Fish List and Tank Size

BenWilsonX · 06/15/2006, 10:25 PM

I'm in the planning stages of setting up a reef right now, and was hoping for some guidance in terms of fishes I intend to eventually keep. Right now I'm figuring on a tank size of somewhere between 75-100 gallons, with lots of LR and a DSB, plus sump and probably refugium.

My "wish list" for fishes:

1-3 Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)
1 Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)
1 Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) or Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora)
1-2 Shrimp Gobies (undecided on species) with Pistol or other symbiotic shrimp
1 Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)
1-2 Percula or Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion percula or ocellaris)

What would be an appropriate tank size for a group of such fishes? Also, would you suggest any changes in stocking order from the order I have them listed?

To add some movement to the reef, I'm also interested in a small school of blue or blue/green chromis (6-8 fish), a sixline or flasher wrasse, and possibly a pygmy angel (flame or coral beauty) if i decided to risk it in a reef. However, would I need a substantially larger tank for these in addition to the first list? I'm also considering starting with just a few fish in a small (20-50g) tank now and using that as a refugium for a 120-150g tank in a year or two.

Thanks for any input!

Ben

aquaman3680 · 06/15/2006, 10:31 PM

I would add the jawfish last as they need a more established tank. If you are going to do jawfish you need to have a covered tank because they are jumpers. All the fish you have listed are small so you could put all in a 90-100 gallon tank.

Bambalamb · 06/15/2006, 10:35 PM

First off, it looks like you have already done some research on "reef safe" fish. Those are some good choices.

Your first group of potential fish are all safe, except the pistol shrimp, IMO. As for the second, I've read that the chromis and sixline wrasses can be mean, and pygmy angels can be nippers in a reef tank. These are not hard and fast rules, just opinions.

HTH

BenWilsonX · 06/15/2006, 10:49 PM

aquaman: the only thing i'm worried about adding jawfish after other species would be them getting picked on... from what i've read, they should be one of the first species added due to their disposition. by "established tank", do you mean their feeding needs (plankton/pods, etc)?

HTH: are there shrimp other than the pistol that would pair up with a shrimp goby, but be more reef safe? i'd love to watch a symbiotic relationship like this

thanks for the replys!

Ben

aquaman3680 · 06/15/2006, 11:11 PM

yes they will likely not eat prepared food to begin with so they are going to need plenty of pods. The only one out of that list that they might get picked on is by the Angel and by the 6 line but if they go in before that but maybe 4-6 months down the road that would be fine

falesdk · 06/16/2006, 02:22 AM

I'm probably totally wrong. But I read somewhere that any goby will match up with any shrimp...There just happen to be some that look really good next to each other.

delor · 06/16/2006, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bambalamb

As for the second, I've read that the chromis and sixline wrasses can be mean, and pygmy angels can be nippers in a reef tank. These are not hard and fast rules, just opinions.

HTH

I have had both sixline wrasses, chromis, and dwarf angels in my reef tanks and have never had a problem. Of those three, the angels are the ones that might peck at some coral polyps, but I have only had good experiences, knock on wood. My sixline is an awesome fish, an ideal tank mate, if you will. He is always out and swimming about and never picks on anyone. He will also hold his own to larger more agressive fish (I had a Yellow Tang that thought he was the Boss of the tank, the sixline would stand his ground.). Hope that helps.

To me, when I stock a tank, I try to get fish to fill different parts of the tank. Bottow dweller, mid water fish (most), and some open water swimmers (the chromis for example). This way I feel that the entire tank is being used by the inhabitants, but that is just my opinion.

theop · 06/16/2006, 08:24 AM

IMO you could keep everything in your first list in a 55 or 58 gal. To then add the rest, I think it is doable in a 75 gal, but better to have a 90g. The 90g has the same footprint but is just a few inches taller.

