Please help a newbie

sntid241

sntid241

New Member
Hello, I am a freshwater veteran, however I have not kept seriously in about 10 years. Now my son is starting to get me back into the hobby. We are going to try a saltwater FOWLR tank. (with some inverts)
I have been reading thru all the great posts and advice on this and other sites, and to be honest, the more I read, the more I get confused.
I would like to pick your collective brains and hopefully you can help making our first tank a success.
 
sntid241

sntid241

New Member
First lets start with the Bioload we want. This will all be stuffed into a standard 55 gallon glass tank.
Around 80-90 lbs of live rock
4 x farm raised False Percula clowns (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1 x Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)
5 x Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni)
5 x Blueleg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius tricolor)
5 x Scarlet Hermit Crab (Paguristes cadenati)
1 x Chocolate Chip Starfish(Protoreastor nodosus)
1 x Coral Banded Shrimp (Stenopus hispicus)
unfortunately, the only LFS that carries saltwater is a big chain, and it seems that I get a different answer from each different person I talk to there, so I don't have the highest level of confidence in their advice. Please help me and let me know if all of these organisms can thrive together in a 55 gallon.
I have no experience with inverts, and need to know if they will all get along, and will the clowns or gramma eat them. I am not planning on any special lighting setup, do any of these inverts require special lighting?
Is this bioload to much, way under or just right?
Any comments/suggestions would be great, thanks in advance.
 
ca161406

ca161406

Member
you can add more fish. maybe a dwarf angel and a goby then like something else..
never listin 2 ppl at fish stores. they just want to sell sell sell
inverts will be fine. however i suggest getting t5s because youll want corals eventually.
and also go with a 75 gal instead of a 55. just a few inches larger but 20 more gallons
 
V

vinnyraptor

Guest
Originally Posted by sntid241
http:///forum/post/3016585
First lets start with the Bioload we want. This will all be stuffed into a standard 55 gallon glass tank.
Around 80-90 lbs of live rock
4 x farm raised False Percula clowns (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1 x Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)
5 x Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni)
5 x Blueleg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius tricolor)
5 x Scarlet Hermit Crab (Paguristes cadenati)
1 x Chocolate Chip Starfish(Protoreastor nodosus)
1 x Coral Banded Shrimp (Stenopus hispicus)
unfortunately, the only LFS that carries saltwater is a big chain, and it seems that I get a different answer from each different person I talk to there, so I don't have the highest level of confidence in their advice. Please help me and let me know if all of these organisms can thrive together in a 55 gallon.
I have no experience with inverts, and need to know if they will all get along, and will the clowns or gramma eat them. I am not planning on any special lighting setup, do any of these inverts require special lighting?
Is this bioload to much, way under or just right?
Any comments/suggestions would be great, thanks in advance.
no actually that fine assuming you have adequate flow and filtration. if your not gonna house corals or anemones than the regular flourecent lights that come with the tank is fine with 10,000 or 18,000 k bulbs and 50/50's or. actinics.
5 peppermints plus a coral banded might be too much but not out of the question.
since im bored id like to offer an alternate list
2 percula's, sebae, or O.C's your choice
1 royal gramma
1 yellow watchman goby
1 six line wrasse
no hermits - they can and do eat snails and other inverts .
4 mexican turbos
10 astria snails
4 cerith snails
3 emerald crabs
orange(red) linckia starfish
1 coral banded shrimp
1 urchin ( any kind as long as you dont want corals )
2 or 3 smaller shrimp of your choice. peppermint, camel, pistol, etc.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Don't put 4 clowns...only 2. they form a pair.
Do not think about a star until your tank is minimum 6months old.
You will want snails for part of your clean up crew...different types
If you can get a bigger tank....go for it....
 
