First reef tank--Fluval 13.5 scape and stocking plan?

[anotherhobby!]

So excited to finally post here after lurking for some time!

This Fluval Evo 13.5 is my first saltwater experience and is currently mid-cycle (Nitrates are finally present and going up!).

I'm hoping to stock this tank with
* 2 juvenile clowns (planning on upgrading to a larger aquarium if a year of reefkeeping goes well)
* 1 yasha goby and candy cane pistol shrimp pair
* clean up crew (snails? any recommendations?)
* display macroalgae
* beginner corals

Do you think this rockscape could support the clownfish/ goby? (Please excuse the epoxy joins... yes, the white is very visible, unfortunately.)

Any advice on stocking/ what CUC to add?

I'm also a bit uncertain about stocking order/ timing. Currently, the plan is to add in macroalgae once the cycle completes along with the CUC, then add in the goby/ pistol shrimp pair one month after, then the clowns a few weeks after that, then finally corals in a few months. Does this seem reasonable?

TYIA for your input!

*Brown bits at the bottom are decomposing fish flakes...

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

Congrats on the new tank; looks great!

Don't sweat the white epoxy, in time you won't notice.

Your stocking list looks fine, as long as you're able to upgrade in a short period of time for the Clowns. Two Clowns really needs 15 gallons minimum and better would be 20 gallons.

I'd add the Clowns last, let the Goby and shrimp find their home first.

You can add easy growing soft corals and Zoas much quicker than your plan, but it's also fine to wait and go slowly.

I'd ask, how are you cycling your tank? You can use fish food, but you need to use quite a bit of fish food to get the ammonia up to about 2.0 ppm. Do you have a test kit for ammonia? You can also add a piece of shrimp from the seafood market to the tank, the shrimp brings beneficial bacteria and will decompose to produce ammonia.

I hope this helps and good luck!

 

[ScottJ]

I might go with a bit more rock. Like in the space between the back wall and the rock that angles up. You could fill that in. Your rocks look nice, but there could be more places for the fish to hide and the shrimp/goby to build under. Reef fish need tight little nooks and crannies to hide in so they feel safe.

I agree that you will need a larger tank for the 2 clowns soonish. You could also consider something like a Yasha or Highfin-shrimp pair and a Tailspot Blenny for livestock. Plenty of personality packed into those small packages.

 

[anotherhobby!]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

Congrats on the new tank; looks great!

Don't sweat the white epoxy, in time you won't notice.

Your stocking list looks fine, as long as you're able to upgrade in a short period of time for the Clowns. Two Clowns really needs 15 gallons minimum and better would be 20 gallons.

I'd add the Clowns last, let the Goby and shrimp find their home first.

You can add easy growing soft corals and Zoas much quicker than your plan, but it's also fine to wait and go slowly.

I'd ask, how are you cycling your tank? You can use fish food, but you need to use quite a bit of fish food to get the ammonia up to about 2.0 ppm. Do you have a test kit for ammonia? You can also add a piece of shrimp from the seafood market to the tank, the shrimp brings beneficial bacteria and will decompose to produce ammonia.

I hope this helps and good luck!

Thanks for the advice! The current plan is to upgrade to a 40 gallon in a year if things go well!

Re: corals, when would you suggest that I add them?

Yes, I'm actually cycling with ammonium chloride (I haven't started a new tank in a while, so it took a bit to find my bottle of Dr. Tim's.), bc, like you mentioned, I didn't see much movement re: ammonia ppm after throwing in the fish flakes. Yes, I'm testing for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, though I heard tracking nitrites isn't as much of a need for saltwater?

 

[anotherhobby!]

I might go with a bit more rock. Like in the space between the back wall and the rock that angles up. You could fill that in. Your rocks look nice, but there could be more places for the fish to hide and the shrimp/goby to build under. Reef fish need tight little nooks and crannies to hide in so they feel safe.

I agree that you will need a larger tank for the 2 clowns soonish. You could also consider something like a Yasha or Highfin-shrimp pair and a Tailspot Blenny for livestock. Plenty of personality packed into those small packages.

Thank you! I do have some more rock I could put in but was a bit concerned about flow dead zones. I definitely want a yasha goby/ candy-cane shrimp pair, so will look into adding some tighter nooks for them.
Do you think the left arch is too high (or high enough?) for the clownfish?

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks for the advice! The current plan is to upgrade to a 40 gallon in a year if things go well!

Re: corals, when would you suggest that I add them?

Yes, I'm actually cycling with ammonium chloride (I haven't started a new tank in a while, so it took a bit to find my bottle of Dr. Tim's.), bc, like you mentioned, I didn't see much movement re: ammonia ppm after throwing in the fish flakes. Yes, I'm testing for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, though I heard tracking nitrites isn't as much of a need for saltwater?

You can actually add corals on day one, even before your tank is cycled, but that's a bit advanced. I'd suggest getting your tank fully cycled using your Dr. Tim's ammonium, and then you can start to add some livestock including some hardy corals. Easy growing softies and Zoas do well at this time, just don't try to add a very delicate SPS coral until your tank is more stable, and that may take some months.