Which fish first?

bfoleyiii · 10/16/2016, 09:55 PM

125g 6' tank
Cycle completed a couple of weeks ago but since I put a rock in from an untrusted source we are going to wait out the 9 weeks which ends the second week of November. So we put some snails and hermits in a couple of weeks ago and will be looking at a couple of shrimp this week or next. We are debating which fish to start with.

Full list of what we think we want:
3-5 Anthias (Carberryi most likely)
2 Firefish
Pair of clowns
Goby/Pistol shrimp pair (might be put off for a second tank)
2-3 Wrasses, thinking a pair of flasher and another type
Mandarin much later down the road
And something on the larger side-Trigger (red tail or bluethroat) or a Tang (not a yellow, maybe a powder blue/brown)

So we know the larger fish (tang/trigger is last due to temperament).
Mandarin much later as the tank needs to establish itself.
The wrasses we are not set on so we would like to wait on those.
The clowns could also have some temperament/territory issues so we want the more docile fish in.

That leaves:
Goby/Pistol, Firefish, and Anthias. I would like to drop the Anthias harem in first but I'm not sure that dropping 3+ fish in the first is the best way to go. But this would certainly liven the tank up. A pair of Firefish I don't see as a bioload issue on the tank, but the last one we had did not do much moving around and might not liven the tank up like we would hope. The Goby/Pistol pair could be hit or miss, might not pair or could spend lots of time in hiding.

I run an algae scrubber on the tank that is growing decent algae. I feed three times a day now, one cube frozen in the morning, flake at lunch time, and another cube of frozen later in the evening. If we did go with the Anthias I might even step up feeding to 4-5 times a day. I have the skimmer in the sump but it sits really low and I don't have the cup as it is used for aeration rather than skimming right now.

What input do you all have, while we have plenty of time before they go in the tank I'd like to get them started in TTM/QT this week or next.

farfromsea · 10/16/2016, 10:14 PM

I would do the firefish first. Since they are shy being first in the tank can help them be brave. LFS has them in a bio cube display with inverts and I see them every time I'm there swimming around. Did you add your firefish first last time too?

reddtiger88 · 10/17/2016, 07:00 AM

Definitely the firefish first, then the goby/shrimp. Then wrasses, anthias, clowns, tang, and mandarin. Is this a reef? For the mandarin I hope so. If it is a reef, I wouldn't suggest a trigger. Just my opinion.

scar79 · 10/17/2016, 07:15 AM

Firefish/clowns first. Hardy and for the most part inexpensive (just in case). Goby/shrimp can go in early too.

Then anthias group or wrasse group or tang. None require a very mature tank (I'm sure you've already grown plenty of algae for the tang to graze on) and won't be aggressive towards any other fish other than conspecifics.

As you understand, wait a good long while before adding the mandarin, even if it happens to take prepared food.

I would also avoid the trigger altogether especially if you care about keeping firefish! Even blue throats, sargassums, and nigers can view them as a tasty opportunity.

jacksonpt · 10/17/2016, 07:36 AM

Your thinking is pretty much spot-on. Add territorial/aggressive fish last. Also wait on anything that requires a mature tank, or is more susceptible to fluctuations in params that can come with a new tank that is still settling in.

I would do firefish and goby/pistol first. After that, it kind of depends on the species you go with.

Wrasse can benefit for an established tank (pod population), so there is some merit to waiting... but they are usually pretty hardy, so adding early isn't a big risk. Anthias can go either way, but considering a harem of them will likely be the most expensive of your livestock, it makes sense to wait until things are more established. Reef-friendly triggers *typically* don't have aggression issues, but it's always a risk. So I guess, if it were me, I'd add them in order of priority... so that I got what I wanted most first on the off chance that I couldn't keep everything. Ultimately, though, I don't think it matters much. You can only predict so much... at some point you gotta add stuff and see how it all comes together.

