I think im ready to add a fish or invert to the tank, who should come first?

kilofey

kilofey

Member
75gal DT w/ 30gal sump
Ammonia- 0
Nitrate- 0
Nitrate- 20 (tested before a 20% wc today, prolly lower now)
Ph- 8.4
Temp- 77.5
(tank has been stable for 5 days now, except nitrate, which has come down from 40)
Current inhabitants:
1 Pincushion urchin
1 purple urchin
2 adult brittle stars (and some babies)
1 turbo snail
1 ? Snail
Corals:
9 small mushrooms
2 small kenya trees
1" frag green star polyps
---------
List of desired inhabitants:
(pls tell me if theres any fish/inverts that do not work together or are NOT for beginners, and which should be the first added)
3+ cleaner shrimp
1 arrow crab
5+ hermit crabs
5+ turbo snails
1 Orchid dotty back
1 Banner fish
1 Blenny (suggestions on type?)
1 Goby (suggestions on type?)
1 royal gramma
1 Six line wrasse
1 clown
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kilofey http:///forum/thread/386567/i-think-im-ready-to-add-a-fish-or-invert-to-the-tank-who-should-come-first#post_3396189

[hr]
List of desired inhabitants:
(pls tell me if theres any fish/inverts that do not work together or are NOT for beginners, and which should be the first added)
3+ cleaner shrimp
1 arrow crab likely to irritate corals and kill your hermits. I do NOT consider them to be "reef safe"
5+ hermit crabs
5+ turbo snails
1 Orchid dotty back
1 Banner fish can you be more specific on what type exactly?
1 Blenny (suggestions on type?) Bi Color's are hardy, easy to come by and make great additions
1 Goby (suggestions on type?) I'm a fan of the Green Banded. There are so many different types out there
1 royal gramma
1 Six line wrasse Will likely fight with your Royal Gramma and your Dottyback.
1 clown What type? Maroons and Tomatoes are MEAN
I think you need more snails.
In a 75, for a CUC, I'd do this:
30-40 Trochus/Nerite/Astrea mixture I prefer Trochus over the other two
15 Nassarius
15 Ceriths
2 Cleaner shrimp
Hermits will kill your snails. I've banned hermits from my reef tanks. They kill my snails for sport, pick at my corals, knock over corals. I just got tired of them
I think you could go ahead and add the clownfish. Consider a pair instead of one single one. It's a good starting fish
 
kilofey

kilofey

Member
Awwwww man! Six lines are my all time favorite.... Oh kay :eek:( orchid dotty back and royal gramma outweigh the wrasse
For the clown, probably percula (sp?), sorry to be so cliche, but the one that looks like nemo lol
Eeekkkk! Green banded is perfect! Super pretty. Great suggestion, itll be tough to top that
Bicolor blenny looks a little similar to the royal gramma, but still a good canidate
Banner fish... Not sure what kind lol, I just read that they are good for beginners lol, are there any small ones (less than 7") if theres no small ones that are easy to care for, that one can be out
Arrow crab is out as well, anyone know of any super unique looking inverts, I mean along the arrow crab route that when u see it u go woah! Lol
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kilofey http:///forum/thread/386567/i-think-im-ready-to-add-a-fish-or-invert-to-the-tank-who-should-come-first#post_3396214
Awwwww man! Six lines are my all time favorite.... Oh kay :eek:( orchid dotty back and royal gramma outweigh the wrasse
For the clown, probably percula (sp?), sorry to be so cliche, but the one that looks like nemo lol
Eeekkkk! Green banded is perfect! Super pretty. Great suggestion, itll be tough to top that
Bicolor blenny looks a little similar to the royal gramma, but still a good canidate
Banner fish... Not sure what kind lol, I just read that they are good for beginners lol, are there any small ones (less than 7") if theres no small ones that are easy to care for, that one can be out
Arrow crab is out as well, anyone know of any super unique looking inverts, I mean along the arrow crab route that when u see it u go woah! Lol
If you're determined to have a six line wrasse, I'd make it the absolute last addition to the tank, or you're asking for trouble.
I love the little Green Banded Gobies. They can be kept in small groups as well, which is nice
Other blennies to consider: Tail Spot, Starry Blenny, Lawnmower Blenny Any Algae Eating Blenny would be okay and they have GREAT personalities.
The "Wow, what is that" invert in my tank is always my Fire Shrimp. Maybe consider a pair of them instead of the generic Skunk Cleaner Shrimp. I actually have a skunk with a fire shrimp right now and they're getting along great. I get more comments on my Fire Shrimp than my pistol shrimp

