Stocking 65g

[jrisgr8]

I really hope the fish police read this as I want an honest opinion. I have a 65g tank (I think it is a 65 long). I have some LR with LS base. The tank is fishless due to a catastrophe about a year ago when I had my husband take care of this fish while I was out of town...but I digress.
I want to add a Valentini puffer, b&w clown, flame or coral beauty angel, and cevron or longnose butterfly. Of course I will be adding these gradually over time one by one. I am also concerned on the longnose having longer fins and the puffer muching on them. All water readings are good. Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 10, PH 8.0-8.2. I have a whisper filter (not the best I know), Prizm skimmer, 2 powerheads.
Any ideas or suggestions on my selection? I really want the puffer most of all so any other suggestions will have to be compatable to the puffer. Also, is the general rule about 1/2 in. of fish per gallon of water? I am basing all of my measurements on the fish being full grown to 5-6 in. each. If I did purchase these 4 fish would my tank then be stocked to the max, leaving no room for extra inhabitants?
Thanks for any advice!

 

[lion_crazz]

I think everything you said sounds good, besides for the inch per gallon rule. No one really goes by that since it does not take in a lot of things. Regardless, your fish selection sounds good and I think the long nose butterfly would be your butterfly of choice. I would make him the last fish, as butterflies really want an established tank with little to no nitrates. Before you get the butterfly, just make sure he is eating aggressively at the store before you take him home. After those four fish, I would say you had room for one smaller one, such as a goby, blenny, firefish, or something of the sort.

 

[promisetbg]

I would consider a bluespot instead of a valentini puffer.The bluespots are prettier IMO..and more docile.Valentini's can be aggressive towards other fish..leaving a circular mark .
Here is a pic of my bluespot..this is also a 65 gal tank.

his tankmates are a tiger jawfish,freidmani psuedochromis, a starry and a sandhopper blenny.Clean-up crew is a challenge with these little puffers,so choose wisely critters which can defend themselves.You will also have to care for the puffer's beak,so shelled foods will be needed several times a week.I would also suggest that you incorporate a sump with a better skimmer and return pump,and perhaps make a small area in the sump for a fuge as water quality will be compromised by the puffer,they are messy eaters.Good Luck.

 

[lion_crazz]

I have never found either toby to be aggressive, but I also like the blue spot more. Just a matter of personal opinion.

 

[jrisgr8]

Thanks for the info. I went around looking at a few reputable LFS today and did not find either puffer. I personally like the blue spotted but my husband likes the Valentini. Since he rarely has an opinion on anything tank related I would like to get the one he wants. Thanks for the tip on the butterfly as well. Is there a certain reason you prefer the longnosed to the Chevron? Just curious.
Another question I have is: Does the puffer have to be introduced first? This tank has been up an running for around 3 years. It has just been fishless for a while.
In regards to the sump system. That is on the list of things to do. I think that is where some of our tax money is going. It will be a few months though. Can we get by with what we have for a few months?

 

[fish fever]

I love mine.

 

[fish fever]

here is the pic

 

[lion_crazz]

Yeah, you can get by, but I might think of at least getting a better and bigger HOB until then.
I prefer the longnose simply because they are a hardier fish usually. If you find a very active and aggressive Chevron, go with that one if you like it. I have just seen more long noses do well.

 

[jrisgr8]

Thanks. I have been talking to my husband about the sump/fuge. He is really great at plumbing so I think we can do it ourselves...or he can do it. Don't trust me with any plumbing, unless we want a flood

. Thanks for the tip on the long nosed being more hardy. That is what I am looking for.

