PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[Red_Ant]

Ok thanks. Will I be better/not as packed if I get rid of:

1 angelfish
8" future Tang
8" future Tang
Flame Hawkfish
1 pair of clowns
New Reef Safe Wrasse
Carpet Anemone

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Red_Ant

Ok thanks. Will I be better/not as packed if I get rid of:

1 angelfish
8" future Tang
8" future Tang
Flame Hawkfish
1 pair of clowns
New Reef Safe Wrasse
Carpet Anemone

Yes.

[Red_Ant]

As always thanks Steve. One last question, I take it the Lunar Wrasse will be ok? Heard they can be real agressive.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Red_Ant

As always thanks Steve. One last question, I take it the Lunar Wrasse will be ok? Heard they can be real agressive.

yes, they are very aggressive. I must have missed this since they are NOT a good community fish (I thought you were doing a melanurus wrasse). Some people feel that if they are added last that all will be well. I do not agree.

[Red_Ant]

I have the melanurus wrasse and was going to add 1 more reef safe wrasse and 1 lunar wrasse. Then removed the reef safe above to make room. Sounds like I should keep the melanurus and 1 more reef safe wrasse and 86 the lunar wrasse.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Red_Ant

I have the melanurus wrasse and was going to add 1 more reef safe wrasse and 1 lunar wrasse. Then removed the reef safe above to make room. Sounds like I should keep the melanurus and 1 more reef safe wrasse and 86 the lunar wrasse.

I agree.

[Red_Ant]

Sold! Thanks as always!

[droog]

Hi,

I'm new to the hobby, tank is currently nearing the end of its cycle.

DT: 129g + 16g sump = 135g System Volume
Dimensions: 51"x28" (129cm x 70cm)
~120lb live rock (all supplied live, some growth and coralline on there)
Shallow aragonite substrate (2mm+ sized grains white color)
Skimmer is a Red Sea Max C-1800 (tank is Red Sea Max 500)

My goals are
1] To keep a mixed reed, SPS dominated reef
2] I would like one medium sized school of small fish
3] A pair of clowns, preferably tank bred and mated pair, with a host coal
4] As peaceful, docile behaviour as possible

The only "must have" is a pair of Ocellaris Clowns (my daughters would be devastated if memo doesn't come to live on the reef!)

After that I'm considering a school of like fish (hopefully 10 like fish)
Sunshine/Olive Chromis
Royal Gramma or Brazilian Grammar
Longfin Cardinalfish

1x Dwarf angel (Flame or Potters)
1x Tang (Powder Blue or Chevron)

Read lots of people love their Gobies esp. Diamond Goby. That would work for me. Will the diamond goby live with a shrimp and if so which shrimp would I need to get?

I plan to introduce the CUC first (next week) and start introducing fish from smallest first about a month later.

Don't enjoy seeing the CUC in the main tank, so algae gazing fish are preferable to snails, hermit crabs, shrimps. I'm also considering growing chaeto or mixed algae in a refrugium - mostly to limit PH swings, if that helps keep nutrient levels down so much the better, but my expectations of the fugue keeping nutrients down is low. I'll run biopellets in a reactor and/or dose NOPOX. I have both, and am also running carbon.

So 15 fish total, mostly small. Questions:

- Any comments / suggestions gotcha's in my fish selections?
- What would be my best choice for a host coral for the Ocellaris Clowns? Assume I can't keep a real anenome though it might be fun to try. Second choice would be an elegance coral, does it need to be in place before the fish arrive or is order not important?
- Introduce dwarf angel and tang last? (At same time or separately?)
- If I would like a school of 10 chromes... do I need to add them at the same time or gradually is OK
- Are there any members of the CUC that will thrive in the sump or do I need them in DT

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/pointers.

--
Cheers,
-Droog

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by droog

Hi,

I'm new to the hobby, tank is currently nearing the end of its cycle.

DT: 129g + 16g sump = 135g System Volume
Dimensions: 51"x28" (129cm x 70cm)
~120lb live rock (all supplied live, some growth and coralline on there)
Shallow aragonite substrate (2mm+ sized grains white color)
Skimmer is a Red Sea Max C-1800 (tank is Red Sea Max 500)

My goals are
1] To keep a mixed reed, SPS dominated reef
2] I would like one medium sized school of small fish In this sized tank there is no fish that will school or even shoal. Anthias will aggregate and have social interaction but they must be fed multiple times per day which has its own issues
3] A pair of clowns, preferably tank bred and mated pair, with a host coal The good news is that getting a pair of clownfish is pretty easy. Just start out with two juveniles of the same species. The bad news is that if they associate with a coral, they may damage it. And the worse news is that you cannot choose what they will want to associate with.
4] As peaceful, docile behaviour as possible

The only "must have" is a pair of Ocellaris Clowns (my daughters would be devastated if memo doesn't come to live on the reef!) I understand that, and as I mentioned above you will have to understand the consequences.

