PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[SpikeDangles]

Thanks for keeping this thread going! It's very much appreciated!!

-40 breeder w/ 20L sump. 25 lbs BRS pukani and 15 lbs Marco rock

Pair black ice clownfish
Blue spotted jaw fish
Purple firefish
Midas blenny

After 6 months and additional pods from an external culture id like to add a mandarin.

Only concrete are the clowns and the mandarin.

Thanks again Steve

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by feersalt

Won't be getting the tank started for another 6 months, but so far I'm planning on this:

30g Display Tank
10g Sump/Refugium with Chaeto
30lbs LR, 15lbs DR

I'm hoping to have something like this:

(1) Amphiprion Ocellaris Clown
(2) Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
(1) Flasher Wasse needs larger tank
(1) Scissortail Goby
(2) Trochus Snail
(1) Entacmaea Quadricolor clown may or may not associate with this
(1) Stylophora Coral
(2) Pumping Xenia Coral
(1) Feather Duster Bispira

Open to corrections regarding tank size and/or any incompatibilities I missed. Thanks for looking!

[ZeeSparrow]

75G w/29G sump/fuge recently cycled. Equipment in sig.

I currently only have small LPS frags though will be adding a handful of nassarius/trochus/cerith snails this weekend. Hoping to pick up my first fish also for 5G TTM followed by 2-4 weeks QT in 10G.

Stocking plan
3-5 pajama cardinal (shoaling?)
2 clownfish (snowflake/picasso/oscellaris)
1 white banded possum wrasse
1 bristletooth tomini tang - added much later per previous recommendation

1 or 2 of the following, not all 3. Please let me know if you have a recommendation regarding which to include/exclude.
1 tangaroa goby*
1 wheeler's shrimp goby*
1 orange-back fairy wrasse*

Incidentally I also hope to add a variety of shrimp later such as skunk cleaner, blood red fire, Venus anemone (glass).

Are there any issues with this plan?
Other than the tang last, should I add them in any particular order?

Thanks so much!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by ZeeSparrow

75G w/29G sump/fuge recently cycled. Equipment in sig.

I currently only have small LPS frags though will be adding a handful of nassarius/trochus/cerith snails this weekend. Hoping to pick up my first fish also for 5G TTM followed by 2-4 weeks QT in 10G.

Stocking plan
3-5 pajama cardinal (shoaling?) Initially will shoal but longer term will pair off
2 clownfish (snowflake/picasso/oscellaris)
1 white banded possum wrasse
1 bristletooth tomini tang - added much later per previous recommendation

1 or 2 of the following, not all 3. Please let me know if you have a recommendation regarding which to include/exclude.
1 tangaroa goby*
1 wheeler's shrimp goby*
1 orange-back fairy wrasse*

Behaviorally, all are similar so you should go with the two that are most pleasing to you.

Incidentally I also hope to add a variety of shrimp later such as skunk cleaner, blood red fire, Venus anemone (glass).

both cleaner shrimp can be done in pairs (which is what I did)

Are there any issues with this plan? No issues what so ever
Other than the tang last, should I add them in any particular order?

Thanks so much!

[feersalt]

snorvich, you're a total boss. I had a look through the other hundreds of pages and your insight is damn impressive. You ought to write a book on reef tank sizes and recommended communities.

Buttkissin' aside, I wonder if maybe a Six-Line Wrasse would be a better option due to the tank size?

I'll read up on clownfish and try to find a more compatible anemone or surrogate. Maybe a Clarkii would do better than an Ocellaris, whose anemones seem to need bigger tanks...

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by feersalt

snorvich, you're a total boss. I had a look through the other hundreds of pages and your insight is damn impressive. You ought to write a book on reef tank sizes and recommended communities.

I have been doing this thread for a bit over five years; I have no idea how many responses. Thanks for the kind words.

Buttkissin' aside, I wonder if maybe a Six-Line Wrasse would be a better option due to the tank size?

A sixline wrasse, a copepod eater, is very aggressive the vast majority of the time and will limit tank mates considerably. Not a good choice for a community tank.


I'll read up on clownfish and try to find a more compatible anemone or surrogate. Maybe a Clarkii would do better than an Ocellaris, whose anemones seem to need bigger tanks...

A. clarkii is one of the most aggressive clownfish and will want to control about 50 gallons of tank space. I do not recommend them for smallish tanks. A. ocellaris and A. percula are the most docile and can be kept in 30 gallon tanks with other fish. I suggest reading this.

