Critique my stocking list for 90 gallon

[clownchic]

I know everyone hates these but I really would love some advice and suggestions. This is my list for a peaceful 90 gallon reef (SPS mainly). I am housing a friends fish for now but will not have them after this weekend so there will be no fish, just snails. In a month or so I would like to add:

Adding in this order:

1 male, 4 females - anthias (not sure dispar, bartletts, lyretail?)

then wait (month or so?)

1 longnosed hawkfish

then wait (month or so?)

1 hippo tang



Too much, not compatible, too difficult?

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

Sounds okay. If you go with lyretails, I would go with a lyretail hawkfish instead of the longnose, as they are believed to mimic anthias, and makes for an interesting display.

 

[clownchic]

That sounds intersting! What is the name for the lyretail hawkfish? Are they common?

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

Cyprinocirrhites polyactis


Commonly called the swallowtail hawkfish, soaring hawk, or lyretail hawk. They seem pretty common around here.

 

[john37]

sounds good, but how about a powder blue instead of the hippo?

 

[clownchic]

My husband loves the Hippo tangs. Is there a plus to the powder blue?

 

[thor32766]

no the powder blues are actually not close to being as hardy as the blue hippos. Blue hippos are a great fish.

 

[clownchic]

To justify my habit and spending I will probably stick with the Hippo Tang (I like them too).

Are sunburst anthias just too difficult to keep? I'm a pretty diligent reefer. Anyone have experience with them in a set-up similar to mine? They are beautiful!

 

[john37]

hippo's end up a lot larger than powder blues and in my opinion the powder blue swims more gracefully, and looks better...but that's me.

anyways. i have 2 sunbursts in my 225 and if you find one that's already eating at the fish store it's a great start. mine initially only ate mysis but after a few months started trying flakes. now likes flakes.