My stocking idea...anything wrong with this?

Tommy Gun · 11-07-2006, 08:54 PM

Ok, so for my 90 gallon bowfront tank (a bit taller than wide, but still 48" long) I am thinking of this list for stocking:

1 Bicolored Angelfish (already in the tank)
5 Green Chromis (2 in the tank now)
1 Neon Goby (ordered, coming Thursday)
2 Clownfish (for the kiddos)
1 Regal/Hippo Tang
Clean up crew (right now, 3 hermits, 1 turbo snail, and I want to add more)

So, I redid my research on the Tang and MOST sites state that a tank of at least 70 gallons with lots of rockwork is needed. I have 90 gallons and lots of rockwork, but I am unsure as to how I should look at the tank since I have other fish in there as well. Is this going to be more of a filtration issue for me or is it a swimming room type consideration as far as the Tang is concerned?

Also, I cannot find any definative info on if it is advisable to keep more than one in a tank together. The best I have found is that they will 'chase' other neon gobies around the tank, but it appears to be "non-harming" behavior. I have ordered two of them (minimum order requirements) but the LFS says that it can easily sell the other if I only want one of them. I am getting them in consideration of my Bicolored angelfish which appears to be 'requesting' a cleaning from my chromis and even the hermit crabs by tilting on its side and flaring its fins.

For the cleanup crew, I am planning on expanding and can get quite a few 'blue legged' hermit crabs (very small) for a good deal and the same on turbo snails. I believe it is 25 of each for $35 dollars at the LFS which I have almost $200 in store credit. Right now I am also thinking that I have some bubble algea in the tank but it is situated on the back of the tank in the upper parts of the glass so I do not know if it would be worth getting a few Emerald (Mythrax?) crabs or not. For the time being, I am not popping any of the bubbles but it may also just be air bubbles that have settled on the wall. Any opinions or ideas on this for me?

I am also going to switch to some reef crystals if not with this next water change, for sure the one after. I am going to get myself some mushroom corals once I am confident that I can maintain the water quality I need for them. If anyone has some good info on what exactly I should be looking for as far as keeping mushrooms? My lighting system provides about 3 watts per gallon.

Lastly, I want to add a UV sterilizer to my tank but I am worried about the temperature increase that it might create as well as not having a real good place to add it to my plumbing other than within my plumbing to my powerheads. I have been told that I should put it in the plumbing right after some filtration happens, however the only thing I use for filtration other than natural filtration is a skimmer. Would this work to add it to the powerhead plumbing or should I consider adding a canister filter and placing the UV sterilizer within the return from this?

Hey, I really wanted to say thanks to all of you for putting up with my insane amount of questions about my stocking and I realize I am getting annoying. This tank has been a dream come true and a nightmare all in one because I just cannot find the best path or direction in which I want/need to get things the way I want. I would like to get these fish and some good coloring on my rocks with the mushroom corals over a period of 6 to 8 months and so I am just full of questions right now so that I can accomplish this. Thank you all so much again!

yags · 11-07-2006, 09:57 PM

Hi Tommy:
I just started a tank up a month ago so I was also interested in how to stock it. At first I added two fish to try and jump start the cycling but I have learned since to concentrate on a well balanced ecosystem--everything I add from now on will perform a job in the system.
I added a YellowTang over the weekend (due to a stringly algae problem). In two days I don't have an algae problem anymore--in fact there is none of the stringy algae left. My point here is that the Tang is happy as long as he/she is busy working at the rock--I think that is more important than actual swimming room that it has
The further addition of 6 Turbo snails have been great--they are really working at the algae on the sides of the tank. I have not seen the three mythrax crabs I added a week and one half ago. I can just assume they are working behind the rocks.
The fighting conchs are really doing a number on the gravel also--I don't ever planning on vacuuming it. Plus three other snails that burrow into it--forgot their name and the invoice got wet so I can't see their names

The more I participate in this forum the more I believe in stocking the tank with the invertebrates etc. that perform a function in a real reef ecosytem.
I will be adding more snails, more crabs, and cleaner shrimps etc. before I add more fish.
PS I also added a clown fish to please the two grand kids--I had to give into this one esp with my wife(it was an agreement when I bought the tank)
Gee guys, I just read this over--I'm learning

Scott

yags · 11-07-2006, 10:01 PM

Re information on Corals:
I guess this is a tought one--I posted a new strand early this morning--no replies. I have a few books on them but they don't go into the specific feedings they each need.
Maybe you could start a new strand on Corel information--your status might get more attention

Scott

Tommy Gun · 11-07-2006, 11:09 PM

Thank you both for replying to my questions. I understand what you mean yags about the ecosystem and I suppose that the thought has crossed my mind, however I do not know much about SW fish and so that is what is making this so difficult for me. I am also sort of turned off by the very few types of saltwater fish there really are (e.g. angelfish, tangs, triggers, damsels, etc...) and this makes things hard as well since most fish do not do well with having other fish that even remotely resemble them in the tank at the same time. I think that my comprimise with my family is for the clownfish (Nemo) and a Regal Blue tang (Dori) as well as my interest in them as well. I am really looking to stock with multiple sized fish as well as fish that can bring some added benifits.