After that I'm considering a school of like fish (hopefully 10 like fish) however many chromis you add will slowly wither down to one or at most two.
Sunshine/Olive Chromis
Royal Gramma or Brazilian Grammar
Longfin Cardinalfish will not school; will initially aggregate, then pair off; also note that cardinals are primarily nocturnal and don't do a lot during the day

1x Dwarf angel (Flame or Potters) not LPS safe
1x Tang (Powder Blue or Chevron) chevron is easier

Read lots of people love their Gobies esp. Diamond Goby. That would work for me. Will the diamond goby live with a shrimp and if so which shrimp would I need to get? Mixed reviews on commensal shrimp + gobies as they tend to be messy with sand; the shrimp is alpheus randal

I plan to introduce the CUC first (next week) and start introducing fish from smallest first about a month later.

Don't enjoy seeing the CUC in the main tank, so algae gazing fish are preferable to snails, hermit crabs, shrimps. I'm also considering growing chaeto or mixed algae in a refrugium - mostly to limit PH swings, if that helps keep nutrient levels down so much the better, but my expectations of the fugue keeping nutrients down is low. I'll run biopellets in a reactor and/or dose NOPOX. I have both, and am also running carbon.

since this thread is only about marine fish compatibility, I don't answer questions off topic

So 15 fish total, mostly small. Questions:

- Any comments / suggestions gotcha's in my fish selections?
- What would be my best choice for a host coral for the Ocellaris Clowns? Assume I can't keep a real anenome though it might be fun to try. Second choice would be an elegance coral, does it need to be in place before the fish arrive or is order not important? No, an anemone is doable after the tank matures but the clownfish may or may not associate with it AND you must pick the correct species
- Introduce dwarf angel and tang last? (At same time or separately?) tang last
- If I would like a school of 10 chromes... do I need to add them at the same time or gradually is OK either way, the result in the long run will be one or at most two
- Are there any members of the CUC that will thrive in the sump or do I need them in DT well to clean up properly they need to be in the DT. I would go with various kinds of snails but no hermits as hermits kill snails for their shells

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/pointers.

--
Cheers,
-Droog

[bwhite33]

Hi Steve,

Is this setup maxed out with creatures? Hopefully the clam will get bigger and the Suncoral will multiply, but is there room for another assessor and a couple of pygmy wrasse. Oh, there would be a cleaning crew appropriate for the 75 gals. The CUC would be more impoortant than the extra fish.

Thanks again for all your advice.

bryan

75 gallon 36X20X24, 6 inches of sand, with one triangular (10x10x10) ceramic ledge held up by a leg/pillar on each corner of the ledge. This ledge would be about 9 inches from the water surface. Other ceramic rock-scaping, low grotto type, to divide up the tank area and provide hiding areas

Planned stocking: (I ran the tank stocking by Steve in the beginners thread.)
- Bonded pair of Randall Shrimp Gobies, with shrimp
- Bonded pair Chinstrap Jawfish
- Sun Corals under the ledge (more in the shade)
- Squamosa Clam on the ledge if feasible to do this, using an LED pendant)
- 1 Yellow Assessor(s)
- 1 Pygmy Wrasse
- Maybe an Orchid Dottyback

[Terefel]

Steve - could you please let me know your thoughts at your convenience? Thank you!!

40 breeder with 20L sump. 40 lbs sand and 45 lbs of rock. Planned stocking:
- 2 ocellaris clowns
- Banggai cardinal
- YWG and shrimp pair
- Royal Gramma Basslet and/or firefish

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by bwhite33

Hi Steve,

Is this setup maxed out with creatures? Hopefully the clam will get bigger and the Suncoral will multiply, but is there room for another assessor and a couple of pygmy wrasse. Oh, there would be a cleaning crew appropriate for the 75 gals. The CUC would be more impoortant than the extra fish.

Thanks again for all your advice.

bryan

75 gallon 36X20X24, 6 inches of sand, with one triangular (10x10x10) ceramic ledge held up by a leg/pillar on each corner of the ledge. This ledge would be about 9 inches from the water surface. Other ceramic rock-scaping, low grotto type, to divide up the tank area and provide hiding areas

Planned stocking: (I ran the tank stocking by Steve in the beginners thread.)
- Bonded pair of Randall Shrimp Gobies, with shrimp
- Bonded pair Chinstrap Jawfish
- Sun Corals under the ledge (more in the shade)
- Squamosa Clam on the ledge if feasible to do this, using an LED pendant)
- 1 Yellow Assessor(s)
- 1 Pygmy Wrasse
- Maybe an Orchid Dottyback

An additional pygmy wrasse or equivalent would do fine.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Terefel

Steve - could you please let me know your thoughts at your convenience? Thank you!!