Also, although he hides a lot, I LOVE my Pom Pom Crab (doesn't do any damage to my corals) and my Porcelain Anemone Crab (kept in a Rose Bubble Tip)
Most banner fish (butterflies) are not reef safe, nor are they beginner fish, so a specific species is really needed in order to really comment on it. If it's a Heniochus species, it's more than likely not going to be reef safe.
As for clowns, "Nemo" was an Ocellaris, which many LFS's call "False Percula". They will stay more orange as they age than a True Percula, which starts to get darker, and more black as it ages.
You can see the difference here:
Ocellaris

Percula:
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/Heniochus-Butterfly-40acuminatus41_p_4548.html
Is this the "banner fish" you're referring to?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
So now you're missing that one larger, "show" fish. Consider doing a Coral Beauty or Flame Angel. Also take a look at a Yellow Eye Kole Tang.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
im getting a scopus tang for my 75 =)
+1 on the fire shrimp! Kool invert imo although mine is hiding a lot lately and hes only bout an 1"...
also i had a purple pseudocromis(SP) and he was a mean son of a guN!
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kilofey http:///forum/thread/386567/i-think-im-ready-to-add-a-fish-or-invert-to-the-tank-who-should-come-first#post_3396228
Those are good suggestions :) are they easy to take care of? could they be considered "beginner fish"
The Scopus, Yellow, Purple and Kole Tangs are all relatively easy once your rock is established (give it about 6 months). Since they'd be the largest fish in your tank, you'd want to add them at the end of your stocking list anyways, so the 6+ month wait isn't terrible.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
Quote:
The Fridmani's are much nicer than the plain purples
mine was just a purp so hopefully the orchids r much better! Id take BTLs word!
I was told the scopus, yellow, and the kole where kind of my only options! Well just the scopus and the kole but i suppose a yellow would b okay!?!?!?!
Just one though! Yes make it ur last fish. Id give ur tank a good ten days between stocking too!
 
kilofey

kilofey

Member
Yes, I will be going slow. Im in no rush. I may rethink the tang then if they can be mean and arent really for a 75
Im thinking I may not have a center piece fish and might just go with more little fish rather than a couple little ones and a big one. Since this is my first sw tank, I think I may get more enjoyment out of getting new fish more often.
So my "revised" fish stock will be:
Orchid dottyback (unless I find a prettier dottyback)
Green banded goby
Tail spot blenny
Oscelleris clown
Royal gramma
Six line wrasse (possibly, maybe not, if I did, it would be last and closely watched)
Snails (lots of them)
Fire shrimp and cleaner shrimp (maybe some other ones too, but thatll be another topic lol)
1 hermit crab (because I just cant help myself lol, but if he gets out of control, he goes)
Does it sound like a good mix? Am I fully stocked for a 75 gal w/ 30gal sump or is there still room? 6 fish doesnt seem like too much.
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
kilofey

kilofey

Member
Okie doke. no purple tang... Question... Could I keep a peacock mantis shrimp in my sump (for maybe 6 months until I can set up like a 10 or 15 gal for it? Those things are freaking amazing! Lolit would have rock to hide in and stuff. They seem to like dark caves, so my sump in my tank stand, under my tank migght be a good place temporarily, no?
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
Mantis shrimps are kinda tough to keep - esp in a small sump - and a little 10-20-30 gal tank is NOT really right for them long term either.
1st, they require their own complete system, with multiple inches of sand, lr, and dedicated system. Yes there are folks keeping mantis in sumps - but those sumps are usually bigger than 50gal - with enough room & thick glass for them.
2nd, mantis shrimps can very easily break & shatter the 1/8" or so glass most 10-30 gallon tanks are made of, resulting in disaster/loss of the mantis habitat.
3rd, Feeding a mantis is usually a manual affair - providing it with food on a stick at a regular basis. They tend to eat/kill what they can, when they can, which poses problems for longterm care - as if you provide it a bunch of live food at once - it'll kill it all off today, and be lurking for more tomorrow, leaving masses of uneaten food around, causing ammonia spikes and other issues.
Those who keep mantis shrimps usually have a dedicated tank for them, and those who keep them in sumps, have larger sumps than most peoples DT tanks. Either way - they are alot of effort to keep alive.
 
kilofey

kilofey

Member
Grr, that totally sucks. I was willing to give it its own 15gal tank, and my sump glass has 1/2" glass, and I loved hand feeding my fw fahaka puffer live food on a daily basis, but I suppose I prolly wouldnt be willing to give it its own 55 gal lol. Ppl would ome over and be like, yeah, hes super cool, when u can find him... ur tank is kinda boring tho lol
Well that super sucks, cause id love to have one, I suppose I might be getting a little ahead of myself lol, ill start with the easy fishies first :laughing:
Edit:
Bbbuuuttt, I do currently have an empty 55gal tank... I was planning on selling it... Hmmm :-}
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I agree, put a mantis in his own tank.
Look at some flasher and/or fairy wrasses. They can add some great life to a reef and some have absolutely beautiful colors.
Down the road, you could also consider a trio of anthias. There are a few species that would do okay in a 75.
 
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