Stocking for a 70g

[bialy]

Ok so i need help stocking. This tank has been up for a year and very successful (except I cant find colorful, active fish with a personality). It is a mixed reef, any input or advice you have is much appreciated. I love the fish i have but when looking at my tank there is 0 activity. I want fish that will be active and swim (not to be bratty).

So far I have:
1 small Kole Tang
2 Occ Clowns
4 seahorses (h. barbori) (please dont make this post about them... it has happened before)
1 cleaner shrimp
snails...

Wishlist:
green mandarin (already have a pod population)
small powder blue hippo tang (LFS has babies) (i know there will be a lot of hate on getting this but they will let me trade in and the tank will only be up for abut 3 years)

Need your input:
hawkfish???
anthias???
Any other ideas

 

[Betta132]

Gotta ask, why is your tank temporary?
Cardinalfish would probably work.
Chromis are nice, plus you can get 3-5 and have a little school.
Canary wrasse?
Have you considered a goby/pistol shrimp pair?

 

[bialy]

How is my wishlist though? The tank is temporary because of college (parents would restock with stuff they like and sell the fish). I dont really like cardinals or chromis and i dont know why. And the goby would hang out at the bottom ( i have had one), i am looking for things that will swim around.

 

[MorganAtlanta]

long nose hawk-- but that might do in your cleaner shrimp
midas blenny-- active and great personality.

 

[Marshall O]

Most any Hawkfish (definitely Long nosed) will eat your cleaner shrimp. So keep that in mind. Midas Blenny is a great suggestion. I assume your tank is covered, so smaller Fairy and/or Flasher Wrasses would work.

But I do think you should rethink the Blue Hippo (I believe you are referring to P. hepatus, and not A. leucosternon). They grow quite fast and I am a firm believer in that you should only purchase livestock that you can keep through adulthood.

 

[bialy]

No, I am talking about A. leucosternon. Would that work? If i got 3 anthias (lyretail, and all females) would they fight? Any other fish suggestions you can think of that are friendly, and active. My only concern with the midas blenny is that i have read in places that they fight with tangs. Any tips?

 

[Marshall O]

No, I am talking about A. leucosternon. Would that work?

Maybe, but not likely longterm. A 6' long tank is recommended for them as a minimum. That and they are one of the more aggressive Tangs, so I personally would not go that route.

My only concern with the midas blenny is that i have read in places that they fight with tangs. Any tips?

I have a Midas Blenny that was established for over a year before I added two Tangs. No issues whatsoever. I would not expect an issue from one.

 

[bialy]

I decided to go with the following:

1 green mandarin
3 female lyretail anthias