PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[fyrfytr]

TOTALLY GENARIC AND NEWBIE QUESTION (and probably opening a big can-o-worms here)

Going to be starting a tank for my 3yr old to enjoy and my 5 month to grow up with. We have always had a small freshwater tank for as long as my son has been around, and he is a fish crazy nut...hell his first word was fish (ya, kinda made mommy mad that mommy wasn't his first word). He totally goes crazy when we take him to the Newport Aquarium, to the point where we ended up just getting a family yearly pass for all of us so we can take him whenever.

So dad (me) felt guily always taking him to the LFS (area chain, but its all the options I knew I had before I started looking) and never being able to buy a nemo for him because that is what he really wanted, and what fish loving kid would't want to take nemo home with him. I had enough and talked mom (still bitter over his first word being fish) into letting me take some time and research well how to run a saltwater tank...I have had fresh tanks all my life, with everything from mollys to goldfish, to bala sharks, to red-belly pirahanas...but salt always seemed out of my knowledge level.

Now that I have researched and I have my tank (55gal) it is time to start getting it ready for swimming friends. General question is what do I put in it? I know that is broad, but its a legitimate question. I want something that is colorful and fun, fish that will move around and keep the intrest with colors and movement of my 5 month old, but will be cool enough to watch for my 3yr old. Obviously a clownfish has to be in there, probably a false perc, but past that the tank is an open book so to say. I spent the time learning about the tanks, setups, taking care of it....never crossed my mind to look at fish and who plays well with others. So now I come asking for help to learn what I am doing better, so I can continue to pass the love of fish down to my 3yr old and maybe hook my 5 month old at a very early age.

At build it will be fish only, but the long term goal is to get into corals once I am confidant in my saltwater skills.

If this is a stupid question then please feel free to just PM me an answer and just call my question ridiculous on the forum.

Thanks in advance for all of the help.

 

[snorvich]

TOTALLY GENARIC AND NEWBIE QUESTION (and probably opening a big can-o-worms here)

No, this thread is about marine fish compatibility with each other and the environment you are providing, so this is the right place. However, I ask that you do the research in order to come up with a stocking list. First, it is a great learning experience for you, secondly, it keeps this thread from being a discussion thread which is not its intent. And more importantly, it puts your budget and preferences first and foremost. So, I recommend going to Live Aquaria and doing a lot of reading. Each fish mentioned has tank size recommendations, which are pretty good, level of aggression which is very important, and ease of care. Come up with a fish list, bring it back here and I will provide commentary. Also, you will need a quarantine/fish introduction strategy, my blog has one that will save you much heartache in the long run.

Going to be starting a tank for my 3yr old to enjoy and my 5 month to grow up with. We have always had a small freshwater tank for as long as my son has been around, and he is a fish crazy nut...hell his first word was fish (ya, kinda made mommy mad that mommy wasn't his first word). He totally goes crazy when we take him to the Newport Aquarium, to the point where we ended up just getting a family yearly pass for all of us so we can take him whenever.

So dad (me) felt guily always taking him to the LFS (area chain, but its all the options I knew I had before I started looking) and never being able to buy a nemo for him because that is what he really wanted, and what fish loving kid would't want to take nemo home with him. I had enough and talked mom (still bitter over his first word being fish) into letting me take some time and research well how to run a saltwater tank...I have had fresh tanks all my life, with everything from mollys to goldfish, to bala sharks, to red-belly pirahanas...but salt always seemed out of my knowledge level.

Actually, it is not all that difficult.

Now that I have researched and I have my tank (55gal) it is time to start getting it ready for swimming friends.

At build it will be fish only, but the long term goal is to get into corals once I am confidant in my saltwater skills.

One of other criteria on the site I sent you to is reef compatibility. Generally you want to stick with those fish which are reef safe.

If this is a stupid question [edited]

In this hobby there are no stupid questions. The only questions which are stupid are the ones not asked.

 

[littlec984]

Since you want to start diving into coral at a later point, build your aquarium like you are going to have coral from the beginning, it will save your pockets from abuse, so you wont have to upgrade everything later. You could start with a clownfish pair, blue or green chromis. Just do some research on the fish you like and make sure they are compatable, and they will live comfortably in your 55 gal

 

[Jay1513]

Those would be fine

Great - So here's my list for stocking my 180 gallon.

A pair of Sustainable Aquatics Black Clown
1 - Chevron Tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis)
1 - Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
1 - Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
1 - Red Sea Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)
1 - Magnificent Foxface (Siganus magnificus)
3 - Resplendent Anthias (Pseudanthias pulcherrimus)
1 - Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loriculus)

Can I add 1 more fish? - 1 - Multicolor Angelfish (Centropyge multicolor)

Please advise on how to add them from first to last - How many fish can I add & how often.


Thanks again
~JaY

 

[snorvich]

Since you want to start diving into coral at a later point, build your aquarium like you are going to have coral from the beginning, it will save your pockets from abuse, so you wont have to upgrade everything later. You could start with a clownfish pair, blue or green chromis. Just do some research on the fish you like and make sure they are compatable, and they will live comfortably in your 55 gal

This thread is an expert thread answered by RC staff. While your participation elsewhere is strongly encouraged, we would like to ask you to refrain from answering in this thread. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

 

[snorvich]

Great - So here's my list for stocking my 180 gallon.

A pair of Sustainable Aquatics Black Clown
1 - Chevron Tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis)
1 - Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
1 - Auriga Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
1 - Red Sea Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)
1 - Magnificent Foxface (Siganus magnificus)
3 - Resplendent Anthias (Pseudanthias pulcherrimus)
1 - Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loriculus)

Can I add 1 more fish? - 1 - Multicolor Angelfish (Centropyge multicolor) sure, no problem.

