First Saltwater Tank - Thoughts on my Stocking List?

[RRReef]

Hi all,

Over the past few months I've been working on my first saltwater tank and have a tentative stocking list. The tank is a 4 foot 60 gallon with a 10 gallon sump. The plan is to start with fish and soft coral and possibly add a few LPS later on.

Here is what I'm thinking:

- 2 Ocellaris clownfish (My LFS has a good amount of Percula clownfish, are these essentially the same temperament-wise?)
- 3 Blue green reef chromis (from what I've read I should be keeping an odd number)
- A midas blenny
- A skunk cleaner shrimp and assortment of snails for a cuc

I'd like to have one or two more fish, but haven't been able to decide on what I should pick.

- I think one of them would be a reef-safe wrasse of some kind. The six-line wrasse are cool but I've heard mixed reviews on them bothering other fish. I also like the look of the Flasher wrasse.

- For the second one I'm considering a small Kole tang or some kind of dwarf angelfish. It seems there are many different opinions on tangs in a tank my size, but it seems like most agree that the Kole tang is better than something like a yellow or blue tang. On the angelfish I hear both the flame angel and coral beauty are good options, but I'm concerned that they could nip at soft corals.

Any feedback you can provide for a newbie like myself is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[ChaseB143]

Hi all,

Over the past few months I've been working on my first saltwater tank and have a tentative stocking list. The tank is a 4 foot 60 gallon with a 10 gallon sump. The plan is to start with fish and soft coral and possibly add a few LPS later on.

Here is what I'm thinking:

- 2 Ocellaris clownfish (My LFS has a good amount of Percula clownfish, are these essentially the same temperament-wise?)
- 3 Blue green reef chromis (from what I've read I should be keeping an odd number)
- A midas blenny
- A skunk cleaner shrimp and assortment of snails for a cuc

I'd like to have one or two more fish, but haven't been able to decide on what I should pick.

- I think one of them would be a reef-safe wrasse of some kind. The six-line wrasse are cool but I've heard mixed reviews on them bothering other fish. I also like the look of the Flasher wrasse.

- For the second one I'm considering a small Kole tang or some kind of dwarf angelfish. It seems there are many different opinions on tangs in a tank my size, but it seems like most agree that the Kole tang is better than something like a yellow or blue tang. On the angelfish I hear both the flame angel and coral beauty are good options, but I'm concerned that they could nip at soft corals.

Any feedback you can provide for a newbie like myself is much appreciated. Thanks!

The clowns, chromis, blenny, shrimp and snails would all be fine in that tank. I’m not sure, but I don’t think there is much of a difference temperament wise. I’ve got a six line in my tank, and he doesn’t seem to bother anybody. I also have a coral beauty that doesn’t seem to bother anybody. I’ve heard that flame angels are more likely to nip at corals than coral beauties though. I think it can be a hit and miss with the six line and coral beauty. To be honest, you would probably be fine with a kole tang in a tank that size, I’d just add it last. Their minimum tank size is supposed to be 70 gallons, but most of the time 60 and 70 gallon tanks virtually the same size. 70 gallon tanks are just a couple inches taller and deeper, but they are both 4 feet long. i don’t know if you know this or not, make sure to add these fish slowly. If you add too many fish at one time, you will cause a spike in ammonia, and it could kill your fish.

 

[RRReef]

The clowns, chromis, blenny, shrimp and snails would all be fine in that tank. I’m not sure, but I don’t think there is much of a difference temperament wise. I’ve got a six line in my tank, and he doesn’t seem to bother anybody. I also have a coral beauty that doesn’t seem to bother anybody. I’ve heard that flame angels are more likely to nip at corals than coral beauties though. I think it can be a hit and miss with the six line and coral beauty. To be honest, you would probably be fine with a kole tang in a tank that size, I’d just add it last. Their minimum tank size is supposed to be 70 gallons, but most of the time 60 and 70 gallon tanks virtually the same size. 70 gallon tanks are just a couple inches taller and deeper, but they are both 4 feet long. i don’t know if you know this or not, make sure to add these fish slowly. If you add too many fish at one time, you will cause a spike in ammonia, and it could kill your fish.

