 reg)
1 cycle
1 aqua plus
well thats it oh and im gonna be useing instant ocean sea salt
um thats it any advice on fish/setting up

 

[lefty]

I would recommend getting another powerhead or two.
-lefty

 

[dble_g2k]

and lights! MH's VHO's HO's or PC's (IMO lol)
3watts per gallon at least, 5-7 for more ligh intensive things.... that's the short stick though, anyone want to explain why?

 

[maeistero]

lights are the most important. and a few more powerheads. fluvals are really nice (i use them), but a sump is better. refugium? tons of live rock for a reef. oh and thousands more dollars.

 

[aggies50]

From what I have heard and read off of this board the sea clone 100 isn't a very good protein skimmer. IMO I would get an AquaC Remora Pro if your looking for a hang on skimmer. It may be more expensive but in the long run it will be worth it. There is also AquaC Urchin Pro if you want to have the skimmer in a sump. Good luck!!! :hilarious

 

[hopkins6]

instead of using instant ocean, use reef crystals, they have vitamins or something for corals.

 

[darknes]

I didn't see any Live Rock on your list....I believe that's a must for a reef tank.

 

[lion_crazz]

You need to add about 70-100 lbs. of live rock to your list, plus a better protein skimmer. I would recommend either the Remora or Excalibur. Also, you need at least one to two more power heads, and maybe a better filter (if you plan to have a heavy stocked tank). An emporer 400 or two would be better.

 

[reefraff]

Put your money into a good skimmer and the right amount of live rock, forget filters. Other than something to hold activated carbon once in a while they are more trouble than they are worth if you want to raise corals. If you already have the Seaclone and are stuck with it you could always make a sump/refugium which will help increase waterflow and make up for the under performance of the skimmer. In fact from my experience the Seaclone will ever work a little better if you configure it for a sump.

 

[lion_crazz]

I agree about the SeaClones. With the right tweaking, they can be turned into efficient skimmers. However, I still think your tank is a little too large for a SeaClone to be 100% efficient.

 

[jesatfis]

yeah i kinda figured abought the live rock and i also am going to have a light should i use a versa top strip light or a full hood?
also another powerhead, is it nececery because im gonna wait another month before i start corals
an emporer hmm souns like an idea
have any of you heard of the vortex? is it good?
if i added 2 emporer minis that is good?
also a magnum 350 delux or a fluval 404
ive been looking around alot so i need lots of advice on what fish to start with
mandarin gobi 2
coral buety angel 1
catalina gobi 2
bicolor blennie 1
neon dottyback 1
orchid dottyback 1
yellow tang 1
hawian clown wrase 1
five stripe wrase 1
jap 6 line wrase 2
green painter parot 1
decorator crab 2
percula clown 2
asst carpet anenome 2
princes parrot 1
sailfin tang 1
blue tang 1
fire angel 1
emerald crab 5
pepermint shrimp 10
blue hermit 10
zebra hermits 10
scarlet hermits 10
coral banded shrimp 1
sea seprent stars 2
pencil urchin 2
sand sifting crab 6
turbo snails 20
feaqther dusters 6
lawn mower blennys 4
40 lbs live rock
+ 40 m0re at another date
is that a good combo to start with?
what is missing or too much ect (keeping in mind this is over abought 3 months)
what is the reason i cant have an angel or trigger in a reef cuz im intrested in the coral buety the flame andgel and the huma huma triger

 

[1journeyman]

Definitely wait on the manadin for a long while. They must have an established tank with lot's of pods to eat.

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally posted by jesatfis
ive been looking around alot so i need lots of advice on what fish to start with
mandarin gobi 2
coral buety angel 1
catalina gobi 2
bicolor blennie 1
neon dottyback 1
orchid dottyback 1
yellow tang 1
hawian clown wrase 1
five stripe wrase 1
jap 6 line wrase 2
green painter parot 1
decorator crab 2
percula clown 2
asst carpet anenome 2
princes parrot 1
sailfin tang 1
blue tang 1
fire angel 1
emerald crab 5
pepermint shrimp 10
blue hermit 10
zebra hermits 10
scarlet hermits 10
coral banded shrimp 1
sea seprent stars 2
pencil urchin 2
sand sifting crab 6
turbo snails 20
feaqther dusters 6
lawn mower blennys 4

Please tell me that that is not the list of fish you are looking to put in your tank

 

[1journeyman]

Agreed.
I'd recomend buying a good saltwater fish book and reading up a bit.

 

[jesatfis]

Originally posted by lion_crazz
Please tell me that that is not the list of fish you are looking to put in your tank
what is wrong with the list, like i said those are fish i like im not puting every single one in

 

[reefraff]

If you are for real do yourself a huge favor and stop dead in your tracks now, and get a couple of good books on reef keeping and start reading. I could see making the mistake of adding mechanical filtration but your livestock wish list contains some items which demonstrates you need to learn a lot more before proceeding any further.

