I would appreciate any and all comments and suggestions on my current fish plan. I am particularly worried about the order I intend to add the fish.
After 2 years maintaining a 40 gallon breeder softie tank, I am upgrading to a 60" x 24" x 24" SPS dominated reef tank. The tank is scheduled to arrive in about 1 more month but I have been cycling 100 lbs of dry rock in two heated, aerated, covered trashcans for almost 5 months. After agonizing for the past year about whether or not I want to add sand, I have decided to go with sand. In total, I intend to push around 12,000 gph of flow in the tank primarily via powerheads. First and foremost, I am willing to be patient and trade time for success. Discipline was the hardest hurdle to jump when I first started my softie tank.
My priorities in choosing fish are in the following order:
Fish Plan:
Month 1: (2) Clownfish - I have had Ricky & Lucy since the beginning and they will be the first to go in.
Month 2: (3) Blue Green Chromis
At this point, I plan to start adding some LPS to the bottom of the tank to soak some of the nutrients. Copepods and cleaner crew will probably go in about this time as well.
Month 3: (3) Lyretail Anthias - I intend to supplement their diet with an autofeeder feeding pellets 5 times daily, should I wait a little while longer before introducing a larger amount of nutrients?
Month 4: (1) 6 line wrasse
Month 5: (3) Banggai Cardinal
Month 6: (1) Royal Gramma Basset
Month 7: (1) Yellow tang & (1) Bristletooth tang - will two juveniles be able to quarantine in a 20 gal breeder at the same time?
A week before putting the tangs in the tank, I intend to turn on the aquarium lights for the first time, until then I'd like to just use room ambient light. I then intend to wait another month before adding a few SPS frags.
Month 12: Mandarin Goby - I shall name her "Smaug"
I still consider myself a beginner so advice from all you vets out there to help make this successful would be awesome.
Huckleberry
After 2 years maintaining a 40 gallon breeder softie tank, I am upgrading to a 60" x 24" x 24" SPS dominated reef tank. The tank is scheduled to arrive in about 1 more month but I have been cycling 100 lbs of dry rock in two heated, aerated, covered trashcans for almost 5 months. After agonizing for the past year about whether or not I want to add sand, I have decided to go with sand. In total, I intend to push around 12,000 gph of flow in the tank primarily via powerheads. First and foremost, I am willing to be patient and trade time for success. Discipline was the hardest hurdle to jump when I first started my softie tank.
My priorities in choosing fish are in the following order:
- SPS compatibility (the corals will be star of this show)
- Plenty of movement and schooling behavior
- Availability at my local fish store
- Beginner friendly species
Fish Plan:
Month 1: (2) Clownfish - I have had Ricky & Lucy since the beginning and they will be the first to go in.
Month 2: (3) Blue Green Chromis
At this point, I plan to start adding some LPS to the bottom of the tank to soak some of the nutrients. Copepods and cleaner crew will probably go in about this time as well.
Month 3: (3) Lyretail Anthias - I intend to supplement their diet with an autofeeder feeding pellets 5 times daily, should I wait a little while longer before introducing a larger amount of nutrients?
Month 4: (1) 6 line wrasse
Month 5: (3) Banggai Cardinal
Month 6: (1) Royal Gramma Basset
Month 7: (1) Yellow tang & (1) Bristletooth tang - will two juveniles be able to quarantine in a 20 gal breeder at the same time?
A week before putting the tangs in the tank, I intend to turn on the aquarium lights for the first time, until then I'd like to just use room ambient light. I then intend to wait another month before adding a few SPS frags.
Month 12: Mandarin Goby - I shall name her "Smaug"
I still consider myself a beginner so advice from all you vets out there to help make this successful would be awesome.
Huckleberry