woody189

woody189

Member
Make sure you add everything slowly, even the snails. If you add your clean up crew w/ nothing to clean up, they will starve.
I would also get only 2 clowns, IDK if you'd be alright adding more or not, but w/ 2, you can substitute w/ 2 different fish which will give you more variety.
You may even be interested in mixing an orange Ocellaris and black and white ocellaris. I just recently did it, and they are really nice together. However many you go w/ though, be sure to introduce all clowns together.
Definitly get a dwarf angel. Flame are really really nice. Coral beauty are good too, just not as nice, but add the angel last probably.
I would also get a cleaner shrimp, they are real nice and active and fun to watch. 5 Peppermints is a bit much. W/e you do, add slowly as you need more clean up crew.
coral banded shrimp I read can get aggressive. I have a sally light foot which I love. They apparantly can also get aggressive when they grow, but not as bad as CBS. Maybe you can look into a blood/fire shrimp instead.
Emeralds are cool to0 but you probably won't see them too, much.
I had redleg hermits and never had a problem w/ them eating snails. Then I got blue-legs that were smaller than teh red, and they killed the, THey also killed my feather duster (Something else you ,may be interested in) so I got rid of all of them.
IDK about the upping to 75 gallon idea, but it sounds good to me. Bigger is better.
Wait on the star and keep your stock lights till you decide to go reef. I planned on FOWLR also when I started, and now, 1 yr later, I'm going reef.
 
sntid241

sntid241

New Member
Thanks for all your advice. One of the reasons my son wants to try marine, is we spent about 20 mins watching small hermits and some shrimp just crawling around the rocks in the tank at a local doctors office. He didn't even really care about the fish. So I really want to keep the hermits. I can change the shrimp type/number and can add some snails. Will also take the other fish recommendations to mind.
This tank won't go to reef, if we really get into this hobby, we'll set up a bigger tank just for a reef in the future.
 
sntid241

sntid241

New Member
A quick question about set up. Again I think I'll am suffering information overload about setting up the new tank.
I am planning on just the live rock, substrate, a few good power heads and a heater.
Is there any other equipment you can suggest as necessary?
( I would like to keep it simple)
Would you suggest a protein skimmer?
Thanks again in advance.
 
firestorm

firestorm

Member
Information overload at this point is normal. My suggestion is to read a couple of the 'tank diaries' on the forum. Gives you a step by step with pictures of different people's processes as they set up their tank (usually with lots of feedback).
That way you'll have an idea of some different methods, the basics of 'what step comes when', and a better idea of what equipment is recommended and used for what.
and yes, i recommend a skimmer.
 
sntid241

sntid241

New Member
I'm not sure how to filter it.
Was thinking just a HOT skimmer and live rock/ power heads.
Been reading that canister/wet dry cause problems in the long run and it is better to "K.I.S.S."
Am also kicking around a sump. Not sure which way to go. Any input would be great
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by sntid241
http:///forum/post/3017460
I'm not sure how to filter it.
Was thinking just a HOT skimmer and live rock/ power heads.
Been reading that canister/wet dry cause problems in the long run and it is better to "K.I.S.S."
Am also kicking around a sump. Not sure which way to go. Any input would be great
Hey I agree that kissing is always better
BUT I have no clue what you mean
SUMP...is better if do-able
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by Firestorm
http:///forum/post/3017489
KISS = keep it simple stupid
old army acronymn :p

OH

Originally Posted by Firestorm
http:///forum/post/3017490
And from what I've read, sump is the way to go if money isn't an issue....I'll be attempting one soon enough.
If you can..room wise, and financially...go sump..you can buy one that has everything too....Mine came with a protein skimmer, and I love it
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
sntid: welcome to the boards! it really seems overwhelming at first, but you'll pick up on things as you need to, and you're already doing a key step: asking questions. i would suggest starting with a different sized tank. i think that 55's give a false sense of size b/c they seem longer than they are because they dont have much width to them. i think this causes many 55 gallon aquarists to overstock, but this is jmo and your original stocklist had an acceptible bioload, and other people have commented on your selections. go as big as you can. a 75 gallon will add the width that the 55 lacks without adding any length and for not much more coin. i think a skimmer is a great idea. i suggest staying away from seaclones. honestly, i have one and have been lucky with it, but i wish i'd have spent another hundred bucks or so and gotten a good piece of equipment.
 
sntid241

sntid241

New Member
Thanks again everyone.
Will look into bumping up to a 75.
I'm sure I'll be posting some more questions as I start to buy equipment and get things setup.
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
My .2:
Cut the pepermints by 2. Same with the crabs.
Start with 2-3 of each type. If you feel you can handle 5 or more...then go for it.
And ya, you can add more diversity of fish if you want.
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
Originally Posted by sntid241
http:///forum/post/3018273
Thanks again everyone.
Will look into bumping up to a 75.
I'm sure I'll be posting some more questions as I start to buy equipment and get things setup.
Keep an eye on Craigs list. Key words like saltwater/reef/coral/T5/MH ect churn up smokin hot deals all the time for me.
 
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