PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[twistedfinn967]

Post #9179 please.

 

[snorvich]

Hello,
Standard 75g with a 20g long sump. So far I have a pair of black and white occelaris clownfish and a Flame Hawkfish, a cuc consisting of snails and hermit crabs, euphylia's,shrooms and zoa's/palys. I would like to add:
(1) Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)(had one early on but went awol)
or
(1) Caribbean Black Cap Basslet (Gramma melacara) and
(1) Yellow Eye Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
Thank you.

should be fine; only behavioral issue is that the Gramma loreto and the Gramma melacara my have aggression issues as they occupy the same ecological niche. Sorry, must have missed this one.

 

[Mg4life0331]

Well Steve my QT is empty and My DT has happy campers thanks to you. I want to revisit this thread and see what I can add.

55 gallon with 10 gallon refuge holding chaeto and pods.

Current inhabitants

2x Amphiprion ocellaris
1x Sphaeramia nemanoptera
1x Pterapogon kauderni
1x Ecsenius stigmatura
1x Stonogobiops yasha paired with a Alpheus bellulus

I have LPS and SPS corals, and a Tubestrea.

Snails and hermits....I know I need to get the crabs out.

Tell what you think of this wish list.

1-2 Lysmata amboinensis
1-2 Thor amboinensis
1 Gramma loreto
1 Nemateleotris helfrichi
1 Salarias fasciatus

On the numbers, if its better to add more, or add singly please say so. I don't mind adding or subtracting for comfort.
Thanks again Steve. If you didn't do this, I might have wasted a lot of money earlier. Well not might, I would have.

 

[snorvich]

Well Steve my QT is empty and My DT has happy campers thanks to you. I want to revisit this thread and see what I can add.

55 gallon with 10 gallon refuge holding chaeto and pods.

Current inhabitants

2x Amphiprion ocellaris
1x Sphaeramia nemanoptera
1x Pterapogon kauderni
1x Ecsenius stigmatura
1x Stonogobiops yasha paired with a Alpheus bellulus

I have LPS and SPS corals, and a Tubestrea.

Snails and hermits....I know I need to get the crabs out.

Tell what you think of this wish list.

1-2 Lysmata amboinensis two is better but concurrently as they should mate
1-2 Thor amboinensis generally happier in a group of 5 or more but a gramma loreto may put them at risk as will the Sphaeramia nemanoptera
1 Gramma loreto
1 Nemateleotris helfrichi
1 Salarias fasciatus may have issues with the Ecsenius stigmatura

On the numbers, if its better to add more, or add singly please say so. I don't mind adding or subtracting for comfort.
Thanks again Steve. If you didn't do this, I might have wasted a lot of money earlier. Well not might, I would have.

always a pleasure, I hope you have continued success

 

[Krispifsu]

Hi - new here but would appreciate the input on my plans

75 gallon
100 lbs live rock and 2-3 in sandbed
30 gal sump with fuge
Reef Octopus NWB 150 SS skimmer
Will build up to a reef tank slowly

Stocking List:
Snail CUC
Pair of clowns
Mandarin dragonette - stocking tanks with pods and growing separately as we'll
Dwarf African Flameback
Mystery wrasse
Midas blenny
Clown or shrimp goby
Foxface
Kole tang or purple tang?
Sea Cucumber

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

 

[snorvich]

Hi - new here but would appreciate the input on my plans

75 gallon
100 lbs live rock and 2-3 in sandbed
30 gal sump with fuge
Reef Octopus NWB 150 SS skimmer
Will build up to a reef tank slowly

Stocking List:
Snail CUC
Pair of clowns
Mandarin dragonette - stocking tanks with pods and growing separately as we'll make sure tank is 9 months mature before adding
Dwarf African Flameback
Mystery wrasse copepod competitor so not consistent with a mandarin
Midas blenny may nip at fins of planktivores
Clown or shrimp goby
Foxface one algae grazer in addition to your flameback
Kole tang or purple tang? one algae grazer in addition to your flameback; kole tang is more appropriate than the purple
Sea Cucumber careful, risky

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

 

[240addiction]

Need help with the order of our intended fish purchases for our reef tank.

65 gallon tank w/ 20 gallon sump (sump will have live rock rubble and chateo)
Vertex omega 150 skimmer
60 lbs of live rock
2 inch sand bed (60 lbs)

List of fish in no particular order.
1)Fathead Sunburst Anthias or Bartlett's Anthias
2)Royal Gamma Basslet
3)Kaudern's Cardinal
4)Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse "“ (male and female pair)
5)Flame Hawkfish
6)2-Purple Firefish
7)Snowflake Clownfish

Thanks for the help in advance.