BenWilsonX · 06/16/2006, 08:39 AM

Quote:

To me, when I stock a tank, I try to get fish to fill different parts of the tank. Bottow dweller, mid water fish (most), and some open water swimmers (the chromis for example). This way I feel that the entire tank is being used by the inhabitants, but that is just my opinion.

i like that approach... seems like i would have some bottom dwellers with the jawfish and shrimp gobies. mid water fish... would that include the clowns, firefish, gramma, ie fish that hang out in the rockwork? and then i could have chromis and sixline for open water movement. any other suggestions to help fill out the real estate?

Quote:

IMO you could keep everything in your first list in a 55 or 58 gal. To then add the rest, I think it is doable in a 75 gal, but better to have a 90g. The 90g has the same footprint but is just a few inches taller.

i'll probably end up with at least a 90 or 120g to house the whole population. i think i'll want a taller (around 24-30" high) tank so i can have a DSB of 6" or so. i think aquascaping would be more fun with 18 or 24 inches of width, too.

Ben

theop · 06/16/2006, 08:50 AM

There is a 110gal tank made my all-glass which is still a 48" x 18" footprint, but is a few inches taller than even the 90g.

dreams · 06/16/2006, 08:51 AM

i have a pearly jawfish and yes, i would add him first...he does eat pods, but only occasionally.....he is the most skiddish in my tank

just make they are eating offered food before you purchase them

i have him in w/ a yellow clown goby, 2 ocellaris, lawnmower blennie, 2 firefish, 3 pj cardinals

you are gunna love this fish, btw:-)

delor · 06/16/2006, 10:16 AM

Just remember a deeped tank requires more light in order to keep corals/calms on the bottom.. Just a friendly reminder.

BenWilsonX · 06/16/2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

i have a pearly jawfish and yes, i would add him first...he does eat pods, but only occasionally.....he is the most skiddish in my tank

sounds like a good plan. i think jawfish are the fish i'm most looking forward to keeping... fun to watch spit gravel : )

Quote:

Just remember a deeped tank requires more light in order to keep corals/calms on the bottom.. Just a friendly reminder.

good advice. i'll probably end up with 24" deep tank, but with a 5-6" sand bed, the lowest a clam would be is 18" below the water surface. will that keep a maxima clam happy with metal halides?

Ben

delor · 06/16/2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BenWilsonX

good advice. i'll probably end up with 24" deep tank, but with a 5-6" sand bed, the lowest a clam would be is 18" below the water surface. will that keep a maxima clam happy with metal halides?

Ben

Should be sufficent, but I don't have much experience with clams.

hawaiianwargod · 06/16/2006, 11:59 PM

BenWilsonX

To Reef Central

JRistau81 · 06/17/2006, 12:05 AM

Ben. It's great to see someone who has really put a lot into planning and research! That said, I miss my jawfish. The darn thing jumped out of the tank. WHICH WAS COVERED WITH EGGCRATE! That definitely takes some talent.

06/15/2006, 10:25 PM	#1
BenWilsonX Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Auburn Hills, MI Posts: 9	Fish List and Tank Size I'm in the planning stages of setting up a reef right now, and was hoping for some guidance in terms of fishes I intend to eventually keep. Right now I'm figuring on a tank size of somewhere between 75-100 gallons, with lots of LR and a DSB, plus sump and probably refugium. My "wish list" for fishes: 1-3 Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons) 1 Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) 1 Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) or Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) 1-2 Shrimp Gobies (undecided on species) with Pistol or other symbiotic shrimp 1 Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto) 1-2 Percula or Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion percula or ocellaris) What would be an appropriate tank size for a group of such fishes? Also, would you suggest any changes in stocking order from the order I have them listed? To add some movement to the reef, I'm also interested in a small school of blue or blue/green chromis (6-8 fish), a sixline or flasher wrasse, and possibly a pygmy angel (flame or coral beauty) if i decided to risk it in a reef. However, would I need a substantially larger tank for these in addition to the first list? I'm also considering starting with just a few fish in a small (20-50g) tank now and using that as a refugium for a 120-150g tank in a year or two. Thanks for any input! Ben

