When I finally DO start my tank....

[malounsbury]

So, I'm counting down the days, and dollars until I have enough for everything that I'm going to be getting to set up my tank. I'm just doing some planning ahead, and I've come up with my fish list. I'm going to have a 55 gallon, FOWLR. I'll have about 75lbs of live rock, tropical sand bed (3 x50lb bags) with one 20lb bag of live sand on top to start. Here's the list:
Lemonpeel Angel
Lawnmower Blenny
Percula Clown x 2
Firefish Goby x 2
Sixline Wrasse
Does this seem like a good list? And will all of these fish be able to get along with one another?
I read a post from BangGuy earlier that said after my cycle before putting fish in for a couple of weeks to just "feed" the tank with fish food so I'm most likely going to do that as well. When I add my first fish, I know that I should add the hearty fish first. I've been trying to read up as much as possible, but I'm not sure which fish on my list is the most hearty. Any suggestions?
I know that when I add, I should wait 3-4 weeks between adding fish. So I'll add my first fish, wait, then add the next fish and do that up until the Angel which will by my last because I've read that you should wait at least 6 months before introducing an angel into a new tank. That sound about right?
Also, when would be a good time to add inverts? I was thinking about adding an emerald crab, cleaner or coral branded shrimp and some turbo snails. If I could get away with more, I was thinking about a feather duster and maybe a cucumber, depending on how easy/hard the cucumber is to care for.
So at any rate, is this a good list/plan? Any suggestions? I'm trying to get as much of my research done as possible before I get started so I have very little room for error.

 

[cowfishrule]

good job on reading up on the past threads to gather your knowledge...
when your tank finishes cycle, i would then add the inverts, wait a little, then start your stocking (slowly). if you have the extra room, set up a quarentine tank, as it will help avoid problems further down the road. i would add the firefish first, however, i heard they dont play well together, so i think there might be an issue with the 2 of them.
anybody?

 

[equalizer]

Save your money, just get a cup full of live sand from a local person to seed your sand bed.

 

[thesamm]

in a 55 they should be fine together dont get more then 2...make sure theres plenty of spots to hide and stuff

 

[malounsbury]

The reason I thought I would get two, is because on the information screen for them here on SWF says that they prefer to be kept in pairs. If I should only get one, that's not a problem. Won't throw my plans off too much.

 

[malounsbury]

Originally posted by Equalizer
Save your money, just get a cup full of live sand from a local person to seed your sand bed.
8oz, 16oz, how big of a cup full? Also, where should I drop it? Little bit in one spot all over the place I assume?

 

[equalizer]

Just a few pounds will be fine. All those critters multiply fast.
Spread it out over the top layer.
Are you going to have a fuge? If you are, Ill give you a baggie of cheato micro algea. Its full of pods and all those good things.
Just cover the shipping $5 is about what it cost.

 

[malounsbury]

Wasn't planning on a fuge. Haven't researched too much on that yet. I do recall reading a section on that when I was reading the Conscientious Marine Aquarist, but other than that I was planning on starting with a 55 for now and getting my feet wet and moving to other things down the road; reef, anenome, etc.

 

[equalizer]

I think you are on the right track.
Good Luck

 

[big911dog]

the percs are pretty hardy. starting with them would be fine. the cleanup crew can go in after the water change at the end of ur cycle. be careful with the cucumber. some can emit a poison and crash ur tank. research them well.

 

[malounsbury]

Yah, I wasn't too sure about the cucumber. I was just looking at them when I was looking at the inverts and I wasn't sure if they would be able to go in with the others that I was adding because of bioload. But if I can add it without over doing the bioload I will be sure to research that.

 

[malounsbury]

Also, one other thing that I'm thinking of. When putting in sand and live rock, should I put the live rock on the bottom of the tank and then sand on top? I read that it should be done this way to prevent rock slides, but it seems to be a point of contention as to when to put the rock down. I was thinking about putting the sand down first, and then putting a trashbag on top like I've read before and then putting the water into the tank and removing the trashbag after filling the tank. Is this the right way to do it, or should I do water first and then sand in after?

 

[equalizer]

You got it right using the trash bag and sand. You wont disturb the DSB hardley at all.

 

[malounsbury]

Should I have the LR in before I add the water or after?

 

[equalizer]

If your water is pre mixed and ready to go, this is a great time to aqua scape the rock. If its not pre mixed add the rock after you have the temp and selinity stable in the tank.
I think this made sense:notsure:

 

[harlequinnut]

If you really want to get 2 clowns, remember to add them together to lessen aggression. You're off to a good start from the looks of it.

 

[ryand]

why not do 50/25 live rock and have 75 by the time it is done cycleing 50 live 25 base seems cheeper

 

[malounsbury]

Originally posted by Equalizer
If your water is pre mixed and ready to go, this is a great time to aqua scape the rock. If its not pre mixed add the rock after you have the temp and selinity stable in the tank.
I think this made sense:notsure:
So, if I have the water premixed before I put it into the tank, then do the rock first. If mixing in the tank, do the rock second? Is that what you were trying to say?

 

[snailheave]

make sure you leave enough money to set up a QT, i find it invaluable.

 

[malounsbury]

Originally posted by ryand
why not do 50/25 live rock and have 75 by the time it is done cycleing 50 live 25 base seems cheeper
That's a good suggestion. I hadn't come across that in my researching, but I just found some information on it. I wasn't aware that you can seed other rock with LR like you can sand with LS. I found a place that sells 35lb base for $58 plus shipping. $1.65/lb. Here's the information about their rock:
"The rocks we sell are Bryozoan facies of Miami limestone that have a color from tan to bright white and average in size from 3 inches to 15 inches. This rock is totally safe and perfect for the saltwater aquarium environment due to it natural porosity, carbonate and calcium properties."
Would that work?