Fish List

[Mouser1]

I am new to the hobby and in the process of cycling a 240 gal. tank with a 20 gallon sump. It will be a mixed reef tank. I am putting together a fish list and would appreciate comments addressing four questions:
1. Are there problems of compatibility with any of these species with other fish or corals.? For example, although the Pyramid Butterfly and Pygmy Angelfish are reef safe according to LiveAquaria, I know some of you may have experience with these fish. I am interested in what you have to say.
2. What order should the fish be introduced into the tank?
3. I would like multiples of some of these fish. e.g. Pyramid Butterfly and the clowns. Again, I am interested in your comments for these and others on the list.
Thanks in advance for your help.
4. Are there some species that I have left out that you would recommending adding?

 

[BadFish619]

I would just add that butterflies are or can be very difficult to keep. Make sure you do a ton of reading on their needs and diet

 

[Mouser1]

I would just add that butterflies are or can be very difficult to keep. Make sure you do a ton of reading on their needs and diet

Thanks. I will do that.

 

[Swoody]

As long as your tank is properly cycle you can add the pyramid butterflies and a Pygmy Angel at the same time ( some people have success with multiple pygmy angels but you could end up with a pair of that don’t get along right off the bat and then you’re gonna have to fish one out before it gets ugly) ) I’m just thinking that before you get things started you may want to upgrade the size of your sump. 20 gallons is pretty small for 240 gallon tank, especially to put a properly sized skimmer in there and other things you may want to have in there like 2 return pumps, So there is always one in standby ready to go and switch back-and-forth between them from time to time that’s what I do. More live rock, Additional piping for a reactor and that type of stuff....

 

[Jekyl]

What type of clowns? Depending on the type they can be pretty territorial. Heard maroons are really rough. I have 2 black clowns, they are the only fish in the tank right now. The female will try and bite me every time I put my hand in the tank. May want to pick which specific breed you want. May change the order of how to introduce them.

 

[Jekyl]

Also with a tank that size I'd recommend looking into fish that help maintain it. I.E tangs, sixline wrasse, cleaner goby, urchins, clams and so forth.

 

[Mouser1]

What type of clowns? Depending on the type they can be pretty territorial. Heard maroons are really rough. I have 2 black clowns, they are the only fish in the tank right now. The female will try and bite me every time I put my hand in the tank. May want to pick which specific breed you want. May change the order of how to introduce them.

 

[Mouser1]

I was thinking of 1 orange ocellaris and 1 black and white.

 

[Mouser1]

I am sorry. I thought I had uploaded my actual list . This is the list:
QTY? COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME
Anthia
1 Indian Ocean Lyretail Anthias Pseudanthias squamipinnis
Basslet
1 Royal Gramma Basslet Gramma loreto
Blenny
Eyelash Blenny Parablennius marmoreus
Butterfly Fish
2 Pyramid Butterflyfish Hemitaurichthys polylepis
Clownfish
1 Ocellaris Clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris
1 Black and White Ocellaris Amphiprion ocellaris
Dwarf Angels
1 Coral Beauty Angelfish Centropyge bispinosa
1 Pygmy Angel Fish Centropyge argi
1 Flame Angelfish Centropyge loricula
Foxface & Rabbitfish
1 Foxface Lo Siganus vulpinus
Gobies
1 Yellow Watchman(Prawn) Goby Cryptocentrus cinctus
1 Paired with Snapping Shrimp, Red Banded Alpheus randalli
Hawkfish
Flame Hawkfish Neocirrhites armatus
1 Longnose Hawkfish Oxycirrhites typus
Mandarins
1 Red Mandarin or Synchiropus cf. splendidus
1 Green Mandarin Synchiropus splendidus
Tangs
1 Yellow Tang Zebrasoma flavescens
1 Hippo Blue Tang Paracanthurus hepatus
1 Purple Tang Zebrasoma xanthurum
Triggers
1 Male Blue Throat Triggerfish Xanthichthys auromarginatus
Invertebrates
Basic Cleanup Crew
200-250 Scarlett Hermit Crabs Paguristes cadenati
180-250 Red Banded Trochus Trochus sp.

 

[RJinPV]

That is a lot of snails and hermit crabs. I don't think you need that many. I found that most of my CUC just died when there are too many. My 55Gal has about 10 snails and 10 hermits and it is doing fine.

I am wondering about the clowns. I think you need to try to get a pair so you would need two of one or the other. Your tank may be large enough to hold 2 pair but that is outside my experience level. I hear that clowns get very territorial with other clowns unless it's a pair

Mandarins are very difficult to keep. They need live food so you should read up on them. I know that I couldn't keep one alive in my 55 gal so 2 in a 250 may be pushing it too, unless you plan on feeding them live food like baby brine shrimp, white worms, or pods.

 

[Mouser1]

That is a lot of snails and hermit crabs. I don't think you need that many. I found that most of my CUC just died when there are too many. My 55Gal has about 10 snails and 10 hermits and it is doing fine.

I am wondering about the clowns. I think you need to try to get a pair so you would need two of one or the other. Your tank may be large enough to hold 2 pair but that is outside my experience level. I hear that clowns get very territorial with other clowns unless it's a pair

Mandarins are very difficult to keep. They need live food so you should read up on them. I know that I couldn't keep one alive in my 55 gal so 2 in a 250 may be pushing it too, unless you plan on feeding them live food like baby brine shrimp, white worms, or pods.

That is a lot of snails and hermit crabs. I don't think you need that many. I found that most of my CUC just died when there are too many. My 55Gal has about 10 snails and 10 hermits and it is doing fine.

I am wondering about the clowns. I think you need to try to get a pair so you would need two of one or the other. Your tank may be large enough to hold 2 pair but that is outside my experience level. I hear that clowns get very territorial with other clowns unless it's a pair

Mandarins are very difficult to keep. They need live food so you should read up on them. I know that I couldn't keep one alive in my 55 gal so 2 in a 250 may be pushing it too, unless you plan on feeding them live food like baby brine shrimp, white worms, or pods.

 

[Mouser1]

Thanks for your helpful comments.

 

[Jekyl]

Fish list is also large. May want to shave off 5 or so and take over a year to add them all. Tangs can be aggressive toward other tangs. I'd ask around and make sure they're compatable and which to add first. Mandarins you'll want to get a good pod population going and wait a year or so to add them.