PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

Hello, im a new member here but have read hundreds of different threads here to help get my tank started. I have finally cycled my 80 gallon with 30g sump and just recenty added a pair of clowns. I have over 100 pounds of rock in my tank. I was just hoping to get some of your opinions on my stocking wish list. My next purchase will hopefully be a blue tang(which ill quarantine for a few weeks), a yellow tang, a pair of banggai cardinals and a royal gramma.

Both of those tangs require a larger tank


Then i plan on adding a cleaner shrimp, some sort of fairy wrasse that is reef safe, right now looking at redfin fairy wrasse or blue side fairy wrasse, and add a coral beauty and flame angel at the same time to hopefully avoid fighting as the will decide whats their territory at the same time and a neon goby or two.

Dwarf angels need a tank that is mature as they are algae grazers. A single neon goby would work. Either fairy wrasse would work.

Finally i would like to add a zebra moray eel at the end and hopefully it will leave my cleaner shrimp alone. Any advise is greatly appreciated. I dont want to overstock my aquarium either as i won't likely be able to upgrade. Thanks, abbott78

I do not provide analysis of aggressive fish community tanks. For those, please start a thread in the Aggressive Fish Forum.

 

[KDRunningHorses]

Hello Steve,
I have a 55 gallon reef DT with a tiny 10 gallon refugium. Its been up for a year and currently has a pair of red firefish and a yellow watchman goby.
I would like to add two more colorful, peaceful fish that won't harass the ones I have.
I'm thinking of adding a Carpenters wrasse and royal gramma or an occelaris and royal gramma. Thoughts or suggestions?

 

[snorvich]

Hello Steve,
I have a 55 gallon reef DT with a tiny 10 gallon refugium. Its been up for a year and currently has a pair of red firefish and a yellow watchman goby.
I would like to add two more colorful, peaceful fish that won't harass the ones I have.
I'm thinking of adding a Carpenters wrasse and royal gramma or an occelaris and royal gramma. Thoughts or suggestions?

The royal gramma and carpenter's wrasse would work but be sure the tank is covered. If you have had your pair of firefish over four months, you may be ok, otherwise only one will survive long term.

 

[KDRunningHorses]

The royal gramma and carpenter's wrasse would work but be sure the tank is covered. If you have had your pair of firefish over four months, you may be ok, otherwise only one will survive long term.

Thank you

 

[DrBoxedWine]

Hi Steve,

I have the following fish in my 75g with 30g sump:
2 Occ clowns
Flamehawk
Bicolor blenny
Firefish
Melanarus Wrasse
Kole tang

It's about a 9 month tank, lots of algae that i'm battling. I'm actually just starting to dose vinegar. Anyway, the Mrs asked about a fighting conch or 2. It's heavker bioload, so the sand definitely gets pretty dirty. I know the wrasse is iffy at best, but he's just a little guy at this point.

So, what are your thoughts on a conch? Fighting? Tiger?

I'd love any thoughts you have on this.

 

[snorvich]

Hi Steve,

I have the following fish in my 75g with 30g sump:
2 Occ clowns
Flamehawk
Bicolor blenny
Firefish
Melanarus Wrasse
Kole tang

It's about a 9 month tank, lots of algae that i'm battling. I'm actually just starting to dose vinegar. Anyway, the Mrs asked about a fighting conch or 2. It's heavker bioload, so the sand definitely gets pretty dirty. I know the wrasse is iffy at best, but he's just a little guy at this point.

Fighting Conchs are excellent but I am concerned with the Melanarus Wrasse

So, what are your thoughts on a conch? Fighting? Tiger?

I'd love any thoughts you have on this.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

I understand your concerns. Say I were to try it, what would suggest for a well stocked 75 gallon? 1? 2?

 

[snorvich]

I understand your concerns. Say I were to try it, what would suggest for a well stocked 75 gallon? 1? 2?

two.

