Is this initial stocking plan sound?

[BlackTip]

325g DT, 100g sump. 2 20g-long qt tanks. One for fish, and the other for corals. They are not running yet, but I am planning on using water from the tank to get them going.

I think my tank completed the cycle. Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20. I dosed ammonia last night, and I will check again tomorrow.

Here is my initial plan:

I will add reef cleaners first to the tank without quarantining them. In the mean time, I will quarantine some fish for 72 days. So, the tank will be running for at least 72 days with snails and crab only. Of course, I will be feeding them. I am planning on getting the following from ReefCleaners:
- Hermit crabs
- Dwarf Cerith
- Florida Cerith
- Nassarius
- Nerite
- Serpent Starfish (2-3)

And maybe some Turbo snails from LiveAquria.

Does this sound like a good plan?

 

[thegrun]

Go light on the initial CUC until there is a need to increase the numbers. I know you intend do to feed them, but I think you will have better luck simply starting small and adding to the CUC as Tim goes on.

 

[BlackTip]

Go light on the initial CUC until there is a need to increase the numbers. I know you intend do to feed them, but I think you will have better luck simply starting small and adding to the CUC as Tim goes on.

I am planning on getting the package for 100G + some hermits.

 

[Dayson]

FYI...the fighting conchs on ReefCleaners are awesome. Fun to watch!

 

[BlackTip]

FYI...the fighting conchs on ReefCleaners are awesome. Fun to watch!

Aren't they predatory?

 

[tl1000r]

Start small till the tank settles

 

[Deinonych]

Aren't they predatory?

No. Strombus sp. conchs are docile and are fantastic for keeping the sandbed clean. Just be sure you are getting a fighting conch and not a predatory whelk (which looks similar). The ones sold at ReefCleaners are the proper species.

 

[nuxx]

Like others have said... start small and add more.

I started way too small and now need more... but it's too hot for Mexican Turbo Snails now... so I'm a bit stuck...

BTW: Mexican Turbos are my favorite

 

[BlackTip]

How small is small?

Here is what is in my cart. Is this quantity OK? And by the way, I don't have any algae in my tank, at least I can't see any. So, I am going to have to drop something for them to eat.

Quick Crew (75 Gallon)
74 Dwarf Ceriths
25 Nassarius
27 Florida Ceriths
20 Nerites

In addition:
15 Assorted Hermits
5 Scarlet Hermit Crab
2 Serpent Starfish
2 pack of Reef Pods (one to seed the fuge and the other to seed the DT)
1 Chaeto

 

[BlackTip]

So, anyone has an opinion about the above plan?

 

[thegrun]

I'm not a big fan of the dwarf Ceriths, they tend to climb out of the tank and crawl into pumps. The rest of the list is fine although I would wait on adding the crabs and starfish for a month or two.

 

[Sapelo]

Crabs will kill your snails for their shells and also just for fun.
I like crabs but I got sick and tired of finding empty snail shells containing a crab that wanted a new home.
IMO, one or the other but not both.

 

[Shawn O]

As others have said. You could get away with

74 Dwarf Ceriths 12 add another dozen a couple months down the line, if needed
25 Nassarius 12 add another dozen a couple months down the line, if needed
27 Florida Ceriths 12 add another dozen a couple months down the line, if needed
20 Nerites 12 add another dozen a couple months down the line, if needed

In addition:
15 Assorted Hermits Wait a month or feed sinking pellets in a corner with the flow off. The pellets should keep the hermits fed while the algae builds up beyond what the snails can eat.
5 Scarlet Hermit Crab Wait a month or feed sinking pellets
2 Serpent Starfish I'd wait a month or two as I'm not sure how much food they need
2 pack of Reef Pods (one to seed the fuge and the other to seed the DT)
1 Chaeto May want to hold off on the cheato until you start to see some algae on the rocks and glass. Exporting the nutrients before your CUC has something to eat seems counter-productive.