New Reef \ Invertebrate SAFE - SPS Help needed please

[r0cksteady]

Hi All,

Ive just come from the thread in the "New To The Hobby" - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...18#post10900318
and they recommended I come a seek advice here on the "SPS" coral side that im considering stocking.

Below ive listed the hardware and stocking options. Please feel free to comment on any other areas you may feel need improving but the main area I need assistance is for the "SPS" Coral side of things and their compatibility/appropriateness etc. Thanks

Tank Details:

5ft (5ft x 2ft x 3ft) = 224 US Gallons (187 UK Gallons) or 850 Litres

100 Kg of Live Rock

60 Kg of Coral Sand Substrate

Lighting - SunSun 2 x 250W Metal Halide Reflector 20K + 2 x 54W T5HO + Moonlight 7 LED

Protein Skimmer - Undecided

Heater - 300 Watt Jager Eheim

Filter - Sump with pump.

Power Heads - 4 x Hydor Koralia


FISH

CLOWNFISH
1 x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1 x Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris var)

DAMSELFISH
1 x Blue Reef Chromis (Blue Reef Chromis) - non agressive

DRAGONETS (Add later after tank is established)
1 x Green Mandarinfish (Pterosynchiropus splendidus, Synchiropus splendidus)
1 x Spotted Mandarinfish (Synchiropus picturatus)

GOBIES, DARTFISH AND JAWFISH
1 x Green Clown Goby (Gobiodon atrangulatus)
1 x Neon Goby (Elacatinus oceanops)
1 x Purple Tilefish (Hoplolatilus purpureus) OR Black Cap Basslet (Gramma melacara)
1 x Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) - MUST BE PURCHASED WITH PISTOL SHRIMP ALREADY PAIRED

Blennies
1 x Jewelled Rockskipper \ Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
1 x Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas) OR 1 x Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)
1 x Tube Blenny (Acanthemblemaria)

CARDINALFISH
2 x Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)

TANGS AND SURGEONFISH
1 x Chevron Tang (Chevron Tang)
1 x Tomini Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis)

TRIGGERS
1 x Bluechin Triggerfish (Xanthichthys auromarginatus)

WRASSE
2 x Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella sp)
1 x Exquisite Fairy Wrasse (Exquisite Fairy Wrasse)
2 x Filamented Flasher Wrasse (Filamented Flasher Wrasse)
1 x Five Bar Wrasse (Psuedochellinus mysterii)
1 x Yellowstreaked Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus)


INVERTERBRATES

EELS
1 x Filamented Sand Eel (Trichonotus setigerus)
1 x Hass's Garden Eel (Taenioconger hassi)

STAR FISH (Add later)
1 x Blue Starfish (Linckia laevigata)
1 x Orange Sea Star (Echinaster sp)

SHRIMP
1 x Pedersons Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes pedersoni)
2 x Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni)
1 x Spotted Anemone Shrimp
2 x Hinge-beak Shrimp (Rhynchocinetes spp)
2 x Blood Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
4 x Indo-Pacific White-Striped Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
1 x Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus sp) - MUST BE PURCHASED WITH WATCHMAN GOBY ALREADY PAIRED

Crabs (MUST ADD EMPTY SHELLS FOR THEIR GROWTH)
4 x Purple Porcelain Crabs OR Porcelain Anemone Crab (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai)
1 x Emerald Crab (Mithrax sculptus)
1 x Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius tricolor)
1 x Left-handed Hermit Crab (Calcinus laevimanus)
4 x Red Reef Hermit Crab (Paguristes cadenati)
4 x Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab (Coenobiata species)
4 x Scarlet Hermit Crab (Paguristes cadenati)

SCALLOPS & OYSTERS - (Add later after tank is established)
2 x Electric Flame Scallop (Lima sp)
2 x Flame Scallop (Lima scabra)
1 x Paguriste scadenati

SEA CUCUMBERS
1 x Sand Sifting Sea Cucumber (Sand Sifting Sea Cucumber)

SEA SLUGS & NUDIBRANCHS
1 x Lettuce Sea Slug (Tridachia crispata)

CLAMS (Add later after tank is established)
2 x Crocea Clam (Tridacna crocea)
1 x Maxima Clam (Tridacna maxima)
1 x Squamosa Clam (Tridacna squamosa)