Thanks for the info! My plan is to add the pair of clownfish first, then after a few weeks the chromis, followed by the blenny. Should I add the blenny before the chromis?

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

I honestly don't think it would matter in what order you added those fish. The clowns will claim a territory, the chromis are usually content just swimming around.

 

[RRReef]

So I think I'll go with the Kole tang, which brings the stocking list to this:

- 2 Ocellaris clownfish
- 3 Blue green reef chromis
- A midas blenny
- A skunk cleaner shrimp and assortment of snails for a cuc
- Kole tang

As far as a reef-safe wrasse the two options I'm currently looking at are six line and flasher, are there any others that would add some more color to the tank?

 

[mcwhng]

So I think I'll go with the Kole tang, which brings the stocking list to this:

- 2 Ocellaris clownfish
- 3 Blue green reef chromis
- A midas blenny
- A skunk cleaner shrimp and assortment of snails for a cuc
- Kole tang

As far as a reef-safe wrasse the two options I'm currently looking at are six line and flasher, are there any others that would add some more color to the tank?

I tend to shy away from six lines as I’ve heard too many stories of them turning into mini Charlie Manson’s. How about a nice fairy wrasse? Beautiful active fish that will keep unwanted worms away and almost always quite peaceful.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

So I think I'll go with the Kole tang, which brings the stocking list to this:

- 2 Ocellaris clownfish
- 3 Blue green reef chromis
- A midas blenny
- A skunk cleaner shrimp and assortment of snails for a cuc
- Kole tang

As far as a reef-safe wrasse the two options I'm currently looking at are six line and flasher, are there any others that would add some more color to the tank?

I had a sixline in my 45 for over a year with no issues. My dad has had a sixline in his 150 for 7 years with no issues. I would go with a fairy wrasse. Look into a diamond goby. He is imo the most useful fish for cleanup. Keeps my sand bed PRISTINE. It’s peaceful, and has quite a personality. I would hold off on all fish until your tank has been up and cycled for Atleast a month. I’d start with the chromis as they are the cheapest. Then clowns. Then wrasse. I’d stay away from dwarf angels, just not worth the risk imo. Hold off on the diamond goby until you have an established pod population.

 

[RRReef]

I had a sixline in my 45 for over a year with no issues. My dad has had a sixline in his 150 for 7 years with no issues. I would go with a fairy wrasse. Look into a diamond goby. He is imo the most useful fish for cleanup. Keeps my sand bed PRISTINE. It’s peaceful, and has quite a personality. I would hold off on all fish until your tank has been up and cycled for Atleast a month. I’d start with the chromis as they are the cheapest. Then clowns. Then wrasse. I’d stay away from dwarf angels, just not worth the risk imo. Hold off on the diamond goby until you have an established pod population.

Have you had any issues with the diamond goby dumping sand on corals? I think having a sandsifter would be cool but heard that they can dump sand on everything. Also would the diamond goby have to replace something on the list or can he go in with everything else?

 

[CuzzA]

Another consideration would be adding a lot of nano fish. Small gobies, cardinals and blennies can add a lot of personality to a tank and provide character throughout the reef. Plus they add minimal to the bio load. Not to mention some of the cool symbiotic relationships that are a joy to watch. In my 40B I have barnacle blennies and feeding time is a lot of fun with their missle like jumps off the rock to snatch food. I also have a pair of yasha gobies with a randalli pistol shrimp and amazingly my purple firefish spends time with the trio. Very odd, but cool.

I also enjoy the midas blenny very much. It's like a puppy.

Finally, while I don't think you'll have trouble with that tang, it will likely outgrow the tank eventually and one aspect that seems to often get overlooked is tangs are messy pigs. They eat and crap alot.

Just my thoughts and things to consider.

