What Do You Think Of This?

[lyotim88]

ok so i've updated my stock list, let me know what you guys think. Will be stocked in the following order..

1. Snowflake eel
2. Foxface
3. Blue hippo tang
4. Flame angel
5. Niger trigger

i will be upgrading to a bigger tank as soon as next year, maybe even august, to a 125gal, at least a 75 gal

 

[kj23502]

If it's that close it seems like it'd be better if you waited until you had the big tank. Then you wouldn't have to worry about transferring everything or what grows to fast and what's running out of room. And then crap, my car broke (or something happens )and I can't buy the bigger tank. Heck if you lived close to me, I'd sell you my 125 pretty cheap. Half way across the country, though

 

[lyotim88]

i understand your point completely and it makes sense, but i already have the equipment for the 55, the skimmer is the main piece id have to upgrade and i've been waiting for a while to set this up and i just need to get my feet wet. as i am starting with a snowflake eel i might just keep that and a foxface in the 55 and hold off on stocking the other guys for the 125. any other suitable tankmates for the snowflake and foxface that can fit in a 55?

 

[TropicDan]

would the eel, foxface, flame angel and some shrimp go well? what other fish or 2 could i add?

 

[lyotim88]

that last post was supposed to be under my name. sry

 

[kj23502]

I was thinking smaller angels problem is they are probably small enough for a volitan to eat. You may need to get rid of him/her when your lionfish gets bigger or let him become dinner?

What about a yellow tang?

 

[SkiFletch]

While the dwarf angel might be a problem, it might not... They are pretty tall fish. That'd be the only possible difficulty though

 

[lyotim88]

i've actually scratched the lion off of my list. i think im going to stock with the following..
1x snowflake eel
1x foxface
1x blue tang
1x flame angel


are they guys ok with some shrimp? if so what are some really cool ones on the larger side?

 

[SkiFletch]

The snowflake may or may not... May I suggest browsing through the liveaquaria.com inverts section for shrimp choices

 

[kj23502]

Snowflakes naturally eat crustaceans. Definition : Crustaceans (Crustacea) are a large group of arthropods, comprising almost 52,000 described species [1], and are usually treated as a subphylum [2]. They include various familiar animals, such as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles.

Their teeth are flat for crushing. Not sharp like you'd think they would be. I've read that they can be lazy if they are well fed. However, if a shrimp or crab strolls in front of them I wouldn't be surprised if they take advantage of it. I've done extensive research on them, although it's been a few months. When I get tired of my cichlid setup, I'll make my tank into a Snowflake tank with a couple other fish.

What are you planning to feed your snowflake?

 

[lyotim88]

maybe i won't get a snowflake because i would really like some shrimp. i know groupers get too big, what else could i cycle the tank with besides damsels?

 

[kj23502]

cycle the tank? are you not using live rock?

 

[n3ont3tra]

Do a few shrimp really make better pets than a snowflake eel?

 

[lyotim88]

Do a few shrimp really make better pets than a snowflake eel?

hmm point worth considering. I was thinking that eels tend to hide a lot, but snowflakes do stay out more right? And i'd like a more "exotic" tank if you know what i mean. I've never owned a snowflake though, how are they?

cycle the tank? are you not using live rock?

well i was originally advised that since i was going to keep carnivorous fish that live rock would'nt handle the bioload. So i was going to use baserock. Now that i've changed my stocklist im going to do baserock with maybe 10-15 lbs of live rock. What do you say?

 

[kj23502]

I'd say you don't need to cycle your tank with fish. That's the old school method. I'd get uncured rock. It's cheaper and will bring more stuff on it. It will also have a few things that don't make it and will rot which will help cycle your tank for you w/out harming fish in the process

After you add the uncured rock, test your water and when ammonia, nitrite hit 0 do a decent sized water change to bring down nitrates and then add a fish or CUC. You can do it either way although most on here support adding cuc before fish.