As far as the algea goes, I am under the impression that someday my tank will not grow so much algea and so I am trying not to base my choices on controlling a problem that will go away. It is the same effect as having a pleco in a FW tank, once it eats most of the algea, it can no longer sustain the pleco on its own and so supplimental feeding is required. I dont want to get a yellow tang, rid myself of algea, and then have to return it or something because it is not my favorite tang only to have to get one again when the algea comes back.

To be honest, I am very confused as to what I should do now and so I picked what I wanted to have and listed them to this thread as a 'wish list' and I would just adjust my plans once I get more info on conflicts or compatability issues.

Again thanks for the help and I will get some questions together and start a thread tomorrow just pertaining to corals.

ahill3780 · 11-08-2006, 08:22 PM

Hey Tommy, Scott,

I don't see any glaring incompatibilities with your list there so I think you should be ok. Of course, if I run across something to the contrary I will post it up for you.

The Regal (Blue) Tang has a minimum requirement of 100 gallons, but my own lives in my 55 gallon without any issues. I do plan on getting the bigger tank of course, but for now Dorie does just fine in the smaller tank. When it comes to Tangs it is all about the swimming room. You definately want to keep a constant supply of seaweed for them to feed on (algae is not really the greatest foodsource for these guys unless it is macro-algae) since they are constantly grazing for food in the wild.

I don't have much experience with gobies and have never kept the neon before but I'll see what my books have to say before offering more advice on them.

As far as the clowns are concerned just keep them both of the same species. There is nothing really hazardous about mixing clown species except when introducing a different species to a tank that contains a mated pair of another species.

The quantity of cleanup crew you have selected should be sufficient. You might not want to add them all at once but you can if you so choose. I wouldn't consider adding any more than that until it becomes clear that they are needed.

Good choice on switching to the RCs salt. Mushroom corals are great beginners corals and you shouldn't worry too much about available light as they are low-light corals and will do well if placed in the lower regions of the tank.

I would not suggest trying to tie the UV Sterilizer into any plumbing powered by powerheads or a cannister filter. Instead I would suggest a dedicated external 'Closed Loop' system to run the UVS. Basically all you would need is pvc to run the plumbing, and a pump to circulate the water. A 500gph MagDrive or similar pump should work very well for this. It will seem fairly complex trying to piece this together for the first time, but after you understand the concept you will find that its not as difficult as it seems.

If I can find the time I will try to throw together a diagram and post up a 'How To' on Closed Loops. That should help you out when its ready, but in the meantime I will try to help as much as I can by description.

HTH,
Aaron

Tommy Gun · 11-08-2006, 08:52 PM

Thanks for the info and tips Aaron.

Do you use a UV on your tank with Dori? My research has pointed out that 70 gallons is fine for a regal blue tang, and that is from a very reputable site with a couple of doctors (still unsure as to how appropriate it is to name other sites here, but I am sure you can figure that clue out). My thinking is also that I have kept a Porcupine puffer, another very Ich susceptable fish, without problems and so I am thinking if I acclimate and quarenteen properly, I can reduce the chances of problems in the future.

However, I do understand the closed loop system as this is how I run my powerheads by using one large intake for a pump and two other PVC pipes for the actual powerhead returns (which are then split further within the tank). But, I think a diagram could help me still in case there is something I am not considering as well as for those who would also like to know. I am assuming that the sump would be as good as any place for this system to be placed then?

For the cleanup crew, there has been some other questions asked within the forum on the neccessity for providing larger shells for hermits and I am under the belief that they will simply remain the same size if larger shells are unavailable. Is this true or would this reduce the lifespan of the hermits?

I am also unsure about the RC salts now because I talked to a guy (very trusted guy) at my fav SW LFS and he told me there is no difference between RC salts and marine salt. Any opinon or info on this?

I think that my tank really is set up well for the blue tang I want but my main concern is the costs/problems that come with the UV sterilizer. Would you have any other suggestions for a good, medium sized type fish for my stocking? I have been suggested to get a yellow eye tang but really do not like the looks a whole lot, but I dont hate it either. I dont want to go with a yellow tang for their size and aggression and it sounds as if triggers are basically out of the question for a reef, with the exception of the blue throat trigger, but I have heard that they need snail shells/hard foods for their 'teeth' much like a puffer. I already have the bicolored angelfish and am just unsure of a good reef safe fish that will have an acceptable size for my tank as well as be a center piece for my tank. So many options....so little time to research them all...this is my conundrum!

Shawn D · 11-08-2006, 11:48 PM

Aaron, when you said tangs need swimming room does that mean they should not be kept with an abundance of lr?

trust-e-man · 11-09-2006, 12:23 AM

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