Stock list advice please

acrid

acrid

Member
Hey,
I am hoping to get some advice on a stock list for my tank. I want to plan what fish I want to get, so I can get what I really want and not end up over-stocking it.
It is a 65 gallon with a sump/refugium (I'd guess around 20 gallons). I have a coralife protein skimmer (though it has not been set up yet). This tank will also house corals, so all the fish must be reef & invert safe.
Currently:
* peppermint shrimp
* cleaner shrimp
* sexy shrimp (x2)
* emerald mithrax crab (x2, & a mean one living in the sump)
* a tiny red crab
* porcelain crab (he is MIA, haven't seen him since he went in)
* halloween hermit
* electric blue leg hermit (x2)
* other hermits & snails (between the 2, about 1 per gallon)
* hawaiian feather duster
* tuxedo urchin
I also want a blood red fire shrimp & a pom pom crab. Also, a clam or two once I get a metal hallide lamp.
The only fish so far is a maroon clownfish.
My fish wishlist is:
* mandarin (either spotted or psychadelic)
* purple firefish
* banggai cardinal
* coral beauty angelfish
* blue tang
* wrasse (preferably possum; or a fourline, sixline, or red velvet)
Other possibilities are a green clown goby, a royal gramma, a scissortail dartfish, or a chromis or two. I am also welcome to your suggestions!
That would put it at 7 fish total. Is that too much for a 65? Would these fish get along?
I know most people say that a 65 is too small for a blue tang. But I have also been told that it would be fine for a small/young one as long as we moved it to a bigger tank once it got larger. As we will be selling our condo & buying a house within 2-3 years, that plan is easily do-able.
With the mandarins, I know you need an established tank & refugium, our new refugium will be set up by the end of next week & I am going to start seeding it with pods. This fish would be one of the last ones we would get.
With the coral beauty angelfish, I have read that they may nip corals, but it also seems like most people say they have never had a problem with theirs. Any input?
Also, what is this chemical warfare between corals I read about? I asked my LFS & they laughed and said it was ridiculous. I have very few corals now, but would like to get some acroporo once I get my metal hallide set up.
Sorry this is so long. Thank you for any advice or input!
 
bountyhunter23

bountyhunter23

Member
The urchin might be a problem with your corals. Most urchins you have to watch with corals. My urchin has never bothered my corals. I did see it one time on top of one of my zoas. But i got a stick and poked at it till it ran away... lol. But since then it hasnt bothered them.
 
mcbdz

mcbdz

Active Member

Welcome to SWF.
Are you sure your "little red crab" is a reef safe crab?
You blue tang would doulbe it's size in 5-6 months for the small ones. When they are small they grow really fast and somewhere around 5-7 inches slow their growth. It will out grow your tank in 6-9 months. It's your tank so you choose.
My only real concern with the other fish on your list is that you added your maroon clown first. Sometimes they will not let you add anyone else. Hopefully yours is young enough and no so territorial yet.
Add least to most aggressive: ifefish, cardinal, I'd do royal gramma, as first fish over next months(1 fish or mated pair per 3-4 weeks)
Mandrine I'd wait a year
Angel and wrasse are both best last fish, most likely angel last.

Hope this helps some.
 
acrid

acrid

Member
I do think the crab is safe, I bought him from the LFS and they said he was peaceful. He just sits sitting in this little cave all day.
I just went to the LFS. This time I spoke to a different employee who said the same thing as you about the tang, that they grow quickly. So I don't think we will do that. He also said that the coral beauty might be safe with corals, but would almost definitely eat any clam we get, so I don't think we'll get one of those either.
The maroon clown was my husbands choice. I would have rather had an onyx. It does seem fairly small, and just hides under a rock shelf most of the time.
I picked up a purple firefish today. So that makes the wishlist:
* mandarin (probably striped)
* banggai cardinal (tank bred)
* possum wrasse
* some sort of fairy wrasse
* longnose hawkfish (though this will eat my sexy shrimps)
* blue assessor
* blue reef chromis (x2?)
These are all tiny fish. So how many could I safely keep?
 
