Help me plan (tank, and livestock)

cloggins · Nov 15, 2018

Greetings. I'm coming back to the hobby after a decade of being tankless. To start the process, I'm hoping to get some help with tank selection, and comments on possible livestock. The goal is to have a mixed reef 80/20 SPS/LPS.

Apologies if this post is too long. This is my first post. I'm not sure what the etiquette is for these threads. Should the topics be split, or kept together? Thanks for any help.

Tank choices:

Red Sea Reefer 625XXL
Waterbox 190.5
Custom drilled 150 tall (48x24x30)

I intend to run a 4-5" deep sand bed (oolitic sand), and BRS Reef Saver rock. Lighting will be LED or LED/T5. In-tank circulation will probably be handled by Gyres. I accept the DBS choice is likely controversial. They served me very well in the past, and I like the look.

Any thoughts on going long (60x24), versus tall (48x30)?
Does anyone have any comparisons between the sumps of the Red Sea and Waterbox?
Other comments?

The fish wish list:

1 or 2, Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)
1 McCosker's flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri)
2 Ocellaris clowns (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1-2 Dwarf angels
- 1 Coral beauty (Nemateleotris decora)
- and/or 1 Flame angel (Centropyge loricula)
1 Yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
3-5 Damsels (of one species below)
- Chrysiptera hemicyanea
- C parasema
- C starcki
1 Elegant firefish (Nemateleotris decora)
1 Royal gramma (Gramma loreto)

This list is in order of desire. The Mandarin(s?) drive the desire to get another tank. So, they can't come off the list. Everything else is secondary. I prefer smaller fish: < 3-inches in length.

Is this too many for the tanks listed above?
Any recommendations on order of introduction?
Any alternatives to a yellow tang for algae consumption (color is not as important)?
Any thoughts on the damsels? (I've never kept them, outside of clowns.)

Invert wish list:

1-3 Fire shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
1-3 Peppermint shrimp (L. wurdemanni)
1-2 Emerald crabs (Mithraculus sculptus)
1 Fighting conch (Strombus spp.)
Various CUC snails (Nassaris, Trochus, etc.)
Various worms and stuff for the DSB
Maybe, some kind of urchin
Maybe, eventually, a Linkia spp. starfish

Any major red flags here, considering the fish selection above?

JumboShrimp · Nov 15, 2018

Quick thoughts: I think in terms of ‘swim room,’ I’d go with the 60x24 over the 48x30. A big ‘yes’ on the fighting conch— very underrated! Best wishes.

mta_morrow · Nov 15, 2018

Hello and welcome to R2R!

You’ve come to the right place for help and guidance.

Lots of questions!

Opinions are on the way!

#welcometoR2R

Dsnakes · Nov 15, 2018

Welcome to R2R

Thanks for joining us! Looks like a good list to me. A 48” is a tad short on a yellow tang, but being 24” wide will help if you keep your rockscape somewhat open. Do you have an option to go with a 60x24 and shallower?

cloggins · Nov 15, 2018

Dsnakes said:
Welcome to R2R Thanks for joining us! Looks like a good list to me. A 48” is a tad short on a yellow tang, but being 24” wide will help if you keep your rockscape somewhat open. Do you have an option to go with a 60x24 and shallower?

Yes. The Red Sea and Waterbox are both (roughly) 60x24x24. I have space for either.

hdsoftail1065 · Nov 15, 2018

Welcome to R2R!

Lovemyreef2015 · Nov 15, 2018

Oscaror · Nov 15, 2018

cloggins said:
Greetings. I'm coming back to the hobby after a decade of being tankless. To start the process, I'm hoping to get some help with tank selection, and comments on possible livestock. The goal is to have a mixed reef 80/20 SPS/LPS.

Apologies if this post is too long. This is my first post. I'm not sure what the etiquette is for these threads. Should the topics be split, or kept together? Thanks for any help.

Tank choices:

Red Sea Reefer 625XXL

Waterbox 190.5

Custom drilled 150 tall (48x24x30)

I intend to run a 4-5" deep sand bed (oolitic sand), and BRS Reef Saver rock. Lighting will be LED or LED/T5. In-tank circulation will probably be handled by Gyres. I accept the DBS choice is likely controversial. They served me very well in the past, and I like the look.

Any thoughts on going long (60x24), versus tall (48x30)?
Does anyone have any comparisons between the sumps of the Red Sea and Waterbox?
Other comments?

The fish wish list:

1 or 2, Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)

1 McCosker's flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri)

2 Ocellaris clowns (Amphiprion ocellaris)

1-2 Dwarf angels

1 Coral beauty (Nemateleotris decora)

and/or 1 Flame angel (Centropyge loricula)

1 Yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)

3-5 Damsels (of one species below)

Chrysiptera hemicyanea

C parasema

C starcki

1 Elegant firefish (Nemateleotris decora)

1 Royal gramma (Gramma loreto)

This list is in order of desire. The Mandarin(s?) drive the desire to get another tank. So, they can't come off the list. Everything else is secondary. I prefer smaller fish: < 3-inches in length.

Is this too many for the tanks listed above?
Any recommendations on order of introduction?
Any alternatives to a yellow tang for algae consumption (color is not as important)?
Any thoughts on the damsels? (I've never kept them, outside of clowns.)

Invert wish list:

1-3 Fire shrimp (Lysmata debelius)

1-3 Peppermint shrimp (L. wurdemanni)

1-2 Emerald crabs (Mithraculus sculptus)

1 Fighting conch (Strombus spp.)

Various CUC snails (Nassaris, Trochus, etc.)

Various worms and stuff for the DSB

Maybe, some kind of urchin

Maybe, eventually, a Linkia spp. starfish

Any major red flags here, considering the fish selection above?

Welcome to R2R!

Fudsey · Nov 15, 2018

Welcome to R2R ! ! !

Super Fly · Nov 15, 2018

tall/deep tank can be pain when doing any tank work. I prefer shallower
Would caution about the wrasse & dragonet (burrow into sand) if you are going DSB.

Ruben's Reef · Nov 15, 2018

!!! Welcome to R2R and welcome back into the hobby !!! That's a good list and you know exactly what you want so that a great start. Just remember, go slow and have patience is the road for success on a reef tank.