 

[marie]

I have been researching this SW tank stuff for about 4 months. I just got my aquarium, and am looking at adding LS, and LR, and some DIY Rock....
Your list is quite extensive, like mine....WAS... I started doing some homework, and alot of the fish you have listed, cannot live together, or it is at least not reccomended. AND With the inverts, and corals, you must find out which of your fish, Star fish, or Sea urchins, are going to survive, and which one's will be eaten....
I made a list of fish, and then went through and found out whaich one's were reef and invert safe, cuz i want a reef tank, but I also like alot of those PRETTY fish!

 

[marie]

Sorry, I wasn't done typing! I also have read that the recommended inches of fish, based on their mature size, not the size you get ehm is 1-2 inches per 5 gallons.....please correct me if I am wrong here, anyone. I was guessing about 11-12 inches of fish in my 55g...
I have settled on the folowing, but may have to pick my VeRY VeRY favorites out of this list...
blue damsel 2
neon goby 2
clown fish 2
blue spotted jawfish 1
wrasses 2
I also want a spotted mandarin, and a psycheldic mandarin, but they are listed as hard to keep and must be in an establised aquarium, not anything less than 6 months old.
Right now I am just putting in live rock, and ls, and waiting...doing water checks, etc, and making sure I know what I am doing before I spend a bunch of money and have these beautiful creatures die...
I know you are excited, and probably impatient like me....but what I can have for waiting months to put together, will bring me many years of enjoyment.....Some thing's are just worth the wait.
So please definately do some reading, go to the library, keep reading the message board. I bet I have read nearly every post on here from the last 6 months, and I've only been on the board for a few weeks....just reading, learning, getting different peoples opinions, and ideas....And I'm still not ready to add fish to the sequence....
I hope that you have abeautiful flourishing tank, as I am sure you will, and will compare pics!!! Good LUCK!!!
Marie
:happyfish :happyfish :happyfish

 

[reefraff]

Marie,
Looks like you've done your homework
With a good refugium you might be able to keep a mandarin but don't try 2 in a 55.

 

[ophiura]

Originally posted by jesatfis mandarin gobi 2 1 (after 6 months at least)coral buety angel 1 1 (after 6 months at least)
catalina gobi 2 0 - need cooler water than reefs
bicolor blennie 1 1 or lawnmower blenny
neon dottyback 1
orchid dottyback 1
1 OR the other - possible first addition, but two will fight
yellow tang 1 1 - after 6 months at least, will outgrow tank
hawian clown wrase 1
five stripe wrase 1
jap 6 line wrase 2
1- not sure what the clown wrasse is but only one of these wrasse in a tank - multiple may/will fight
green painter parot 1
princes parrot 1
0 - not sure what these are exactly but most parrotfish grow too large and many/most are not suitable for a reef tank
percula clown 2
2 - possible first 2 fish
asst carpet anenome 2
1 - at most, a big potentially mean anemone but needs very high light (MH) and pristine water conditions - may sting corals
sailfin tang 1
0 - a large tang, not suitable for this size tank along with a yellow
blue tang 1
IMO, 0, not suitable for this size tank with a yellow tang
fire angel 1
0 - not suitable, IMO, for a tank with another dwarf angel like a flame
pencil urchin 2
0 not reef safe
lawn mower blennys 4
1 multiple may/will fight
40 lbs live rock
+ 40 m0re at another date
is that a good combo to start with?
Too little rock...
what is missing or too much ect (keeping in mind this is over abought 3 months)
OK - I've added answers to the quoted text.
on your timeline. IMO, a tank shouldn't be close to fully stocked for 6 months!!! A year is better!! CERTAINLY not 3 months, it WILL FAIL if you rush so fast. Patience is the golden rule of the hobby. Truly.
READ READ READ
You can not possibly keep that number of fish in a reef tank - or any tank of that size. For a reef you want PRISTINE water quality, and this generally means even FEWER fish than you would have in there normally.
I would think a standard list would be:
Pair of clowns (early fish)
Dwarf Angel (later/last fish)
Maybe yellow tang (better yellow eye tang) (later/last fish)
Goby or Blenny (later fish)
Small wrasse like sixline (early fish)
Pseudo (dottyback) or gramma (early fish)
Mandarin goby (later/last fish)
Early - first few months
Later - approaching or over 6 months after END of cycle
with at least a good 2 weeks after last addition before adding another fish - one fish at a time (with possible exception of the two clowns).
Something along those lines. Some would say that would be overstocked.
How are you planning to cycle the tank? You will have a few weeks at least right there to be reading and researching. PLEASE do not rush into this. You will lose a lot of $$, kill a lot of fish, and may be selling your tank in short order There is great advice here from people who have learned the hard way...