Flaring Afro · 10/17/2016, 07:40 AM

I also would avoid the trigger. Ignoring the terror it probably would become toward your inverts, even nigers often are very aggressive when they become adults.

If you don't have a big refuge, I can see the pod population becoming an issue for the mandarin. The 2-3 wrasse you add will be eating pods and are much faster. Even with a refuge that might be an issue. I'd say limit it to 2 wrasse for this reason and wait a few months after adding them and see if you can still easily see a ton of pods in the tank, then add the mandarin if you can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddtiger88

Is this a reef? For the mandarin I hope so.

Mandarins don't require reef tanks.

bfoleyiii · 10/17/2016, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farfromsea

I would do the firefish first. Since they are shy being first in the tank can help them be brave. LFS has them in a bio cube display with inverts and I see them every time I'm there swimming around. Did you add your firefish first last time too?

Previous tank was a 4' 90gallon tank. Order was Clown pair, goby/shrimp, 6 line, then the firefish. I am guessing the 6-line kept the firefish pretty much locked in place, we later added a yellow tang and eventually had to remove it as he was a terror to pretty much everyone, but while in the tank we never saw the fire fish.

farfromsea · 10/18/2016, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfoleyiii

Previous tank was a 4' 90gallon tank. Order was Clown pair, goby/shrimp, 6 line, then the firefish. I am guessing the 6-line kept the firefish pretty much locked in place, we later added a yellow tang and eventually had to remove it as he was a terror to pretty much everyone, but while in the tank we never saw the fire fish.

I'm guessing since you added the firefish after the 6-line he was probably a little skittish. Maybe you'll have better luck this time adding them first.

I don't know well enough about tangs/triggers but I wonder if they would bother a firefish at all? They are pretty but kind of a hit or miss with how they do with tankmates I guess unless they are all chill tankmates.

reddtiger88 · 10/18/2016, 04:34 PM

It's not that it is absolutely required to have a reef tank, but mostly they waste away from starvation if they don't have a constant supply of copepods to eat. Sometimes if you are really lucky, they will eat prepared food.

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Flaring Afro · 10/19/2016, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddtiger88

It's not that it is absolutely required to have a reef tank, but mostly they waste away from starvation if they don't have a constant supply of copepods to eat. Sometimes if you are really lucky, they will eat prepared food.

But having a reef tank and having copepods are completely unrelated...

scooter31707 · 10/19/2016, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaring Afro

But having a reef tank and having copepods are completely unrelated...

Agreed. I know plenty of hobbyist with Mandarins in a FOWLR.

reddtiger88 · 10/20/2016, 02:20 PM

Sorry boys I never got past the fo duh. I just assume all tanks with live rock are reefs. Been diving on too many patches without coral

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10/16/2016, 09:55 PM	#1
bfoleyiii Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Corona De Tucson Posts: 109	Which fish first? 125g 6' tank Cycle completed a couple of weeks ago but since I put a rock in from an untrusted source we are going to wait out the 9 weeks which ends the second week of November. So we put some snails and hermits in a couple of weeks ago and will be looking at a couple of shrimp this week or next. We are debating which fish to start with. Full list of what we think we want: 3-5 Anthias (Carberryi most likely) 2 Firefish Pair of clowns Goby/Pistol shrimp pair (might be put off for a second tank) 2-3 Wrasses, thinking a pair of flasher and another type Mandarin much later down the road And something on the larger side-Trigger (red tail or bluethroat) or a Tang (not a yellow, maybe a powder blue/brown) So we know the larger fish (tang/trigger is last due to temperament). Mandarin much later as the tank needs to establish itself. The wrasses we are not set on so we would like to wait on those. The clowns could also have some temperament/territory issues so we want the more docile fish in. That leaves: Goby/Pistol, Firefish, and Anthias. I would like to drop the Anthias harem in first but I'm not sure that dropping 3+ fish in the first is the best way to go. But this would certainly liven the tank up. A pair of Firefish I don't see as a bioload issue on the tank, but the last one we had did not do much moving around and might not liven the tank up like we would hope. The Goby/Pistol pair could be hit or miss, might not pair or could spend lots of time in hiding. I run an algae scrubber on the tank that is growing decent algae. I feed three times a day now, one cube frozen in the morning, flake at lunch time, and another cube of frozen later in the evening. If we did go with the Anthias I might even step up feeding to 4-5 times a day. I have the skimmer in the sump but it sits really low and I don't have the cup as it is used for aeration rather than skimming right now. What input do you all have, while we have plenty of time before they go in the tank I'd like to get them started in TTM/QT this week or next. __________________ Bob3 Current Tank Info: 125 in the making

