Advice on stocking my reef

[JLucia]

Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) / Pistol Shrimp pair - 1
Blue/Green Reef Chromis (Chromis viridis) – 8 or Ignitus Anthias (Pseudanthias ignitus) – 3 small (f) 1 large (m) or Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) – 3 small (f) 1 large (m)
Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) – 1
Ocellaris Clownfish, Tank Bred (Amphiprion ocellaris) – 1
Green Mandarin (Synchiropus splendidus) – 1

Maybe - Yellow Eye Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) - 1
Maybe - Royal Gramma Basslet (Gramma loreto) – 1
Maybe - Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) – 1
Maybe - Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loriculus) – 1

So the above list is my fish wish list. I have done some research on these guys and I know that I couldn’t put all of these guys into my 90 gallon reef but I am not sure which ones for sure to leave and which ones to give a try with. I list as maybe the ones I would be willing to forgo. I know that the mandarin is a challenge but I am willing to work with its requirements.

I am looking for some advice on which fish to leave and which fish to add first. Right now my tank is cycled and stable, ready for fish nut I am willing and patient enough to do it right. Please no flaming, I am looking for constructive advice.

 

[RayL]

8 chromis will most likely be 1 chromis very shortly after adding

I assume you are saying that you want 4 anthias and not 8. 4 Would be fine, but anthias do need to be fed often. Also, the lyretail might not be the right choice, I would go with the ignitus as they are a little smaller and your tank space is limited

IMO a pair of ocellaris is much nicer then 1

Firefish would be one of the first fish I would add, they are very skittish and this will help them become comfortable in the tank

mandarin- I would wait atleast a year before adding, let the tank establish copepods for him

kole tang is a great fish to help clean your tank, is this tank 4 feet, if so I would definitely add him at some point

six line wrasse have a reputation of being very aggressive I believe, never owned one

flame angelfish is another nice fish, I would change him to a flameback instead but thats just personal preference

 

[RayL]

If it were my tank, I would add in this order, but others might have a different opinion

watchman goby/pistol shrimp
firefish
ignitus anthias
ocellaris
flame angel or a different centropyge
yellow eye kole
mandarin

 

[JLucia]

Thanks Ray. One question I would have would be the compatibility of the anthias with the mandarin. Physically, I think they would be fine, but would they be competing for food?

 

[RayL]

As far as I know almost every fish will eat copepods, but a mandarin lives on them. If an anthias is fed properly and frequently they probably won't eat too many copepods. These were numbers I was told a long time ago, a scooter blenny might eat 50-100 copepods in a day were a mandarin will eat 500-1000 in a day. I don't think an anthias would eat more then a scooter blenny, so I would assume you would be fine. Are you adding a refugium to your tank?

 

[JLucia]

Yeah, I have one in the sump below (20 gal refuge) and I was figuring that the mandarin would be added several months if not a year from now. I wasn't sure about the anthias being an issue though and didn't want to get some fish now that would effect another fish I would like to get.

 

[RayL]

I think you should be fine. I would definitely recommend waiting around a year before the introducing the mandarin