 

[dgbandog]

so im a newbie to the hobby. i have a 29gal biocube for about 6moths now. currently growing out a zoanthid garden and its going pretty well. also the the tank is a bubble tip nem, gonapora, and some mushrooms. everything is going good coral wise. but i can't for the life of me keep fish alive. my first attempted went well for a couple months but sadly the heat and me not being able to keep the temp down stressed out the fish and the came up with ich and passed. waited 2moths before trying again and failed miserably. noticed ich again on my clowns so i set up a hospital tank trying to treat them but their not looking like their going to make it. need help please

 

[snorvich]

so im a newbie to the hobby. i have a 29gal biocube for about 6moths now. currently growing out a zoanthid garden and its going pretty well. also the the tank is a bubble tip nem, gonapora, and some mushrooms. everything is going good coral wise. but i can't for the life of me keep fish alive. my first attempted went well for a couple months but sadly the heat and me not being able to keep the temp down stressed out the fish and the came up with ich and passed. waited 2moths before trying again and failed miserably. noticed ich again on my clowns so i set up a hospital tank trying to treat them but their not looking like their going to make it. need help please

Sorry, this thread is only about marine fish compatibility. For questions on parasites and fish diseases, please post in the fish diseases forum.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

Hi Steve,

I have the following fish in my 75g with 30g sump:
2 Occ clowns
Flamehawk
Bicolor blenny
Firefish
Melanarus Wrasse
Kole tang

It's about a 9 month tank, lots of algae that i'm battling. I'm actually just starting to dose vinegar. Anyway, the Mrs asked about a fighting conch or 2. It's heavker bioload, so the sand definitely gets pretty dirty. I know the wrasse is iffy at best, but he's just a little guy at this point.

So, what are your thoughts on a conch? Fighting? Tiger?

I'd love any thoughts you have on this.

Thanks for the conch help. Another, somewhat related question. My wife is also asking about starfish. I'd there a starfish you think could work in my tank? She likes the more "standard" kind, not so much the Brittle star kind. Thanks again!

 

[snorvich]

Thanks for the conch help. Another, somewhat related question. My wife is also asking about starfish. I'd there a starfish you think could work in my tank? She likes the more "standard" kind, not so much the Brittle star kind. Thanks again!

No, they would all starve to death long (or shorter) term.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

No, they would all starve to death long (or shorter) term.

Thanks!

 

[Apartmenttank]

currently have a 60 gallon cube tank 15 gallon sump, with 2 snowflake clowns, 1 firefish, 1 diamonds back goby and a large clean up crew. several snails, emerald crab, lots of hermits.
I was thinking about a few fish.
Purple Dottyback
Banggai Cardinal fish
Cleaner shrimp or Coral branded shrimp.
Wrasse possible (McCosker's Flasher, Filamented Flasher, Red Velvet Fairy)

I still want a mandarin but i dont know how well pods will do in my aquarium, i introduced them but i am waiting to see a healthy pod population.

I am not sure how many fish will fit in my aquarium i have seems people with 3-4 in a 20 gallon around the same size as these fish, but i don't know if that is a good reference.

 

[snorvich]

currently have a 60 gallon cube tank 15 gallon sump, with 2 snowflake clowns, 1 firefish, 1 diamonds back goby and a large clean up crew. several snails, emerald crab, lots of hermits.
I was thinking about a few fish.
Purple Dottyback too aggressive; will not be compatible with the firefish
Banggai Cardinal fish fine
Cleaner shrimp or Coral branded shrimp. cleaner shrimp is fine; coral banded shrimp can take fish
Wrasse possible (McCosker's Flasher, Filamented Flasher, Red Velvet Fairy) either of the flasher wrasses would be fine

I still want a mandarin but i dont know how well pods will do in my aquarium, i introduced them but i am waiting to see a healthy pod population. your tank is not sufficient to maintain a mandarin long term

I am not sure how many fish will fit in my aquarium i have seems people with 3-4 in a 20 gallon around the same size as these fish, but i don't know if that is a good reference.

going by what other people do is not a good idea as the number is irrelevant, it is behavior, feeding and ecological niche that will determine what can go in an aquarium

