Suprise fish tank

[Fish_Kid99]

My grandparents have been fascinated with my tanks as soon as i got them. I wanted to suprise them by getting them a tank. It will be a 20 gallon tank with a sand bed, 30-40 lbs liverock, HOB filter (prob Aqueon) with a hood and flourescent lights. I would set everything up for them, pre-portion all food, and clean the tank when need be. I have several questions about how to do this.

I would cure all the live rock at my house and transport it over to their house. Would a 15 min ride cause so much die off that it would cause a mini-cycle?

I am not sure about the compatibility of the fish. I want to get:

Ocellaris clown with BTA
Firefish
Royal Gramma Basslet
maybe Orange Prawn Goby/Tiger pistol

Arrow crab
Mexican turbo x2
Feather Dusters
Coral banded or pistol (not sure if i can have both)

Zoathids
Xenias
Soft Corals
Bubble coral

I would love your suggestions about the list above.


Also, what is the difference between the arrow crab on Blue Zoo and the one on LiveAquaria. Maybe it is a different angle but if they are different then I would prefer the one on Blue Zoo.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

[DopeCantWin]

Are you positive they weren't just humoring you to have something in common? A tank is a commitment, I'd ask them first.

 

[gsiegel]

Are you positive they weren't just humoring you to have something in common? A tank is a commitment, I'd ask them first.

+1 just as you would never Want to surprise someone with a puppy who you are not sure is going to be committed to take care of it, same holds true with a fish tank.

I would recommend talking to them first and what might be nice about the surprise if they do want to be committed to it would be to pick out everything together. Then you know that they are all for it and get they added bonus of quality time with the grandparents.

 

[Fish_Kid99]

+1 just as you would never Want to surprise someone with a puppy who you are not sure is going to be committed to take care of it, same holds true with a fish tank.

I would recommend talking to them first and what might be nice about the surprise if they do want to be committed to it would be to pick out everything together. Then you know that they are all for it and get they added bonus of quality time with the grandparents.

+1 The funny thing is we did surprise them with a puppy once...:fun4:
I will definitely talk about it with them though.

 

[bobkill]

I don't think it will re-cycle the rock but I would still give the tank time to leek out once set up -

Arrow crabs are weird animals - they love to rip things apart sooo might wanna read more on those little guys. Mine was a complete jerk and never agian for me !

 

[MrTuskfish]

I'm a 65 yr old Grandfather and the one thing I'w want would be a tank with a bi-focal front glass panel. (Just kidding, FAA).

Re fish list; IMO, a 20 gal is too small for any gramma. These are feisty little fish and very territorial. Instead of the RG, maybe pair of Ocellaris clowns, rather than just one. You have a good anemone for them and they should be fine with the relatively small territory if you buy them as juvis. Don't buy a mated or bonded pair, just two young clowns.

 

[d-man]

Regular fluorescent won't be good for an anenome.

 

[Ciscokid]

I am assuming you are trying to speed up the cycle process by curing the rock in your tank first.... Right?

I would also try to run the HOB filter on your established tank, this could also help "seed" the biological filter.

I assume you will be doing the husbandry also? If not, you may have to educate them on some basic things like, Don't use any chemicals around the tank, windex to clean the glass, etc...

 

[Fish_Kid99]

d-man I wasn't sure about the fluorescent lights but my LFS has an assortment of lights to buy cheaply.

Ciscokid yes I will take care of the tank and gradually teach them how to do it. The rock I would cure in the tank I am getting them then add the fish and corals and eventually move everything over to their house and set up everything.

Also will the scarlet skunk shrimp fight with the pistol?

Also I am thinking about a bangaii cardinal instead of a royal gramma. Is this okay?