Comments on initial stocking of fish

Hello all:

I would like some comments on stocking my new 55 gallon tank that is
currently cycling.

55 Gallon
45lbs Fiji LR
15lbs Tongan LR
Excalibur Skimmer
2 power heads
2 inch live sand base
1 power filter


goal is to have a FOWLR for 6 months and then start introducing coral.
I am BRAND new to the hobby and this is my first tank.



Fish I would to add (overstocked?)

2 blue damsels
2 four stripe damsels
2 false clown fish
1 yellow tang (55 gallon to small?)
4 blue green reef chromis (hoping the will school)


Is that to much for my small tank?

I believe all of these are reef friendly.

Given that the damsel fish are aggressive/ semi-aggressive, how will
they act around the peaceful clowns?



Grant

"Grant" wrote
I would like some comments on stocking my new 55 gallon tank that is
currently cycling.

55 Gallon
45lbs Fiji LR
15lbs Tongan LR
Excalibur Skimmer
2 power heads
2 inch live sand base
1 power filter


goal is to have a FOWLR for 6 months and then start introducing coral.
I am BRAND new to the hobby and this is my first tank.


My own view is that you should stock it with corals first so that any space
on the LR that nuisance algae would colonise is occupied. Run the tank with
Rowaphos from day one to keep phosphates down. If you add phytoplankton to
feed the corals (sparingly) this will also provide stuff for the LR to work
on so that the bacteria numbers will be ok for when you start adding fish.
Others will probably have differing views though!
HTH
Iain.

I have to disagree with The Pilot.

Grant, as this is a brand new tank, and you are brand new to the hobby, corals
are not what I'd consider a beginner's choice. I didn't dare buy a coral for
the first 3.5 years... but I *knew* my tank wouldn't support them as my lighting
was vastly inferior to what the LFS had over their tanks. And I wasn't ready to
shell out some serious (~$400) money for a $40 coral.

Enough about my history...

If you get damsels, you'll have your hands full. They simply aren't friendly
enough, and they are very territorial. When you do try to add new fish, they
will almost assuredly become problematic.

If you've been in the freshwater hobby at all, you are used to seeing a tank
*filled* with fish, schooling about. Sal****er is not the same, and doesn't
support that type of lifestyle. So get the Chromis, and the Clowns, and the
tang (if small, but be prepared to upgrade your tank or return it to the LFS
later when it outgrows your setup.

Also, you must not add all the fish at once to your tank. I'd start off with
the pair of clowns. I like True Perculas myself, because of their beautiful
coloration. After a couple of weeks, you can add your fleet of chromis. Then a
month later, your yellow tang.

Ich. People have to deal with it, and usually the outbreak occurs with new
arrivals. Your best bet it so quarantine your newest acquisition for 3 weeks,
to make sure it eats prepared foods and remains healthy. If so, you can add it
to your tank, and avoid infecting other fish in the process.

Tangs. They are herbivores, and love to eat all the time. Plan on feeding that
fish twice a day. "Nori" is a good option, because it is a sheet of food you
can clip on the glass to allow your fish to snack upon for hours at a time.

In 6 months, after your tank is established and consistent in all water tests,
you can consider a coral perhaps.

Marc


The Pilot wrote:

"Grant" wrote
I would like some comments on stocking my new 55 gallon tank that is
currently cycling.

55 Gallon
45lbs Fiji LR
15lbs Tongan LR
Excalibur Skimmer
2 power heads
2 inch live sand base
1 power filter


goal is to have a FOWLR for 6 months and then start introducing coral.
I am BRAND new to the hobby and this is my first tank.


My own view is that you should stock it with corals first so that any space
on the LR that nuisance algae would colonise is occupied. Run the tank with
Rowaphos from day one to keep phosphates down. If you add phytoplankton to
feed the corals (sparingly) this will also provide stuff for the LR to work
on so that the bacteria numbers will be ok for when you start adding fish.
Others will probably have differing views though!
HTH
Iain.

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Marc/The Pilot:

Thanks for all your help! After doing more reading on the damsel --
I do believe I will skip them for now.

I will also setup my old 29gallon freshwater tank as a q-tank for my
new fish.

Grant

On Tue, 05 Aug 2003 19:41:05 GMT, Marc Levenson
wrote:

I have to disagree with The Pilot.

Grant, as this is a brand new tank, and you are brand new to the hobby, corals
are not what I'd consider a beginner's choice. I didn't dare buy a coral for
the first 3.5 years... but I *knew* my tank wouldn't support them as my lighting
was vastly inferior to what the LFS had over their tanks. And I wasn't ready to
shell out some serious (~$400) money for a $40 coral.

Enough about my history...

If you get damsels, you'll have your hands full. They simply aren't friendly
enough, and they are very territorial. When you do try to add new fish, they
will almost assuredly become problematic.

If you've been in the freshwater hobby at all, you are used to seeing a tank
*filled* with fish, schooling about. Sal****er is not the same, and doesn't
support that type of lifestyle. So get the Chromis, and the Clowns, and the
tang (if small, but be prepared to upgrade your tank or return it to the LFS
later when it outgrows your setup.

Also, you must not add all the fish at once to your tank. I'd start off with
the pair of clowns. I like True Perculas myself, because of their beautiful
coloration. After a couple of weeks, you can add your fleet of chromis. Then a
month later, your yellow tang.

Ich. People have to deal with it, and usually the outbreak occurs with new
arrivals. Your best bet it so quarantine your newest acquisition for 3 weeks,
to make sure it eats prepared foods and remains healthy. If so, you can add it
to your tank, and avoid infecting other fish in the process.

Tangs. They are herbivores, and love to eat all the time. Plan on feeding that
fish twice a day. "Nori" is a good option, because it is a sheet of food you
can clip on the glass to allow your fish to snack upon for hours at a time.

In 6 months, after your tank is established and consistent in all water tests,
you can consider a coral perhaps.

Marc


The Pilot wrote:

"Grant" wrote
I would like some comments on stocking my new 55 gallon tank that is
currently cycling.

55 Gallon
45lbs Fiji LR
15lbs Tongan LR
Excalibur Skimmer
2 power heads
2 inch live sand base
1 power filter


goal is to have a FOWLR for 6 months and then start introducing coral.
I am BRAND new to the hobby and this is my first tank.


My own view is that you should stock it with corals first so that any space
on the LR that nuisance algae would colonise is occupied. Run the tank with
Rowaphos from day one to keep phosphates down. If you add phytoplankton to
feed the corals (sparingly) this will also provide stuff for the LR to work
on so that the bacteria numbers will be ok for when you start adding fish.
Others will probably have differing views though!
HTH
Iain.