90 gallon stocking

[User 28262454]

Hey all, new here and got a question about stocking.
planning on getting a 90 gallon tank set up in the next couple months and after it is properly cycled I have a general idea of what fish I would wanna throw in there. My current idea would be something like
- 2 ocellaris clowns
- bristletooth tang
-shrimp/goby pair (probably a tiger and an orange spotted goby)
-1 helfrichi firefish (Might end up just getting a purple) + I will have a lid on the tank
-1 long nose hawkfish

I would also be interested in getting some cleaner shrimp, fire shrimp, banded coral shrimp, anemones, and some corals (some of each type)

I am very open to all opinions and nothing is concrete on the list. What order would you recommend I add these fish?
I do have some other general questions

- how needed is a sump and skimmer
- would I be able to add some more fish down the line and if so would there be any issues if they were less aggressive then some of the other fish like the tang
- I am kinda nervous about buying fish online, how safe would this option be and what would be the best sites to order from

 

[User 28262454]

Whats your filtration.

Was planning an HOB but now im thinking I might need something better.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Was planning an HOB but now im thinking I might need something better.

If you do a HOB get the biggest you can and get a good skimmer. Honestly if you can do it though, get a sump. So much more efficient and do such a better job. I did a HOB overflow from Eshopps for my 75 gallon, running to a 20 gallon long that I used the fijicube 20g long sump baffle kit with. Gave me a big enough sump for an oversized skimmer and a refugium. 10/10 recommend. You'd want at least a 20g long sump, preferably a 29 gallon or even a 40 gallon for a 90 gallon tank.

 

[i cant think]

If you do a HOB get the biggest you can and get a good skimmer. Honestly if you can do it though, get a sump. So much more efficient and do such a better job. I did a HOB overflow from Eshopps for my 75 gallon, running to a 20 gallon long that I used the fijicube 20g long sump baffle kit with. Gave me a big enough sump for an oversized skimmer and a refugium. 10/10 recommend. You'd want at least a 20g long sump, preferably a 29 gallon or even a 40 gallon for a 90 gallon tank.

+1 to this, another good thing about sumps if I havent mentioned it already is how much microfauna grows in it that may not be able to grow in the main tank. I have a huge sponge about the size of my palm growing in my sump and I'm not complaining as it seems some people really struggle to grow any sponge.

 

[doubleshot00]

Was planning an HOB but now im thinking I might need something better.

At least do a canister filter. Thats what im using.

 

[sfin52]

Was planning an HOB but now im thinking I might need something better.

If your tank isn't drilled I suggest a fluval fx4. A hob skimmer like thr reef octopus 1000 would be great

This is my 90 and thats how I run mine. Clean the filter once a month and your good to go

 

[sfin52]

What is your light situation

 

[doubleshot00]

If your tank isn't drilled I suggest a fluval fx4. A hob skimmer like thr reef octopus 1000 would be great

This is my 90 and thats how I run mine. Clean the filter once a month and your good to go

Im using a 407 and Tunze 9012 inside the tank.
I actually have the RO HOB1000 but hated the fact it will be against my wall. My tank is very close to the wall. 5”

 

[User 28262454]

Just looking at my list I dont think I have a fish that will clean the sandbed.
Or will the goby from the pistol pair clean most of the sand? Will most likely be an orange spotted

 

[i cant think]

Just looking at my list I dont think I have s fish that will clean the sandbed.
Or will the goby from the pistol pair clean most of the sand?

The shrimp that pair with pistol shrimp won’t clean the whole tank but will clean the area round the den they stay in.
mid recommend a Koumansetta or Amblygobius species for a sand sifting goby.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Just looking at my list I dont think I have a fish that will clean the sandbed.
Or will the goby from the pistol pair clean most of the sand? Will most likely be an orange spotted

Get a fighting conch and an army of Nassarius and cerith snails. They are awesome inhabitants and do a great job.

 

[User 28262454]

The shrimp that pair with pistol shrimp won’t clean the whole tank but will clean the area round the den they stay in.
mid recommend a Koumansetta or Amblygobius species for a sand sifting goby.

And should I be worried about one of those gobies running out of food or will they eat other food I throw in the tank?

 

[i cant think]

And should I be worried about one of those gobies running out of food or will they eat other food I throw in the tank?