 

[CuzzA]

FWIW diamond gobies will bury sand corals, create mounds of sand and usually tanks of this size are unable to sustain them long term. They'll deplete the sand microfauna in no time flat and eventually die of starvation, despite readily accepting foods. I think they're more in the difficult side to keep until dying of natural causes. Which should be the goal.

They will keep your sand clean, but something like a fighting conch might be a better option.

Amazingly glass shrimp have done a pretty good job in my tank as well. At night they scurry all over the sand and in the morning it looks like little racetracks all over the sand and the sand is turned over looking cleaning again.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Have you had any issues with the diamond goby dumping sand on corals? I think having a sandsifter would be cool but heard that they can dump sand on everything. Also would the diamond goby have to replace something on the list or can he go in with everything else?

Lol that’s not a problem. Most corals can shake the sand off by themselves anyway. And no, he usually just digs around the corals. Every once in awhile he gets scared and darts away which throws a bit of sand but within 10 minutes, the sand is gone.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

FWIW diamond gobies will bury sand corals, create mounds of sand and usually tanks of this size are unable to sustain them long term. They'll deplete the sand microfauna in no time flat and eventually die of starvation, despite readily accepting foods. I think they're more in the difficult side to keep until dying of natural causes. Which should be the goal.

They will keep your sand clean, but something like a fighting conch might be a better option.

Amazingly glass shrimp have done a pretty good job in my tank as well. At night the scurry all over the sand and in the morning it looks like little racetracks all over the sand and the sand is turned over looking cleaning again.

Really? Because I’ve had mine in my 45 for over a year no issues. The glass is covered in pods every morning. I still see lots of microfauna everywhere. I have sand corals with no issue. Mounds of sand? Nope, don’t have that problem either.

 

[CuzzA]

Really? Because I’ve had mine in my 45 for over a year no issues. The glass is covered in pods every morning. I still see lots of microfauna everywhere. I have sand corals with no issue. Mounds of sand? Nope, don’t have that problem either.

Yeah, I've owned them as well. In bigger tanks. They tend to bury plate corals, definitely create mounds of sand and mine lasted about 2 years before dying. I was loving the clean sand so much I didn't consider he was starving. I am not the first to document this. Also, I've never seen a reefer share a picture of their smaller tanks with a DW goby grown to a full size adult. Which is actually quite large, about 6 inches. Have you ever seen a full size adult DW goby in a small tank?

 

[45ZoaGarden]

Yeah, I've owned them as well. In bigger tanks. They tend to bury plate corals, definitely create mounds of sand and mine lasted about 2 years before dying. I was loving the clean sand so much I didn't consider he was starving. I am not the first to document this. Also, I've never seen a reefer share a picture of their smaller tanks with a DW goby grown to a full size adult. Which is actually quite large, about 6 inches. Have you ever seen a full size adult DW goby in a small tank?

Bob Escher had one in his tank FOREVER. It was full grown. I do have a cheato reactor which acts as a fuge for pods. Could also be part of my success so far. Mine also eats pellets and mysis.

 

[CuzzA]

Bob Escher had one in his tank FOREVER. It was full grown. I do have a cheato reactor which acts as a fuge for pods. Could also be part of my success so far. Mine also eats pellets and mysis.

A single anecdote is good to here, but they commonly starve to death. I was curious and searched his build thread. It appears he added it in the middle of 2016. Lost a bunch of fish, not sure if the goby was one as he doesn't say. There is one in his tank as of Feb 2019. He may very well still have the original from 2016. 3 years is great. Nevertheless I couldn't help but quote one of his posts that came up in the search.

Although I love my diamond watchman goby he has screwed up my sand so bad. My wife says it looks like he made his own slide ( he did) holes everywhere. I'm happy I put grating on the bottom supporting my rock)

Perhaps he will see the above quote and can add some insight. No two systems are the same and there are far more anecdotes of Diamond Watchmen Gobies starving to death than dying of old age and natural causes. I have never seen a full size adult in a small tank.

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