Pre-Build Stocking Ideas?

[EdgeReefer82]

Hello Everyone I'm new to the forum and new to the hobby (although I've kept freshwater aquariums in the past with I'd say an 85% success rate if you count my earlier years) I've been doing research for about two months now and had planned to start a reef tank by next summer. But, I used my vast resources in domestic recon to recover some intel as to the contents of my Xmas care package. And to my surprise I will be receiving an Oceanic Biocube 29 + Stand. Since I found this out I've been constantly thinking of what my first step should be and what direction I'd like to take this tank. I dont want to go all sps crazy right off the bat I kinda want to slowly ease into the hobby. so I thought of a FOWLR stocking list that I can handle until I decide what corals to add(There are so many I like) My choices were based on....

 

Tank size-Reef Compatibility-Fish Compatibility-Coolness Factor-Difficulty of Care

So here goes Tell me what you think (is it good, should I change something, anything you think I might not be aware of)

 

30-40lbs of Tahitian Black Sand (Live)

30-40lbs of Bali Alor Live Rock

 

Clean up crew

1 Emerald Crab

1 Scarlet Hermit Crab

1 Blue Leg Hermit Crab

1 Halloween Hermit Crab

1 Fire Red Cleaner Shrimp

1 Nassarius Snail

6 Cerith Snails

6 Nerite Snails

 

Fish

2 Picasso Clownfish w/ Bubble Tip Anemone

1 Blue Mandarin Dragonet

1 Blue Spotted Jawfish

1 Dwarf Golden Moray Eel

 

This stocking list would stay the same until about a year into the tanks life. If you have any feedback(something I should add?) let me know! and a Preemptive Thanx for all your input

[EdgeReefer82]

I'd also like to keep a Red Bali Starfish and a Blue Velvet Nudibranch. I know the Nudi only eats flatworms so I was thinking would it be a bad Idea to intentionally add brown flatworms in order to maintain a food supply for the Nudi and what harmful effects if any would I see as a result. I figure as long as I kept the population at a controllable number ( I heard that Mandarin Dragonets will also eat flatworms)

 

I know this probably sounds ridiculous but I'm just asking some noobie questions.

[siwelk]

I'd skip the Black Tahitian Moon Sand.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=231359

 

• Fish
  2 Picasso Clownfish w/ Bubble Tip Anemone
  1 Blue Mandarin Dragonet - feeding reqs you won't sustain in a BC29
  1 Blue Spotted Jawfish
  1 Dwarf Golden Moray Eel - will get too big, possibly eat some smaller livestock
  

I'd start here.

[Maeda]

Too many crabs.

 

Too many fish.

 

Too many nudibranchs.

 

Too much sand.

 

You will regret the anemone.

 

This planned stock list is extremely difficult to keep. Just to give you an idea.. You would have a much much easier time keeping an SPS dominated tank. There are way too many specialized feeders..

 

Sorry.

[EdgeReefer82]

No need to apologize Maeda this is exactly what I was asking for!

I'm gonna do some more research on the specific sand. I read some threads where people were having problems with certain black sands ( thanks Siwelk) but not with others. from what I gather Caribsea's Hawaiian Black Sand might be what I'm looking for.

As for the Dragonet I know the difficulties that come with keeping this fish. I was thinking about dosing Pods with Algagen's Reefpods and also training him/her to eat frozen foods.

and I looked to see If the Dwarf Golden Moray Eel would be a problem with the other fish and I found a fellow nano reefer (Luwanie) who kept an eel and a mandarin dragonet in a 29g biocube without any Problems (until his mandarin died from unknown complications possibly related to feeding) Plus I Plan on getting a 50gallon to upgrade to by next Xmas ( I figure by then the DGM would only have been in the BC for a few months)

 

I know the bioload might seem like alot but I will be adding a lifereef refugium (13gallons with LR-LS-and Fiji Mud + Macroalgaes)/InTank Mediabasket /Tunze 9002 Skimmer/UV Sterilizer I hope this will be enough with regular water changes and maintenance

 

Can anyone help me with the nudi question? Its still unanswered

 

Thanks for your input guys It's sent my research into overdrive and it made me think of some things I hadn't thought about before and also made my decisions more solid ( I hope you don't think I'm being stubborn i'm just determined to get what I want But obviously NOT at the expense of the lives of innocent creatures)

 

P.S. @ Maeda That Dream Tank is Ridiculousness (Nice!)

[Maeda]

You can't keep the nudi alive.

 

I would try ONE of the things you'd like and see how it works. Each of those pieces of livestock represents a substantial challenge even for experienced reefers.

 

You have to imagine that these things are going to live 10 years or more, and if you can't see yourself keeping up with the maintenance for that long, try something else. This is a marathon. Plan accordingly.

 

You're also relying on a lot of bandaid fixes, and not thinking long term enough. again.. This is a marathon. Plan accordingly.

 

Why don't you wait until next year, get your 50, and put in the money you saved this year to make a really killer setup without any after-the-fact solutions?

[EdgeReefer82]

I'm glad I came to this site.

 

you're right I think I'll just stick with the clownfish/jawfish tank until I get my 50, that way I can also "wet" my feet with some corals in the meantime, gain some experience and go from there. I suffer from biting off more than I can chew and knowing that in this hobby "Only bad things happen fast" It would be a good Idea to take the safe route. I definitely wouldn't want to risk the lives of Innocent fish.

 

Thank you for your insight. I've read some of your threads and know that not heeding the warnings of someone with your kind of experience would be foolish.

 

as far as a CUC goes what would you suggest?

[Maeda]

as far as a CUC goes what would you suggest?

 

Glad to see you arn't just here to have people agree with you and your starting out with something sensible.

 

A handful of snails of various types, and little to no crustaceans will be fine.

Personally I like cerith, nassarius snails, and fighting conches.

 

good luck!

[1.0reef]

I'd skip the Black Tahitian Moon Sand.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=231359

 

• Fish
  2 Picasso Clownfish w/ Bubble Tip Anemone
  1 Blue Mandarin Dragonet - feeding reqs you won't sustain in a BC29
  1 Blue Spotted Jawfish
  1 Dwarf Golden Moray Eel - will get too big, possibly eat some smaller livestock
  

I'd start here.

Those eels get only 1 foot long or so, all the fish in his stocking list are big enough to not get eaten imo.

[lakshwadeep]

However, the eel is part of the fish-eating group of morays, making it a potential danger to all the fish, especially as juveniles.

 

All crabs are omnivores and can turn predatory, especially the hermits to each other and the snails. Juvenile emeralds can be more herbivorous, but they are unpredictable. Probably the safest crabs would be pom-pom or porcelain crabs.

 

For starfish, stick with only the small brittle/serpent stars, if any.

 

You should get more herbivorous snails. This is a good guide to the CUC.

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/cleanupcrew.html