Eager to Add Fish and Critters

[FarmDog]

Hey,

Been out of the hobby/adiction for about 8 years, jumping back in. Here's my setup:

Tank 2ft x 2ft x7ft about 200 gal Oceanic Glass.
Sump 55 gal acrylic tank.
Euroreef CS6-2 protein skimmer.
ViaAqua SK-388 skimmer
Return pump Gen-X MX40 and Gen-X MX100
Hamilton Tech 5 x 175 watt Metal Halide.
Hamilton Tech 4 x 40 watt flor
Icecap 660 ballast Power Compact 4 x 55 watt.
Pacific Coast ½ hp chiller.
Energy Saver 36 watt Turbo UV sterilizer
350 Fuji Live Rock
330 lbs. live sand

Have added a few critter and corals, everything is looking great. Had a brown algea bloom for about a week...but everything is crystal clear. Temp 82, minimal amonia, nitrites, nitrates.

Picture is during setup....added another 100lbs of live rock since.

Question is been 4 weeks and I want to add Purple tang, Yellow Tang and Flame angel......should I wait .....if ok now...all three at same time?

and do you think I need additional lights for hard corals?

Thanks....good to be back....hobby has changed for the better.

BTW here is the critter order i'm working on:
Putting a critter order together .... thoughts?

SALLY LIGHTFOOT CRAB 2
EMERALD CRAB 4
GREEN BRITTLE STARFISH 2
CERITH SNAIL 18
TROCHUS SNAIL 8
WHITE SAND STAR 3
MARGARITA SNAIL 15
ZEBRA HERMIT CRAB 15
SCARLET HERMIT CRAB 8
ARROW CRAB 1

JT

 

[FarmDog]

Here's the below setup:

 

[Anonymous]

I'll comment on the fish. It's way too early to add the Angel and the Tangs. The current tank I'm setting up is 2 months old. It contains sand, live rock and 10 snails. It is just now developing a decent pod, bristleworm, algae population. I usually wait 6 months before adding any livestock to my tanks. As far as the fish the Flame Angel ( Centropyge loricula ) should be added first, the Yellow Tang ( Zebrasoma flavescens ) second and the Purple Tang ( Zebrasoma xanthurum ) third, not at the same time and not for at least a few more months. btw C. loricula are not reef safe ( corals ) and it can be difficult to find a healthy specimen.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[krullulon]

i don't have any advice on the stocking proposal, but that's a beautiful tank.

 

[hillbilly]

I agree with David. A lot of people try to stock their tanks way to soon, and only end up with algae problems, ich, etc. It's much better to let the tank mature before adding corals or fish. It's hard to wait, but if you do you will be rewarded with a stable tank that gives you enjoyment instead of problems. By the way, nice tank.

 

[fungia]

ya, wait a while before the fish, it is safer and better. you can try adding some corals now, but slowly. sps corals might need more light but lps like brain corals, bubble corals, plate corals, and others will do fine in your tank. very nice tank you have!

 

[Ben1]

The tank is 24" deep with 175 MH's, SPS should be fine if located in the top 50% of the rockwork.

 

[FarmDog]

Putting a critter order together .... thoughts?

SALLY LIGHTFOOT CRAB 2
EMERALD CRAB 4
GREEN BRITTLE STARFISH 2
CERITH SNAIL 18
TROCHUS SNAIL 8
WHITE SAND STAR 3
MARGARITA SNAIL 15
ZEBRA HERMIT CRAB 15
SCARLET HERMIT CRAB 8
ARROW CRAB 1

 

[Ben1]

Green Brittles are terrible, I had mine eat some of my fish as they slept. It is a probelm with the green ones always. Get serpent stars instead, sand stars will eat all the stuff you want in the bed so also leave those out.

Why all the crabs? I would leave those out as well and go for a cuke or two and a few fighting conch if you are doing a sand bed. Check out www.reeftopia.com for some awsome clean up critter pricing. I have used them many times with lots of luck.

 

[cdeakle]

I would definately think twice on the stars. I have heard to many bad stories.

Hermits are awesome but I would agree to limit the number. Alot of them will die when the LR is cleaned up and a few hermits and crabs have been known to be evil at times.....

 

[hillbilly]

The only critter from FarmDog's list I would put in my tank would be the trochus snails. I am not fond of crabs, and starfish are a pain also. JMO.