Lost on what’s next. So many options

[SOARnTACO]

My first aquarium is a 55 gallon. I’m not shy about researching info testing water or water changes. Parameters are perfect as of right now after a few months.

My equipment set up is
filter 440 empire
Current USA duel pro lights 48”
Wave pump 1050 eflux for loop system
And one heater

Fish stock as of now
2 clown fish
1 royal gramma
1 flame angelfish
1 cleaner shrimp
6 snails
12 hermit crabs

Future fish stock I want it
1 blennie (not sure what kind)
1 goby (not sure what kind)
1 mandarin dragonet

As for Corals I’m lost on not sure where to start. I keep getting sucked into the anemones even though I’ve seems all the issues they could pose with stinging other corals and moving around.

Looking for ideas on equipment up grades and coral ideas.

 

[Scotty Buttons]

I'd recommend getting a sump set up with a large refugium and lots of macro algae especially if you want to try and maintain a mandarin, you wil need alot of copepods.

Happy reefing

 

[Captain Quint]

Your LR aquascape looks terrific.

+1 on the addition of a sump.

BTW welcome to R2R! You'll love it here.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I'd recommend getting a sump set up with a large refugium and lots of macro algae especially if you want to try and maintain a mandarin, you wil need alot of copepods.

Happy reefing

In regards to mandarin gobies, I agree with this.

Coral selection should be based on what you are comfortable with growing. I always start with LPS and some zoas. If they grow well then you can bump it up to some easy sps like stylophora or montipora. You do have enough space for a bubble tip nem. If you want to add the nem, i think adding it first and letting it find a place is wise. Give it a month by itself before the next coral purchase.

 

[NS Mike D]

on the single heater, IMO, heaters are one of the cheapest pieces of equipment in our tanks and the most likely to fail. I like to have two heaters connected to a controller. If one of the heaters doesn't turn off the controller will cut the power and if it stops working altogether the second heater will have things covered. In Inkbird and Willhi are both inexpensive, easy to set up and a great start before graduating to a Apex.

 

[NS Mike D]

frogspawn and duncans are among my favorite LPS. Very easy to maintain, will grown like crazy and since they are fast growers, they are great at using up nutrients before the algae does. Plus I love the way they wave in the flow

 

[SOARnTACO]

In regards to mandarin gobies, I agree with this.

Coral selection should be based on what you are comfortable with growing. I always start with LPS and some zoas. If they grow well then you can bump it up to some easy sps like stylophora or montipora. You do have enough space for a bubble tip nem. If you want to add the nem, i think adding it first and letting it find a place is wise. Give it a month by itself before the next coral purchase.

I was thinking a hob refuge with Cheeto and add some copepods from algee barn in there before the mandrant and a canister filter limited on room for a sump. Maybe even a hob protein skimmer. I like the idea of getting the anemone first.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I was thinking a hob refuge with Cheeto and add some copepods from algee barn in there before the mandrant and a canister filter limited on room for a sump. Maybe even a hob protein skimmer. I like the idea of getting the anemone first.

Since the majority of your rock looks white without any coralline, you might want to take it slow with the Mandarin. They prefer well established tanks with large pod populations. Its certainly something to consider later on but something I wouldn't add at this stage.

 

[NS Mike D]

I have a madarin, I highly recommend getting the rest of the tank established before adding. A mandarin can wipe out the entire pod population in a few days. I have two sumps, 5 gallon HOB CPR packed with cheato and a 10 gal DIY under the tank sump with rubble rock and cheato to house my reactor, heaters, ATO etc. and help out with the pod population. My DT is 29 gal.

I am not sure a HOB fuge would be sufficient for producing pods for a mandarin, but you have lots of time to make that decision.

 

[SOARnTACO]

Since the majority of your rock looks white without any coralline, you might want to take it slow with the Mandarin. They prefer well established tanks with large pod populations. Its certainly something to consider later on but something I wouldn't add at this stage.

That’s the last thing I want to get I understand the issues of keeping one. Is the 6 month rule a true rule of thumb to live by

 

[SOARnTACO]

That’s the last thing I want to get I understand the issues of keeping one. Is the 6 month rule a true rule of thumb to live by

6 months for the anemone

 

[reeferfoxx]

That’s the last thing I want to get I understand the issues of keeping one. Is the 6 month rule a true rule of thumb to live by

No.

There is no such thing as a 6 month rule. Nobody not even you can predict how the tank will progress. I think at 6 months you can certainly assess the status but I can't say at 6 months you'll be ready.

 

[reeferfoxx]

6 months for the anemone

Oh if the tank is cycled and you have fish, get the anemone. No reason not to ...yet...take it slow

 

[NS Mike D]

That’s the last thing I want to get I understand the issues of keeping one. Is the 6 month rule a true rule of thumb to live by

I was more like 2.5 years before I felt confident at getting a mandarin. At 6 months I was proficient at killing corals

 

[SOARnTACO]

Oh if the tank is cycled and you have fish, get the anemone. No reason not to ...yet...take it slow

So next trip to the lfs in a few weeks. Do you think the anemone. Or the goby and blennie

 

[reeferfoxx]

So next trip to the lfs in a few weeks. Do you think the anemone. Or the goby and blennie

I say all of them. The goby and blenny aren't big enough to negatively impact your tank size in a relatively short period. Unless they are diseased or something.