PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[Fishmommy]

I am in the early early planning stages of a 120 mixed reef.
Here are my desired fishes.....I suspect this is too many fish and would be pleased if you could recommend a subset that would work

Firefish (how many?)
Banggai cardinal (2)
Green chromis (4)
orchid dottyback (1)
fathead sunburst anthias (1)
yellowtail blue damsel (1)
mandarin (1)
yellow head jawfish (1)

I figure I shouldn't add the mandarin until the reef is a year old, but what order do the rest get added in?

 

[snorvich]

Mr

Mr

I am in the early early planning stages of a 120 mixed reef.
Here are my desired fishes.....I suspect this is too many fish and would be pleased if you could recommend a subset that would work

Firefish (how many?) safest is one but a bonded pair will work
Banggai cardinal (2) tank raised is essential and must be a male plus female for long term stability
Green chromis (4) will likely reduce to one; also, these have been coming in less than healthy of late, so I would personally avoid
orchid dottyback (1) somewhat aggressive although P. fridmani is the least aggressive pseudochromis (dottyback) but still, it may intimidate your firefish
fathead sunburst anthias (1)
yellowtail blue damsel (1) due to its aggressive nature, I would avoid
mandarin (1)
yellow head jawfish (1) this fish needs a substantial sand bed and small rocks to stabilize it's home

I figure I shouldn't add the mandarin until the reef is a year old, but what order do the rest get added in?

In general, most aggressive last (except the mandarin from a feeding perspective) and most docile/peaceful first

The number of fish is pretty much fine from a bioload for this tank size perspective, but care mixing behavioral characteristics is important for long term success

 

[Fishmommy]

Thank you!
If you have any further suggestions I am all ears

 

[snorvich]

Thank you!
If you have any further suggestions I am all ears

The nature of this thread is that many folks who inquire revise their stocking list (after reading comments from me) and as such I will be more than happy to reanalyze. Behavioral compatibility is both an art and a science so feel free to revise and reinquire.

 

[Fishmommy]

How about inverts? Could you recommend types and quantities? I would like shrimps and perhaps an urchin. Clam too maybe but only if trouble free
I also love snails.

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[snorvich]

How about inverts? Could you recommend types and quantities? I would like shrimps and perhaps an urchin. Clam too maybe but only if trouble free


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Well those topics are well beyond the scope of this thread. But, in general I favor snails of various kinds, including fighting conchs, etc, rather than crabs of any kind. I have various and sundry shrimp which are fine as long as you do not have fish which prey upon them. I exclude, however, camel shrimp and banded coral shrimp.

 

[Fishmommy]

Thanks again. I looked for a noobie invert stock thread but did not see it. Will start one when I have a tentative list with your advice in mind


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[GoVols1983]

Hello,

I'm new to the hobby and have a 20L (will be moving into 40B and using 20L as a sump in a toward the end of the year) I want to add a yellow watchman goby and a pistol shrimp. I also would like to add a purple firefish. My system info is as follows:

20L
28Lbs. of live rock
2 - Ocellaris Clowns
18- dwarf cerith snails
7 - Nassarius snails
10- Florida cerith snails
5 - Nerites
2- Blue legged hermits
2- peppermint shrimp
1- brittle star
2 -feather dusters

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[devimik]

First fish in 90g reef tank

First fish in 90g reef tank

I have a 90g tank with a 30g sump, protein skimmer and live rock with sugar grade aragamax sand. The tank is cycled and I have a CUC consisting of 8 Astrea snails, 15 blue legged hermits, 10 cerith snails, 5 narissius snails, a cleaner shrimp and two peppermint shrimp.

I am planning to add:

3 Green Chromis
1 Goby, either a watchman or diamond
1 red starfish
1 brittle star

Then, in a couple of weeks, I am thinking of adding two or three occ clowns and one or two purple firefish and maybe a basslet.

Will this work well?

 

[snorvich]

Hello,

I'm new to the hobby and have a 20L (will be moving into 40B and using 20L as a sump in a toward the end of the year) I want to add a yellow watchman goby and a pistol shrimp. I also would like to add a purple firefish. My system info is as follows:

20L
28Lbs. of live rock
2 - Ocellaris Clowns
18- dwarf cerith snails
7 - Nassarius snails
10- Florida cerith snails
5 - Nerites
2- Blue legged hermits
2- peppermint shrimp
1- brittle star
2 -feather dusters

Thanks,

Andrew

With two clownfish of any species, you are done. Wait until you actually upgrade before adding any additional fish. By the way your CUC far exceeds requirements of the tank and will starve.

