Thanks for all the info!!
I think Lynn cautioned me against mandarins, no, no, I agree, I'm "stuck" with some really small species -- my plan is to do FOWLR at first and let it go, then incorporate some inverts THEN try some corals.
The 5g may become the "extra" eventually... are you guys calling this a puge?
You know, though the LFS has this FAB looking reef tank, a 9 g cube with lots and lots of stuff. There's at least one clown, a purple/yellow guy, one of those shrimp I'm learning about who is red with the white stripe, a couple multicolored stiped guys, hermits, plus all the inverts and corals I can't even begin to name.
I asked about it and was told the "salt guy" does tons of water changes all the time to get that small a tank healthy. There is a lot of green algae on the back and sides though. The tank is really packed.
I'd rather do this slow and proper and buy a giant tank when I hit the lottery.
Oh and the point of this... crabs are not necessarily evil, but tell that to the anemone he ate.
No crabs! Long live shrimp!