New tank idea to get into the hobby

Naoxyn · Mar 6, 2018

Good morning everyone! (afternoon or evening depending on where you are)

I really want to get started with a new build to launch myself into the saltwater hobby. However, I'm concerned on how to start. The stocking idea I have is for 2 clowns and a bta asap.After the tank has had some time, eventually get a mandarin. I would love to have gobies paired with a pistol shrimp, but not sure if I'll have the space to do it. I need to have a set up >100g. I was looking at the prefab versions of tanks such as all in ones or some of the red sea reefers, but I don't like the idea of little or no fuge area. Especially since the fish I want the most (Mandarin) seems heavily dependant on a healthy fuge. Other corals are gorgeous and I would love to have, but the fish listed are definitely my top priority. I'm looking for ideas on a set up or suggestions on how to best make this work. If I couldn't keep the gobies and pistol shrimp, could I keep it bare bottom? Or, would that hinder the micro fauna population and be a detriment to the Mandarin? I'm open to the idea of builing a custom tank and stand on my own if a budget for it would work out. But, I have no experience doing so and am unsure of how good the outcome for that would be.

Thanks!

Scotty Buttons · Mar 6, 2018

I think most people say to wait until your tank is fully mature before adding an anemone like 12 months.

Jesterrace · Mar 6, 2018

The 'nem requires a well established tank with lots of light. Truth be told you don't need them and the clowns will be fine without them. As for the Mandarin? You need to have a well established copepod population (ie breeding for a year or more) with no less than 75lbs of live rock for them to hang out/hide in. And remember that even if the Mandarins learn to eat Frozen Mysis, Reef Frenzy, etc. that they still need to feed almost constantly when they aren't sleeping as such Pods are still a necessary part of the diet AND Mandarins are slow as molasses in feeding and can take multiple steps to lock in on and eat a piece of frozen food, while virtually all other fish will simply swim right up to it and gobble it up. Take it from a guy who kept (and ultimately lost) a Green Mandarin despite 3 months of constantly feeding it pods, training it to adapt to Mysis and Reef Frenzy it is no picnic and I will likely never own one again because I simply do not feel that I can keep up with one. To be fair I did place it in a young 36 gallon tank with a 40lbs of live rock, so it was not a good fit for it. Just be prepared to be patient and wait a very long time on the Mandy.

Mark Derail · Mar 6, 2018

Naoxyn said:
Good morning everyone! (afternoon or evening depending on where you are)

I really want to get started with a new build to launch myself into the saltwater hobby. However, I'm concerned on how to start. The stocking idea I have is for 2 clowns and a bta asap.After the tank has had some time, eventually get a mandarin. I would love to have gobies paired with a pistol shrimp, but not sure if I'll have the space to do it. I need to have a set up >100g. I was looking at the prefab versions of tanks such as all in ones or some of the red sea reefers, but I don't like the idea of little or no fuge area. Especially since the fish I want the most (Mandarin) seems heavily dependant on a healthy fuge. Other corals are gorgeous and I would love to have, but the fish listed are definitely my top priority. I'm looking for ideas on a set up or suggestions on how to best make this work. If I couldn't keep the gobies and pistol shrimp, could I keep it bare bottom? Or, would that hinder the micro fauna population and be a detriment to the Mandarin? I'm open to the idea of builing a custom tank and stand on my own if a budget for it would work out. But, I have no experience doing so and am unsure of how good the outcome for that would be.

Thanks!

BTAs move around, and will harass neighbors (corals), especially when it "grows up". They also have split personalities. One half wants to go up, the other down, next day - I have two BTAs.

Best advice is to somehow isolate the BTA on a rock surrounded by sand with no access to glass.

I am barebottom with too many live rocks for a 48x12x20h tank, so my anemones are quite the rovers. I had to buy an extra wave maker to blast them when they go where I don't want them to.