Help with stocking list for 65 gallon mixed reef

[quicksilver02]

I recently filled my 65-gallon reef tank and am beginning to cycle it, so I'm starting to plan out what fish I want to stock it with. It's a 65-gallon (48"x18"x18") display tank with a 29 gallon sump. The sump has a refugium that I will be putting chaeto in. The plan is for it to be a mixed reef, mainly with soft corals. Here is what I'm thinking of in terms of fish:

- flame angel
- ocellaris clown pair
- 3 blue green chromis
- mandarin dragonet (or six line wrasse)

I also plan to have a cleaner shrimp and likely a clam in the future (in addition to corals, though I haven't really planned out what I want there yet). If appropriate, I would ilke to put an anemone for the clowns as well.

Is this too much for my tank, or is there room for more? I'd appreciate any input or suggestions, as I don't want to overstock or have incompatibilities with my fish. Any suggestions on the order to stock the fish in to prevent terretorial issues would be appreciated as well. I plan to stock it slowly and will QT new arrivals.

 

[HV1990]

I would skip the six line. They can be bully's. Not saying everyone is but if you do get one it is not fun getting him out.

 

[Dragon moray ki]

+1 six line can be bully's not all just some and if u get one and you need to catch hi he'll be hard to catch but besides the wrasse your stock looks good

 

[SecretiveFish]

My 2 cents (I have a 65 mixed reef that has been up 2+ years; it is a great sized tank!):

- flame angel - may nip at corals and the clam but may be just fine. However, you need to have a mature tank before you add one of these like you need to wait 6+ months and have plenty of live rock for them to graze on.
- ocellaris clown pair - a good choice
- 3 blue green chromis - these generally do not school and generally will whittle down to 1 or 2 max. Personally, I would just add one.
- mandarin dragonet (or six line wrasse) - I have a mandarin in my 65, just wait for 6+ months for your tank to mature and for the copepods to populate. Your tank is covered right? These guys jump. I would skip the six line.

If you only add one chromis, I think that you could get away with one more fish. Some suggestions include a blenny, a flasher wrasse, a firefish, a small goby, or a royal gramma. There are some other choices if none of these appeal to you.

 

[quicksilver02]

Thanks for the suggestions! The tank is a rimless, but I'm going to make a mesh cover for it with the 1/4" material from BRS. I know it somewhat defeats the aesthetics of a rimless tank, but I keep finding that fish I like are jumpers.

Given the feedback thus far, I'm thinking of swapping out the flame angel for a flasher wrasse, as I don't want to chance the angel nipping at corals and clams. I'm also thinking of only having 1 chromis and adding either a yellow watchman goby or a roayal gramma. Here's the current list:

- flasher wrasse
- ocellaris clown pair
- blue green chromis
- mandarin dragonet
- yellow watchman goby (or royal gramma)

Does this list look good for a 65g mixed reef? From what I've read, there shouldn't be a problem with having both a mandarin and a yellow watchman goby.

Aside from adding the mandarin last to give the system time to establish a healthy copepod population, is there anything to watch out for in what order I should add the fish listed above?

 

[SecretiveFish]

You updated stocking list looks great!

I have an orange spotted goby in with the green mandarin, and the two are oblivious to each another. Based on my experience, I think that a yellow watchman goby would be just fine with a mandarin. In my case the orange spotted goby was in the tank long before I added the mandarin.

As far as things to watch out for, the only thing I can think of is if you add the clownfish pair first they may pick on newcomers for a little bit. However, I may be completely wrong on that! I am in no way a clown fish expert.