Newb with a few questions

[jsho13]

I am a week into my saltwater adventure and have a couple questions. I have been reading / researching for the past couple months and slowly gathering supplies. A week and a half ago I pulled the trigger on a 180 with dual overflows. It runs into a 40 gallon sump with a Reef Octopus 200 skimmer. I picked up 200 lbs of LR from a local store that had it in a existing tank. I also went with 220 lbs of LS. I have 2 Aqua Medic eco drift 15.0 on either end of the tank for water movement.

My first question is this - I have been testing the water every couple days with results coming back with 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. Christmas Eve I dropped in a raw shrimp and let it go over the weekend until Sunday and then pulled it out. Tested the water again today with 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. Do you think my tank has yet to cycle or do you think it did a very quick cycle with the good LR and LS?

Next question is a stocking question - I want to have a Zebra Moray as the center piece of this tank. Would a list such as below work?

Zebra Moray
Harlequin Tusk
Blue Hippo Tang
Niger Trigger
Ocellaris Clown (Pair)
Emperor Angel (Juvenile)??

Any other suggestions or fish I shouldn't mix

Thank You

 

[ichthyogeek]

I'd test for nitrates first. If they rise, then the tank's probably cycled.

I'm pretty sure the clownfish are going to get eaten in a tank full of those fish. A maroon clownfish MIGHT survive. The trigger might try to take a chunk out of the moray and angelfish.

Personally, this is what I'd do:
Dwarf lionfish species
Harlequin Tusk
Blue Hippo
Triggerfish(?) I'd do a lot more research on these fish. Google works wonders in conjunction with advice on this forum.
Miniatus Grouper
Regal Angelfish(LiveAquaria says that Emperor's need 220+)

I really, really am not sure about that triggerfish. Xanthichthys triggers are supposedly more reef-safe. More internet research would be needed.

 

[scooter31707]

Blue Hippo will be ok for a little while, but not for now as I would recommend 220 or better for them. Triggerfish, I would recommend the Bluethroat or Niger(less aggressive of the Triggers). Also, Angelfish and Triggerfish are known to nip at the fins of Lionfish. I would forget the Grouper also. Emperor requires a bigger tank and the Regal that was recommended may not be aggressive enough for those tankmates, leading to stress. Just my 2 cents. My recommendation would be, just to name a few to get an idea.

Zebra Moray Eel
Majestic Angel
Bluethroat Trigger
Harlequin Tusk
Scopas Tang
Pakistan Butterflyfish
Ocellaris Clown (Pair)- recommend purchasing big as possible and they should be the 1st ones in the tank.

 

[jsho13]

Nitrates came in at 5ppm. I plan to start out every fish fairly small with the exception of the Clowns. I figured I would let the Clowns settle in for a while then add the eel and slowly start stocking the tank. Does this plan seem good? This is my first saltwater tank so any advice is greatly appreciated

 

[BMMMW]

Yeah, I would stay away from the smaller clowns. They will definitely become a meal unless you way over feed the fish and that will bring bigger issues. I had a maroon clown, fed my fish A LOT and he was still beaten near to death.

If you want to try a clown, I would suggest a Clown Trigger. Get a super small one and put him in last.