Setting up a 55g FOWLR... steps to stocking it?

OceanicThunder · 05/12/2013, 08:37 PM

I'm setting up a 55 gallon FOWLR (except for probably a few corals like mushrooms) system. About 80 lbs. of live rock, a skimmer rated for a tank of about 125 gallons (550gph), and two powerheads totaling 1,000 gph. I have experience with saltwater (albeit not reef) and am aware of what maintenance and care the tanks and their inhabitants require, and am a bit of a perfectionist with my tanks. This is the list of fish I'm planning on putting into it -- I think it's about right, not too crowded, these are small fish and none are super messy:

x2 Ocellaris Clownfish (or maybe Percula would be better?)
x1 Banggai Cardinalfish
x1 Carpenter Flasher Wrasse (or similar)
x1 Coral Beauty Angelfish
x1 Green Mandarin

My basic question is about the order and steps I should take in adding everything. I've done a lot of research, and seem to have reached a general idea of how I should do this.

After setting up and cycling, ensuring very low nitrates, I was thinking of first buying the Ocellaris pair along with a few hardy corals that don't need reef-spec equipment. I've heard that mushroom and leather corals, as well as a few others, would do okay in a system like this, given proper attention to water conditions of course. Supposedly standard lighting is fine. What other corals would be okay in this system?

About a couple weeks later, I think I'll get the Banggai, and at this point start buying a few snails and hermits to start building up a cleaning crew. About a month after the Banggai, I think I should buy the wrasse, along with some more clean-up crew and a few other inverts such as maybe a few peppermint or fire shrimp (would more than one of the same species be compatible together?), and maybe a couple more corals if my finances allow. At this point, I'd have four small fish, a decent clean-up crew, and a few corals and other inverts, but nothing too overwhelming.

Then I would wait a while to let the tank start to mature. Let algae and everything thing else desirable to start growing a bit. After a few months, I think I could add the Mandarin, taking into account their special needs (which could be a whole separate topic). After he's settled and I have maybe some more clean-up crew, I think I could add the Coral Beauty and then maybe a couple inverts like sea stars and urchins. I'm not sure if the Mandarin should wait till after the Coral Beauty to make sure the tank is even more stable and has a more established copepod population, but I thought the Coral Beauty might bully him if I add the Coral Beauty first.

Is there anything that sounds wrong or off? I would really appreciate some advice and feedback on my plans, as I'm sure they're not perfect, but I think I've got a general idea of how I should go about adding all the livestock.

Thank you so much.

alexander_ktn · 05/13/2013, 06:37 AM

You didn't say anything about lighting, so it's hard to recommend corals...

As for the plan - sounds alright, you shouldn't have any problems with territoriality imo.

thegrun · 05/13/2013, 06:58 AM

The overall plan sounds good although the Mandarin will be questionable in a smaller tank. If you add a wrasse if is highly unlikely you will ever have enough pods for the Mandarin as the wrasse will outcompete it for food. The coral beauty will be hit or miss as far as it nipping on corals. Here is a good site for beginner corals:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/cor...5-Easy-Corals/

05/12/2013, 08:37 PM	#1
OceanicThunder Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10	Setting up a 55g FOWLR... steps to stocking it? I'm setting up a 55 gallon FOWLR (except for probably a few corals like mushrooms) system. About 80 lbs. of live rock, a skimmer rated for a tank of about 125 gallons (550gph), and two powerheads totaling 1,000 gph. I have experience with saltwater (albeit not reef) and am aware of what maintenance and care the tanks and their inhabitants require, and am a bit of a perfectionist with my tanks. This is the list of fish I'm planning on putting into it -- I think it's about right, not too crowded, these are small fish and none are super messy: x2 Ocellaris Clownfish (or maybe Percula would be better?) x1 Banggai Cardinalfish x1 Carpenter Flasher Wrasse (or similar) x1 Coral Beauty Angelfish x1 Green Mandarin My basic question is about the order and steps I should take in adding everything. I've done a lot of research, and seem to have reached a general idea of how I should do this. After setting up and cycling, ensuring very low nitrates, I was thinking of first buying the Ocellaris pair along with a few hardy corals that don't need reef-spec equipment. I've heard that mushroom and leather corals, as well as a few others, would do okay in a system like this, given proper attention to water conditions of course. Supposedly standard lighting is fine. What other corals would be okay in this system? About a couple weeks later, I think I'll get the Banggai, and at this point start buying a few snails and hermits to start building up a cleaning crew. About a month after the Banggai, I think I should buy the wrasse, along with some more clean-up crew and a few other inverts such as maybe a few peppermint or fire shrimp (would more than one of the same species be compatible together?), and maybe a couple more corals if my finances allow. At this point, I'd have four small fish, a decent clean-up crew, and a few corals and other inverts, but nothing too overwhelming. Then I would wait a while to let the tank start to mature. Let algae and everything thing else desirable to start growing a bit. After a few months, I think I could add the Mandarin, taking into account their special needs (which could be a whole separate topic). After he's settled and I have maybe some more clean-up crew, I think I could add the Coral Beauty and then maybe a couple inverts like sea stars and urchins. I'm not sure if the Mandarin should wait till after the Coral Beauty to make sure the tank is even more stable and has a more established copepod population, but I thought the Coral Beauty might bully him if I add the Coral Beauty first. Is there anything that sounds wrong or off? I would really appreciate some advice and feedback on my plans, as I'm sure they're not perfect, but I think I've got a general idea of how I should go about adding all the livestock. Thank you so much.

05/13/2013, 06:37 AM	#2
alexander_ktn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austria Posts: 851	You didn't say anything about lighting, so it's hard to recommend corals... As for the plan - sounds alright, you shouldn't have any problems with territoriality imo.

05/13/2013, 06:58 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	The overall plan sounds good although the Mandarin will be questionable in a smaller tank. If you add a wrasse if is highly unlikely you will ever have enough pods for the Mandarin as the wrasse will outcompete it for food. The coral beauty will be hit or miss as far as it nipping on corals. Here is a good site for beginner corals: http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/cor...5-Easy-Corals/