[smittysmith2]

I made my first salt water fish purchases today. I bought 3 Chromis & 2 azure damsels. Getting this tank setup has been a long process. Glad I am finally able to have some fish!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by smittysmith2

I made my first salt water fish purchases today. I bought 3 Chromis & 2 azure damsels. Getting this tank setup has been a long process. Glad I am finally able to have some fish!

Is there a question?

[Deep Reef]

Steve
I have 120dt. In it I have a kole tang that seems to attack and kill any new fish. He only chases the otber residents when I feed.. my other fish are: six line wrasse, kaufmen cardinal, ywg, 2 ocl clowns and 2 black chromis and a midas blenny. Any suggestions as to how I can introduce and keep fish or must I remove the tang? Today I lost a diamond goby after onlyn1 day in the tank.

[krafty2010]

Biocube 29g with live rock.

Plan on a number of corals (such as mushroom and colony polyps.)

Fish:
Pair of Ocellaris Clownfish
One Exquisite or Purple Firefish
One Clown Goby

Along with CUC


Thank you

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Deep Reef

Steve
I have 120dt. In it I have a kole tang that seems to attack and kill any new fish. He only chases the otber residents when I feed.. my other fish are: six line wrasse, kaufmen cardinal, ywg, 2 ocl clowns and 2 black chromis and a midas blenny. Any suggestions as to how I can introduce and keep fish or must I remove the tang? Today I lost a diamond goby after onlyn1 day in the tank.

tangs can do that which is why it is always best to add them last. The other situation where this occurs is if there is insufficient algae for them to eat. You could try removing, re-aquascaping, and a week later reintroducing. Sometimes works.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by krafty2010

Biocube 29g with live rock.

Plan on a number of corals (such as mushroom and colony polyps.)

Fish:
Pair of Ocellaris Clownfish
One Exquisite or Purple Firefish
One Clown Goby

Along with CUC


Thank you

will be fine; good plan

[Deep Reef]

Originally Posted by snorvich

tangs can do that which is why it is always best to add them last. The other situation where this occurs is if there is insufficient algae for them to eat. You could try removing, re-aquascaping, and a week later reintroducing. Sometimes works.

thank for the help.

[Deep Reef]

Originally Posted by snorvich

tangs can do that which is why it is always best to add them last. The other situation where this occurs is if there is insufficient algae for them to eat. You could try removing, re-aquascaping, and a week later reintroducing. Sometimes works.

Yeah he was my last fish. However I had upgraded from a 75 to the 120 and now have room for additional species

[spewster]

Purpose of this tank: Make liverock for a new 100 gallon tank later this year but still look good.

Converted a old tank to salt:

Tank: 120L (30gallon) Juwel Lido
Live rock: 17KG
10KG Live sand
Eheim Pro3 2075 Filter
Bouy internal Skimmer
Bouy VM1 and Tunze Nanostream 6020
Eheim 100w heater
T5 juwel daytime
LED blue moonlight

3 weeks old. Treated with Seachem Prime and korallen-zucht zeostart 3

Good water values now so added following yesterday:

Pair of Clownfish (small)
4 worker snails (no ID)
2 Nasaris SP
1 Serpent Sea Star, Fancy Tiger Striped

Future plans:
2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 Sarcophyton SP

Tips for anymore fish that would be a good addition?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by spewster

Purpose of this tank: Make liverock for a new 100 gallon tank later this year but still look good.

Converted a old tank to salt:

Tank: 120L (30gallon) Juwel Lido
Live rock: 17KG
10KG Live sand
Eheim Pro3 2075 Filter
Bouy internal Skimmer
Bouy VM1 and Tunze Nanostream 6020
Eheim 100w heater
T5 juwel daytime
LED blue moonlight

3 weeks old. Treated with Seachem Prime and korallen-zucht zeostart 3

Good water values now so added following yesterday:

Pair of Clownfish (small)
4 worker snails (no ID)
2 Nasaris SP
1 Serpent Sea Star, Fancy Tiger Striped

Future plans:
2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 Sarcophyton SP

Tips for anymore fish that would be a good addition?

Current plan is fine. I am unsure what options you have in your marketplace, but you want, perhaps two, small non-territorial fish....

[spewster]

Originally Posted by snorvich

Current plan is fine. I am unsure what options you have in your marketplace, but you want, perhaps two, small non-territorial fish....

Thanks :-) Anything can be ordered! Dwarf angels maby?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by spewster

Thanks :-) Anything can be ordered! Dwarf angels maby?

