55 gallon FOWLR

timschmidt

timschmidt

Premium Member
I am in the final (I hope) stages of inhabitant selection. I tried to research compatibility before this post but I would like some experienced people to look at and give some feedback please. First a bit about the tank:

55 gallon FOWLR with a 10g refugium (refugium is being installed this upcoming weekend)
77 degree Fahrenheit
specific gravity 1.023 (instant ocean salt mix)
65 pounds live fiji rock in display and 40 pounds of fiji pink aragonite sand in display
Koralia 2 and Koralia 3 in tank
Fluorescent lighting (cheapo stuff)
Coral life super skimmer 65
Plan on LR, LS, and Chaetomorpha in the refugium
Also, I will use Chemi pure to help with water quality

Now for the inhabitants list:

Firefish
Mandarin ( I will wait 6 months at least before adding...If not a year)
Red Scooter Blenny
Yellow Watchman
Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit
Dwarf Zebra Hermit
Pom Pom Crab
Turbo Snail
Cerith Snail
Astraea Snail
Nassarius Snail
Pistol Shrimp
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Blue Spiny Lobster


Now a couple above I don't mind not having (lobster, pom pom crab) but for the most part this is what i would like to see and I don't think there would be a huge problem for this to work. I don't know how many hermits and snails I would need so if someone could suggest a quantity that would be helpful.

Thanks for reading,

Tim

Pic of tank as of right now (not full of water because still need to move tank for refugium install):

web.jpg
 
Last edited:
The koralias in the tank are a Koralia 2 and a Koralia 3. I just bought a smaller powerhead to put behind the rocks to push all the crud from behind the rock. The lobster says it can get to 1 foot so I don't know if it will make it to the tank. I am concerned about someone saying the pistol shrimp is dangerous to slow fish (mandarin) and shrimp (peppermint / cleaner?). Is this a concern? I do want the pistol shrimp, but if I had to choose between mandarin and pistol shrimp/goby combo the mandarin wins. Help?
 
try to remove the spiny lobster b/c they arent really reef safe but i dont think the pistol is really dangerous...
 
Lobster will not be added. I think that I am happy with my test results. These tests were ran 1 hour after the lights went out (I have a son who needed my attention :) )
Date 26-May-08
Time 22:00
SG 1.025
Free Ammonia 0
Total Ammonia 0
PH 8.1
Alkalinity 3.5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2-5
Phosphate .05-.1

On a side note I am experiencing a build up of air in the U tube of my slim line life reef overflow box. I think this is due to the woefully under powered return pump. I currently have a RIO 1300 running, but just purchased a Mag 950. The plumbing set-up I have will allow to dial down the flow with out restricting the pump. Anyone else have a problem with bubbles in the U tube?
 
Yea, that is the tell-tale of the flaw of U-tube overflows. Happened to me when I ran the foam sponge on my return pump and hadn't cleaned it in awhile. Dialing down a pump is the way to go.
 
Is that your entire inhabitant list? I'd want some mid-water swimming fish. You could choose a number of peaceful, colorful fish that wouldn't bother your inverts.
 
Is there a list of fish by swimming zones? I choose these fish either by behavior or looks, but I have been able to see the in person. I don't know that many fish, nor do I know where they prefer to swim unless my LFS has them and I can watch them for a few weeks.
 
of your fish on the list:

Firefish - midwater swimmer, I think these can be kept in groups
Mandarin - stays on the bottom
Red Scooter Blenny - stays on the bottom - same needs as mandarin
Yellow Watchman - stays on the bottom

These are a few colorful, suitable sized, hardy, midwater swimmers that should be compatible with the other fish and okay with the inverts:

orchid dottyback
ocellarus clownfish - you can keep pairs
coral beauty dwarf angelfish

you might try searching You-Tube for 55 gallon marine aquariums, like this one, to get a look at the fish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofJfg_BJXhA&feature=related

However, I noticed that many 55 gallon tanks had fish that would definitely outgrow the tank in a short time, so if you see a fish you like in a tank your size, continue your research to ensure that it can live in that tank for life, and that it will be compatible with the other animals.
 
Thank you for the quick reply. Never thought to check youtube. LOL. Are the ocellarus clownfish the only possible clownfish? I would prefer non orange so would the black and white ocellarus clown fish feasible for my tank - say two of them? :)
 
Your're welcome. :)

The black and white ocellarus would be fine too. I suggested ocellarus because they stay fairly small and are among the most peaceful clowns. Some can become real terrors.

Another fish that is very hardy, not very expensive and colorful is the royal gramma. It tends to lurk in caves, but is a great fish. I don't think you could keep it with an orchid dottyback - you'd have to pick one.
 
Thank you for the suggestions but I have found a quite intersting fish. The carpenter wrasse. I can't seem to find any info if this fish will cause a problem for the mandarin or not. Does anyone have this particular fish and be able to comment on it's behaviors?
 
Well interesting news. Got a great deal on a 90 gallon tank, stand, and canopy. So I will be moving everything over to that tank now. With the canopy I can add in much better lighting later on. (we all know I will) LOL the funniest part is I was having a hard time with my refugium and the size of it... so I got a bigger stand and tank to accommodate the refugium.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12625041#post12625041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
Your're welcome. :)

The black and white ocellarus would be fine too. I suggested ocellarus because they stay fairly small and are among the most peaceful clowns. Some can become real terrors.

Another fish that is very hardy, not very expensive and colorful is the royal gramma. It tends to lurk in caves, but is a great fish. I don't think you could keep it with an orchid dottyback - you'd have to pick one.
Click to expand...

Just remember to get captive bred clowns to avoid Brook. You do not want to introduce it to your tank. Or if they are wild caught, QT for even longer than normal and do your research on Brooklynella "Clownfish disease".

Just a heads up if you did not know this.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12675251#post12675251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timschmidt
Thank you very much. I try to get tank bred as a habit, but this is something new to me.
Click to expand...

Yeah tank bred is better for so many reasons but this is the main one.
 
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