Help with which fish to get first

F

Fringe09

Member
Hi fellow reefers. I hope you can help.

200 gallon tank. 160 display and 40 sump. Just completed cycling and started seeding with pods. For the next 45 days or so I want to quarantine my first fish in a 20 gallon tank. I've searched the web and message boards and came up with the fish I would like to keep. Below is the list I've come up with. Not even sure I can keep all of them.

What fish should I start with? I'm hoping to start of with a few rather than just one.

Goby
Tang
Mandarin
Clownfish
*Black and White Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) - http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3352+3353+3411&pcatid=3411​
Cardinal
*Banggai Cardinal AKA Kaudern's Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) - http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+2672&pcatid=2672​
Anthias
Basslet
Dottyback
*Bicolor Dottyback (Pictichromis paccagnellae) - http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+143&pcatid=143​
Angelfish
*Other Colorful Angelfish (From the Genicanthus family. Seems to be reef safe)​
Wrasse
*Other Colorful Wrasse​
Firefish
Rabbitfish
Butterfly
*Reef safe Butterfly fish​
 
I agree that you can qt a few of the smaller fishes at once.

I would make some changes to the list, though.

Catalina gobies don't do well in our warm tanks.

The blue and Naso tangs get too large for a 160.

I'm not sure about having multiple mandarins, unless they are a pair. The same with the firefish.

I would start with something like: the clownfish pair, cardinal, and basslets, provided the qt is cycled or you are doing tank transfer method.
 
nereefpat said:
I agree that you can qt a few of the smaller fishes at once.

I would make some changes to the list, though.

Catalina gobies don't do well in our warm tanks.

The blue and Naso tangs get too large for a 160.

I'm not sure about having multiple mandarins, unless they are a pair. The same with the firefish.

I would start with something like: the clownfish pair, cardinal, and basslets, provided the qt is cycled or you are doing tank transfer method.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input. I should of done more research before posting.

I believe I'm fully cycled. I kicked it off with Dr Tim's One And Only, live sand, and Real Reef Rock.

Red Sea Ammonia test results are kind of throwing me off. I understand it has an accuracy of 0.2 ppm. Here are my parameters:

8/13: Filled Tank

Ammonia:
8/19: 0.2 ppm
8/26: 0.1 ppm (Red Sea "“ Between the first two circles)
8/26: <0.02 ppm (Seachem Ammonia Alert. Safe Zone)
9/01: 0.1 ppm (Red Sea "“ Between the first two circles)
9/01: <0.02 ppm (Seachem Ammonia Alert. Safe Zone)

Nitrite:
8/19: 0.05 ppm
8/26: 0.2 ppm
9/01: 0 ppm

Nitrate:
8/19: 1 ppm
8/26: 2 ppm
9/01: 3.5 ppm

I just started seeding with pods. Going to wait a month until their life cycle is complete before introducing any fish and CUCs. In that time, going to quarantine the first set of fish for around 45 days in a 20 gallon tank.

Any input or additional advice would be great.

Thank you again.
 
i wouldnt do the naso in a 160 its a little bit small. imo they shouldnt even go in anything smaller than 8 feet, they get BIG. on the reef safe butterflies, pyramids are pretty safe I have them in my 180, the only coral i have watched them eat is xenia lol. one of them even eats aiptasias. all dottybacks can get aggressive, i wouldnt add in the bicolor dottyback (probably end up killing the royal gramma - similar colors) and firefish generally dont last long in schools - either they kill eachother or 2 pair off and kill the rest.
 
Kremis said:
i wouldnt do the naso in a 160 its a little bit small. imo they shouldnt even go in anything smaller than 8 feet, they get BIG. on the reef safe butterflies, pyramids are pretty safe I have them in my 180, the only coral i have watched them eat is xenia lol. one of them even eats aiptasias. all dottybacks can get aggressive, i wouldnt add in the bicolor dottyback (probably end up killing the royal gramma - similar colors) and firefish generally dont last long in schools - either they kill eachother or 2 pair off and kill the rest.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input.

I've removed Naso Tang and Blue Tang from list. I did add the Power Blue Tang as the minimum tank size is 120 gallons. Being that the Tangs are somewhat last to be added, I have a long time to decide.
 
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