Need suggestions for which fish to add to my reef aquarium.

[AquariumCA]

Hi All,

Finally after waiting out 4 months running the aquarium without any fish, I am ready to add fish to my reef aquarium. All my fish had died because of ICH/Marine Velvet while I was away on vacation (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2438878)

I have already added 2 clown and 1 yellow tang over the last month and want to add more fish.

I have a 90 gallon reef tank and 40 gallon sump. I also have a 30 gallon quarantine tank in which I will quarantine all my fish with seachem cupramine.

How many fish and what kind of fish do you recommend I add over the next few months/years.

Looking forward to your advice.

Regards

[Atf22]

I am right with you on this! Tagging along to see what people recommend! I'm actually getting some fish tomorrow, starting with 2 firefish! They go into qt at 7 pm and will be introduced into the DT after 2 weeks of copper treatment unless i see something to make me extend the QT time!

[mixedreef89]

I would add a six line. I love their color and their personality.

[ichthyogeek]

some sort of bristletooth tang to round out the algae eating machine! I like the looks of Tomini's to be honest. By the way, tang police are headed your way because your tank is too small.

A flashy fish that won't be too shy, like a flasher/fairy wrasse to roam the upper columns of the aquarium! (or like, 6 green chromis...)

a shrimp/goby pair?

[Nina51]

Originally Posted by Atf22

I'm actually getting some fish tomorrow, starting with 2 firefish! They go into qt at 7 pm and will be introduced into the DT after 2 weeks of copper treatment unless i see something to make me extend the QT time!

you'll end up with only 1 firefish.

two weeks of qt isn't nearly long enough, even with copper.

Originally Posted by mixedreef89

I would add a six line. I love their color and their personality.

six lines are notoriously aggressive.

there is a sticky in this forum where steve (snorvich) can advise you on your stocking list. i would highly recommend you run it by him before you run out and buy fish.

and yeah, a yellow tang shouldn't be kept in anything under 100g. it can be, it just shouldn't be.

[mixedreef89]

I must have gotten lucky with mine. Everyone says they are aggressive. mine is as nice as can be

[Nor_Cal_Guy]

Six line can be a total tank a hole. I have seen one kill 20 fish over time. I second the bristle tooth tang, flame tang is cool, but one of my favorite flashy surgeon fish is the Chevron:

[Jeff210]

Originally Posted by Nina51

there is a sticky in this forum where steve (snorvich) can advise you on your stocking list. i would highly recommend you run it by him before you run out and buy fish.

What Nina said...here is the sticky:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2068112

Steve provides an invaluable service here...take advantage of it...

[AquariumCA]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I have a pistol shrimp already for like 6 months, the goby I bought for it died 4 months ago. Last week I bought a watchman goby and it did not survive the qt. It was healthy at the pet store and was eating right at home too. Not sure if copper killed it.

I will check out the list. And I had a Tomini tang on my list. For some reason, I really like tangs.

I know my tank (90 gallon) might be too small right now but I am going for Small size tangs. I have plans on buying a 300g aquarium as soon as I get a bit more experience with this 90.

Regards,

[Nina51]

Originally Posted by AquariumCA

I know my tank (90 gallon) might be too small right now but I am going for Small size tangs. I have plans on buying a 300g aquarium as soon as I get a bit more experience with this 90.

the problem is, fish don't stop growing just because they are in a small tank. tangs can be ich magnets and unless you are proactive in preventing ich with either tank transfer or copper, it's highly likely you could end up with it again and you'll be right back where you started and a whole lot poorer for it.

you'd be much better off keeping some small, beginner fish in your 90 until you are confident enough that you're ready to get off the porch and play with the big dogs. going from a 90 to a 300 is gonna be daunting, to say the least, unless you have unlimited funds.

too many times (and i'm not saying you are one), people plan to upgrade and then life gets in the way and it never happens and then they're stuck with a whole lotta big fish in a way too small tank which can cause stress/disease very easily.

sheesh, i prolly sound like your mother! did you make your bed this morning and is your homework done??

[AquariumCA]

Originally Posted by Nina51

the problem is, fish don't stop growing just because they are in a small tank. tangs can be ich magnets and unless you are proactive in preventing ich with either tank transfer or copper, it's highly likely you could end up with it again and you'll be right back where you started and a whole lot poorer for it.

you'd be much better off keeping some small, beginner fish in your 90 until you are confident enough that you're ready to get off the porch and play with the big dogs. going from a 90 to a 300 is gonna be daunting, to say the least, unless you have unlimited funds.

too many times (and i'm not saying you are one), people plan to upgrade and then life gets in the way and it never happens and then they're stuck with a whole lotta big fish in a way too small tank which can cause stress/disease very easily.

sheesh, i prolly sound like your mother! did you make your bed this morning and is your homework done??

Hahaha, the only homework I have left now is around this reef stuff.

Thank you for the advice. Which beginner fish do you recommend that could stay in harmony in a 90 gallon tank?

I know things happen in life but we can only plan.

[Nina51]

i could tell you which fish i, myself, like but that wouldn't necessarily mean i think you should buy them.

go to liveaquaria.com and start looking. start with beginner fish and go from there. you'll find so many, it'll be hard to make up your mind! they will give you guidance as far as what each fish requires for tank size, etc.

when you have your stocking list complete, go to the sticky here and run it by snorvich. he will let you know if it will work. good luck! fish shopping for a new tank is SO much fun!

[deagan14]

I personally would call it good on tangs in your tank. Unless you were to add something like a kole tang. Think about adding a few dispar anthias maybe a school of green chromis. One of my personal favorites are royal grammas although you should only get one the have so beautiful coloration and they aren't agressive just territorial.

[Tin Man]

Originally Posted by Nina51

i could tell you which fish i, myself, like but that wouldn't necessarily mean i think you should buy them.

go to liveaquaria.com and start looking. start with beginner fish and go from there. you'll find so many, it'll be hard to make up your mind! they will give you guidance as far as what each fish requires for tank size, etc.

when you have your stocking list complete, go to the sticky here and run it by snorvich. he will let you know if it will work. good luck! fish shopping for a new tank is SO much fun!

what he/she said...

and hold off on the tang until you have established the 300 for six months. to be successful at saltwater, you need to start slow, then slow down.