rdriggett
Guest
John replied with:
30 Dwarf Ceriths - tiny cleaners, for the tight spots the others can't reach
12 Nassarius vibex
12 Florida Ceriths
9 Assorted Hermits
11 Nerites
New to BAR and reefing! Critique my 40 breeder stocking list and equipment please.
- Thread starter rdriggett
- Start date
30 Dwarf Ceriths - tiny cleaners, for the tight spots the others can't reach
12 Nassarius vibex
12 Florida Ceriths
9 Assorted Hermits
11 Nerites
I know it sounds crazy and seems like overkill but trust him...
rdriggett
Guest
All,
Thanks for all the advice, I'm getting much closer to my final stocking list. I don't want the hawkfish to eat my shrimp so its gone. Any cool suggestions to replace it?
I've been advised to get a different goby and skip the pistol shrimp.
Thanks for all the advice, I'm getting much closer to my final stocking list. I don't want the hawkfish to eat my shrimp so its gone. Any cool suggestions to replace it?
| stocking list: | Quantity |
| Frozen Frostbite Clownfish | 2 |
| Pink streaked wrasse | 1 |
| Bi Color Blenny | 1 |
| Yellow watchman goby | 1 |
| Exquisite Firefish | 1 |
| Royal Gramma | 1 |
| Skunk Shrimp | 2 |
| Dwarf Ceriths | 30 |
| Nassarius vibex | 12 |
| Florida Ceriths | 12 |
| Assorted Hermits | 9 |
| Nerites | 11 |
I've been advised to get a different goby and skip the pistol shrimp.
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sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
I think pink streak is fine, I tried to get one some years back but couldn't find any locally which I found is the biggest problem with planning out what fish you want to put in your tank unless they're common fish.
Crabs do work as cleanup crews especially if you have a too much food in your tank, but they're opportunistic omnivores and will eat a fish if they are hungry enough and can catch it. Personally I'd stick with banded trochus snails as they always tended to reproduce in my aquariums over the years, and try not to feed so much that creates leftover food! The idea that they'll munch away at algae and be the solution to all your algae problems though is a bit overblown.
There are other skimmers out there that fit in the tank like the Tunze, I just mentioned that one because it was one I was looking at for a 20g tank I set up. One thing about the ATO though which does relate to the skimmer as the water level fluctuates the water level in the skimmer will do the same and not skim as effectively, now if you top off every day it probably will be ok but the 40 breeder does have a lot of surface area so might have more evaporation that you expect. If you want to do just a filter, Tunze Comline series has just filter media (with a pump on it too so you may be able to do without the Jebao pump!), but again just shooting that particular one out because it's one I looked at.
Well if the light works, the light works. Two important things for a light, is that 1) it grows corals and 2) you as the tank owner like what the tank looks like with it on.
sfsuphysics
Supporting Member
I'm going to disagree with this 1000% I always feel like putting in cleanup crews based off tank size is a foolish thing to do when you're first starting out, i.e. when there isn't much food for the cleaners to clean up. Plus I believe his recommendations are based on animals he can collect, not necessarily what is most effective.
rdriggett
Guest
Hi all! I plan to purchase my livestock from Clearwater at the end of march and I'm starting my tanks cycle this week. I went with 4oz of turbostart and fritz ammonia drops. I purchased used Florida rock from a bar member and bleached it. Never buying used rock again. After bleaching it it wasn't worth the savings over new Florida rock, especially with ebay sales.
I've decided to go for the six line if I cant find a pink streak wrasse anywhere. I'll read up on possibly introduce him after everyone else is established or whatever is the safest method.
I swapped out my pump for a wifi enabled jebao mdp-2500. I plan to get a Tunze commline DC skimmer after I get my build up and running.
Stocking:
I've decided to go for the six line if I cant find a pink streak wrasse anywhere. I'll read up on possibly introduce him after everyone else is established or whatever is the safest method.
I swapped out my pump for a wifi enabled jebao mdp-2500. I plan to get a Tunze commline DC skimmer after I get my build up and running.
| Category | Equipment |
| Tank | Aqeuon 40G Breeder |
| Filter | Fiji Cube DIY AIO kit w/ RFG nozzles |
| Return pump | Jebao MDP-2500 |
| Filter Media | Greatwave Eng Biohome Ultimate, filter floss, carbon |
| Light | NooPsyche K7 V3 celling mounted |
| Wavemaker | Jebao MLW-30 w/ nemguard |
| Rock | used Florida dry rock |
| Sand | Carib Sea Fiji Pink |
| Heater | Aqueon Pro 200W |
Stocking:
| Frozen Frostbite Clownfish | 2 |
| Sixline wrasse | 1 |
| bi color Blenny | 1 |
| Yellow Watchman Goby | 1 |
| Exquisite Firefish | 1 |
| Royal Gramma | 1 |
| Skunk Shrimp | 1 |
| Randells Pistol Shrimp | 1 |
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H2OPlayar
Supporting Member
6 lines are known aggressors. The can work, but I have heard more horror than success stories with them. There are other wrasses that do the same pest control and are much nicer. Carpenter, fairy, melanarus, and a few others would work and be in the same price range. Firefish do well in pairs too, consider a second. You could also do 2 pistol shrimp with the watchmen goby if you like.
I also wouldn't have bleached the rock as the used rock has value in the microbes it holds more than the shape it is in. Since that ship has sailed, you can get some live rock from a club member to seed things with pods and bacteria.
I also agree with the idea of slowly adding the cleanup crew, or wait to add that much until you almost have an algae problem, so you don't starve your cleanup crew,
I also wouldn't have bleached the rock as the used rock has value in the microbes it holds more than the shape it is in. Since that ship has sailed, you can get some live rock from a club member to seed things with pods and bacteria.
I also agree with the idea of slowly adding the cleanup crew, or wait to add that much until you almost have an algae problem, so you don't starve your cleanup crew,
grizfyrfyter
Guest
If you can't get a chunk of live rock from a fellow reefer, ask if you can put a few pieces in their sump or tank for a few weeks so it can populate with beneficial critters. Even just marinepure balls will work for bacteria.
You will also get any pests the donor tanks has so proceed with caution.
You will also get any pests the donor tanks has so proceed with caution.
rdriggett
Guest
That’s exactly why I started with dry rock and dip all my corals. My friends tank just finished cycling and I have had a large bag of biohome ultimate in his tank for weeks. I’ll use that to jumpstart my cycle.
rdriggett
Guest
Are any alternative wrasses 40 gallon compatible? I’m finding very little besides pink streaked wrasses.
I fully plan to slowly add my cleanup crew!
grizfyrfyter
Guest
Yellow coris wrasse has always been my first choice.
rdriggett
Guest
I have a YWG on the list so I was hoping for a more rainbow wrasse. Besides a couple ones all of the wrasses I can find seem to be for 55 gallons and up.
PjFish
Supporting Member
I used the fiji pink in the past beautiful color but starting at .5 grain size it was blowing around so switched to special grade which is 1.0 to 2 grain size. Tropic of eden flakes are cool...Think it comes to how much flow you want or need? the 40 breeder has alot floor real-estate but not that tall so not alot room for verticle powerhead placement unless it's on a low speed..I'm in the process of setting up a 40 breeder as well for a qt tank but it needs look nice since it will be in the dinning room so will have some corals and rock on a bare bottom easy to flip things around or out...Best of luck
Paul
Paul
