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]

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.

I will be putting this tank in a very communal area in my house so the more little fish I can sneak jn the better! Gobies are definitely becoming my favourite fish type.

 

[i cant think]

I will be putting this tank in a very communal area in my house so the more little fish I can sneak jn the better! Gobies are definitely becoming my favourite fish type.

I’d try get several small groups (3-5) of different trimma and/or eviota species personally (I would love to sneak some smaller species with low bio kids into my 4’ tank but I don’t think I have the territory room).

 

[User 28262454]

I’d try get several small groups (3-5) of different trimma and/or eviota species personally (I would love to sneak some smaller species with low bio kids into my 4’ tank but I don’t think I have the territory room).

And you dont think adding them will cause any issues to my current list?

 

[i cant think]

And you dont think adding them will cause any issues to my current list?

What’s the list at with the extra gobies?

 

[User 28262454]

What’s the list at with the extra gobies?

-1 squartail bristletooth
-1 rabbit foxface
-1 carpenter’s flasher wrasse
-1 orange back fairy wrasse
-1 shrimp goby pair
-1helfrichi firefish
-1 royal gramma basslet
-1 aiptasia eating filefish
-2 ocellaris clowns
-3 scissortail darts
-1 clown goby
-3 red headed gobies
-1 court jester goby
The eviota or trim a group as well

 

[i cant think]

-1 squartail bristletooth
-1 rabbit foxface
-1 carpenter’s flasher wrasse
-1 orange back fairy wrasse
-1 shrimp goby pair
-1helfrichi firefish
-1 royal gramma basslet
-1 aiptasia eating filefish
-2 ocellaris clowns
-3 scissortail darts
-1 clown goby
-3 red headed gobies
-1 court jester goby
The eviota or trim a group as well

I’d say that’s plenty, I will warn you that the filefish may predate on coral though. It may leave you with more room for other small, low bio load fish in the future aswell.

 

[User 28262454]

I’d say that’s plenty, I will warn you that the filefish may predate on coral though.

Yea I plan to just add 1 small frag and see if I got a nice one or a muncher

 

[User 28262454]

I’d say that’s plenty, I will warn you that the filefish may predate on coral though. It may leave you with more room for other small, low bio load fish in the future aswell.

So just skip the eviota or trimma?

 

[i cant think]

So just skip the eviota or trimma?

I meant that you could have that group and then potentially in the future have a small group of a different species

 

[User 28262454]

I meant that you could have that group and then potentially in the future have a small group of a different species

Alright, i think I will add 4 trimmas and that will probably be my final stocking list.

 

[User 28262454]

I’d say that’s plenty, I will warn you that the filefish may predate on coral though. It may leave you with more room for other small, low bio load fish in the future aswell.

Would it be a better idea to just not add the filefish until an aiptasia outbreak possibly happens? In that case maybe I change it for another small bioload fish (s). I have heard peppermint shrimp can deal with aiptasia. Would anything on the list pose a threat to peppermints?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Would it be a better idea to just not add the filefish until an aiptasia outbreak possibly happens? In that case maybe I change it for another small bioload fish (s). I have heard peppermint shrimp can deal with aiptasia. Would anything on the list pose a threat to peppermints?

I keep neither. I've had issues with both files and peppermints eating corals in the past, even when well fed. I just inspect everything before entry and manually inject any aiptasia I spot with lemon juice. Only had 1 make it to the display and it was quickly eliminated.

 

[User 28262454]

I keep neither. I've had issues with both files and peppermints eating corals in the past, even when well fed. I just inspect everything before entry and manually inject any aiptasia I spot with lemon juice. Only had 1 make it to the display and it was quickly eliminated.

How would I inject aiptasia? Just a syringe?

 

[Fishfreak2009]

How would I inject aiptasia? Just a syringe?

Yup! I use a 3cc luer-lock with a 22g needle and a bottle of lemon juice from the grocery store. Very effective.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Yup! I use a 3cc luer-lock with a 22g needle and a bottle of lemon juice from the grocery store. Very effective.

Only takes like 1/4-1/2cc of juice per aiptasia.

 

[User 28262454]

Well if I dont need the filefish and he is a threat to the clams and coral any suggestions on what to put in instead?

 

[User 28262454]

Thoughts on adding a reticulate boxfish in for the filefish? I found one for sale on a website called bluezooaquatics, anyone know if these guys are reliable?

 

[Dave1993]

Thoughts on adding a reticulate boxfish in for the filefish? I found one for sale on a website called bluezooaquatics, anyone know if these guys are reliable?

it recommends a 180 gallon tank for 1 so i would say no ur stocking plan might change just make it up as u go you might not be able to get all the fish you want i never had a plan for my fish i have 6 fish in my 90 i just seen a fish for sale if i liked it i bought it i may add 1 more fish but looking for the right 1 kind of want a femininus wrasse but never seen 1 for sale

 

[Rmckoy]

I go fish shopping whenever the wallet and the wifey allow. You can always set up another reef after all. It's why I'm at 5 reefs (a few in progress) and counting now.

After starting the 230 gal
I’m a little Leary on even mentioning wanting another reef .
but …… she has asked about setting up a small tank with “her fish “
Maybe that’s a hint to buy another tank ?

 

[User 28262454]

Alright hopefully this is my final stocking list:
-1 squartail bristletooth
-1 foxfave rabbitfish
-1 carpenter’s flasher wrasse
-1 orange back fairy wrasse
-1 shrimp/goby pair
-1 helfrichi firefish
-3 scissortail dartfish
-2 clownfish
-1 royal gramma basslet
-1 clown goby
-1 court jester goby
-3 red headed gobies
-1 banded sleeper goby
-4 trimma gobies

Inverts
-1 fire shrimp
-3 cleaner shrimp
-1 coral banded shrimp or a purple banded one
-1 maxima clam
-1 crocea clam
I plan to get some featherdusters in the furure as well

With this list do you think I could grow some hammer coral?