Paul

 

[mkoop]

180DT 75sump w/ designated low flow fuge w/ well established pod population. Tank is 1+ year established.

Current DT inhabitants:
1 Kaudern's Cardinal
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
1 Diamond Watchman Goby
1 Spotted Mandarin
1 Tailspot Blenny
1 Lineatus Wrasse

Current QT (40gB) inhabitants:
4 Bartlett's Anthias

After anthias are transitioned to DT I would like to add:
Powder Blue Tang
Chevron Tang

In the future I would also like to find a female mate for my spotted mandarin and possibly another wrasse. This is mixed reef so I am not sure how much more load my system can safely handle but I'd be satisfied with this.

 

[Baiggann]

90 gal tank
36 gallon sump
Curve 7 protein skimmer
90 pounds live rock

Tank has been up for 2 months and will eventually become a mixed reef leaning towards SPS
Currently have 2 Percula clowns
Looking at adding:
Kole Tang
One Spot Foxface
Scotts Fairy Wrasse
Diamond Watchman Goby
Black Cap Basslett

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[snorvich]

Need help with the order of our intended fish purchases for our reef tank.

65 gallon tank w/ 20 gallon sump (sump will have live rock rubble and chateo)
Vertex omega 150 skimmer
60 lbs of live rock
2 inch sand bed (60 lbs)

List of fish in no particular order.
1)Fathead Sunburst Anthias or Bartlett's Anthias
2)Royal Gamma Basslet towards the end of the list
3)Kaudern's Cardinal tank raised only
4)Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse "“ (male and female pair) a pair really needs a larger tank due to activity level
5)Flame Hawkfish
6)2-Purple Firefish only one will survive long term; introduce first
7)Snowflake Clownfish

I annotated fish which would do best early, and one that should go towards the end.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Paul

 

[snorvich]

180DT 75sump w/ designated low flow fuge w/ well established pod population. Tank is 1+ year established.

Current DT inhabitants:
1 Kaudern's Cardinal
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
1 Diamond Watchman Goby
1 Spotted Mandarin
1 Tailspot Blenny
1 Lineatus Wrasse

Current QT (40gB) inhabitants:
4 Bartlett's Anthias

After anthias are transitioned to DT I would like to add:
Powder Blue Tang last
Chevron Tang

In the future I would also like to find a female mate for my spotted mandarin and possibly another wrasse. This is mixed reef so I am not sure how much more load my system can safely handle but I'd be satisfied with this.

behavior will trump bioload. If you do this plan, you should be fine

 

[snorvich]

90 gal tank
36 gallon sump
Curve 7 protein skimmer
90 pounds live rock

Tank has been up for 2 months and will eventually become a mixed reef leaning towards SPS
Currently have 2 Percula clowns
Looking at adding: add the algae eaters once the tank is more mature; six months or so
Kole Tang last
One Spot Foxface
Scotts Fairy Wrasse very aggressive, I would look for a less aggressive fairy wrasse
Diamond Watchman Goby
Black Cap Basslett

Thanks for the help!!!

 

[Nina51]

steve, i am getting closer to getting my 75g reef set up. i will be combining everything from my 2 small tanks...

2 snowflake clowns
1 royal gramma
1 orange spotted goby
1 long nosed hawkfish

presently, i have a purple striped dottyback housed with the 2 clowns and the hawkfish with no problem. i will, of course, be adding more fish eventually and my question is, since the dottyback is known to be aggressive, would it be ok in a much bigger tank? if not, i am prepared to take it back to the lfs.

thanks!

 

[snorvich]

steve, i am getting closer to getting my 75g reef set up. i will be combining everything from my 2 small tanks...

2 snowflake clowns
1 royal gramma
1 orange spotted goby
1 long nosed hawkfish

presently, i have a purple striped dottyback housed with the 2 clowns and the hawkfish with no problem. i will, of course, be adding more fish eventually and my question is, since the dottyback is known to be aggressive, would it be ok in a much bigger tank? if not, i am prepared to take it back to the lfs.

thanks!

A difficult question. Gramma loretto, while territorial, guards a rather small territory which has a modest footprint. The dottyback is most likely to interact primarily with this fish; there may be sufficient "non-gramma" territory in the new tank so this would work. However, I cannot say definitively. Best strategy is to add the dottyback last, just before lights out. If possible, aquascape such that the gramma has an opportunity to establish a "discrete territory" (i.e. such as two "reef sections" with a channel between) . Additional fish, however, may run into problems, especially if conspecifics.

 

[xdfireguy]

Ok, going to throw my daughter's list into the ring.

