Fish stocking plan

[IronMan72]

We have compiled a list of fish that we might like to raise. We are still narrowing the list down and certainly have no intention of packing all of these into our tank. Do any of the fish on our list seem that they would be incompatible? Any suggestions on fish that might work well with what we currently have that we have missed?

Current livestock

Fish
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
2 Diamond Gobies

Inverts
2 Sea Urchins

Coral
Green Star Polyps
Occulina Robusta

Want to add next
Blue Hippo Tang (could get too big for this tank but we have plans to move to a 125 or bigger in the future).
Bubble Tip Anemone

Future consideration (not sorted in any particular order but we realize that some of these would be best to add last)
Yellow Assessor
Yellowtail Damsel
Zebra Dartfish
Purple Firefish
Royal Gramma
Bicolor Blenny
Sailfin Blenny
Banggai Cardinalfish
Yellow Striped Cardinalfish
Pajama Cardinalfish
Blue Chromis
Green Chromis
Comet

 

[jfl14609]

I am just going to put this as a discalamer this is just my opinion. I would scratch the urchins they tend to knock tons of corals over and create issues. Also stay away from damsels there are a few that are somewhat ok but hey why risk it and what size tank is this for a 75?

 

[IronMan72]

Opinions are exactly what I am asking for. I can read about these fish all I want but there is nothing better than experience. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

This is for a 75, obviously I'll not be putting all of these fish in this tank, just trying to narrow down the stocking list. The urchins are not a must have and were actually never in the plan. They came in as hitch hikers in my live rock. I think they were actually born in the tank b/c they were so tiny when they first appeared about a month after the rock was in the tank. They don't appear too clumsy yet (at least not any more so than the turbo snails) but it is good to know that I need to watch for this and have a plan to deal with it if it becomes an issue. I may be planning a FOWLR because I really love the Harlequin Tusk, maybe they could go in there.

 

[dreaminmel]

Out of the future consideration list my favs would be: Zebra Dartfish, Purple Firefish, Royal Gramma, Bicolor Blenny & Yellow Striped Cardinalfish

I have four of the Zebra Darts in my tank now and they are great fish.

 

[tmz]

I think the urchins will chomp coraline too. The damsels may bother some of the other fish you have listed. The hippo in a 75 should be ok if you have open water, ie the tank isn't packed with rock and or overloaded to a point where filtration/nutrient build up becomes an issue.. It's tight but I've kept one in a 90 for about 7 years and it's healthy and fat. S Michaels recommends a minium of 100g for the Paracanthurus heppatus.

 

[IronMan72]

Out of the future consideration list my favs would be: Zebra Dartfish, Purple Firefish, Royal Gramma, Bicolor Blenny & Yellow Striped Cardinalfish

I have four of the Zebra Darts in my tank now and they are great fish.

The Zebra darts are probably next highest on my list and the Purple Firefish, Royal Gramma, Bicolor Blenny are in the top 5 of the rest. My only concern with the Zebra darts and the Bicolor Blenny are how they'd get along with the diamond gobies. The diamond gobies seem to have tunneled under every rock possible. There are definately enough places for all of them but I am concerned that they have already claimed them all.

I think the urchins will chomp coraline too. The damsels may bother some of the other fish you have listed. The hippo in a 75 should be ok if you have open water, ie the tank isn't packed with rock and or overloaded to a point where filtration/nutrient build up becomes an issue.. It's tight but I've kept one in a 90 for about 7 years and it's healthy and fat. S Michaels recommends a minium of 100g for the Paracanthurus heppatus.

Thank you for sharing your positive experience with a hippo. I have also heard that damsels could cause problems. I've read that they may be less likely to do so if added last. They are beutiful fish but probably not well suited for this tank.

I have also heard that urchins may have an appetite for coralline as well. It seems that there may be more hobbyists that wouldn't keep urchins than would. I will have to seriously reconsider keeping them. I may have to look for someone that wants to keep them. They really are a fascinating animal, it will be tough to get rid of them without actually witnessing the negative results of their behaviors.