70 Gallon Reef - The Fish List

[Greg129]

I am planning on making my 70 gallon(36" long, 18" wide, 21" tall)into a reef with soft corals, mushrooms, and whatever else my 192 watt coralife fixture will let me have. As far as cleanup crew, I want about 20 - 25 dwarf hermit crabs in addition to the hitch-hiker snails I have acquired from the 100 - 120 pounds of fiji live rock. Here's my fish list:

1 x Yellow Canary Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)

2 x False Percula Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris); added together in hopes of forming a pair

1 x Bartlett's Anthias (Pseudanthias bartlettorum)

1 x Shrimp Goby with Pistol Shrimp


And here are my questions regarding my list:

1. Is everything safe with the corals and other inverts I plan to keep?

2. Am I overstocked, understocked, or just right?

3. Are the fish compatible? (agression wise?, no fish will be out-competed during feeding time?)

4. Any suggestions on Shrimp Goby species?

 

[crzy4reefs]

sounds like thing are fine. on the anthias you can do one or a pair i think, but i believe one will be ok........

i love the Hi Fin Red Banded Goby.

all the fish are compatible. and are reef safe.......except the coris wrasse http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=386&N=0

 

[Greg129]

Thanks for the post. However, in my setup, I believe the Yellow Wrasse is safe. I only plan on keeping corals, hermit crabs, and one pistol shrimp for a shrimp goby to pair up with. That link you gave me said that the wrasse would only eat feather dusters, fireworms, and snails -- I think.

Anybody else care to comment on my fish list and the questions I asked?

 

[Larry Grenier]

Not that you asked but my 65 is 36" X 18" X 24"; you've got a 58 gallon tank.

 

[Greg129]

I don't think so. Try putting that into a tank capacity calculator. It comes out to 69 gallons.

 

[Larry Grenier]

I only said this because my 65 gallon tank is bigger than your tank. I did use a calculator and your tank comes out to 58.90909090909091. I tested it with standard sizes like 55, 75, & 90 and it works fine. My tank is 36" X 18" X 24" which comes out to 67.32467532467532 which AGA sells as a 65. No big deal.

US gallons = length X width X height / 231

(inches)

 

[Greg129]

Could we please stick to posts about my topic.

 

[Patchy]

the canary wrasse may pick at corals. I would try a fairy or a couple of flasher wrasse. much more colour and diffently reef safe. will only pick pods if they out in the open

 

[Greg129]

Really? Is this from personal experience?

 

[JohnH1970]

I had an H. chyrus for several years (until it jumped out through a small opening - cover your tank!), and it showed no interest in my corals (soft). It also paid no attention to snails or hermits (nor other fish in the tank, for that matter). Very nice fish. Needs a couple inches of sand to bury in at night, which mine did like clockwork.

 

[Greg129]

Thanks for the info JohnH. From what I've learned so far, H. chyrus make great tankmates.

 

[Mariner]

I really respect Robert Fenner's opinions on fish/compatibility issues. On wetwebmedia.com concerning your wrasse he says,

This is an exemplary aquarium species that is suitable for peaceful fish-only and reef systems. To a mere 4 inches or so total length.

This matches the experience I had with one many years ago in an FO aquarium. They do need enough substrate to bury themselves in at night -- preferably a soft aragonite sand.

Also, since proper stocking levels do depend on tank size, it is important to know the exact capacity of your system.
That said, your 58/70 will not be overstocked with those 5 fish. A 70g could easily hold a couple more small/medium fish, IMO.
Good luck!
HTH,
Mariner

 

[Greg129]

Thanks for the info Mariner. I'll get this tank capacity mystery solved.

 

[JohnH1970]

Greg,

Do you already have the Bartlett's Anthias, and if so, how do you like it? I saw one recently in my LFS and really liked it. Thinking of getting one for my 90.

 

[Greg129]

I don't have any fish that I have listed. I am just planning.

 

[stix_55]

Maybe you got the dimensions mistaken? From what I know, it's 58 US gallon.

 

[Larry Grenier]

US gallons = length X width X height / 231

inches

 

[stix_55]

Larry, maybe let him find out more We are all learning ya?

Greg, how about firefish? They are nice, shy though, but I like them!

 

[Greg129]

Thanks for the help everyone. I honestly thought it was a 70 gallon as that was what it was sold to me as. I did the calculations and it came to 58.9 so I'll be calling my tank a 60 gallon from now on.

I do like the look of Firefish, but I do not like very shy fish. I have no patience for them and I wouldn't want one to die from being outtcompeted during feeding time.

Since I only have a 60 gallon now, is my list overstocked?

 

[CrazyLionfish]

Re: 70 Gallon Reef - The Fish List

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6452679#post6452679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Greg129
And here are my questions regarding my list:

1. Is everything safe with the corals and other inverts I plan to keep?

2. Am I overstocked, understocked, or just right?

3. Are the fish compatible? (agression wise?, no fish will be out-competed during feeding time?)

4. Any suggestions on Shrimp Goby species?

1. Yes, all is safe with corals and inverts. EXCEPT I've read that the Yellow Canary wrasses is one of the only wrasses that is listed as "with caution" in a reef tank. They may eat feather dusters, wild shrimp, tubeworms, and flatworms. However, it is safe with coral and will eat fireworms and pyramidellid snails (coral killers) off of the corals. It is also listed as an "expert only" specimen, probably because it is hard to get them to eat as with most pencil wrasses. Also be aware that the Yellow Canary Wrasse likes to dive into the sand when threatened, so a 2-3" sandbed should be good.

2. Your stocking should be fine

3. Fish compatiblity should be fine.

4. Yellow watchman goby is one of my favorites.