 

[kelp47]

I have a 75 gallon mixed reef that has been up and running for 16 months. I've also made a custom fit jump net with 1/4" netting. I know my current list includes way too many fish, but I don't intend to add them all. I thought I'd let my next round of elimination be based on compatibility--your expertise! Also, if it appears I'm off on my order of introduction, I'd appreciate correction here as well. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Current Inhabitants
1 – Seaweed Blenny (Parablennius marmoreus)
1 – Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
2 – Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1 – [In QT] Fathead Anthias (Serranocirrhitus latus)


Wish List:

(introduce early)
1 – Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
1 – Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)

(order immaterial)
2-3 – Spottail Dartfish (Ptereleotris heteroptera)
2-3 – Zebra Dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra)
1 – Blackbar Chromis (Chromis retrofasciata)
1 – Green Clown Goby (Gobiodon histrio)
1 – Yellow Assessor (Assessor flavissimus)
1 – Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby (Amblyeleotris fasciata) --OR-- 1 – Yellownose Shrimp Goby (Stonogobiops xanthorhinica)
3-5 – Chalk Bass (Serranus tortugarum) --OR -- 3-5 – Yellowstriped Cardinalfish (Apogon cyanosoma)

(introduce later or immaterial?)
1 – Fairy Wrasse—Redhead (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) --OR-- Longfinned (C. rubriventralis) --OR-- Lined (C. lineatus)
1 – Flasher Wrasse—Lyretail (Paracheilinus angulatus) --OR-- Carpenter’s (P. carpenteri)

(introduce last)
1 – Azure Demoiselle (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
1 – Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
1 – Goldring Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus strigosus)

 

[snorvich]

I have a 75 gallon mixed reef that has been up and running for 16 months. I've also made a custom fit jump net with 1/4" netting. I know my current list includes way too many fish, but I don't intend to add them all. I thought I'd let my next round of elimination be based on compatibility--your expertise! Also, if it appears I'm off on my order of introduction, I'd appreciate correction here as well. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Current Inhabitants
1 – Seaweed Blenny (Parablennius marmoreus)
1 – Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
2 – Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1 – [In QT] Fathead Anthias (Serranocirrhitus latus)


Wish List:

(introduce early) both are fine
1 – Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
1 – Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)

(order immaterial) I would skip the dartfish but the rest are fine
2-3 – Spottail Dartfish (Ptereleotris heteroptera)
2-3 – Zebra Dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra)
1 – Blackbar Chromis (Chromis retrofasciata)
1 – Green Clown Goby (Gobiodon histrio)
1 – Yellow Assessor (Assessor flavissimus)
1 – Wheeler’s Shrimp Goby (Amblyeleotris fasciata) --OR-- 1 – Yellownose Shrimp Goby (Stonogobiops xanthorhinica)
3-5 – Chalk Bass (Serranus tortugarum) --OR -- 3-5 – Yellowstriped Cardinalfish (Apogon cyanosoma)

(introduce later or immaterial?)
1 – Fairy Wrasse—Redhead (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) --OR-- Longfinned (C. rubriventralis) --OR-- Lined (C. lineatus) C. lineatus is preferred
1 – Flasher Wrasse—Lyretail (Paracheilinus angulatus) --OR-- Carpenter’s (P. carpenteri) either is fine

(introduce last) behavior of any of these are fine
1 – Azure Demoiselle (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
1 – Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
1 – Goldring Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus strigosus)

Even with my exclusions, that is a lot of fish. The tank will look awfully busy

 

[kelp47]

Thanks for the advice! And don't worry; I intend to narrow it down more. I just wanted to get any behavioral conflicts out of the way first. Just curious why you would eliminate the dartfish?

 

[snorvich]

Thanks for the advice! And don't worry; I intend to narrow it down more. I just wanted to get any behavioral conflicts out of the way first. Just curious why you would eliminate the dartfish?

Having kept them, I just don't find them all that interesting. No behavior issues, however.

 

[kelp47]

Good to know. Thanks again!