75 gallon stocking help

[The Donald]

I have a 75 gallon DT with a 20 gallon sump (which will have a skimmer before stocking). Shallow sand bed..going mixed reef down the road (softies for the time being).

Fish on my radar are:
A pair of Ocellaris clowns
1 plain firefish
1 Kaudern's Cardinal
1 Blue/Green Chromis
1 Sixline Wrasse
1 Yellowtail Damsel
1 Royal Gramma Basslet

All these fish grow to about 3" long and for the most part are peacefull (i think)

Does this list look ok? What order do you think i should add them?

I would love to add a larger "show peice" fish but not sure what would work (I would subtract a fish or 2 from my list for it if need be) any ideas?

Thanks

 

[small alien]

I think you have a very reasonable list. Firefish might be bothered by the wrasse. Add the wrasse last.

 

[The Donald]

I forgot to say that i plan on 1 or 2 skunk cleaner shrimp as well.

 

[roushmustang]

I would love to add a larger "show peice" fish but not sure what would work (I would subtract a fish or 2 from my list for it if need be) any ideas?

Thanks

sixline may pick on the firefish

for the show piece i would keep something active and small about under 8" like a lyretail hogfish or jackknife fish
jackknife fish first if you choose between them

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+46+1734&pcatid=1734

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6ajVcucQY0


http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+35+209&pcatid=209

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egDfgJEve1w

 

[The Donald]

Roushmustang...great looking fish, but they are not reef safe.

If i were to swap out the firefish with a Kole or Tomini tang, how many of the fish on my list will have to go? The tang sticky claims either of these would work in a 75 and they have great looks.

 

[roushmustang]

if i were to get one of the tangs i would get rid of the chromis, firefish, and cardinal

its your call on the fish... i dont want to try to convince you into buying a fish and they eat your shrimp and say to me "you said they wouldnt eat my shrimp i just lost 60$ because of your decision"..... get what im saying

im not a fan of tangs becaue when you aproach the tank they are shy and hide...( yellow tangs, purple) but the larger ones dont as much

 

[snorvich]

im not a fan of tangs becaue when you aproach the tank they are shy and hide...( yellow tangs, purple) but the larger ones dont as much

Which tangs have you owned?

 

[Toddrtrex]

If a tang runs and hides when you come up to the tank, there is something wrong.

 

[The Donald]

I keep flip-flopping on the idea of one of the smaller tangs. For reasons beyond my control (the wife) i cannot have a qt in the house (i could have one in the garage but its not heated or cooled) and the thought of an ick prone fish without quaratine scares me alittle. Is there any 5"-7" max size hardy fish that will work in a mixed reef? The thought of an all damsel tank is starting to look good right about now.

 

[acoff87]

Bodianus bimaculatus are worth looking into. id stay away from the sixline, and i never trust damsels.

 

[MCCOOL]

What about a Marine Betta (Calloplesiops altivelis)


http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+46+364&pcatid=364

I've had mine for about 3 years now and love it. It was fairly reclusive in the beginning, but spends most of it's time out in the open at this point.

 

[The Donald]

MCCOOL, great looking fish, but he will eat all my other fish and shrimp...

If i can't find a 6" or so showpiece, mabey i will try a 3 fish shoal of the blue/greens and hope for the best

 

[MCCOOL]

Mine is kept with a Plectranthias inermis, which is about 1.5". It has also been kept with firefish and cleaner shrimp for years ( both recently removed, for unrelated reasons) without issue.

The shrimp might be in danger, but I doubt it would ever eat a healthy fish.

Blotched Anthias (Holanthias borbonius) would also be a good choice.

 

[roushmustang]

Which tangs have you owned?

yellow

and its mainly at my lfs in there show tank where nothing is for sale in there and when people aproach the tank the tangs somewhat hide and are skitterish

and at my neighbors house and firends house that i see them and they all are cautious when you approach

im not sayin this about all tangs but im sayin small ones maybe around 1-3.5"

 

[snorvich]

yellow

and its mainly at my lfs in there show tank where nothing is for sale in there and when people aproach the tank the tangs somewhat hide and are skitterish

and at my neighbors house and firends house that i see them and they all are cautious when you approach

im not sayin this about all tangs but im sayin small ones maybe around 1-3.5"

So, at this point, you have not really kept any tangs yourself?

 

[haysanatar]

Personaly I like the look of a few firefish get a pair. Also if you plan to get any lps and are going to feed them go ahead amd forget it with skunk cleaners. I'll never get another everyone I've ever had would rpb all my coral no matter how much I fed.... it'd. Even just pick the food out just to do it