We have a 65g with 2" sand bed, guessing about 60+ lb of rock (need to thin it down a bit), 20L sump with skimmer and 12" fuge section. Tank has been up since 2008 (think it has cycled yet? :eek2. Only inhabitants except for snail only CUC is a pair of Coral Banded Shrimp who have been loving having the tank all to themselves for years now. Looking to stock it as a mixed reef with mostly - if not entirely captive bred species.

My daughter has asked for the following in her order of preference:

1) 2 Banggai Cardinals
2) 1-2 Percs or False Percs
3) 1 Blackcap Basslet
4) 1 Yellow Assessor
5) 3 Yellowtail Blue Damsel
6) 1 Fairy wrasse or 2 flashers (I saw the comments above on the Scott Fairy and Carpenter's flashers but not sure if there are better species - she's not locked onto any one)
7) 1 Shrimp Gobie + pistol shrimp

I thought that the bioload might end up being a bit much, but having an empty tank for so long, I might just be overcautious. Thoughts would be welcome.

 

[snorvich]

Ok, going to throw my daughter's list into the ring.

We have a 65g with 2" sand bed, guessing about 60+ lb of rock (need to thin it down a bit), 20L sump with skimmer and 12" fuge section. Tank has been up since 2008 (think it has cycled yet? :eek2. Only inhabitants except for snail only CUC is a pair of Coral Banded Shrimp who have been loving having the tank all to themselves for years now. Looking to stock it as a mixed reef with mostly - if not entirely captive bred species.

Note that Coral Banded Shrimp can take fish. Also, since current biocapacity is diminished, fish should be added slowly to re-establish greater capacity.

My daughter has asked for the following in her order of preference:

1) 2 Banggai Cardinals must be male plus female, tank bred is essential
2) 1-2 Percs or False Percs all of the A. ocellaris or A. percula pairs can be acquired tank bred; be sure to get two very small ones if getting a pair
3) 1 Blackcap Basslet
4) 1 Yellow Assessor
5) 3 Yellowtail Blue Damsel aggressive; may limit tank mates
6) 1 Fairy wrasse or 2 flashers (I saw the comments above on the Scott Fairy and Carpenter's flashers but not sure if there are better species - she's not locked onto any one) 2 flasher wrasses may be marginal in this sized tank because of activity level, but probably will work; if you provide species of fairy wrasse, I can comment on level of aggressiveness
7) 1 Shrimp Gobie + pistol shrimp

I thought that the bioload might end up being a bit much, but having an empty tank for so long, I might just be overcautious. Thoughts would be welcome.

You are right to be cautious about the rate of adding fish to a tank that has been relatively dormant. I suggest 2 weeks in between additions, with no more than two at a time

 

[240addiction]

Originally Posted by 240addiction
Need help with the order of our intended fish purchases for our reef tank.

65 gallon tank w/ 20 gallon sump (sump will have live rock rubble and chateo)
Vertex omega 150 skimmer
60 lbs of live rock
2 inch sand bed (60 lbs)

List of fish in no particular order.
1)Fathead Sunburst Anthias or Bartlett's Anthias
2)Royal Gamma Basslet towards the end of the list
3)Kaudern's Cardinal tank raised only
4)Carpenter’s Flasher Wrasse – (male and female pair) a pair really needs a larger tank due to activity level
5)Flame Hawkfish
6)2-Purple Firefish only one will survive long term; introduce first
7)Snowflake Clownfish

I annotated fish which would do best early, and one that should go towards the end.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Paul

Why would only one of the firefish survive? On the carpenters flasher would a male still have the colors without a female around? Any other fish you might recommend? Is that a decent bio load or can we add more fish?

Thanks

Paul

 

[snorvich]

Why would only one of the firefish survive? On the carpenters flasher would a male still have the colors without a female around? Any other fish you might recommend?

Thanks

Paul

Firefish, unless a bonded pair, after a few months will have the dominant one intimidate the passive one into hiding and eventually starving to death. A flasher wrasse male will not have "nuptial displays" absent a female but will not lose coloration. Some of the fairy wrasses, absent a female (primarily the "blue dominated coloration") will lose coloration over time.

 

[240addiction]

Firefish, unless a bonded pair, after a few months will have the dominant one intimidate the passive one into hiding and eventually starving to death. A flasher wrasse male will not have "nuptial displays" absent a female but will not lose coloration. Some of the fairy wrasses, absent a female (primarily the "blue dominated coloration") will lose coloration over time.

I added one question after. Is that a realistic fish count? Can we add more?

 

[snorvich]

I added one question after. Is that a realistic fish count? Can we add more?

Behavior always trumps bioload. However, this is a reasonable bioload for that tank; establish slowly and quarantine.