Start off crew...

[ndimuzio]

I have a 73 gallon reef tank.. that has been going for about 2 months. right now the tank has about 70lbs of live rock with about 80 more to come this week.. I had 6 damsels while the tank was cycling... I caught them and returned them to the store now the tank is all set. I am running a fixture with 2 MH bulbs and 2 VHO's, AquaC EVC120, Berlin Sump, CPR Overflow box w/ Mag9.5 and a Mag5 powerhead, Sea Swirl Wave maker, Kent Marine Hi-S Maxxima 60 GPD RO/DI(not installed yet).. I would like to have clownfish, corals, anenomes and many other creatures and fish..
Please let me know what I should do first.. should i Start with a cleanup crew? If so.. what should I get.. I want this tank to have alot of colorful corals and anenomes, possibly clams..

Please let me know..

 

[Len]

Your tank definitely sounds capable of hosting clowns, corals, anemones, and clams. I'd start with a few small animals first to "break in" the system. Snails (turbo, trochus, Margarita, Nassariidae, etc.) are a good place to start. Try a couple dozen to begin with (variety is good) and add more if more algae control is needed. After then start adding the fish you're interested in, about one a month. You can also try some of the hardier corals like soft corals and LPS corals. I'd wait at least half a year to add an anemone, clam, filter feeding worms, or SPS coral. These type of corals require a more mature tank.

 

[ndimuzio]

So what type of good looking fish can I add that will go well with Clowns? I would just get clowns but from my understanding they are far more happy with anenomes?

 

[Meloco14]

Well the answer to your question(s) depends on which clown(s) you want to get. Clownfish are all territorial by nature, though some are very docile, some are very aggressive, and some are in between. It is a similar situation with anemones. Some clowns are much happier with an anemone host, while some rarely host even if there is an anemone available to them. Of course you have to realize there will be discrepancies, as every individual fish is different, but I'm speaking in general terms. For example, maroon clowns are notorious for being aggressive, while ocellaris are peaceful. Clarkii's will host in just about any anemone, while ocellaris and perculas host in very few available to us reefers. And some people will state that being tank raised changes a few behavior patterns. So anyway, sorry to draw this out, but if you let us know what clowns you want, we will be able to better answer your questions. By the way you will be pleasantly surprised in how often clowns will host in certain corals, such as ricordia and frogspawn, which are much easier to keep than anemones...

 

[jwc3]

I'm still a newbie around here, so keep that in mind, but I noticed something in your question that I've seen others warn about:

You mentioned that you have 70 pounds of live rock that has cycled, and now you plan to add 80 more. If you add more live rock, you will have to let the tank cycle again before you add any critters, becasue you're sure to get die-off from the new LR. So, don't add new live rock and fish at the same time. Also, the current thinking is that you don't need to add Damsels during the cycle. Most people say you can add a piece of shrimp (as in shrimp from the grocery store) to cycle the tank without stressing fish.

One other thing -- 70 + 80 = 150 pounds of LR in a 72 gallon tank. That sounds like a lot to me. Make sure you leave some room for the fish to swim! :wink:

 

[ChrisRD]

I agree, personally, I would add all of the rock I wanted in the tank before trying to add anything else. Then I'd give it a few weeks to settle down.

I'm assuming if you're going with 150 pounds of rock in that size tank it's the aquacultured Gulf of Mexico stuff? If it's a light, porous Pacific type you're going to have a LOT of rock in that tank.

 

[ndimuzio]

Hey... yeah the rock is dense.. well most of it..
So after I add the rest of the rock.. can someone please tell me what fish to start with... I love the nemo looking clowns... I wish I knew there real name! I just want to have alot of neat looking stuff... please tell me some good corals, soft and hard... as well as some good fish to start a reef tank off with...
I ordered a cleaner kit of many crabs, shirimp and snails...as well.
Please let me know!

 

[ndimuzio]

I would also like to have clams..

 

[Meloco14]

The "nemo" clowns (*shudder* I hate that Nemo is becoming reef keeping jargon ) are commonly called false percula, or ocellaris clowns. Lots of lfs's will call them percula's because they are so similar, but in fact there are two different species. Ocellaris are more common, and don't have as much black outlining the white stripes. Anyway you can get either ocellaris or perculas, they will both pass as Nemo. These clowns naturally host in very few anemones. The commonly available ones to us are the magnificent, and giant carpet. As these names suggest, these can get huge, and are some of the more difficult anemones to keep, so not many people choose to keep them. But on a better note, these clowns do not need anemones to be happy. I recently got 2 and so far theyre happy without any host. I'm hoping eventually they'll host to my ricordea, but theres no guarantee.
Mushrooms, and ricordea are good beginner corals, along with poylps, xenia, and leathers. With your lighting you should be able to house a clam, but someone will have to confirm that, I don't know much about MH...anyway, with your setup you will have a wide range of corals to choose from, so check some websites, find some ones you like, and then ask here if you need to know specifically if they'll be ok. Good luck
Oh and btw, I have a royal gramma, sixline wrasse, yellow watchman goby, and neon goby with my clowns, they all get along fine, and it's a good variety of color and personality...

 

[ndimuzio]

Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it!
This is what I ordered, I ordered before I got your reply... hopefully everything with live...
Name Code Qty Each Options
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pocillopora, Assorted 1164994 1 45.00 Size = Lrg $45 (+15)
Pocillopora species
Acropora, Colored 1164354 1 69.00 Size = Med $69 (+10)
Acropora species
Hairy Leather 1153754 1 25.00 Size = Sml
Paralemnalia species
Chili Coral 1153474 1 36.00 Size = Lrg $36 (+14)
Alcyonium species
Blue Tang, Indo-Pacific 753574 1 27.00 Size = Sml
Paracanthurus hepatus
Ocellaris Clown, False - 403854 2 11.00 Size = Sml
Percula Clown
Amphiprion ocellaris
*Tank Cleaner Crew Basic TCB754 1 120.00
75 Gallon Tank

 

[Meloco14]

I don't know as much about your corals, but your tang and ocellaris clowns should get along fine. Enjoy your new friends!

 

[ndimuzio]

Well... I made a mistake.. I got 2 ocellaris clowns.. they were doing fine.. woke up in the moring... couldnt find them.. I figured they were hiding in the rock.. apparently they got stucked down my overflow and into my sump where they died.. great huh? !!! Duno what to do about this problem...