New to the hobby. Researched, put it all together, how did I do......

[dhalderman]

Just started cycling. Researched until I was blue in the face, I THINK and hope I covered all my bases. Does this setup and fish list sound doable/practical?

65 gal with 20 gal proflex (model 3) sump.
Reef octopus DC 5500 (1500 gph rating minus head height and all that)
2 in tank circulators, one 800 gph and one 1500 gph
SCA 302 skimmer (rated for 180 gal, although ive heard its actually closer to 100 on some forums)
60 lbs tropical eden tonga pink (.8mm)
75 lbs live rock (dead)
Aquatic life XS UV 36" 3W LED
Will be running Carbon and GFO probably 24/7 until I hear a good reason not to

My list I wish to support with that is as follows (with some kind of clean up crew)....
1 O. clown
1 Royal Gramma
1 clown goby
1 purple fire fish
1 tail spot blenny
possibly a pistol/goby pair
1 scarlet shrimp
1 blood red fire shrimp
1 emerald crab
Once tank is established, once I (If I can) establish a good POD population, a green mandarin
and for the finale, my "show fish" I want is a potters angel.
So, am I being conservative, did I get it right, or am I pushin it to far? With regards to bioload and compatibility.
THANKS!!!!

 

[Giants13]

Just started cycling. Researched until I was blue in the face, I THINK and hope I covered all my bases. Does this setup and fish list sound doable/practical?

65 gal with 20 gal proflex (model 3) sump.
Reef octopus DC 5500 (1500 gph rating minus head height and all that)
2 in tank circulators, one 800 gph and one 1500 gph
SCA 302 skimmer (rated for 180 gal, although ive heard its actually closer to 100 on some forums)
60 lbs tropical eden tonga pink (.8mm)
75 lbs live rock (dead)
Aquatic life XS UV 36" 3W LED
Will be running Carbon and GFO probably 24/7 until I hear a good reason not to

My list I wish to support with that is as follows (with some kind of clean up crew)....
1 O. clown
1 Royal Gramma
1 clown goby
1 purple fire fish
1 tail spot blenny
possibly a pistol/goby pair
1 scarlet shrimp
1 blood red fire shrimp
1 emerald crab
Once tank is established, once I (If I can) establish a good POD population, a green mandarin
and for the finale, my "show fish" I want is a potters angel.
So, am I being conservative, did I get it right, or am I pushin it to far? With regards to bioload and compatibility.
THANKS!!!!

What kind of cuc are u thinking of getting ?

 

[Ruskin]

You did a really nice job on it. Your aquascape looks great. I'm not sure if it's just the angle of the picture or not but make sure you can get at the glass between the rock on the right side to keep it clean.

I like clowns in pairs, but that's your call. If you don't need an emerald crab I would pass. They can get a bit large and feisty. If you want crabs (see what I did there?) I would recommend porcelain crabs. One of my favourite inverts and a lot of fun to watch.

Btw, congrats on doing your research first. That is an amazing first step. Don't ruin it all by not having a quarantine procedure

 

[dhalderman]

@Giants13, not sure yet, debating on whether I should wait to see what starts to develop and get whatever snails or hermits eat them. Ceriths seem to be good for a well rounded clean up. I'm actually still on the fence about hermits. Some say they do more killing of the snails than they do any cleaning, and after that, they eat more left over food, and only then will they think about detritus, and only then will they think about algae. Any thoughts on hermits?

@Ruskin, thanks! I actually took that into consideration and can access all but the back with the mag float cleaner. Regarding the emerald, i've heard if it's normal kind of food is not available, you can supplement it with something to keep it under control, ive heard you can do this quite easily, I probably will opt to cross if off the list if it's not easily convinced though, as I want things in the tank that naturally are peaceful and naturally cohabitate, hoping to see more natural behaviors than not. I have also considered the porcelean but heard it only lives on/with corals, which I want to do soon, but wont want to wait that long to get him. Can porceleans live well in a sterile environment like mine?

 

[vikinglord13]

Ruskin,

What would you say is a good replacement to eat bubble algae?

 

[vikinglord13]

Also,

halderman, I've had good success with dwarf blue leg hermits and scarlet leg hermits. The DBLs ate some nassarius snails, but only because I didn't have larger shells for them. I have some zebra hermit crabs, I suggest staying away from those unless you for sure have larger shells. The zebras are carnivores and don't have a problem eating snails to get at the shell... in my experience anyways.

 

[dhalderman]

Also ruskin regarding the clown pairs, I agree, but ive heard this can actually make them an aggressive little force to be reckoned with, as the male protects the female and it's territory. What is your experience as far as that goes? What change in behavior is there if it's a pair vs single clown. They are damsels after all

 

[Ruskin]

@Ruskin, thanks! I actually took that into consideration and can access all but the back with the mag float cleaner. Regarding the emerald, i've heard if it's normal kind of food is not available, you can supplement it with something to keep it under control, ive heard you can do this quite easily, I probably will opt to cross if off the list if it's not easily convinced though, as I want things in the tank that naturally are peaceful and naturally cohabitate, hoping to see more natural behaviors than not. I have also considered the porcelean but heard it only lives on/with corals, which I want to do soon, but wont want to wait that long to get him. Can porceleans live well in a sterile environment like mine?

You may be thinking the white and red anemone porcelain crab? If so that would do better with an anemone, but I was specifically meaning this http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+1963&pcatid=1963 they just like an area with enough flow to carry food the can filter out of the water. They would benefit from food for filter feeders in a tank that does not have enough in the water column.

The emerald was not interested in food fed to the tank. I got rid of him before he got too big and aggressive. He was only in a tank with 2 clowns and a six line.

 

[Ruskin]

Also ruskin regarding the clown pairs, I agree, but ive heard this can actually make them an aggressive little force to be reckoned with, as the male protects the female and it's territory. What is your experience as far as that goes? What change in behavior is there if it's a pair vs single clown. They are damsels after all

I don't have experience with single clowns but I would assume most of the females would be capable of defending themselves anyways. They usual get much larger and meaner then the males. Think tomato clowns lol. I think in a tank your size depending on the type of clowns you got you would be ok with aggression.

 

[Ruskin]

Ruskin,

What would you say is a good replacement to eat bubble algae?

I found the emerald crab I had was great for it, and when he got most of it out I removed him and switched to removing it manually. Just put a siphon near the bubbles and tried to carefully pry them off the rocks. Try your best not to pop them.