PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[MikeL1987]

Revisited my list after doing some home work

60g hexagon, newly cycled with small CUC.

If possible, id like to know if this would be a good choice for livestock, and if so what order would be best to add them?

Copperband Butterfly
Diamond Goby
2 Oscellaris Clowns
royal gramma
flame angel

thanks so much! im grateful that this thread exists and is so well maintained.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by MikeL1987

Revisited my list after doing some home work

60g hexagon, newly cycled with small CUC.

If possible, id like to know if this would be a good choice for livestock, and if so what order would be best to add them?

Copperband Butterfly This fish needs a much larger tank, and it also very difficult. I definitely do not recommend it for this sized tank and do not recommend it for anyone without a lot of experience
Diamond Goby
2 Oscellaris Clowns
royal gramma
flame angel

Otherwise, except as noted, fine

thanks so much! im grateful that this thread exists and is so well maintained.

[MikeL1987]

thanks snorvich. I was on the fence with the butterfly and alls I hear is bad things about them. much appreciated!

[HUNTER1]

Hi, can I keep a snowflake eel in my 40g 36x15x19? thanks

[DragKnee]

I have a 30g Cube with a 20g Sump/Built-in Refugium. (Refugium is about half of the sump, with live sand, rock rubble & chaeto).

It's going to be mostly zoa's/paly's and a couple LPS. The main piece will be a RBTA.

2x Clarkii Clownfish
1x Flame Hawkfish
1x Orchid Dottyback

I have a pretty extreme fireworm infestation right now, and have no idea why, so I'm hoping the dottyback helps curb that. Only inhabitants currently are a good sized cleaner shrimp, large emerald crab, snails, hermits, and a derasa clam.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by HUNTER1

Hi, can I keep a snowflake eel in my 40g 36x15x19? thanks

No.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by DragKnee

I have a 30g Cube with a 20g Sump/Built-in Refugium. (Refugium is about half of the sump, with live sand, rock rubble & chaeto).

It's going to be mostly zoa's/paly's and a couple LPS. The main piece will be a RBTA.

2x Clarkii Clownfish Once sexually mature, these will want to control more than 30 gallons as they will be aggressive
1x Flame Hawkfish great fish, not shrimp safe
1x Orchid Dottyback

I have a pretty extreme fireworm infestation right now, and have no idea why, so I'm hoping the dottyback helps curb that.

It will/may eat them but probably will not eat enough to control your problem which is a result of over feeding. Bristleworms are a good member of the cleanup crew.

Only inhabitants currently are a good sized cleaner shrimp, large emerald crab, snails, hermits, and a derasa clam.

The clam will rapidly get way too large for your sized tank. Snails and hermits are somewhat mutually exclusive as hermits will kill snails for their shells. FYI. This thread, however, is only about marine fish compatibility.

[HUNTER1]

Originally Posted by snorvich

No.

Even by itself with the tank built with PVC tunnels across the 36" length?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by HUNTER1

Even by itself with the tank built with PVC tunnels across the 36" length?

The minimum suggested tank size is 50 gallons but that is a minimum rather than an optimum. I assume no other animals, but even then, I would not. However, in general, I prefer not to provide commentary on aggressive fish tanks.

[DragKnee]

Originally Posted by snorvich

I have a 30g Cube with a 20g Sump/Built-in Refugium. (Refugium is about half of the sump, with live sand, rock rubble & chaeto).

It's going to be mostly zoa's/paly's and a couple LPS. The main piece will be a RBTA.

2x Clarkii Clownfish Once sexually mature, these will want to control more than 30 gallons as they will be aggressive
1x Flame Hawkfish great fish, not shrimp safe
1x Orchid Dottyback

I have a pretty extreme fireworm infestation right now, and have no idea why, so I'm hoping the dottyback helps curb that.

It will/may eat them but probably will not eat enough to control your problem which is a result of over feeding. Bristleworms are a good member of the cleanup crew.

Only inhabitants currently are a good sized cleaner shrimp, large emerald crab, snails, hermits, and a derasa clam.

The clam will rapidly get way too large for your sized tank. Snails and hermits are somewhat mutually exclusive as hermits will kill snails for their shells. FYI. This thread, however, is only about marine fish compatibility.