40 breeder with 20L sump. 40 lbs sand and 45 lbs of rock. Planned stocking:
- 2 ocellaris clowns add last
- Banggai cardinal tank raised for best results
- YWG and shrimp pair
- Royal Gramma Basslet and/or firefish either, but the firefish should be added first

[Terefel]

Thank you, sir!

[bwhite33]

Thank you

[Sgchick]

Hi Steve,

I have a29 gallon biocube with 2 ocellaris clownfish, 1 cherub Pygmy angel and a pistol shrimp watcan goby pair. Also a cleanup crew including a peppermint shrimp, cleaner shrimp, hermits and snails. Wondering if I could add one last fish... A helfrichi firefish. Or would that be too much of a bioload? And I do have corals, mostly softies, but I know the firefish is reef safe. Thanks for your help. Melanie

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Sgchick

Hi Steve,

I have a29 gallon biocube with 2 ocellaris clownfish, 1 cherub Pygmy angel and a pistol shrimp watcan goby pair. Also a cleanup crew including a peppermint shrimp, cleaner shrimp, hermits and snails. Wondering if I could add one last fish... A helfrichi firefish. Or would that be too much of a bioload? And I do have corals, mostly softies, but I know the firefish is reef safe. Thanks for your help. Melanie

Should be fine.

[Sgchick]

Awesome!! Thanks Steve. Have a great weekend. :-)

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Sgchick

Awesome!! Thanks Steve. Have a great weekend. :-)

Always a pleasure. Same to you!

[Jwey]

Hello Steve,
I have a 100 Gal tank 72" long with 30 Gal Sump and a 20 Gal FRAG Tank
Water flow is 28 turns with wavemakers.

The plan is to be more Coral based.


Current fish:
2-Ocellaris Clownfish
Diamond Watchman Goby
Six Line Wrasse - Move to FRAG Tank?

To be purchased:

TANG's:
Chevron
Kole
Bristletooth Tomini


1 Dwarf Angel: Choices are-
Bi Color
Flame
Coral Beauty

Wrasse:
McCoskers
Carpenters

Gobies:
Orange Stripe Pawn
Orange Spotted
Sleeper Blue Dot

Others:
Blue Spot Jawfish
One Spot Foxface


Thanks for your time Steve.

[Deberber]

29 gallon biocube reef:
Pajama Cardinal
Firefish
Tailspot Blenny

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Jwey

Hello Steve,
I have a 100 Gal tank 72" long with 30 Gal Sump and a 20 Gal FRAG Tank
Water flow is 28 turns with wavemakers.

The plan is to be more Coral based.


Current fish:
2-Ocellaris Clownfish
Diamond Watchman Goby
Six Line Wrasse - Move to FRAG Tank? yes

To be purchased:

TANG's: pick one
Chevron
Kole
Bristletooth Tomini


1 Dwarf Angel: Choices are-not reef safe
Bi Color
Flame
Coral Beauty

Wrasse:
McCoskers
Carpenters

Gobies: pick one
Orange Stripe Pawn
Orange Spotted
Sleeper Blue Dot

Others:
Blue Spot Jawfish requires cooler temperature for long term success
One Spot Foxface not with a tang and dwarf angel; if there is insufficient algae they will not be reef safe


Thanks for your time Steve.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Deberber

29 gallon biocube reef:
Pajama Cardinal
Firefish introduce first
Tailspot Blenny

no problems; you have space for another small compatible fish

[Liverocknroll]

Hey was wondering about my current fish stock and if I should or could get more and possibly what I should remove.
Details:
1 blue hippo tang medium
2 clown fish, they are a pair and very strong survivors
1 Lyretale anthias, spotted pectoral fins and fin spike so possibly transitioning
1 large snowflake eel, so far has eaten frozen shrimp and allows other fish to swim through his massive live rock tunnel, and right up to his mouth.
1 Mandarin goby
1 cleaner goby
4 zebra snails
Would like to add
2 more anthias
1 more cleaner goby

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Liverocknroll

Hey was wondering about my current fish stock and if I should or could get more and possibly what I should remove.
Details:
1 blue hippo tang medium
2 clown fish, they are a pair and very strong survivors
1 Lyretale anthias, spotted pectoral fins and fin spike so possibly transitioning
1 large snowflake eel, so far has eaten frozen shrimp and allows other fish to swim through his massive live rock tunnel, and right up to his mouth.
1 Mandarin goby
1 cleaner goby
4 zebra snails
Would like to add
2 more anthias
1 more cleaner goby

Sorry, I do not really provide advice on aggressive tanks. However, the P., hepatus really needs an 8 foot long tank with 240 gallons.