06/15/2006, 10:31 PM	#2
aquaman3680 Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 612	I would add the jawfish last as they need a more established tank. If you are going to do jawfish you need to have a covered tank because they are jumpers. All the fish you have listed are small so you could put all in a 90-100 gallon tank. __________________ Click the red house to see my 90 gallon Road Trip! Current Tank Info: 90 gallon RR

06/15/2006, 11:11 PM	#5
aquaman3680 Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 612	yes they will likely not eat prepared food to begin with so they are going to need plenty of pods. The only one out of that list that they might get picked on is by the Angel and by the 6 line but if they go in before that but maybe 4-6 months down the road that would be fine __________________ Click the red house to see my 90 gallon Road Trip! Current Tank Info: 90 gallon RR

06/16/2006, 02:22 AM	#6
falesdk Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 498	I'm probably totally wrong. But I read somewhere that any goby will match up with any shrimp...There just happen to be some that look really good next to each other. __________________ Its an obsession when you can't buy a new fish, because last month you bought a new coral instead of shoes, and they won't let you back in barefoot. Current Tank Info: Biocube 32

06/16/2006, 10:16 AM	#12
delor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 1,124	Just remember a deeped tank requires more light in order to keep corals/calms on the bottom.. Just a friendly reminder. __________________ Surviving is different than thriving! Current Tank Info: Current: 90 gal RR reef tank, LED. Old:55gal RR, 440W VHO, 80# LR, LS, 20gal sump, SCWD. 5 gallon nano, 75 gal FOWLR

06/15/2006, 10:35 PM	#3
Bambalamb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 102	First off, it looks like you have already done some research on "reef safe" fish. Those are some good choices. Your first group of potential fish are all safe, except the pistol shrimp, IMO. As for the second, I've read that the chromis and sixline wrasses can be mean, and pygmy angels can be nippers in a reef tank. These are not hard and fast rules, just opinions. HTH

06/15/2006, 10:49 PM	#4
BenWilsonX Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Auburn Hills, MI Posts: 9	aquaman: the only thing i'm worried about adding jawfish after other species would be them getting picked on... from what i've read, they should be one of the first species added due to their disposition. by "established tank", do you mean their feeding needs (plankton/pods, etc)? HTH: are there shrimp other than the pistol that would pair up with a shrimp goby, but be more reef safe? i'd love to watch a symbiotic relationship like this thanks for the replys! Ben

06/16/2006, 08:24 AM	#8
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	IMO you could keep everything in your first list in a 55 or 58 gal. To then add the rest, I think it is doable in a 75 gal, but better to have a 90g. The 90g has the same footprint but is just a few inches taller.

06/16/2006, 08:50 AM	#10
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	There is a 110gal tank made my all-glass which is still a 48" x 18" footprint, but is a few inches taller than even the 90g.

06/16/2006, 08:51 AM	#11
dreams Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 93	i have a pearly jawfish and yes, i would add him first...he does eat pods, but only occasionally.....he is the most skiddish in my tank just make they are eating offered food before you purchase them i have him in w/ a yellow clown goby, 2 ocellaris, lawnmower blennie, 2 firefish, 3 pj cardinals you are gunna love this fish, btw:-)

06/16/2006, 11:59 PM	#15
hawaiianwargod Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 11 54' N, 121 55' E Posts: 1,836	BenWilsonX *To Reef Central* __________________ "To be a successful reefer, one must master the art of mimicry" ~Hawaiianwargod~ [E] levated [L] evel [O] f [S] weetness Current Tank Info: 210+ - "G" Elos 160XL [~]

06/17/2006, 12:05 AM	#16
JRistau81 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Springfield, Illinois Posts: 264	Ben. It's great to see someone who has really put a lot into planning and research! That said, I miss my jawfish. The darn thing jumped out of the tank. WHICH WAS COVERED WITH EGGCRATE! That definitely takes some talent. __________________ I like pigs. Dogs look up to us; cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals. - Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 2 Hamilton 400w 14K Metal halide, Red Sea Berlin Skimmer (Don't scoff, it works well), 150-200 lbs LR, 50 lbs LS, 100 lbs Southdown...anything else?