PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

I'm planning on setting up a 70 gallon cube with 25 gallon sump, and some advice when it comes to stocking fish would be awesome!

Tank is going to be mainly SPS, with possibly a few LPS and softies as well, but these are anyway less important and not a must. Refugium in the sump to grow pods.

2x Clarkii or pink skunk stripe clowns. Not sure on which of these, tbh.

Clownfish, in general, are aggressive once they are sexually mature and those species are exceptionally so

2x Green mandarins (added after 7 months or so)

I do not feel you will have sufficient copepods for two, but one would work

1x Flasher Wrasse. Not sure about which specific one though.
And here comes the fish I'm most unsure of, probably: Yellow tang OR Copperband butterfly OR Kole Yellow Eye Tang. I do love the copperband, but I've heard it's not the easiest fish to keep,

Of those three, I think the Kole tang would be best and remember a copperband will compete for copepods and may not eat at all

so...
Perhaps some anthias as well, if there's room.

One for sure, but not multiples as their dynamic changes when they are a group


Any input would be highly apreciated!

 

[snorvich]

Ok, great. As far as what should go in first to last... Is there any real order I should follow or since they all seem to be pretty docile, just get whatever is on sale first?

Clownfish definitely last if you do them. They are NOT docile once mature.

 

[Mytola]

Thanks a lot, Steve. Seems like I'll save a pair of clowns for another tank, then. I do want a tank with anemones in it someday, perhaps it's best to go with a pair of clowns as the only fish in such a tank.

Here's a revised list for the 70g cube then:

1 Kole tang
1 Green Mandarin
1 Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
1 Carberryi Anthias
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Yasha Goby paired w/ pistol shrimp

Room for anything else, or would it be best to leave it at that? Plenty of interesting stuff to observe, I would think.

 

[fessoclown]

stocking question

stocking question

I have a 20 Gallon. I already have 2 mated coral banded shrimp, 5 hermit crabs and a decorator crab. I have about 20 pounds of LR and live sand. I also have some zoas, a few mushrooms, frogspawn and GSP. No fish yet. I am thinking about getting the following:
1 pajama cardinal
1 clown (not sure on the variety yet)
and
??? suggestions- Leaning towards a yellow watchman goby or a Blenny of some type... or a royal dottyback
3 seems to be the max for my tank size eh?

 

[doctorgori]

Not necessarily. Not my first choice in butterfly fish, but not bad. Eats meaty food such as mysis, rods, capelin fish roe. Probably not clam safe.

thanks Steve, wish us luck

 

[snorvich]

Thanks a lot, Steve. Seems like I'll save a pair of clowns for another tank, then. I do want a tank with anemones in it someday, perhaps it's best to go with a pair of clowns as the only fish in such a tank.

Here's a revised list for the 70g cube then:

1 Kole tang
1 Green Mandarin
1 Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
1 Carberryi Anthias
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Yasha Goby paired w/ pistol shrimp

Room for anything else, or would it be best to leave it at that? Plenty of interesting stuff to observe, I would think.

I think that fish list is fine. I also enjoy a clownfish tank with a fancy colored anemone. But that is all I would keep in it other than interesting corals.

 

[Mytola]

Thanks again, steve. Last question (for now, hehe):

How about swapping the kole tang for a foxface? I see that you often say its okay with a foxface in a 70-ish gallon tank. But they grow quite large, dont they?

Thanks again for all you help!

 

[snorvich]

Thanks again, steve. Last question (for now, hehe):

How about swapping the kole tang for a foxface? I see that you often say its okay with a foxface in a 70-ish gallon tank. But they grow quite large, dont they?

Thanks again for all you help!

That would be pushing it a bit, plus they are not guaranteed to be reef safe.

 

[blennielove]

Hi Steve,
I was have been wondering for a while on my restocking list and then remembered this wonderful thread. So here it goes:
The system is a 72x24x30 reef with sump and refugium.
Current inhabitants are 6" Pomacanthus imperator, 5" Acanthurus
leucosternon, 2.5" Amphiprion ocellaris female (lost male a few days ago, they were a regularly spawning pair), 3" Amblygobius phalaena.
Would like to add (in order of introduction):
Ctenochaetus tominiensis (in quarantine right now)
Labroides dimidiatus (in quarantine right now - lucky to find one eating brine, mysis, and pellets - it's like winning a small lottery!)
Nemanthias carberryi a group of 5 (I've had them in the past and they seemed to pick on the weakest fish so much that the group dwindles down to two, but I'm not sure if my tank was just overly active for them or that I just didn't get a good batch)
Macropharyngodon meleagris
Macropharyngodon bipartitus
Halichoeres biocellatus a group of 3
Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis
Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus
Paracheilinus octotaenia
Halichoeres Halichoeres chrysotaenia
Halichoeres chrysus
Neocirrhitus armatus
a couple of dwarf angels (Centropyge loriculus and Centropyge multicolor)
a couple of blennies (Ecsenius midas and Salarias ramosus)
and lastly, maybe a Acanthurus pyroferus.