SNAILS
5 x Bumble Bee Snail (Pusiostoma sp)
10 x Mexican Red Foot Snail (Norrisia norrisii)
20 x Nassarius Snails (Nassarius sp)
5 x Banded Trochus Snail (Trochus sp)
5 x Astraea Snail (Astraea tecta)
5 x Turbo Snail (Turbo sp)

CORALS

HARD CORALS
1 x Artichoke/Button Coral (Scolymia sp)
1 x Bird's Nest Coral (Seriatopora sp)
1 x Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia sp)
1 x Green Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sp)
1 x Candy Cane Coral (Caulastrea furcata)
1 x Cat's Paw/Club Finger Coral (Stylophora sp)
1 x Daisy/Flowerpot Coral (Alveopora sp)
1 X Elegance Coral (Cataphyllia sp)
1 x Lobophyllia Brain Coral (Lobophyllia sp.)
1 x Plate/Disk Coral (Fungia sp)

MUSHROOM CORALS
3 x Ricordea Mushroom Coral (Ricordea yuma) - Different colours

SOFT CORALS

1 x Acalycigorgia Sea Fan (Acalycigorgia sp)
1 x Clove/Glove Poly (Clavularia sp)
1 x Green Star Polyp (Pachyclavularia sp)

ANEMONES (Need to be 12" apart)
2 x Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) - Different Colours

FAN WORMS \ FEATHER DUSTERS (ANNELIDS)
1 x Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus sp)
1 x Cluster Duster (Bispira brunnea)
1 x Dwarf Colored Feather Duster (Bispira sp)
1 x Hard Tubeworm (Protula bispiralis)
1 x Feather Duster (Sabellastarte sp)

MACROALGAE
1 X Sea Grape (Botryocladia sp)

Thanks again for taking the time to read such a huge post.

 

[takayan]

I think Tunze power heads are better than Hydor Koralia. (This is personal opinion.)
Skimmer: I am using Ballet3 from PM, but I do not recommend it. If I can buy new one, I would go HSA1000.
Good luck!

 

[r0cksteady]

Great thanks for the feedback. I havent picked up the hardware yet so I will ammend this straight away. Thanks

 

[rharr21]

I would suggest two lower wattage heaters instead of one high watt heater, because if one fails you will still have heat.

 

[takayan]

rharr21,
That's right. So I need to buy one more! =)

 

[r0cksteady]

Great info. Thanks I'll do that. Ive also updated my list from advice of others here. Please let me know if you think I have missed something or if you have any opinions.

One thing to note is that as I live in Australia (Melbourne) most likely there are going to be things im not going to have access to due to import restrictions and what not. Basically im trying to piece together through everyones experience and knowledge what the best REEF, VERTEBRATE and FISH safe setup I can get

then work it down on availability. Thanks again.


Tank Details:

5ft (5ft x 2ft x 3ft) = 224 US Gallons (187 UK Gallons) or 850 Litres

120 Kg (265 lbs) of Live Rock

60 Kg (133 lbs) of Coral Sand Substrate

Lighting - SunSun 2 x 250W Metal Halide Reflector 20K + 2 x 54W T5HO + Moonlight 7 LED

Protein Skimmer - Undecided

Heater - 2 x 300 Watt Jager Eheim

Filter - Sump with pump.

Power Heads - 4 x Hydor Koralia


PLEASE POST ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU FEEL VALID OR ANY TROUBLE YOU SEE I MAY EXPERIENCE.


FISH

CLOWNFISH
1 x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1 x Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris var)

DAMSELFISH
4 x Blue Reef Chromis (Blue Reef Chromis) - non agressive

DRAGONETS (Add later after tank is established)
2 x Male/Female Pair of Spotted Mandarinfish (Synchiropus picturatus) OR 2 x Male/Female Pair of Green Mandarinfish (Pterosynchiropus splendidus, Synchiropus splendidus) - Need lots of fauna ie. Copepods to eat.

