Setting up 90G reef

[BlueOSO]

Hey everyone,
So I managed to find a nice 90g with a light, stand, sump, overflow, skimmer etc on craigslist. While I am cycling the tank, would it be a bad idea to buy the fish i want now and quarantine them while the tank cycles? If i remember right, what i read says about a month to cycle/set up, and about a month to quarantine, so I figured it would save some time. Comments/concerns?

On a side note, does it matter if coral goes in before fish or can I add them interchangeably?

Thanks!

 

[Vgyoung]

Depends...what fish what coral

 

[BlueOSO]

I was thinking just a school of maybe 5 chromis to start out, and later add the flame angel, snowflake eel, and pair of clowns/BTA that are in my existing tank after this tank is stable. I havent decided other than that. And I plan on keeping mainly polyps/SPS. Some that I really had my eye on were brain coral, galexia, duncan polyp. Anything hardy that can live under HO florescent.

 

[Pife]

On your lighting are you talking about t5's or regular florescent bulbs? You can't get chromis to stay in group's. They will all die until one remains.

 

[BlueOSO]

Sorry its t5. And I thought chromis were a schooling fish? LiveAquaria says groups of 3 or more etc

 

[MacWilliams]

In the wild they school. But thats a huge area and plenty of places to run away. In your tank they will fight and more than likely be reduced to 1. There are cases where they do well for a while then start fighting. There are cases where people have had them for years. Its all random but most of the time they kill each other.

 

[BlueOSO]

Oh, i figured since they are only a few inches and its a bigger aquarium it would work. Thanks for the info! In that case, in addition to my first question, what are some smallish fish that school, and wont be eaten by my snowflake eel?

 

[BlueOSO]

My bad, I think I meant LPS, not SPS. I am obviously fairly new to reefs. Basically I want hardy/easier coral.

 

[oscarinw]

what are some smallish fish that school, and wont be eaten by my snowflake eel?

Snowflakes if well fed are known to be fairly peaceful... But I'm no expert. As to other schooling fish, I would say the Bangaii cardinals are a potential alternative but they are not active swimmers. More of a stay in place, schooling fish.