The list seems much "bigger" once on paper than I anticipated in my mind but...
Thanks for your dedication to help and advise!!

 

[snorvich]

Hi Steve,
I was have been wondering for a while on my restocking list and then remembered this wonderful thread. So here it goes:
The system is a 72x24x30 reef with sump and refugium.
Current inhabitants are 6" Pomacanthus imperator, 5" Acanthurus
leucosternon, 2.5" Amphiprion ocellaris female (lost male a few days ago,

In recent years I have seen the male of a breeding pair perish more than a few times. Cannot figure out the issue since all other fish are fit and healthy. Last time, I gave my female away and I am off clowns completely.

they were a regularly spawning pair), 3" Amblygobius phalaena.
Would like to add (in order of introduction):
Ctenochaetus tominiensis (in quarantine right now) Excellent fish
Labroides dimidiatus (in quarantine right now - lucky to find one eating brine, mysis, and pellets - it's like winning a small lottery!)

I have had one for years but would not repeat the experience

Nemanthias carberryi a group of 5 (I've had them in the past and they seemed to pick on the weakest fish so much that the group dwindles down to two, but I'm not sure if my tank was just overly active for them or that I just didn't get a good batch)

I have a group of these in each of my aquaria with no issues. Fed a minimum of twice per day. Alternative might be a group of resplendent

Macropharyngodon meleagris
Macropharyngodon bipartitus

I have both. No issues except competition for copepods

Halichoeres biocellatus a group of 3
Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis mildly aggressive
Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus Males are poor shippers; more aggressive
Paracheilinus octotaenia Rarely available, on the aggressive side
Halichoeres Halichoeres chrysotaenia
Halichoeres chrysus
Neocirrhitus armatus careful about shrimp
a couple of dwarf angels (Centropyge loriculus and Centropyge multicolor)
a couple of blennies (Ecsenius midas and Salarias ramosus)
and lastly, maybe a Acanthurus pyroferus.

Sounds crowded in your sized tank, a bit heavy on algae grazers. Dwarf angels are NOT reef safe, but my experience with C. multicolor has been 50/50 on nipping

The list seems much "bigger" once on paper than I anticipated in my mind but...
Thanks for your dedication to help and advise!!

 

[blennielove]

I was wondering about the male A. ocellaris too. What I observed in my pair situation is that the male tries so hard to keep the female "happy" - constantly cleaning their nesting area, interacting in that submissive trembling way with her, he was not getting as much food. By the time I noticed his lethargy, he was very very thin. After you mentioned it, maybe I should NOT try to introduce another male...
I thought about the Fairy wrasses because I wanted some reds to go in the tank. And because they were more "aggressive" I thought maybe they will not be as skittish with the Emperor and Powder Blue, but maybe the aggressiveness is bad that they will fight with each other...then that is not good. I don't think I will get them then. You seem to agree more with the Halichoeres wrasses, I think they mind themselves a little better. I am not getting shrimps for this tank so no worries about Hawk fish eating them, or the Halichoeres eating them either. I've had good lucks with Flame angel, Coral Beauty, and a lemon peel/half black hybrid who did not touch any of my corals, so I may seem careless there. I was wondering how they would do with my Emperor angel.
Does it still sound crowded if I scratch off the fairy wrasses, A. pyroferus, and only one of the blennies?
Thanks again!
Happy holidays!

 

[snorvich]

I was wondering about the male A. ocellaris too. What I observed in my pair situation is that the male tries so hard to keep the female "happy" - constantly cleaning their nesting area, interacting in that submissive trembling way with her, he was not getting as much food. By the time I noticed his lethargy, he was very very thin. After you mentioned it, maybe I should NOT try to introduce another male...
I thought about the Fairy wrasses because I wanted some reds to go in the tank. And because they were more "aggressive" I thought maybe they will not be as skittish with the Emperor and Powder Blue, but maybe the aggressiveness is bad that they will fight with each other...then that is not good. I don't think I will get them then. You seem to agree more with the Halichoeres wrasses, I think they mind themselves a little better. I am not getting shrimps for this tank so no worries about Hawk fish eating them, or the Halichoeres eating them either. I've had good lucks with Flame angel, Coral Beauty, and a lemon peel/half black hybrid who did not touch any of my corals, so I may seem careless there. I was wondering how they would do with my Emperor angel.
Does it still sound crowded if I scratch off the fairy wrasses, A. pyroferus, and only one of the blennies?
Thanks again!
Happy holidays!