GOBIES, DARTFISH AND JAWFISH
1 x Green Clown Goby (Gobiodon atrangulatus) - (Add later after tank is established)
1 x Neon Goby (Elacatinus oceanops)
1 x Black Cap Basslet (Gramma melacara)
1 x Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

Blennies
1 x Jewelled Rockskipper \ Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
1 x Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas) OR 1 x Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)
1 x Tube Blenny (Acanthemblemaria)

CARDINALFISH
2 x Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)

TANGS AND SURGEONFISH
1 x Chevron Tang (Chevron Tang)
1 x Tomini Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis)

TRIGGERS
1 x Bluechin Triggerfish (Xanthichthys auromarginatus)

WRASSE (ADD FIRST AFTER INVERTEBRATES)
2 x Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella sp) - Need lots of fauna ie. Copepods to eat.
1 x Exquisite Fairy Wrasse (Exquisite Fairy Wrasse)
2 x Filamented Flasher Wrasse (Filamented Flasher Wrasse)
1 x Five Bar Wrasse (Psuedochellinus mysterii)
1 x Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)

EELS - NEED HELP!
I would love to have an eel if possible though I am fully aware that they will eat my small fish and vertebrates as such Im not going to list an eel but it would be great if anyone who has had sucess or knows of a great placid or tiny eel could comment. Otherwise I will get 1 x Convict Blenny AKA Engineer Goby

(Pholidichthys leucotaenia)

INVERTERBRATES

STAR FISH (Add later)
1 x Blue Starfish (Linckia laevigata)
1 x Orange Sea Star (Echinaster sp)

SHRIMP
1 x Pedersons Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes pedersoni)
1 x Spotted Anemone Shrimp
2 x Hinge-beak Shrimp (Rhynchocinetes spp)
2 x Blood Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
4 x Indo-Pacific White-Striped Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
1 x Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus sp)

Crabs (MUST ADD EMPTY SHELLS FOR THEIR GROWTH)
10 x Purple Porcelain Crabs OR Porcelain Anemone Crab (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai)
1 x Emerald Crab (Mithrax sculptus)
30 x Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab (Clibanarius tricolor)
1 x Left-handed Hermit Crab (Calcinus laevimanus)
4 x Red Reef Hermit Crab (Paguristes cadenati)
4 x Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab (Coenobiata species)
4 x Scarlet Hermit Crab (Paguristes cadenati)

SCALLOPS & OYSTERS - (Add later after tank is established / Need more experience before attempting / Need to feed DTs Phytoplankton)
2 x Electric Flame Scallop (Lima sp)
2 x Flame Scallop (Lima scabra)
1 x Paguriste scadenati

SEA CUCUMBERS
1 x Sand Sifting Sea Cucumber (Sand Sifting Sea Cucumber)

SEA SLUGS & NUDIBRANCHS
1 x Lettuce Sea Slug (Tridachia crispata)

CLAMS (Add later after tank is established, Need to be up high near lights)
2 x Crocea Clam (Tridacna crocea)
1 x Maxima Clam (Tridacna maxima)
1 x Squamosa Clam (Tridacna squamosa)

SNAILS
10 x Bumble Bee Snail (Pusiostoma sp)
10 x Mexican Red Foot Snail (Norrisia norrisii)
20 x Nassarius Snails (Nassarius sp)
20 x Banded Trochus Snail (Trochus sp)
10 x Stomatella Limpet Snail (Margarites pupillus)

CORALS

HARD CORALS
1 x Artichoke/Button Coral (Scolymia sp)
1 x Bird's Nest Coral (Seriatopora sp)
1 x Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia sp)
1 x Green Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sp)
1 x Candy Cane Coral (Caulastrea furcata)
1 x Cat's Paw/Club Finger Coral (Stylophora sp)
1 x Daisy/Flowerpot Coral (Alveopora sp)
1 X Elegance Coral (Cataphyllia sp)
1 x Lobophyllia Brain Coral (Lobophyllia sp.)
1 x Plate/Disk Coral (Fungia sp)

MUSHROOM CORALS
3 x Ricordea Mushroom Coral (Ricordea yuma) - Different colours

SOFT CORALS

1 x Acalycigorgia Sea Fan (Acalycigorgia sp)
1 x Clove/Glove Poly (Clavularia sp)

ANEMONES (Need to be 12" apart, Prefer less air flow, Need more advice on best way to get the established so they dont wander)
2 x Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) - Different Colours

FAN WORMS \ FEATHER DUSTERS (ANNELIDS)
1 x Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus sp)
1 x Cluster Duster (Bispira brunnea)
1 x Dwarf Colored Feather Duster (Bispira sp)
1 x Hard Tubeworm (Protula bispiralis)
1 x Feather Duster (Sabellastarte sp)

MACROALGAE - Also put in sump with live sand as refugium to feed herbivores when low in fauna on main tank.
1 Chaetomorpha Algae - Aquacultured (Chaetomorpha sp) OR 1 X Sea Grape (Botryocladia sp)

 

[takayan]

Are there many LFS in Australia? How's quality/variety of corals/Fish in Australia? I am just curious in other country.