Thanks for the response.

I guess I could easily read into your response, but just to be sure, so the Clarkii's in a 30g would basically assault any other fish in the entire tank?

I know the 3 types of fish are a bit territorial, so would the hawkfish and dottyback be able to hold their own, or would it bound to be a fight to the death situation?

Even a good size cleaner shrimp will succumb to a hawkfish, aye?

On a side note, tanks been running for a couple months now with the hermits/snails and they have been [so far] compliant amongst each other and no deaths to report. The clam does have a larger home it'll go to once the time comes.

[HUNTER1]

Originally Posted by snorvich

The minimum suggested tank size is 50 gallons but that is a minimum rather than an optimum. I assume no other animals, but even then, I would not. However, in general, I prefer not to provide commentary on aggressive fish tanks.

I got you, thanks

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by DragKnee

Thanks for the response.

I guess I could easily read into your response, but just to be sure, so the Clarkii's in a 30g would basically assault any other fish in the entire tank?

I know the 3 types of fish are a bit territorial, so would the hawkfish and dottyback be able to hold their own, or would it bound to be a fight to the death situation? If they are currently juveniles, you have a while, at the very least. First step would be sexual maturation which would result in bonding the male and female. The male, once submitting, and the female, now dominant, will start to consider mating. Once that occurs, the hawkfish should be fine since it is an ambush predator, but any water column fish will be confined to a smallish area. It will not be a fight to the death, it will be constant intimidation, which may cause the dottyback to jump if it can.

Even a good size cleaner shrimp will succumb to a hawkfish, aye? Most likely.

On a side note, tanks been running for a couple months now with the hermits/snails and they have been [so far] compliant amongst each other and no deaths to report.

It takes a while. I stopped doing both many years ago since snails are more effective and I got tired of buying replacments.

The clam does have a larger home it'll go to once the time comes.

[fishkid33]

Hello, I have a 55 gallon with a 30 gallon sump and I would really like to add a pair of black clowns with a pair Of occerliases (already have them ,not even and Inch ) and I was wondering if I could do that? Or if they will get along fine or just fight?

Thanks and let me know what you think

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by fishkid33

Hello, I have a 55 gallon with a 30 gallon sump and I would really like to add a pair of black clowns with a pair Of occerliases (already have them ,not even and Inch ) and I was wondering if I could do that? Or if they will get along fine or just fight?

Thanks and let me know what you think

Four clownfish will become two clownfish. No doubt about it.

[doctorvu]

Hi, First let me say thank you for expert advice as many of us love the hobby but need advice. I have 120xh tank cycling with 100lbs live sand and 70 lbs dry rock, reef oct. skimmer in 30 gallon sump and 3 aqua UFO lights. I am starting as fish only but will consider adding corals as tank gets established. My dream tank would have a pair of butterflies (perhaps 4eye) yellow tang, hippo tang, clown/anemone pair, flame angel, and a Juvenile queen angel. I know this list is probably too large for this tank, and I am unsure about hippo and yellow tang compatibility. Could you comment on the compatibility so I can reduce to appropriate level, and add in proper order? Thank you for your time.

[dbp214]

90 gallon mixed reef w/ shrimp, zoos, etc.

filtration:
120 lbs live rock
60 lbs live sand
filter sock (200 micron)
Vertex Omega 150 protein skimmer
10 lbs miracle mud refugium with macros
400mL biopellets in a biochurn reactor


desired fish:
pair of clowns
M/F pair of bimaculatus anthias
M/F pair of Watanebei angels
flame wrasse
rhomboid wrasse
mystery wrasse
powder blue tang x1
flame angel x1

Suggestion for a reef safe eel?
I want to keep zoos and shrimp

Any particular order I should introduce these fish?

YOUR HELP IS SO VERY APPRECIATED! you are just what I needed

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by doctorvu

Hi, First let me say thank you for expert advice as many of us love the hobby but need advice. I have 120xh tank cycling with 100lbs live sand and 70 lbs dry rock, reef oct. skimmer in 30 gallon sump and 3 aqua UFO lights. I am starting as fish only but will consider adding corals as tank gets established. My dream tank would have a pair of butterflies (perhaps 4eye) yellow tang, hippo tang, clown/anemone pair, flame angel, and a Juvenile queen angel. I know this list is probably too large for this tank, and I am unsure about hippo and yellow tang compatibility. Could you comment on the compatibility so I can reduce to appropriate level, and add in proper order? Thank you for your time.

