Opinions Welcome on a 55 FOWLR

[jg24]

I currently have: 55gal FOWLR, 25lbs LR, 45lbs Aragonite, 10lbs live sand, Empor400 Filter w/media baskets,carbon, b-wheel, Berlin Skimmer and two power heads. Current inhabitants are clean crew, cleaner shrimp,brittle star, sand sifter star, small Cinamon Clown, FlameHawk, Yellow Four Spot Wrasse. What I would like to end up with is also maybe a Flame Angel or EiBli, maybe a yellow eye kole tang or a bicolor blennie. Would also like to add I have a 20gal QT that I will use. I will also need to wait a little while for some algea to grow for them to pick. thanks for your opinions.
[ June 02, 2001: Message edited by: JG24 ]

 

[tangs_in_pacifica]

Hmmmm... just a few suggestions to be taken with a grain of salt:
-Lose the aragonite, if it's the large crushed-coral variety... go with all live sand, Home Depot PLay Sand, etc.
-I've heard from lots of people that Flame Hawks will eventually eat shrimp. I had one with a cleaner shrimp for ~ 1 1/2 years w/o incident, but they're reputed to develop an appetite for ornamental shrimp.
-You might want to explore filtration options other than the Emperor. Lately, I've been having some fun with refugiums... Going Berlin might also be a good move. The aforementioned 20 gal. might mike a nice skimmer sump for a Berlin setup, or a D.I.Y. refugium. Of course, the Emperor might work out fine for you as well.
Just my $.02

 

[coralbeauty]

I agree with the above comments. I had much your same setup before I converted to a reef. The emporer will work just fine. Mine cleaned my FO for over a year without trouble. I still have mine running. Once I converted to a full reef with 70 lbs of LR, I took the biowheels out since it began to product Nitrates. I would increase the amount of LR as finances will allow you, as well as the LS. They will provide your best filtration as well as the most natural enviornment for your fish.
I love flame hawks, I had one but I did not have shrimp at the time. It died after about 18 months for no reason. I have a flame angel. It would do okay in your set up. I think the key is that you will just need to fine a good one. The are hard to get started and they are expensive. I love bi-color bennies. I am planning on adding one soon to my system.
Just my .02, as well!
Connie