 

[jrisgr8]

Well, the sump is on hold (only very temporarily). My husband wants to do some more in depth research. However, I did buy a new skimmer. The new one should be MUCH better than that Prizm I had.
I have a Bicolored Angel and Valentini puffer on hold at 2 different LFS that I will be picking up this weekend or later this week. Does anyone have any sample diets for these two? I did purchase a pygmy angel food that has algea, garlic, shrimp, krill, and some other ingredients. I also bought a bag of mysis shrimp. I do plan on purchasing some small crabs/snail for the puffer to file his teeth down every so often as well.
Any other suggestions for these 2 for a balanced diet. I want to make sure that they are happy and healthy. I would like to have all varieties of food on hand when they get home.

 

[lion_crazz]

Sounds like you are really doing your research. Big thumbs up to your and your husband.
As far as the fish food, everything that you have purchased sounds fantastic. You might want to pick up some blood worms for the puffer as well. And for the angel,you might want to get some freeze-dried seaweed or nori, or perhaps some frozen kelp. Also Formula One and/ Two are fantastic.I like the blood worms for the puffer because they are a little smaller, and if you happen to get a small puffer, at least he will have two things to eat at first while he is still small (the mysis and the blood worms). And I like the seaweed/nori/kelp for the angel because it offers a lot of algae. The mysis will be good for its meat, and then the angel formula will be good because it has sponge in it, and then the seaweed/nori/kelp will supply the majority of the greens to its diet. Plus, the formula one/two offer a wide range of stuff, just like the pygmy angel formula.

 

[jrisgr8]

Thanks for the help. Would you alternate days on these foods and feed once a day? I think I would give the Nori daily though correct? I have also heard about purchasing shrimp in the shells from the grocer. Do you think this would be a good idea as well, and are these cooked/steamed shrip in the shells or uncooked? I am not a seafood lover sorry. As for the frozen krill/mysis shrimp, do you dissolve this in water first? I feel bad having so many questions. I just want to make sure that I am doing things properly.
Thanks again you have been a GREAT help!!!

 

[lion_crazz]

Never feel bad for questions. Asking things is the best thing you can be doing for your fish.
As far as the alternating,that would be a good plan, or you can feed them a small mix of everything with each feeding. Both ways work well, it's just your preference. Also, the frequency of the feedings is up to you as well. I overfeed my fish, and I offer them A LOT of different stuff with each feeding, so I do not feed every day. It's more of an every other for me since I feed so much.
I do offer nori every day though on a piece of live rock. What I do is I take a small piece of rubble rock, and I rubberband the nori to the rubble rock for the fish and I drop it in the middle of the tank. I like this method a whole more than the lettuce clip. I don't find the lettuce clip to be very natural.
Also, you could get shrimp at the grocery store. That is up to you as well. There have been plenty of people who do that on this website. I am not a big fan of picking up real seafood at the grocery store. I just usually walk out of the LFS with 7 different packs of frozen food. That is just my preference though. I figure, there are people who know what they are doing that make up all the frozen food, so I trust them. So far, in all my experience with fish, I have never found a problem doing it this way, so I have stuck with that. Besides, after I get the food home, I hit it all with my nutrients and vitamins as well (Zoe, Selcon, Vitamin C, VitamChem), so it has even more to offer the fish. Just my personal preference.
And yes, I usually dissolve all my frozen food in water first. It makes it easier for the fish to eat and digest.

 

[jrisgr8]

Thanks again. You have been a wealth of knowledge. I will be picking up a few more items tomorrow including a vitamin supplement. You are AWESOME :cheer:

 

[lion_crazz]

Thank you. I am just glad that I could help. :happyfish

 

[jrisgr8]

Picked up the food today and got my little guy. He is small, about 1 in to 1 1/2 in. He acclimated very well and is swimming around. He was even hovering in the corner of the tank watching me while I was sitting on the couch watching the football game. What a character he is.
Since he is so small, can he still eat the snails, shrimp etc? I want to make sure his teeth are taken care of.
Thanks!

 

[lion_crazz]

That's great he is doing well! I would try just giving him small snails and shrimp for him to pick at. If he doesn't pick at them yet, don't worry. Puffers' teeth don't start to grow very much until they are older.