I have had my Koumansetta for 3 or so months (I’ll have to check that) in a 20g Red Sea max nano. He hasn’t ran out of food YET as I feed pods into the tank on a weekly basis (The cons to having 4 heavy pod eaters, 1 only coming out every so often). I’d say if you have a 1.5-3 inch deep sand bed (I’d recommend 2 inch minimum just to be safe) it should be enough to start up an ecosystem of microfauna in the sand bed. If you go for Koumansetta hectori then they will peck off the rockwork for algae aswell as sift the sandbed for food. Once most of the algae on the rocks is gone then they are more of a sandsifter.
here’s my Koumansetta hectori

Theres 3 total Koumansetta species, however only one other is commonly sold in the hobby. That’s Koumansetta rainfordi- The rainfords goby or court jester goby.

 

[User 28262454]

What is your light situation

Gonna be good enough to grow corals

 

[User 28262454]

I have had my Koumansetta for 3 or so months (I’ll have to check that) in a 20g Red Sea max nano. He hasn’t ran out of food YET as I feed pods into the tank on a weekly basis (The cons to having 4 heavy pod eaters, 1 only coming out every so often). I’d say if you have a 1.5-3 inch deep sand bed (I’d recommend 2 inch minimum just to be safe) it should be enough to start up an ecosystem of microfauna in the sand bed. If you go for Koumansetta hectori then they will peck off the rockwork for algae aswell as sift the sandbed for food. Once most of the algae on the rocks is gone then they are more of a sandsifter.
here’s my Koumansetta hectori

Theres 3 total Koumansetta species, however only one other is commonly sold in the hobby. That’s Koumansetta rainfordi- The rainfords goby or court jester goby.

I doubt I will be putting pods into the tank (unless it’s necessary for things other than food for certain species) Should I be worried about him not getting enough food. I’m planning on having a relatively thick sand bed for the pistol shrimp.

 

[i cant think]

I doubt I will be putting pods into the tank (unless it’s necessary for things other than food for certain species) Should I be worried about him not getting enough food. I’m planning on having a relatively thick sand bed for the pistol shrimp.

I personally wouldn’t. Mine is fed once a day every day and then the rest of the day everyone scavenges for their own foods.
I wouldn’t add any fish that eats a heavy amount of pods until the tank is minimum of 4 months old, 6-7 months is better though, fish like this include CBBs, certain gobies (Especially sand sifters - They eat algae and pods, I don’t think they eat the detritus though).

 

[User 28262454]

I personally wouldn’t. Mine is fed once a day every day and then the rest of the day everyone scavenges for their own foods.
I wouldn’t add any fish that eats a heavy amount of pods until the tank is minimum of 4 months old, 6-7 months is better though, fish like this include CBBs, certain gobies (Especially sand sifters - They eat algae and pods, I don’t think they eat the detritus though).

So what you are saying is I should wait about 6 months before adding the shrimp/goby as well as the koumansetta (I’m thinking court jester) Also would this add too much bioload to the tank or does he not produce much?

 

[i cant think]

So what you are saying is I should wait about 6 months before adding the shrimp/goby as well as the koumansetta (I’m thinking court jester) Also would this add too much bioload to the tank or does he not produce much?

Actually, gobies don’t have a heavy bio load compared to other nano species.

 

[User 28262454]

Alright!
So I shouldn’t be too worried about adding pods if I add them after if has been running for 6 months?
Also I’ve learned that fox faces need something like nori to eat. Are there any other special dietary needs I should be aware of? Is feeding mysis shrimp twice daily (as well as some of the other dietary needs) a good choice?

 

[User 28262454]

Will there be any issues with the gobies I have in the tank? I have heard fobies may fight with other gobies.
I would have
3 red head gobies
1 clown goby
1 court jester
1 goby from the shrimp/ goby pair

 

[i cant think]

Will there be any issues with the gobies I have in the tank? I have heard fobies may fight with other gobies.
I would have
3 red head gobies
1 clown goby
1 court jester
1 goby from the shrimp/ goby pair

As long as the goby with the shrimp is not a Cryptocentrus you should be alright. If it was me I’d also try sneak in a group of Eviota or Trimma gobies but that’s me being a goby geek haha.