In your sized tank, you can eliminate the queen angel and the P. hepatus tang as they require a substantially larger tank. Most butterfly fish are difficult to pair but some species of butterfly fish will coexist.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by dbp214

90 gallon mixed reef w/ shrimp, zoos, etc.

filtration:
120 lbs live rock
60 lbs live sand
filter sock (200 micron)
Vertex Omega 150 protein skimmer
10 lbs miracle mud refugium with macros
400mL biopellets in a biochurn reactor


desired fish:
pair of clowns species make a difference; if you pick a less aggressive species it will be a whole lot better
M/F pair of bimaculatus anthias
M/F pair of Watanebei angels requires a larger tank and you need to know that male G. Watanabei are very, very difficult shippers
flame wrasse Males are difficult shippers
rhomboid wrasse
mystery wrasse
powder blue tang x1
flame angel x1

Suggestion for a reef safe eel? I do not provide commentary on aggressive fish tanks. There is a dwarf eel that is sort of reef safe.
I want to keep zoos and shrimp

Any particular order I should introduce these fish?

Lease aggressive first, most aggressive last.

YOUR HELP IS SO VERY APPRECIATED! you are just what I needed

[frankDtank]

I am planning, like prob most others, to add 2 clownfish as my first life stock to the tank. I have a 90g setup with sump, SCA 302 skimmer, little giant ext return pump. inside the tank is live sand, reef saver rock and temp runs between 82-83. I've heard these were good starter fish??? is this true?

[elukelangley]

55gal viewing tank, 20gal sump w/ skimmer, live rock in tank, live rock and macro algae in sump/ potentially another 20 gal tank set aside on same water cycle. Non of which is completed, but thats the plan.

After setting all this stuff up and getting it all balanced and all that jazz.

starting out with some peppermint shrimp and snails and a cucumber (in sump refuge).

then a pom pom crab or two

followed by 3-4 Ocellaris clowns

2 bicolor dottybacks

2 yellowtail damsel fish

eventually a yellow and a blue tang

and some soft corals...(these will be in and established well before fish)

can i support? any species problems? two many clowns?

suggestions?, questions?, cash donations?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by frankDtank

I am planning, like prob most others, to add 2 clownfish as my first life stock to the tank. I have a 90g setup with sump, SCA 302 skimmer, little giant ext return pump. inside the tank is live sand, reef saver rock and temp runs between 82-83. I've heard these were good starter fish??? is this true?

Hopefully, you are not planning to cycle the tank with clownfish? Also, the species of clownfish makes a difference for long term behavioral compatibility. In general, assuming a cycled tank, you should plan your entire stocking plan rather than go with "starter fish".

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by elukelangley

55gal viewing tank, 20gal sump w/ skimmer, live rock in tank, live rock and macro algae in sump/ potentially another 20 gal tank set aside on same water cycle. Non of which is completed, but thats the plan.

After setting all this stuff up and getting it all balanced and all that jazz.

starting out with some peppermint shrimp and snails and a cucumber (in sump refuge).

then a pom pom crab or two

followed by 3-4 Ocellaris clowns Four clowns will become two clowns. Only two juvenile non sexually differentiated clownfish can be in a tank

2 bicolor dottybacks No. With marine fish, normally only one of a species. However this species is very aggressive and will preclude other tank mates

2 yellowtail damsel fish No. With marine fish, normally only one of a species. However this species is very aggressive and will preclude other tank mates

eventually a yellow and a blue tang No. these require larger or much larger tanks

and some soft corals...(these will be in and established well before fish)

can i support? any species problems? two many clowns?

suggestions?, questions?, cash donations?

I suggest you do a whole lot of research and then come back with a stocking plan

[Jrod4]

Originally Posted by snorvich

Should be fine but the dwarf angel is a bit difficult

Would a flame angel work better than the Bicolor?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Jrod4

Would a flame angel work better than the Bicolor?

Absolutely.

[Jrod4]

Thanks for your help and thanks for being kind enough to run this thread.