Please advise on how to add them from first to last - How many fish can I add & how often.

first develop a quarantine protocol such as found in my blog. Then, the general rule is most aggressive (e.g. your purple tang) last, least aggressive, first. The exception to this in your case is to add the Pomacanthus imperator as a juvenile, first.


Thanks again
~JaY

 

[nolen1503]

FOWLR tank plan

FOWLR tank plan

Hello!

My fiance and I are setting up a tall 45 gallon FOWLR tank. We plan to have a fuzzy dwarf lionfish, a marine beta (betta?) and an eel in it. Will they get along? We plan to introduce the beta first, then the lionfish and the eel last. We're thinking of a Brazilian yellow banana eel. The lid on the tank is very tight and heavy (I can barely lift it).

Thanks!

 

[tekjunkie28]

I have a 75 gallon with 30 gallon sump and life reef overflow. I am planning on getting a asm (sp?) or reef octopus skimmer when I get the baffles in place in my sump. Right now I have a HOB reef Octopus bh-2000 and HOB refugium. I want a yellow tang and have seem plenty in smaller tanks. I currently have a black Clown and yellow watchman goby. I was also thinking about a blue/green chromis. What are your thoughts and other stock options? Do u guys quarantine? Also what do u think about my skimmer choices? Thanks for your help!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[tekjunkie28]

I have a 75 gallon with 30 gallon sump and life reef overflow. I am planning on getting a asm (sp?) or reef octopus skimmer when I get the baffles in place in my sump. Right now I have a HOB reef Octopus bh-2000 and HOB refugium. I want a yellow tang and have seem plenty in smaller tanks. I currently have a black Clown and yellow watchman goby. I was also thinking about a blue/green chromis. What are your thoughts and other stock options? Do u guys quarantine? Also what do u think about my skimmer choices? Thanks for your help!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Also my tank is a mixed reef with just frags currently.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[snorvich]

Hello!

My fiance and I are setting up a tall 45 gallon FOWLR tank. We plan to have a fuzzy dwarf lionfish, a marine beta (betta?) and an eel in it. Will they get along? We plan to introduce the beta first, then the lionfish and the eel last. We're thinking of a Brazilian yellow banana eel. The lid on the tank is very tight and heavy (I can barely lift it).

Thanks!

Actually, I do not provide commentary on aggressive tanks, however that is an awful lot of bioload in a small tank. Questions on aggressive fish and associated can be asked here.

 

[snorvich]

I have a 75 gallon with 30 gallon sump and life reef overflow. I am planning on getting a asm (sp?) or reef octopus skimmer when I get the baffles in place in my sump. Right now I have a HOB reef Octopus bh-2000 and HOB refugium. I want a yellow tang and have seem plenty in smaller tanks. I currently have a black Clown and yellow watchman goby. I was also thinking about a blue/green chromis. What are your thoughts and other stock options? Do u guys quarantine? Also what do u think about my skimmer choices? Thanks for your help!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Reef Central's position is to always quarantine. My blog has a suggested fish introduction protocol if you are interested. What you have seen in other tanks may or may not be a good idea and may or may not work out long term. We have a recommended tank size for tangs suggestion in the Reef Fish forum which can be found here. .

 

[coralman123]

180 G build

180 G build

do not mean to hijack this thread sorry do not know if this is the right place
to ask this question
i am in the process of a 180 G build and i am wondering if there is any one who can help with a wrasses selection i am wanting to put 5 different ones in it
along with a trigger if you can help i thank you and again sorry

 

[Tethered_Limbs]

idk if this has been asked on here already or not, but flashing tilefish?
they need a sandbed and a tight lid, but what else?
hard to feed? bullied? bully?

 

[snorvich]

do not mean to hijack this thread sorry do not know if this is the right place
to ask this question
i am in the process of a 180 G build and i am wondering if there is any one who can help with a wrasses selection i am wanting to put 5 different ones in it
along with a trigger if you can help i thank you and again sorry

I do not recommend triggers in community tanks. If you provide a list of which wrasses, I can try to give you compatibility on them.

 

[snorvich]

idk if this has been asked on here already or not, but flashing tilefish?
they need a sandbed and a tight lid, but what else?
hard to feed? bullied? bully?

I have one that does not flash, although it is pretty. Very reclusive, it shares a burrow with a goby/pistol shrimp.

 

[Tethered_Limbs]

i was under the impression that flashing meant they wer stressed. if its just a blue fish all the time thats even better, always need more blue fish. was it hard to get to eat?

 

[snorvich]

i was under the impression that flashing meant they wer stressed. if its just a blue fish all the time thats even better, always need more blue fish. was it hard to get to eat?

It eats like a champ. No stress in my tanks by design.

 

[Tethered_Limbs]

well thats the point right what do you think about trying to get a pair?

 

[coralman123]

the fish i am planning on are a banana wrasses, pink face wrasses,
blue head wrasses, hardwicke wrasses, and a gold bar wrasses
a long with a trigger it would be ether niger or a blue throat i am not set
on these fish if you have any idea i would like the advice you are willing to give
thanks

 

[darkart82]

75 gallon reef tank with a 15 gallon refuge with cheato.

My current in my tank as of now list.

1 A. Percula
2 1.1 pair Centropyge loriculus
3 Chromis viridis
1 Siganus unimaculatus
1 Gramma loreto
2 Nemateleotris magnifica

I want to add another clown and dragonet or should I call it a day because im pushing the envolope of being overstocked ?