How Bad Are We In?

[gatorman543]

In our school some friends and I have created a 55 in the process reef tank. It is a 55 gallon tank with 440 VHO lighting above. It has

45 pounds of Live rock
Lawnmower Blenny
Two Chocolate Starfish
Snowflake Eel
2 coral banded Shrimp
1 peppermint Shrimp
4 damsels
2 marron clowns

everything was good only one of the girls mom in the club decided to buy a Longhorn Cowfish and Mardiarin Goby, for the tank. I know these are expert only fish, and the Cowfish kills all if it dies. And the Goby needs copepods, which most likely are not it our tank as of know. But want i need to know how bad are we in now?

 

[Aquascaper]

Ok, the bad news (IMO):

1) The two Starfish are not suitable for that sized tank. One of these is pushing the limits of the tank and all starfish require a mature tank (minimum 6 months old).
2) The Snowflake eel is ok for that sized tank but may cause problems with smaller fish and inverts. It also requires an all meat diet and this can cause problems with water quality.
3) The two Coral Banded shrimp get very big and will prey on smaller fish and other shrimp, so again, may cause problems.
4) The Cowfish is an absolute no no, no way no how. Take it back and exchange it for hermit crabs and snails for your cleanup crew
5) The Mandarin requires 75lbs of live rock (recommended) and a mature tank at least 12 months old (for the 'pod life to become established). Again, take it back and exchange it for something more suitable.

 

[gatorman543]

yeah i knew that the goby and the cowfish were bad and the starfish will be leaving when we get the corals

The eel is fine he is fed shrimp two days a week

 

[JJ1234567]

I know the CBS can take care of themselves as well as be a holy menace to small fish and other shrimp...but might not the eel eat them before they get full grown?

 

[gatorman543]

the shrimp are rather large as of right now, and the eel only eats the shrimp that we hand feed it. The damsels are dissosiple they are very annoying, but i am more worried about the Cowfish, ho deadly are these toxins it realeases

 

[Aquascaper]

Deadly as in it will wipe out everything in the tank including the bacteria in the live rock, in effect making the tank sterile.

 

[SkiFletch]

Deadly as in it will wipe out everything in the tank including the bacteria in the live rock, in effect making the tank sterile.

Yeah, very very very bad