Thanks for the holiday wishes, same to you. Sounds better. I cannot advise on the male clown, I can only tell you about my experiences. Dwarf angels are definitely a roll of the dice, however. The emperor angel will chase new comers but will probably relax after a while. I raised mine from a small juvenile and he is clearly boss of my 350 gallon tank.

 

[PufferNut]

Currently have a 10 gal mixed reef, been running for a bit more than a year. Currently the only non-cleanup crew mobile creatures are a wheeler's pistol shrimp/goby pair. Had a short lived yellow clow goby that refused to eat and nipped my sps till he disapeared. I'm thinking about a tailspot blenny. I have one rock that has some zoa frags and alot of green hair on it, thinking that could be his buffet till it's gone. The other possiblility I was thinking about a firefish of some sort. Thoughts? Any trouble with either of these choices?

 

[snorvich]

Currently have a 10 gal mixed reef, been running for a bit more than a year. Currently the only non-cleanup crew mobile creatures are a wheeler's pistol shrimp/goby pair. Had a short lived yellow clow goby that refused to eat and nipped my sps till he disapeared. I'm thinking about a tailspot blenny. I have one rock that has some zoa frags and alot of green hair on it, thinking that could be his buffet till it's gone. The other possiblility I was thinking about a firefish of some sort. Thoughts? Any trouble with either of these choices?

I think the firefish would do well.

 

[topbottomfeeder]

I changed my previous list and this is what I came up with

I have a 110gal with a skimmer, canister filter, and 30 pound of live rock and 30lbs of dead rock on sand

first week
2 ocelaris clowns

2nd week
1 threadfin butterflyfish

3rd week
1 royal gramma
1 clown goby

not sure when to add
1 yellow tang
1 flame angelfish

not sure if I should add them
2 or 3 pennant coralfish(should I keep a pair and would it conflict with the threadfin and the tang?)

 

[snorvich]

I changed my previous list and this is what I came up with

I have a 110gal with a skimmer, canister filter, and 30 pound of live rock and 30lbs of dead rock on sand

first week
2 ocelaris clowns

2nd week
1 threadfin butterflyfish

3rd week
1 royal gramma
1 clown goby

not sure when to add
1 yellow tang
1 flame angelfish

not sure if I should add them
2 or 3 pennant coralfish(should I keep a pair and would it conflict with the threadfin and the tang?)

Go slowly and quarantine all new fish. I would never recommend adding them as quickly as your schedule would indicate. Always add the most aggressive fish last which in your case is the tang.

 

[topbottomfeeder]

Go slowly and quarantine all new fish. I would never recommend adding them as quickly as your schedule would indicate. Always add the most aggressive fish last which in your case is the tang.

thanks, does that mean the fish I listed are all okay to be added? including the 2 or 3 coralfish?

 

[yinbing240]

nice

 

[Woodchuck12]

I have been rethinking my list and this is what I have. The tank is a 90 gallon with coral and a 30 gallon sump plus a big protein skimmer.

Black Axil Chromis (Group of 3-5)
True Percula Clownfish (pair)
Red Mandarin ORA (pair maybe?)
Starry Blenny
Diamond Watchman Goby (w/pistol)
Scissortail Dartfish (pair)
Falco Hawkfish

 

[aarond21]

Possible Livestock in a 72 BF

Possible Livestock in a 72 BF

I have a 72 BF, Amiracle Sump, Sea Clone Skimmer, RIO 2100 Return pump, 65#'s LR in display, 10#'s in the Sump, around 65#'s of sand. In the process of adding a small 5 gal fuge, it will have a 4" sand bed, medium sized rock and guessing chaeto. Only things in it now are a Domino Damsel, and a Orange Mushroom, and 5 Dwarf Cerith Snails. With my aquascape, I have a small island of rock, that I plan on letting Mushrooms take over, and then have various SPS on the larger rock formation. The livestock list I'd like is...

3 Firefish (Nemateleotris decora)
3 Banggai cardinals (Pterapogon kauderni)
Goby: 2 Spot(Signigobius biocellatus) and/or Yellow Prawn(Cryptocentrus cinctus)
Clown Goby: Green(Gobiodon atrangulatus), Citrus(Gobiodon citrinus), Panda(Paragobius lacunicolus) Id like one of each personally.
Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)(?)
3 Blue Reef Chromis (Chromis cyaneus)
Coral Banded Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)
Sand Sifting Star (Astropecten polycanthus)
2-3 Fighting Conch (Strombus alatus)
2-3 Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus)
Varius Snails and Hermits (CUC)

Thank you for looking, any input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Aaron