Proposed Stocking Recommendations >.< Thanks!

[HoneyMoonFarm]

Okay so I am new to this forum please forgive me if I faux pas!

I am setting up a 75 gallon reef tank with the following I am not sure what all you need to know so I will list it all. I am planning 150 pounds of live rock, 95 pounds of live sand (or whatever will give me a nice 3 inch bed) I am still somewhat undecided my filtration but I tend to severely over filter my tanks lol. I don't want to drill my tank because well I could just see that ending badly. So an overflow box and a sump will probably be my goal but I don't have the specifics picked out yet. I am strongly looking at the PF-800 Eshopps Overflow Box and Eshopps 3rd Generation RS-200. I also would like to have a HOB refugium possibly to free up some room down under. I plan on a Reef Octopus NWB-110. I have a Mainland Reef LED 48" and a Zoo Med Coral Sun Actinic 420 Fluorescent Lamps 48". I currently use RO/DI water with my Coralife Pure-Flo 4 stage unit. I am looking at using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt. Hmmm okay I think thats everything whew! Anyway on to my question. (oh if you have any recommendations on products to look into I would appreciate it as I work very diligently and slowly in my tank building and love reading about other products)

I like to have my stocking list in mind when I think about my purchases as I am creating a home for my pets so I need to customize it for them right? so here is my proposed stocking list for the 75 please advise on any other fish to look into that fit what I am looking for. My concentration is on corals and inverts so they have to play nice.

1 Gramma brasiliensis
1 Zebrasoma flavesceans
1 Synchiroeus splendidus ???? (my husband loves them I know they will be a little difficult with the feeding so any advice to keep them successfully would be helpful)


(for reference I have 2 Gobiodon okinawai, and 1 Nemateleotris hehelfrichi in my 28g biocube reef)

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

 

[HoneyMoonFarm]

Okay did a little reading. I would like to replace my Zebrasoma flavesceans with a Zebrasoma scopas. But, I am willing to let the tang go if my tank is just too small over all. I have read some conflicting data about their tank requirements.

 

[HoneyMoonFarm]

And I will have to tell my husband no on the Synchiroeus splendidus. One year is considered successful keeping! That would break my heart! I am so glad I joined this forum though I am learning so much more than what I can find in just published books!

 

[gone fishin]

The gramma will be fine. The yellow tang should be ok but IMO it is right on the small end of the tank size and I would add him last if you plan on other fishes besides what you listed.

As to the mandarin I would wait for at least 6 months for the tank to mature and for the refugium to mature with pods. also you will want to pay extra attention to any other fish you may add. any fish that eats pods will out compete the mandarin for the food source. Mandarins are very slow methodical eaters.

I had a pair in my 180 for awhile but decided to get a more wrasse dominated tank. I got rid of the mandarins since I knew they would more than likely starve due to competition for food. Good luck just my 2 cents.

 

[HoneyMoonFarm]

Hmm... I have already learned a lot and changed major parts of my plan! Thanks everyone. For some reason my replies aren't showing up....

Thank you so much for your reply Tony!

 

[HoneyMoonFarm]

Okay it seems they are now lol

-I decided no on the Yellow Tang in favor of a Scopas however if my 75 is still just the bare minimum I may take out the Tang idea all together.

-No to the Mandarin after all a one year successful life span is just too heart breaking for me.

I will also be updating my lighting when I move from FOWLR to keeping corals probably won't be for a while but it seems the LED's aren't doing as well with the Corals as I would expect or want.

So with taking off most all of my small list does anyone have any suggestions of reef safe 'beginner' safe fish for me to look into? I have read just about every reef book I can get my hands on but the information seems to be outdated and I am starting on reading through the posts here. What are your favorites though?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

There are plenty of wrasses that would do well in your tank size. They're very active and colorful fish.

 

[Frostyfishman]

What about the good ol ocellaris clown fish pair. My two are very active and play together all day. They have so many interesting behaviors. Tomini tang is one you might look into for a 75. I would avoid the mandarin and study that in depth before attempting, they are tricky. Sailing Benny. A single chromis. Some cardinals.

 

[gone fishin]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946007

the link is a recommended minimum tank size for tangs. You will find the scopas is at 75g.

If properly cared for mandarins will live longer than a year I had mine for about 2 years. But as I mentioned earlier I decided to get wrasses in my tank. Mandarins can be a limiting factor for fish. The one year or less mark is probably accurate for a lot of them. I suspect most starve to death. Sadly their looks and cheap price do them no favors.

I like wrasses they come in a multitude of color and a lot of them are out in the open. Check out live aquaria for ideas.

I would not say LED's are not good for coral. I have LED's with a mixed reef. LED's have a lot more options and tuning than other lights and as such have a steeper learning curve. I very seldom get into lighting debates, there are multiple ongoing threads on the topic.

forgot to mention sometimes when folks are new the posts take a bit longer to show up especially if there are photos.

 

[HoneyMoonFarm]

Thanks everyone!

I really appreciate the link I have saved it, however if 75 is the minimum to keep the scopas I wonder if I wouldn't do better to hold off on a Tang all together until/if I purchase a longer aquarium in the future.

This is my long list of ones I like and want to learn more about then narrow down ya know (I do not want to have them all!)? So barring any problems with keeping certain ones together probably some combination of a few of the following species:

Gramma brasiliensis Brazilian Gramma
Serranus tortugarum Chalk Bass
Assessor flavissimus Yellow Assessor
Pterapogon kauderni Banggai Cardinalfish
Amphiprion ocellaris Ocellaris Anemonefish
Chromis (not sure which one)
Paracheilinus filamentosus Filamented Flasher Wrasse
Stonogobiops nematodes Blackray Shrimp Goby

 

[HoneyMoonFarm]

Agreed we will keep the lights off of this thread! I will say that all my equipment is up for replacement if I learn of something better in the future lol >.<

 

[gone fishin]

Personally I would not put a tang in a 75g. I did not get a tang until I had my 180g up and running. I have a kole tang in there and the guy is everywhere non stop. Also, fish are unique as well and have different personality's.

Forgot to mention I lifted the link out of a sticky at the top of the forum called "setting up". It is a book really with multiple chapters. Some of it may not pertain to you until later down the road but some may help you out now.

 

[gone fishin]

Your revised fish list looks pretty good to me. I would suggest on the chromis to see them before you buy them. They seem more susceptible to uronema, a nasty bit of business there, than other fish.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2389659

the link is from the fish disease forum and there is a diagnosis section among other topics worth reading. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of uronema before looking at chromis.

 

[HoneyMoonFarm]

Yes! I am reading it as we speak lol. It is very helpful.
I agree, I keep a lot of animals out here on the farm and the minimum standard of living never really does well for anyone involved.