 

[snorvich]

I have a 90g tank with a 30g sump, protein skimmer and live rock with sugar grade aragamax sand. The tank is cycled and I have a CUC consisting of 8 Astrea snails, 15 blue legged hermits, 10 cerith snails, 5 narissius snails, a cleaner shrimp and two peppermint shrimp.

I am planning to add:

3 Green Chromis chromis have been coming in less than healthy; also, they tend to reduce their number down to one or at most two
1 Goby, either a watchman or diamond
1 red starfish
1 brittle star

Then, in a couple of weeks, I am thinking of adding two or three occ clowns

two clownfish is the maximum sustainable, any more will be killed

and one or two purple firefish two firefish will maintain only if they are a bonded pair, otherwise, over time, only one will survive

and maybe a basslet.

Will this work well?

As noted

 

[GoVols1983]

With two clownfish of any species, you are done. Wait until you actually upgrade before adding any additional fish. By the way your CUC far exceeds requirements of the tank and will starve.

Sweet! :sad1:

Maybe I should reconsider the 40B and move to a 120 or so and use the 40 as a sump.

 

[snorvich]

I was advised to get a while bunch of hermit crabs to keep my tank and crushed coral substrate clean. Why are they bad?

hermit crabs (and other crabs) are opportunistic feeders; additionally they will kill snails for their shells.

 

[mofuzz]

90 gallon reef

90 gallon reef

Hi all,

I have a 90 g reef up for about 4.5 yrs. My setup currently is a mixed reef but as my nitrates drop my softies are suffering. My other corals are doing fine for the first time now that I have been doing weekly water changes. spG 1.26, pH 7.8-8.1, temp 78-81, nitrates 2 ppm (using the red sea kit which is pretty cool), phos 20ppb on the hanna checker, ca 450, MG 1080 (getting low and due for redosing soon).

I am using an apex controller to keep things going and a reef oct 2000? as a skimmer. Biopellets and gro via a TLF canisters. Also I just busted a hole in the wall/floor and completed the move to my new fishroom (my girlfriend calls it the garage:celeb1:. There is my 30 g sump. I have a panworld 200 as a return up ~ 15 feet to the DT. Im thinking the move to the garage after the apex will be the best thing Ive done so far for my tank/:fish2: friends. (Its so nice to spill water on the concrete floor and watch it go down the drain as opposed to my hard wood floor. Anyway sorry for the ramble, this is my first post after learning so much from you all. :wavehand:

To the issue at hand, I had to evict my new niger trigger as he was causing trouble although he was awesome otherwise. I thought I could take the chance from what I read and truthfully it was sort of an impulse buy (as in the poor guy was covered in ich and looked terrible at the petsmart and I know its not right but I couldnt help myself) 4 wks in QT and much more better. My maroon clown and watchman goby also were relocated to the lfs so I could change things up a bit.

Im looking for as peaceful a tank as possible without it looking like there are no fish in my tank. Let me know if this is too much bioload and will aggression begin to show it self soon.

Current list:
Black salfin blenny 3inches
Blue spot gobby 4 in
Coral beauty 3 in
Tomini tang 4 in (the only one that is seen regularly)

My Wishlist
Blue throat trigger (male) 3 in
Ocellaris Clowns x2 2 in
Lyretail Anthias one male and one female about 2in each
Exquisite Wrasse x 2in

Let me know your reactions and thoughts. Many thanks

 

[snorvich]

Hi all,

Actually this thread is only answered by Reef Central Staff

I have a 90 g reef up for about 4.5 yrs. My setup currently is a mixed reef but as my nitrates drop my softies are suffering. My other corals are doing fine for the first time now that I have been doing weekly water changes. spG 1.26, pH 7.8-8.1, temp 78-81, nitrates 2 ppm (using the red sea kit which is pretty cool), phos 20ppb on the hanna checker, ca 450, MG 1080 (getting low and due for redosing soon).