 

[jade2122]

Actually I would have to say that I think Hydor Koralias are a better choice. They are about 1/2 the price of tunze, same amount of power and doesn't put out much heat or use too much energy. I think the difference between the two isn't significant enough to constitute the high price of tunze powerheads. JMO

 

[twon8]

i dont think you need that much live rock, i would cut that in half or put alot in the sump; with that much rock once acros start growing you'll run out of room quickly. plus live rock is very pricey.

how big of a sump?

if your tank is 5' go with the 5' t5's, it doesnt add much to the cost and with out it the ends of the tank will be a bit dark.

what kind of mh ballasts?
250w 20k wont' be very bright in the bottom of a 2' tank, 10k would be fine, but you might not want that k, so i would either add a few more t'5s, go with 14k, or upgrade to 400w.

 

[twon8]

also, that large an sps tank should really have some tunze streams, maxijet mods, or vortech;s i would go with a stream with the money you can save with half the live rock.

 

[twon8]

in regards to anemones, you can never be sure that they wont' wander, i've got one in my 90 mostly acro tank, and it goes walkabout every 6-12 months, that is something you must take into account, and the two times mine has split one anemone got caught in the powerhead and got chopped up.

i would not keep an elegance, they don't survive in tanks, and a bubble coral will need a very subdued flow area to thrive.

 

[r0cksteady]

As far as Australia goes from what I can tell we have a massive selection of local stuff sent down from Cairns locally harvested from the Great Barrier Reef. Obviously it is protected now but I think we have gathered enough that a lot of it is now tank bred anyway.

Where I live, Melbourne (State of Victoria) we have over 70 shops that just specialize in Marine and Reef. You could double the number if you included a lot of our Fresh Water Only shops.

The Sump is 48 US Gallon (188 Litres), I'm very restricted on space for a sump hence the small size.

This is the place I was going to get my lights, which one of these would be most suitable? http://www.thereefshop.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5_49

 

[mtfatwork]

Remember that Triggers tend to like to eat inverts. Snails especially, but I have seen them take out shrimp as well. I am not sure I would trust a Trigger with a cuke, but that is just me. Also, from my experience, sea slugs tend to not do so well in high flow tanks, they either get sucked into the powerheads, or end up down the overflow and chopped up by the pump. Just my experience though. As far as Eels, they will always be a crap shoot, it is like adding an Angel to a stony tank, or a trigger for that matter. Some will be model citizens, others will be terrors. If you were to try one, maybe a Ghost eel? they tend to be pretty docile from my experience. Also in regards to the clown goby, they can bother sps corals, which is not a big deal if you have big colonies because the small ammount of die off they can cause will grow back fast, but if you are starting with small frags, it may be something to consider.

 

[r0cksteady]

Wow thanks that is valued info I will definitely take on board thanks. I do have a good relationship with a lot of the LSF as im in their a lot and I still run my Fresh Water Community Tank so they are happy for me to return fish if they are "loose cannons" to try a different one.

 

[r0cksteady]

Generally speaking are eels better to be added first, middle or last in a tank setup?

Ie. Would an eel survive better if it was allowed time to settle in a tank on their own just with a cuc and corals or would and eel do just as well being placed into and established community?

 

[twon8]

i'm never kept an eel, but i think with that many small fish, some will become snacks.

 

[r0cksteady]

Yeah true I may NEVER add an eel but its something I will definentely have one day (maybe not this tank) but I still want to research it all and who knows maybe someone goes "ive had blah blah blah for 9 years in a tank with x fish and they get along great as long as I feed the eel directly\regularly etc etc".

Any idea on the general "order" with eels being added?