Thoughts on Stocking a 65g Reef for a classroom

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

Wy Renegade

Aquarium Advice Addict
Joined
Jan 31, 2008
Messages
4,760
Location
Wyoming
Hey All,

I haven't messed with a saltwater aquarium for quite some time, but was recently donated a reef-ready 65gallon Oceanic aquarium for my classroom. The lights and the sump (bioball) will need to be updated, but otherwise it should be good to go.

Back when I used to mess with saltwater a lot, zoanthids were kind of my thing, but I'd be pretty leery of putting a lot of those into a classroom aquarium that students will have access to.

So I'm looking for advice on corals that are currently available, don't cost a fortune and are hardy enough for a classroom setting.

TIA
 
Xenia, hammer corals, birdsnest, montipora capornicis, toadstools, most mushrooms, uhhh frospawn and torch corals would probably do fine too
 
Xenia and GSP maybe on small island. birdsnest and mushrooms are good choices, the frogspawn and torch are both stinging corals, so likely will avoid those.

Thoughts on fish?
 
Gotta have clowns right? Lol. Midas blennies are awesome and colorful. Could do a pistol shrimp goby pair to show symbiosis. Banggai cardinals are cool but kinda boring, um red or purple firefish are nice as well.
 
Definitely a pistol shrimp/goby pair. Not sure on the clowns, may do some of the rock flower nems and if i do I don't want any clowns. A wrasse or two may be required as well. firefish are great as well.
 
Blasto and or Duncan to show that corals can and will eat and are animals. Agree zoas and palys could be a liability. It would be interesting to start it in the beginning if a year to go through the nitrogen cycle. With the clowns you can talk that all new clowns are male and the female has a harem of males, Percula clowns might create the symbiosis with and anemone too. Some mushroom corals to show the division reproduction. Trumpet or candy cane coral to show the how the slowly create another mouth then divide over a period of time. A clean up crew of astreas snails and trochus a long with a few emerald crabs. No hermits.
 
Blasto and or Duncan to show that corals can and will eat and are animals. Agree zoas and palys could be a liability. It would be interesting to start it in the beginning if a year to go through the nitrogen cycle. With the clowns you can talk that all new clowns are male and the female has a harem of males, Percula clowns might create the symbiosis with and anemone too. Some mushroom corals to show the division reproduction. Trumpet or candy cane coral to show the how the slowly create another mouth then divide over a period of time. A clean up crew of astreas snails and trochus a long with a few emerald crabs. No hermits.

We'll be starting this semester, so they will definitely get to see the cycle take place, although I probably have some seed bacteria I can pull out of another tank. Definitely will have the clean-up crew, but think I'll avoid the emerald, more bad than good experiences with them I'm afraid. Trumpet or candy cane will definitely make the list.

Gotta have a tyree toadstool in there. Kids will love it.

Used to have one of those, and they are very cool - I know that some of the leathers cause issues for the other corals, does this one?

You could also add in some Damsels to showcase Bullying. I guess clowns can do that too

Yeah, no Damsels, those I dislike.
 
Toadstools can let out toxins if damaged but I’ve never had an issue with mine hurting anything else. It’s right next to a birdsnest and cyphastrea and never caused issues.
 
Toadstools can let out toxins if damaged but I’ve never had an issue with mine hurting anything else. It’s right next to a birdsnest and cyphastrea and never caused issues.
Interesting! I didn't know that, I havnt noticed any issues with mine. Luckily!
 
Back
Top Bottom