I am using an apex controller to keep things going and a reef oct 2000? as a skimmer. Biopellets and gro via a TLF canisters. Also I just busted a hole in the wall/floor and completed the move to my new fishroom (my girlfriend calls it the garage:celeb1:. There is my 30 g sump. I have a panworld 200 as a return up ~ 15 feet to the DT. Im thinking the move to the garage after the apex will be the best thing Ive done so far for my tank/:fish2: friends. (Its so nice to spill water on the concrete floor and watch it go down the drain as opposed to my hard wood floor. Anyway sorry for the ramble, this is my first post after learning so much from you all. :wavehand:

To the issue at hand, I had to evict my new niger trigger as he was causing trouble although he was awesome otherwise. I thought I could take the chance from what I read and truthfully it was sort of an impulse buy (as in the poor guy was covered in ich and looked terrible at the petsmart and I know its not right but I couldnt help myself) 4 wks in QT and much more better. My maroon clown and watchman goby also were relocated to the lfs so I could change things up a bit.

Im looking for as peaceful a tank as possible without it looking like there are no fish in my tank. Let me know if this is too much bioload and will aggression begin to show it self soon.

Current list:
Black salfin blenny 3inches
Blue spot gobby 4 in
Coral beauty 3 in
Tomini tang 4 in (the only one that is seen regularly)

My Wishlist
Blue throat trigger (male) 3 in triggers are semi aggressive and all need a larger minimum tank
Ocellaris Clowns x2 2 in
Lyretail Anthias one male and one female about 2in each
Exquisite Wrasse x 2in two fairy wrasses must be a male plus female

Let me know your reactions and thoughts. Many thanks

 

[mofuzz]

f/u 90g reef

f/u 90g reef

thanks for the quick reply.

Other than removing the trigger I should be OK from a bioload and compatibility standpoint ? Also I am thinking only one exquisite wrasse, the way I wrote it was unclear.

 

[snorvich]

thanks for the quick reply.

Other than removing the trigger I should be OK from a bioload and compatibility standpoint ? Also I am thinking only one exquisite wrasse, the way I wrote it was unclear.

Yes, except for the trigger you should be fine. I thought you were trying to pair the fairy wrasse, mea culpa.

 

[footballdude2k3]

Planning a 75 with a 40 sump, mixed reef. I am aware that I am about to list too many fish, but I would just like to put down all of them that I like and know which ones will work best together

Tailspot blenny
Midas Blenny
Either a purple or helfrichi firefish
Bicolor blenny
Longfin Fairy Wrasse
2 onyx clowns

Other suggestions welcome

 

[snorvich]

Planning a 75 with a 40 sump, mixed reef. I am aware that I am about to list too many fish, but I would just like to put down all of them that I like and know which ones will work best together

Tailspot blenny two blennies will almost certainly not get along but for another interesting fish, check out possum wrasses
Midas Blenny
Either a purple or helfrichi firefish
Bicolor blenny
Longfin Fairy Wrasse this is the only possible behavioral problem since it is on the aggressive side and may intimidate your firefish
2 onyx clowns

Other suggestions welcome

bioload, however, is fine.

 

[asudavew]

I have a 55 gallon up and running. 60-70 lbs live rock
Sump. Skimmer aqua-c. Not set up yet.
Hopefully corals eventually.
4 t5 54 watt. Two 10k and two actinic + 4 moon LEDs. Timer on light.

Ammonia - 0. Nitrite 0. Nitrate 4-5. PH 7.8

It's cycled. About 3 weeks. Added partial CUC last week.

3 Astraea Turbo Snail
3 Cerith Snail
1 Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab
Dwarf Zebra Hermit Crab (7-8)
1 Electric Blue Hermit Crab
1Emerald Crab
3-4 Nassarius Snail
2 - Peppermint Shrimp
1 - Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab
1 - Snapping Shrimp maybe... have not seen it since release

I will add more snails as needed down the road.



I plan on adding these critters:

Pistol shrimp/goby combo first.

I would also like to add a blenny. Second I think.

Followed by another fish... not sure what yet. 3rd (angel of soe sort ?)

Then later down the road 2 clown fish with anemone. (4-6 weeks on the clowns) and ... 6 months later for anemone? Suggestions for clowns? Anemone?

Any suggestions would be helpful, compatibility, order to buy, etc.

Plus I'm not sure what to add for a third fish.

I would also like to add a cleaner shrimp in the very near future.

I appreciate it! :spin1