65 gallon potential stocking list.

[LisaJill]

Hey all! Currently my 65 gallon has no fish in it and won't for at least 2 months if not more. I have a purple firefish in a hospital tank at the moment who'll go back into the tank after it's been fallow long enough and I'm sure he's ich-free. Probably towards the end of November.

I'm keeping a mixed reef and currently have several easier SPS, LPS, and some softies. I would like to get a clam in the future when the tank matures a bit as well. I also have a rather large Rose BTA.

I am considering what I want for my reef, and this is what I'm thinking:

* BlueSpot Jawfish (I may need to add a bit more sand for this, have a 2-3" sand bed right now)
* Juvenile pair of onyx clowns from Rod (if he still has babies available when I'm ready to purchase)
* Starry Lawnmower Blenny
* Bangai Cardinal (maybe)

I really, really want to try a Mandarin. I can very easily see a ton of 'pods swimming around even in daytime, and tons more at night. I have an HoB refugium stocked with some live rock and Chaeto.

So, would this stocking list work out? I don't believe any of these would be competitors with the Mandarin, but I am concerned about the Jawfish, Blenny, mandarin combo - I know these can all be aggressive to those that look like them: would that be a problem in my 65 given that their shape is somewhat similar?

Also, how is this on the number of fish? Is there room for an addition or two if something catches my eye down the line? Or am I at my max? Or (hopefully not) over max?

 

[AuroraDrvr]

Too small for a mandarin, unfortunately. Also make sure the Lawnmower is readily accepting prepared foods, as your 65 will eventually run out of natural food.

Other than that, it looks like a good list. There is still room for some more (depending on your filtration).

 

[LisaJill]

Yea, I keep reading really divergent viewpoints on the mandarin. My intention was to hold off until I found one already eating at the store. Which could take... forever. I'm good with waiting if I need to, the mandarin has been one of my long-term wants; it can stay on the "someday" list if it's really not possible now.

Plus, that would open up the possibility of a fairy wrasse or other mid-water active swimmer. I have possibly over-much of a fascination with "perchers".

The lawnmower will also be eating at the store before I'll be willing to take him home; I've kept a lawnmower before very successfully (before I left the hobby last time), so I'm sure I can find one that is eating, fat, healthy, and will live for a long time. I love those little guys.

Thanks for the input! I have a Deltec MCE600 on the tank for skimming, as well as a love of live rock, and the HOB refugium; I'm pretty confident on my filtration for the load I'm looking at.

 

[rydr119]

I have a spotted mandarin in my 65; fat little thing. I have a 20g sump/fuge. Its the only fish that I have that eats pods. Also I have about 100lbs of LR in the tank. The stock list sounds fine to me. I don't have a lawnmower and never had so I wouldn't know if food would be a problem for them but I do have a bi-color blenny and he's never run out of food. I would wait 9 months to a year on the mandarin just to be sure the tank is mature enough for the little guy. Mine always picks at the rocks and I have even seen her eat live whole ghost shrimp as well as other prepared food. You just can't expect one of these fish to be able to survive on frozen foods alone, it's not gonna happen.