Dwarf angels are algae grazers so you would need a larger, more mature tank. Two of my favorites are the pink streak wrasse and any of the species of possum wrasse. Not commonly kept because they are not as overtly flashy but excellent fish none the less.

[spotpea]

Hi,
I have a 29g All stock Coralife Biocube with protein skimmer and bio balls in place. Was cautious and did a two month cycle. FOWLR 30 lbs live rock, live sand 3" in back angling down to 1" at the front. I have:

Fish:
1 Tomato Clown (small)
1 PJ Cardinal (small)

Inverts:
2 Blood Red Fire Shrimp
3 Peppermint Shrimp
2 Mexican Turbo snails
3 Turbo snails
2 Bumble Bee snails
3 Neriths

The clown was in first, PJ a few weeks later. Levels have been perfect, no ammonia or nitrate spikes since cycle, nitrate are zero too.
I really just want one more kind of fish, and I like the look of the goby. I wouldn't do more than a pair and was looking for a good, easy to care for goby that can be solo or a pair? I poke around on live aquaria for ideas and feel like I would prefer a recommendation.

Thanks!
Melissa

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by spotpea

Hi,
I have a 29g All stock Coralife Biocube with protein skimmer and bio balls in place. Was cautious and did a two month cycle. FOWLR 30 lbs live rock, live sand 3" in back angling down to 1" at the front. I have:

Fish:
1 Tomato Clown (small)
1 PJ Cardinal (small)

Inverts:
2 Blood Red Fire Shrimp
3 Peppermint Shrimp
2 Mexican Turbo snails
3 Turbo snails
2 Bumble Bee snails
3 Neriths

I really just want one more fish, and I like the look of the goby. I wouldn't do more than a pair and was looking for a good, easy to care for goby that can be solo or a pair? I poke around on live aquaria for ideas and feel like I would prefer a recommendation.

Thanks!
Melissa

Any of the shrimp gobies (and pistol shrimp alpheus randall) are behaviorally the same so pick what appeals. However pairing them is unlikely.

[spotpea]

Originally Posted by snorvich

Any of the shrimp gobies (and pistol shrimp alpheus randall) are behaviorally the same so pick what appeals. However pairing them is unlikely.

Would I be better served pairing the clown and/or PJ vs. adding gobies? My LFs said they are fine solo but I feel like I do see them listed as schooling in some places.

Thanks!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by spotpea

Would I be better served pairing the clown and/or PJ vs. adding gobies? My LFs said they are fine solo but I feel like I do see them listed as schooling in some places.

Thanks!

Cardinals will initially shoal but longer term will form pairs; clownfish solo will eventually become females. Your particular species of clownfish is one of the more aggressive ones making additional fish difficult in your sized tank once it acquires sexual maturity.

[spotpea]

Originally Posted by snorvich

Cardinals will initially shoal but longer term will form pairs; clownfish solo will eventually become females. Your particular species of clownfish is one of the more aggressive ones making additional fish difficult in your sized tank once it acquires sexual maturity.

Thanks LFS for my "very friendly" clown. I appreciate the help!

[Martini5788]

69 gallon main dt, running since October and making the transition to softies/ macro tank. Current inhabitants
Pair of percula clowns
2 green chromis( they appear to have paired as well)
Starry blenny
Royal gramma
Tail spot blenny
Golden dwarf moray
Long nose hawkfish

Wanting to add:
Flame angel
Valentini puffer
Trio of anthias( carberryi possibly)
Firefish
Mandarin( once macro has established and pods pop is stable)

Connected to this tank is a 40 br with a mantis shrimp that will be a heavily planted display Refugium and a 20 l sump with jns u-2 skimmer. I know this is heavy stocking, but is it doable with all the macro? Thanks!!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Martini5788

69 gallon main dt, running since October and making the transition to softies/ macro tank. Current inhabitants
Pair of percula clowns
2 green chromis( they appear to have paired as well)
Starry blenny
Royal gramma
Tail spot blenny
Golden dwarf moray
Long nose hawkfish

Wanting to add:
Flame angel
Valentini puffer
Trio of anthias( carberryi possibly)
Firefish
Mandarin( once macro has established and pods pop is stable)

Connected to this tank is a 40 br with a mantis shrimp that will be a heavily planted display Refugium and a 20 l sump with jns u-2 skimmer. I know this is heavy stocking, but is it doable with all the macro? Thanks!!

Your existing population is more or less fine; I wold not add any of those you mention because of bioload and behavior.