10/17/2016, 07:00 AM	#3
reddtiger88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 73	Definitely the firefish first, then the goby/shrimp. Then wrasses, anthias, clowns, tang, and mandarin. Is this a reef? For the mandarin I hope so. If it is a reef, I wouldn't suggest a trigger. Just my opinion. __________________ In 100 years we have gone from teaching Latin and Greek in high school to teaching Remedial English in college. - Joseph Sobran. Current Tank Info: 14 Biocube mini reef, 75 reef

10/17/2016, 07:36 AM	#5
jacksonpt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Vestal, NY Posts: 3,679	Your thinking is pretty much spot-on. Add territorial/aggressive fish last. Also wait on anything that requires a mature tank, or is more susceptible to fluctuations in params that can come with a new tank that is still settling in. I would do firefish and goby/pistol first. After that, it kind of depends on the species you go with. Wrasse can benefit for an established tank (pod population), so there is some merit to waiting... but they are usually pretty hardy, so adding early isn't a big risk. Anthias can go either way, but considering a harem of them will likely be the most expensive of your livestock, it makes sense to wait until things are more established. Reef-friendly triggers typically don't have aggression issues, but it's always a risk. So I guess, if it were me, I'd add them in order of priority... so that I got what I wanted most first on the off chance that I couldn't keep everything. Ultimately, though, I don't think it matters much. You can only predict so much... at some point you gotta add stuff and see how it all comes together. __________________ Jackson - All advice I give is based on my first hand experience. YMMV. Current Tank Info: 38g (mostly LPS) with a 20g sump/fuge and all the other standard goodies

10/18/2016, 04:34 PM	#9
reddtiger88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 73	It's not that it is absolutely required to have a reef tank, but mostly they waste away from starvation if they don't have a constant supply of copepods to eat. Sometimes if you are really lucky, they will eat prepared food. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ In 100 years we have gone from teaching Latin and Greek in high school to teaching Remedial English in college. - Joseph Sobran. Current Tank Info: 14 Biocube mini reef, 75 reef

10/20/2016, 02:20 PM	#12
reddtiger88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Miami Posts: 73	Sorry boys I never got past the fo duh. I just assume all tanks with live rock are reefs. Been diving on too many patches without coral Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ In 100 years we have gone from teaching Latin and Greek in high school to teaching Remedial English in college. - Joseph Sobran. Current Tank Info: 14 Biocube mini reef, 75 reef

10/16/2016, 10:14 PM	#2
farfromsea Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 549	I would do the firefish first. Since they are shy being first in the tank can help them be brave. LFS has them in a bio cube display with inverts and I see them every time I'm there swimming around. Did you add your firefish first last time too?

10/17/2016, 07:15 AM	#4
scar79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southwestern CT Posts: 534	Firefish/clowns first. Hardy and for the most part inexpensive (just in case). Goby/shrimp can go in early too. Then anthias group or wrasse group or tang. None require a very mature tank (I'm sure you've already grown plenty of algae for the tang to graze on) and won't be aggressive towards any other fish other than conspecifics. As you understand, wait a good long while before adding the mandarin, even if it happens to take prepared food. I would also avoid the trigger altogether especially if you care about keeping firefish! Even blue throats, sargassums, and nigers can view them as a tasty opportunity.