Stock Suggestions Please

[davidhughes85]

I have a new 55 gallon setup(first saltwater setup) that is currently cycling and i would like to get some ideas or opinions of stock combinations for my tank....I have a top fin 60 (gasp) with bilogical filtration, a jebo protein skimmer (one that is on ebay) and a MASSIVE UV sterilizer good up to like 180 gallons or something. I also have about 20 to 25 pounds of live rock currently in there and 1 bag out of three was live sand. Lights are 4 x 65 watt power compact 2 daylight and 2 actnic.I do know for sure a want a bicolordwarf angel and a clown....Any suggestions on reef safe fish combinations that are pretty hardy (Im a beginner) and good looking. Any suggestions on corals that will fit my lighting that are easy to maintain would be good too. And if theres any way i can put another dwarf angel in there that would be great. All opinions/ suggestions greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

[Avi]

First of all, since you seem to want a reef, with coral, I'd recommend that you get more live rock...shoot for at least double in weight of what you have now. At the same time, I'd get rid of the filter you have and get a good quaity protein skimmer. That's really important for you.

Don't expect too much protection from the UV Sterilizer, though it won't hurt to use it.

As to the lights...I'd replace the two actinics with two 50/50 bulbs.

And, remember that dwarf angels are unpredicatable as far as coral are concerned. Some people have them in reefs and they don't harm their coral, but they very frequently do. Zoanthids, which would be a likely coral for a setup with power compact lighting like yours would be a very tempting coral for a dwarf angel. I don't think the risk is worth it. I'd love to add a dwarf angel to my reef but I've decided that the gamble just isn't worth it after all the reading that I've done on that issue.

[davidhughes85]

I should get rid of my topfin or my protein skimmer???? If your saying get rid of teh top fin and get a skimmer i already have one...or are you saying upgrade my skimmer?? And isnt my light enough for hard corals?? Thats 5 watts a gallon on paper and compacts put out more wattage than the actual number. Were talking 24 inches depth.

[lemonhead]

first get some more rock. you need at least 1lb per gallon. aslo make sure the tank has good water movement, i've seen that 55gal have problems with air exchange. 2 -3 maxi jet 900 should work great. i would start with either a pair of small clowns (ex. percula or pink skunks) or green chromis. then work on a clean up crew: couple of snails and crabs. cleaner shrimp and serpent starfish are great for cleaning up left over food. the angels can usually be kept with more toxic corals (mushrooms, leathers, and some zoos). some other fish: clown goby, firefish, other small gobies, and grammas.

[davidhughes85]

Ok thanks very helpful I was hoping I wouldnt hear the more live rock statement....soooo expensive, local store sells it for 5.99 and it is the worst stuff ive seen...practically base rock

[Avi]

Sorry, I somehow missed that you already have the skimmer. I don't know much about the Jebo skimmer, though, honestly I have read that they aren't great. Still, you could use it, but discontinue using the filter, if you get the additional live rock. Keep your eye on the skimmer. Once the tank is a few months old and running, you should get a good sense of whether it's skimming adequately. It should produce a nasty, very dark "skimmate" in the collection cup. If it doesn't, then it really would be worth your while to get a better one.

david...I used to have power compacts and I was fairly satisfied them. But they do have serious limitations. First of all, in terms of intensity...you want to maximize their effectiveness. To do that you, no matter what you do, will have some problems reaching the lower parts of the rockwork with sufficient light to support vigorous coral growth of any kind. But, you should be aware that PAR value of the bulbs is critical, here. The actinics have a lower PAR value than a lower Kelvin-rated bulb...like a 10,000K bulb. For that reason, since you don't want to lose all of the actinic value of the bulbs, I suggest you replace the actinic bulbs with 50/50s, which would increase the overall PAR value of what you'd have. It would be beneficial to add even more bulbs if you have room, on top of the tank.

The number of watts per gallon is just a rule of thumb, which is more useful over a freshwater planted tank than it truly is over a reef. So, maximizing the effectiveness of the bulbs is more important than just reffering to the number of watts per gallon alone.

Power compact bulbs barely penetrate more than about 17 inches and I'd say that if you do what I suggest concerning the 50/50s and even more bulbs, you'd be able to keep hard coral on the top of your rockwork only if it goes high up, and the lesser light-demanding ones only, like pocilepora and hydnopora.

[davidhughes85]

hummm thats a lot of info.....I was planning on soft corals on the lower levels and hard ones on the upper...And how do you add lights to an existing set up????? Wont my lights cover the whole top???(theyre on the way in the mail, very excited:-)

[Avi]

The fixture that you're getting only holds what it's designed for. If, once it is on top of your tank, there's more room left, you could put another fixure in the available space. I had three fixtures on my reef when I used the power compacts.

[davidhughes85]

other suggestions for stock???

[Avi]

When you say "stock" do you mean of fish and corals and inverts?

[davidhughes85]

pretty much all
anything you would like to suggest, the aquarium is bare as of now

[Avi]

It's kind of difficult to make suggestions, because I don't really know if you're intent on sticking with the lighting that you mentioned or you're going to make some adjustment. But, I'd give it a whirl....Under power compacts when I had them, the coral that did the very best were the Pagodas and the Palythoas.

I'd suggest that you get this book, and you'll really start to get a handle on keeping coral and providing the conditions that they need:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/189...lance&n=283155