My QT has been cycling for 4 weeks and my display tank has been cycling for 1 week. I'm getting close to making my first purchase and I want to make sure my wish list is okay to become a stock list.
Display tank is a standard 120 gallon 4'x2'x2' that I just put 1/4" mesh on today the rest of the details or in my signature.
The following list are in approximate introduction order.
The list of fish I would really like:
1 or 2 bonded or mated pair of Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
Seems like the only way to get a pair is to buy 2 and hope or buy a bunch and hope 2 find each other and return the ones that survive.
Actually, you keep the ones that survive. However, the odds are against. Best chance for two is to purchase two that are "hanging out together" and hope that they bond. However this will take a few months. In salt water, it is difficult to get most fish to work as pairs. There are a few exceptions, but this is slightly more advanced concept.
So if I get lucky in the next few weeks and find a pair I will get a pair but most likely it will be 1.
1 - 2 (MF) Orange Stripe Prawn Goby (Amblyeleotris randalli)
Want to attempt to pair with pistol shrimp You can get one prawn goby and two pistol shrimp, but a pair of prawn gobies is unlikely to work and will only work if it is a male plus female.
1 - Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
1 - Carberryi Anthias (Nemanthias carberryi) swimmer
1(M) or 3 (MFF) Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri)
Hard to find females and almost impossible to find a harem so again probably only one.
1 (M) or 2 (MF) ( mated ) Green Mandarin (Synchiropus splendidus)
Will add after my tank matures
Will I be able to support 2? It should, but be sure you are getting a male and female and introduce the female first; females are often difficult to acquire because they are brought in less frequently because they are not as vibrant coloration
Selection of optional fish:
1 Tanaka's Pygmy Wrasse (Wetmorella tanakai) excellent fish
1 Yellow Assesor ( Assessor flavissimus )
1 Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis)
1 Lineatus Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lineatus) I would only do one fairy wrasse given the number of other fish
1 Blue/Green Reef Chromis (Chromis viridis) I would skip as they often come in less than healthy
1 Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus ) or 1 Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus) you cannot have two blennies
Share the same ecological niche so one or the other
Concerned about the Tang making the tank look small and aggression issues no, one Ctenochaetus tang should be fine
I want to keep multiple species of shrimp, the standard all snail COC, 1 or more Clam(s), and SPS coral a function of flow and lighting but that is beyond the scope of this thread which is only marine fish compatibility
How far off am I on stocking? How many of my optional fish can I add? since you are doing small fish, you should be fine behaviorally and from the respect of bioload, although that is getting up there.
Thanks for the incredible service you are providing here.
