time to buy livestock

[UFO8MyCow]

i have a 60 gallon cube 24x24x24 and a 20 gallon sump that is cycling and I am ready to start buying fish to put into quarantine. I am planning on a mixed reef with mostly softies and lps but an sps or two may seek in there to.

The only fish on my must have list would be a flame angel but otherwise I would prefer most of my livestock to be beneficial to the ecosystem. I am all for pretty fish but if they are pretty and a **** factory they are out. if they are pretty and eat algae or solve other problems that would be great.

 

[pyithar]

i like flame angels as well but i've read they may nip at corals.

 

[scumbag_gli]

First of all, flame angels are completely reef safe. Really, no fish are. But flame angels are more of a gamble than others.

Its your decision on what you want to stock the tank with, but i would avoid any of the obvious: tangs, angels, puffers, triggers, etc...all those that will out grow it quickly OR are not reef safe. If you value your fish & corals, you will stock wisely. Hope that helps.

 

[Taahirs]

Lawnmower blenny helps with algae.

Yellow coris wrasse eats sps pests.

Valenciennennea sexguttata is a sandsifiting goby and cleans the sand. It also doesn't drop the sand on corals as much as other sandsifters. Diamond back goby is also a good one.

And then I'd get a trio of flasher wrasse just because they look nice.

 

[A.Astore]

A royal gramma would add some color. A goby/pistol shrimp pair could be fun to have. Firefish would be acceptable in that tank size.

While not a fish, an urchin would be something fun to watch that also helps clean up.

 

[DBR_reef]

I'm a big fan of Orchid Dottybacks

 

[UFO8MyCow]

The urchin is deffinatly on my cleanup crew list after the tank is established. What is the consensus on a foxface in that size tank? I understand they are great algae eaters.

 

[scumbag_gli]

Just remember, most dottybacks/royalgrammas, etc...all turn into tank bullies and become extremely territorial.

When stocking your tank, don't impulse buy. Plan what you are actually going to want 1,2,10 years from now.

 

[RedStangGA]

Firefish, orange back fairy wrasse, mccosker flasher wrasse, pair of ocellaris clowns, bicolor blenny, yellow watchman goby/pistol pair.

 

[jchassie6312]

I love my silver belly wrasse. Good at picking at the rocks and eating pests.

 

[lonbrat]

Urchins, starfish, Angel fish, and sand sifters can all have ups and downs
Alot of urchins eat, move and tear up corals.
Same with a few starfish (most)
Angel fish can eat corals
And sand sifting gobies mostly eat the beneficial pods and such in your sand bed, I think a general reef would be best with the few beneficial fish and cleaners.
Lawnmower blennies eat hair algae, they are great, but on occasion starve due to lack of accepting pellets or flakes. Mine did not starve and cleans all algae off the rocks.
Hermits are great, snails work too, peppermint shrimp are cute and eat aptasia, and on occasion small snails in my experience.:frog:

 

[dianapickles]

The urchin is deffinatly on my cleanup crew list after the tank is established. What is the consensus on a foxface in that size tank? I understand they are great algae eaters.

I had a small tang in my 60g and a fox face. (Although the my tank was 4ft). Yellow tangs are awesome algae eaters.

 

[scooter31707]

60 gallons is 60 gallons, no Tangs in that tank and I also would not recommend putting a Flame Angel in that tank neither. They do better is something 75 gallons or better. You can look at the Cherub Dwarf Angel which will do better in that size tank.

 

[NYCBOB]

Orchid dptty back. Very reef safe and gentle.