90 Gallon reef stocking ideas/help

[AC0DX]

I have a 90 gallon reef tank (or we are working our way there). I have the following fish in the tank right now.

1 small velvet damsel -- I know satan with fins when he grows up. I will need to remove him when that happens. Stupid impulse buy and lack of guidance from a LFS that I won't use any longer is how he found his way into the tank.
1 small pink skunk clown
1 lawnmower blenny
1 cherub angel

What else can I stock the tank with -- and in what order and times in between. I like the idea of a foxface maybe.

 

[kazikage42]

If you want tangs, add them last and I would recommend no more than 2 since they can get big fast. For me, I like smaller fishes, so wrasses, firefish, blennies, anthias would be great choices In my opinion.

 

[Maritimer]

Blennies can be combative with other blennies, but most will get along well with gobies - shrimp-gobies would be lively near the sandbed.

Royal gramma - give some thought to whether you'd like a single, pair or small harem group.

Dartfish, flasher and fairy wrasses would add life up in your water column - but make sure you've got a top. Any fish other than seahorses can jump, but these guys are professionals!

If you do go with a foxface, the one-spot probably stays the smallest at about 7".

~Bruce

 

[Michael Llabona]

A Kole tang is great. They stay on the smaller side. I also recommend a wrasse. They will keep bristle worms and what not in check. Once your tank is mature and full of pods you can consider a dragonet

 

[eatbreakfast]

Fairy, flasher, small Halichoeres type wrasses are all great.

Purple tilefish, yellow assessor, royal grammar or black cap basket, a group of zebra or scissortail dartfish, a watchman goby/pistol shrimp pr.

 

[AC0DX]

A Kole tang is great. They stay on the smaller side. I also recommend a wrasse. They will keep bristle worms and what not in check. Once your tank is mature and full of pods you can consider a dragonet

Can you have a Kole and Yellow tang in the same 90? Or will I get put in timeout by the Tang police?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Can you have a Kole and Yellow tang in the same 90? Or will I get put in timeout by the Tang police?

It can work out, but I would recommend against it in a tank smaller than 100g.

 

[Michael Llabona]

Can you have a Kole and Yellow tang in the same 90? Or will I get put in timeout by the Tang police?

You could do it but I highly advise against it. 90 is too small for a yellow tang. Plus he might start showing signs of aggression and stress everyone else out. If you are looking for the bright yellow pop then I would recommend a yellow coris wrasse.

 

[AC0DX]

You could do it but I highly advise against it. 90 is too small for a yellow tang. Plus he might start showing signs of aggression and stress everyone else out. If you are looking for the bright yellow pop then I would recommend a yellow coris wrasse.

Okay fair enough. I added 3 orange firefish last night. How long should I wait between adding fish and corals?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Okay fair enough. I added 3 orange firefish last night. How long should I wait between adding fish and corals?

Firefish don't add much bioload, but I would still wait a week or two before adding another fish.

On another note, two of your firefish will likely pr up and kill the third.

 

[Michael Llabona]

Yep I would wait a few weeks for fish. Most important is to get into a habit of testing tank parameters 1-2 times a week at least. On my 90 I typically test once on Wednesday, 10g water change on Friday, then test again on Sunday. You can basically add coral as long as all parameters are in check. You should hold off on the harder LPS and sps corals until the tank is mature 6mo to a year typically (same goes for a nem). Also, make sure you have a good clean up crew. I wish I had gotten more at the start. They really are important and are often overlooked.

 

[AC0DX]

Firefish don't add much bioload, but I would still wait a week or two before adding another fish.

On another note, two of your firefish will likely pr up and kill the third.

Should I move one to the 29 gallon? That tank has a tomato clown, yellow tail damsel and 6 Line wrasse.

 

[AC0DX]

Yep I would wait a few weeks for fish. Most important is to get into a habit of testing tank parameters 1-2 times a week at least. On my 90 I typically test once on Wednesday, 10g water change on Friday, then test again on Sunday. You can basically add coral as long as all parameters are in check. You should hold off on the harder LPS and sps corals until the tank is mature 6mo to a year typically (same goes for a nem). Also, make sure you have a good clean up crew. I wish I had gotten more at the start. They really are important and are often overlooked.

What are you testing for? I think I know the answer but I will ask anyway.