My 135G Reef Plans

[comprisedpuma]

Hello RC -

I'm getting ready to start my first foray into reefkeeping, and I'm super excited. I just purchased the tank (135G - 72Lx18Wx25H) and 80 lbs. of live rock (which I'm planning on combining with another 80 lbs of dry rock). So, there's officially no backing out now!

I have a week before it arrive to figure out how to layout my sump and filtration systems, so I imagine a lot of trial and error will be coming my way, but here are my plans for livestock:

*Fish*

2 x Black/White Clowns
1 x Sailfin Tang
1 x Yellow Watchman Goby
2 x Purple Firefish

*Inverts*

1 x Banded Coral Shrimp
1 x Tiger Snapping Shrimp
2 x Peppermint Shrimp
2 x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 x Pom Pom Crab
3 x Emerald Crab
1 x Sally Lightfoot Crab
15 x Dwarf Blue Hermit Crab
15 x Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab
2 x Serpent Sea Star
20 x Nassarius Snail
15 x Astraea Snail
1 x Tuxedo Urchin
1 x Small Clam
1 x Rose Bubble Tip Anemone

*Corals*

2 x Finger Gorgonian Sea Fan (1 yellow/1 red)
1 x Montipora
1 x Toadstool Mushroom Leather
1 x Elegance
1 x Frogspawn
1 x Bubble
Various mushrooms and polyps

Eventually, I'd like to add a small clam or two throughout the reef.

I'd appreciate any advice! As I said, I'm a newbie and if there's things that won't mix well I would like to know! I tried to do as much research on everything but it can be quite overwhelming.

Any suggestions for additions/subtractions are much appreciated! Also any general advice on my first month post-cycle is welcome too

 

[thegrun]

A few observations:
For the Purple Firefish be sure to get a mated pair or there is a good chance they will fight to the death.
I'm not a fan of the Banded Shrimp, they are likely to kill any small fish they can seak up on at night.
I also like to avoid crabs, too much risk.
I like the Dwarf Blue Hermit Crabs over the Scarlet Reef Hermit Crabs, they are less likely to kill snails and each other. 15 total is a few more than I would recommend.
10 Nassarius Snails would be plenty, and I would probably start with just 4 or 5.

 

[comprisedpuma]

A few observations:
For the Purple Firefish be sure to get a mated pair or there is a good chance they will fight to the death.
I'm not a fan of the Banded Shrimp, they are likely to kill any small fish they can seak up on at night.
I also like to avoid crabs, too much risk.
I like the Dwarf Blue Hermit Crabs over the Scarlet Reef Hermit Crabs, they are less likely to kill snails and each other. 15 total is a few more than I would recommend.
10 Nassarius Snails would be plenty, and I would probably start with just 4 or 5.

Thanks for the input.

What exactly is the reason you avoid crabs? Does this apply to *all* crabs? I really have my heart set on a pom pom and at least a couple emeralds (for my montipora). Is there sufficient risk in those species to be worried?

I'm glad you gave me some insight on quantities of snails/hermits. From what I've read, some places suggest ~50 for a tank my size, while others suggest no more than 10. It's hard to discern what factors go into those numbers.

Do I need to worry about the clowns fighting it out like the firefish might do? I think I'll just stick with 1 firefish if there is a chance they might compete.

I know the Pistol will eat snails and hermits that venture too close to his burrow, but I'm okay with replenishing the cleaner inverts over time. The pistol is another thing I have my heart set on.