Finally guys

jpontier212 · Apr 14, 2016

I thank everyone that has helped with advice. I am a true newbie. Today i tested my water and my parameters are as follows.
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrate 5 ppm
Salinity 1.026
Phosphate 0.25
Cal 460
Alk 12 dkh
Ph 8.1
I'M GOING FISH SHOPPING. YYYYEEEAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now that that's outta the way, I was thinking possibly a yellow tang, a lawnmower blenny, and either a green chromis or hippo tang. What do you awesome people think? Possibly a cleaner shrimp?

ndz98 · Apr 14, 2016

How big is your tank?

Justice4u2 · Apr 14, 2016

I really like blue/green Chromis, get 3 or more they school together.
You can't go wrong with a Cleaner Shrimp.

nolaron · Apr 14, 2016

The last thing you want to do is throw a bunch of fish in there all at once. Resist the urge and go slow. Pick up 1 fish or a couple clowns and wait a month then add a couple more fish. I would start with a CUC and a couple of clowns first.

ScottMyers123 · Apr 14, 2016

+1 on what was said above. You want your system to adapt slowly to the extra nutrients you will be adding to the tank. I would do no more then 1 or 2 fish per month.

jpontier212 · Apr 14, 2016

Guys i believe i want to wait until my system matures enough to get a nem before i get clowns so that they can host it. Is that good practice?

jpontier212 · Apr 14, 2016

ndz98 said:
How big is your tank?

55 gallon glass

ScottMyers123 · Apr 14, 2016

It is not always the case with clowns, I had my clowns for almost six months before I got a nem. Sometimes it may take a while before they will host. I got lucky and bought clowns that were hosting a nem in the lfs, so when I added a nem to my tank they went straight to it.

ndz98 · Apr 14, 2016

I could be wrong but I don't think 55 is big enough for two tangs.

Bob Escher · Apr 14, 2016

Hmm I bought two clowns before the Nemo's I understand that they could/ or not take to a Nem
Correct Gang or not

BoneXriffic · Apr 14, 2016

Bob Escher said:
Hmm I bought two clowns before the Nemo's I understand that they could/ or not take to a Nem
Correct Gang or not

It sometimes doesnt really matter much. A clown will choose its host when it decides regardless of who was there first. Unless you get them pre bonded and buy both nem and clowns

jpontier212 · Apr 14, 2016

nolaron said:
The last thing you want to do is throw a bunch of fish in there all at once. Resist the urge and go slow. Pick up 1 fish or a couple clowns and wait a month then add a couple more fish. I would start with a CUC and a couple of clowns first.

I got 5 turbo snails and 5 blue legged hermit crabs. Should i get more of a crew?

nolaron · Apr 14, 2016

jpontier212 said:
I got 5 turbo snails and 5 blue legged hermit crabs. Should i get more of a crew?

Good choices. I have had great luck with my blue legs but not everyone has. Typical rule is 1 critter per gallon so for you shoot for 55 CUC but don't go too fast because your tank probably doesn't have enough nutrients, algae etc to support them. I shoot for half the rule at startup so I would go for 25 in your case then add 10 more every few weeks until yoi get 55. Remember that your CUC will need to be restocked over time. You will lose crabs especially so every month or so grab 5 or 10 more.

Look at astrea snails too. They are AMAZING and surgeons at removing algae! My keep my tank and even frag plugs spotless.

jpontier212 · Apr 14, 2016

nolaron said:
Good choices. I have had great luck with my blue legs but not everyone has. Typical rule is 1 critter per gallon so for you shoot for 55 CUC but don't go too fast because your tank probably doesn't have enough nutrients, algae etc to support them. I shoot for half the rule at startup so I would go for 25 in your case then add 10 more every few weeks until yoi get 55. Remember that your CUC will need to be restocked over time. You will lose crabs especially so every month or so grab 5 or 10 more.

Look at astrea snails too. They are AMAZING and surgeons at removing algae! My keep my tank and even frag plugs spotless.

My blue legs are troopers. I have had them for over a month. They are few inhabitants but there's very little algea to go around and the little i have has kept everyone healthy

Naiad · Apr 14, 2016

I would get a few more cuc and one or two fish. The hippo is a no go in a 55. They just get too big too fast. You want to stock your peaceful fish first. So on that list the chromis would be the first I pick up. Do look into qt procedures. It can be a lifesaver later on.

nolaron · Apr 14, 2016

Word of caution on the chromis - they aren't so peaceful anymore. Not sure what happened to these fish but I'm reading about more people saying the same thing. They are mean little fish now. I have 5 in QT and I get stressed out watching them becaude they fight like my mbunas did when I kept freshwater fish. I bought them thinking I would get peaceful schooling reef safe fish and they are not turning out to be that.

Naiad · Apr 14, 2016

nolaron said:
Word of caution on the chromis - they aren't so peaceful anymore. Not sure what happened to these fish but I'm reading about more people saying the same thing. They are mean little fish now. I have 5 in QT and I get stressed out watching them becaude they fight like my mbunas did when I kept freshwater fish. I bought them thinking I would get peaceful schooling reef safe fish and they are not turning out to be that.

Chromis are not true schooling fish. Only "part time". In our predator free tanks there is no need to school so the dominant pair will pick off weaker members of the group. It can be lessened if you have large active fish in with them. They don't generally go after other species of fish like their damsel cousins so can be considered peaceful.

andyg1960 · Apr 14, 2016

55 gal tank is too small for a tang. They need the swimming space of a much bigger tank, maybe 125g or bigger

nolaron · Apr 14, 2016

Naiad said:
Chromis are not true schooling fish. Only "part time". In our predator free tanks there is no need to school so the dominant pair will pick off weaker members of the group. It can be lessened if you have large active fish in with them. They don't generally go after other species of fish like their damsel cousins so can be considered peaceful.

Mine are in with a Sailfin and a tomini. I have even see the dominant chromis nip at the tomini! I doubt they will go in my DT now .. maybe my 29 in the bedroom.

Naiad · Apr 14, 2016

nolaron said:
Mine are in with a Sailfin and a tomini. I have even see the dominant chromis nip at the tomini! I doubt they will go in my DT now .. maybe my 29 in the bedroom.

Lol. That's why I always say generally or usually when talking about fish. Always one out there that has to be different.