help building stocking list

[voidg]

I'm looking to stock a 54g corner tank. My wife and I really want a Mandarin goby when the rank us ready for it. The tank is currently cycling, running a rena xp 3. Eventually we will be adding corals, so it wil be a reef tank. I'll be adding a large basement sump with fuge in which to farm pods for the Mandarin. Even with the fuge, I know the tank isn't that big so I am worried about the Mandarin running out of pods and introducing fish which would get to the pods before the Mandarin.


Every one in this hobby seems to have clowns, as such I would prefer other fish. My wife and I prefer colorful, interesting fish. The only other two fish my wife and I like after looking around are:

- six line wrasse
- midas blenny

I read that wrasses can be voracious pod eaters, is the case with a six line?

Can anyone recommend fish that would work well in my setup, perhaps something herbivorous? Also looking for good starter fish that aren't clowns.

Thanks for any input!

 

[India]

The 6 line will compete with the mandarin for pods. They also getterritorial and mean as they get older. Midas blenny isa good choice. Firefish are beautiful and eat only from the water column...royal gramma, anyof the shrimp gobies, clown gobies

 

[nanoreefer1000]

agreed with the above post, look into possum or pinkstreak wrasse if you want something like the sixline...

 

[Ambition]

A midas blenny would be a good choice for your tank. I'd also suggest that you look into watchman/prawn/shrimp gobies and pair it up with a pistol shrimp. Watching the pair's behavior is virtually endless fun, IMO. Another fish that I think would be nice in your tank is a royal gramma or gold assessor basslet. Both are easy to care for and quite personable, the gold assessor being more so in the way they swim in all sorts of odd ways (upside down, on their sides, etc.).

I'd shy away from the lined wrasses (six line, four line, etc.). Pygmy/possum wrasses are great fish, though they may compete with a mandarin for pods in the future...

 

[voidg]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been doing some reading tonight and it seems like most gobies, blennies and other omnivourous fish eat pods. Should I be worried or do they not consume enough pods to pose a threat to the Mandarin?

 

[DustyReefer]

agreed with the above post, look into possum or pinkstreak wrasse if you want something like the sixline...

Agree with the pinkstreaked wrasse in terms of a good peaceful alternative to the sixline. Also if your worried about the mandarins pod population make sure you get a mandarin that you've witnessed eating in captivity. A lot of information points to mandarins being difficult to get eating prepared foods, but IME a good number of wild caught mandarins actually will eat prepared foods with very little coaxing.

 

[voidg]

Thanks all. Lots of good suggestions. Would 3 blue reef chromis + midas blenny + 2 purple firefish + Mandarin be too much for the tank?

Really like to coloring of the blue reef chromis but concerned we don't have the space for them, especially because they're shoal fish.

 

[ruiny]

I would not get more than one chromis for that size tank. And one firefish.
The blenny and mandarin are good.
plus one chromis and one firefish.
Add 2 or 3 more smallish fish and you are set.

And I know you don't want them but, perc or skunk clowns would be a good choice.

 

[Redhaloangel]

I would not get more than one chromis for that size tank. And one firefish.
The blenny and mandarin are good.
plus one chromis and one firefish.
Add 2 or 3 more smallish fish and you are set.

And I know you don't want them but, perc or skunk clowns would be a good choice.

i was about to mentione the skunk clowns as well.. they are soo very interesting.. and dont look like the traditional clown.. i plan on buying a pair of pink skunk clowns once my other new tank is set up..

 

[voidg]

Ok. Been going through this... I think we have a final list. In order of being added to the tank:

- 1 royal gramma
- 1 blue reef chromis
- 1 midas blenny
- 1 pink streak wrasse
- 1 Mandarin

Would that work? Seems like up to 20 inch of fish full grown in a 54G which is exceeding the 1 inch per 5 gallon guideline. Maybe I should drop the blenny (6 inch max)?


Thanks for all the help!

 

[voidg]

Ok. Been going through this... I think we have a final list. In order of being added to the tank:

- 1 royal gramma
- 1 blue reef chromis
- 1 midas blenny
- 1 pink streak wrasse
- 1 Mandarin

Would that work? Seems like up to 20 inch of fish full grown in a 54G which is exceeding the 1 inch per 5 gallon guideline. Maybe I should drop the blenny (6 inch max)?


Thanks for all the help!

 

[nanoreefer1000]

blenny first
then the wrasse
then the chromis
royal gramma
mandarin

 

[voidg]

Why that particular order (besides the mandarin, I know he's last)? I was hoping to get the Chromis and Gramma first, then the Wrasse or Blenny. The Wrasse is $50 to $60 here and the Midas Blenny is $45 plus. Being a first timer expensive fish make me nervous.

 

[voidg]

How bad would it be to get the Royal Gramma first? Wrasse is 60 here and blenny/blue reef chromis are not stocked by any of my LFS's. special order at some point I guess. Gramma is cheap and readily available in my area.

 

[India]

RG is the most aggressive/territorial. Best to put him in last...

 

[voidg]

Ah. Figured as much. Read he can be so with cave space, wasn't sure how much this would affect others. Thanks.

 

[arthur08]

agree with india they can be really territorial. at timwa agreesive i hate mine but caint catch it to get it out