skipperdz

skipperdz

Active Member
Originally Posted by Acrid
http:///forum/post/2552359
Hey,
I am hoping to get some advice on a stock list for my tank. I want to plan what fish I want to get, so I can get what I really want and not end up over-stocking it.
It is a 65 gallon with a sump/refugium (I'd guess around 20 gallons). I have a coralife protein skimmer (though it has not been set up yet). This tank will also house corals, so all the fish must be reef & invert safe.
Currently:
* peppermint shrimp
* cleaner shrimp
* sexy shrimp (x2)
* emerald mithrax crab (x2, & a mean one living in the sump)
* a tiny red crab
* porcelain crab (he is MIA, haven't seen him since he went in)
* halloween hermit
* electric blue leg hermit (x2)
* other hermits & snails (between the 2, about 1 per gallon)
* hawaiian feather duster
* tuxedo urchin
I also want a blood red fire shrimp & a pom pom crab. Also, a clam or two once I get a metal hallide lamp.
The only fish so far is a maroon clownfish.
My fish wishlist is:
* mandarin (either spotted or psychadelic) ...need to have LOTS OF LR and matured to at least 6 months. and are hard to keep because of pod situation. also the maroon may be aggressive towards it. it was towards mine and ended up dying in 7 days
* purple firefish....[should be fine/COLOR]
* banggai cardinal...should be fine
* coral beauty angelfish...should be fine, same with potters, eibli and flame angels
* blue tang...not sure
* wrasse (preferably possum; or a fourline, sixline, or red velvet)...most do fine, may have to watch with shrimps
Other possibilities are a green clown goby...great choice, a royal gramma, a scissortail dartfish, or a chromis or two. I am also welcome to your suggestions!
That would put it at 7 fish total. Is that too much for a 65? Would these fish get along? 7 fish is fine for 65g. may i suggest a lawnmower blenny or starry blenny? they do great in reefs and swim through your rock work...great character
I know most people say that a 65 is too small for a blue tang. But I have also been told that it would be fine for a small/young one as long as we moved it to a bigger tank once it got larger. As we will be selling our condo & buying a house within 2-3 years, that plan is easily do-able.
With the mandarins, I know you need an established tank & refugium, our new refugium will be set up by the end of next week & I am going to start seeding it with pods. This fish would be one of the last ones we would get.
With the coral beauty angelfish, I have read that they may nip corals, but it also seems like most people say they have never had a problem with theirs. Any input? its hit or miss, either they will or they wont
Also, what is this chemical warfare between corals I read about? I asked my LFS & they laughed and said it was ridiculous. I have very few corals now, but would like to get some acroporo once I get my metal hallide set up.
Sorry this is so long. Thank you for any advice or input!
best of luck with your tank!
 
krazykarel

krazykarel

Member
How about a tri-color fairy wrasse...they are very active and good community fish. Also you could consider a Royal Gramma...not as active, but extremely attractive fish.

 
acrid

acrid

Member
Currently:
* Maroon Clownfish
* Purple Firefish
Revised planned additions:
* Possum Wrasse
* Tono's Fairy Wrasse
With the wrasses, what is the opinion on having 2 wrasses? The guy at the LFS said it would be fine as long as one was very different than the other. Like, he said to get the possum and a fairy of some sort as opposed to the possum & a sixline. He did say, however, to add them to the tank at the same time.
* Banggai Cardinalfish (tank raised)
* Striped Mandarin
* 2 Blue Reef Chromis
* Royal Gramma Basslet
* Starry Blenny
* Green Clown Goby
That puts it at 11 in a 65 gallon. This seems high to me, but since they are all smaller fish I am not sure. This is why I am asking you! Which would you eliminate from the list, if it is too high? Maybe only one wrasse? Are any of these fish boring & could be easily crossed off my list in favor of one more interesting?
Thoughts?
 
acrid

acrid

Member
I wanted to get a Coral Beauty, but was told that while they may not nip at my coral they would definitely nip at a clam. And I for sure want a clam, so I guess that eliminates that fish. Too bad though, they are very pretty.
 
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