How does this Fish fam sound?

[Krixic]

So here is some of the things Im planning on bringing into my 45 gal (future) mixed reef tank. Im trying to understand how I should Include them into the tank. I have a 16 gal biocube for a quarintine, so who should I start with? And how many I can I quarintine at a time?

Fish (subject to change if needed)

For sure would like...
Yasha or Watchman goby with Pistol Shrimp
Midas Blenny
1 or 2 clowns (suggestions appreciated)
Trocha Snails (5-8 too much or not enough?)


Very interested in
Scarlet Hawkfish
Royal Gramma Basslet
Naoko Wrasse
Tuxedo Urchin


Also interested but I doubt I have the skill to keep them
Tang??? I would love to get the "Dory" tang (my youngest sister really wants me to get it) but its to my understanding that they quickly out grow their tanks. I do plan on getting a 150 gal eventuall but that would be a couple years down the line

Manderin? Too hard? I plan on having pods and maintaining their population...Are manderins as hard as they sound? Are they more work than they are worth? Also is my tank size viable when keeping them?

I also would appreciate suggestions! How many of these can I include in my tank REALISTICALLY. I just want to make sure these guys are all compatible. From my understanding they are but should I be worries about anything? I plan on getting an assortment of corals so will any of these guys eat the shiny plants? Are crabs a good idea? Sorry for all the questions! Thanks

 

[4tanks]

Looks OK but regarding the dory just wait until you have the right size tank to start with the less stress they have the better

 

[Krixic]

Looks OK but regarding the dory just wait until you have the right size tank to start with the less stress they have the better

Gotcha, and with the "very interested" catagory, any suggestions on which I should/could take?

 

[4tanks]

Possibly the Royal grammer and maybe add same time as clowns
The grammer and other fish on your first list probably about it for 45 gallons

 

[Krixic]

Possibly the Royal grammer and maybe add same time as clowns
The grammer and other fish on your first list probably about it for 45 gallons

Got it thank you!

 

[4tanks]

Good luck and remember fish are like humans some are nice some are just grumpy

 

[Krixic]

Good luck and remember fish are like humans some are nice some are just grumpy

Haha thats a great way to look at it! Also, if I could ask, Do you think hawkfish (or the wrasse) wont do well in my tank? I particularly liked those ones. I understand they are "jumpers" but Ive got a cover. Just curious, as they are a bit higher on my interest list as opposted to the Royal Grammer

 

[4tanks]

The naoko needs a lot bigger tank and the hawk fish quiete territorial but like I said they all different so hawk may be OK they do get to about 4 inches tho

 

[Reverend Turtle]

As naoko wrasses are expensive, I would skip it until you've gained some experience. The hawkfish would be ok, but bear in mind that they might eat shrimp, snails, and crabs. Well it probably won't eat snails, but I have seen them knock them off the glass to try.
A captive bred mandarin would probably do well, as they are trained to eat frozen food.
I would personally go with a mandarin over a hawkfish in your setup.
You could quarantine the clowns, goby, and mandarin at the same time. Even the gramma, though a large gramma might eat a small goby, with them. But it would be best just to do 2 or 3 fish at a time.
I would start with the goby, blenny, and mandarin, let them get settled then do the clowns and gramma/hawkfish/wrasse, whichever you choose.
One other thing, urchins are cool, but they will pick up and move corals if the coral is not well attached to the rocks.
As for the snails, 8-10 trochus snails should be good. I would also add about 10-15 cerith snails, and 5-10 nassarius snails. Nassarius are great for helping keep your sand stirred.
I wouldn't add any crabs, most are not reef safe. Hermits can help pick at the rocks, but might kill snails. Emerald crabs are good at grazing algae, but may eat corals as well.
Just my two cents.
Hope this helped.

 

[Krixic]

The naoko needs a lot bigger tank and the hawk fish quiete territorial but like I said they all different so hawk may be OK they do get to about 4 inches tho

Gotcha, thanks!

 

[Krixic]

As naoko wrasses are expensive, I would skip it until you've gained some experience. The hawkfish would be ok, but bear in mind that they might eat shrimp, snails, and crabs. Well it probably won't eat snails, but I have seen them knock them off the glass to try.
A captive bred mandarin would probably do well, as they are trained to eat frozen food.
I would personally go with a mandarin over a hawkfish in your setup.
You could quarantine the clowns, goby, and mandarin at the same time. Even the gramma, though a large gramma might eat a small goby, with them. But it would be best just to do 2 or 3 fish at a time.
I would start with the goby, blenny, and mandarin, let them get settled then do the clowns and gramma/hawkfish/wrasse, whichever you choose.
One other thing, urchins are cool, but they will pick up and move corals if the coral is not well attached to the rocks.
As for the snails, 8-10 trochus snails should be good. I would also add about 10-15 cerith snails, and 5-10 nassarius snails. Nassarius are great for helping keep your sand stirred.
I wouldn't add any crabs, most are not reef safe. Hermits can help pick at the rocks, but might kill snails. Emerald crabs are good at grazing algae, but may eat corals as well.
Just my two cents.
Hope this helped.

Sweet thanks! Def helped! I think ill do Goby, Blenny and Manderine then introduce a couple clowns and possibly a gramma (Ill hold off on the hawk and wrasse)....although when should I do the Pistol Shrimp? Before or after the Goby is introduced? Do they need to be quarintined as well? (snails too??). Thanks!

Also do I need to "teach" the manderin to eat frozen food during quarintine or is that something I introduce in the DT? I would still need to maintain a health pod population as well correct?

 

[Reverend Turtle]

As for the shrimp and snails, you can quarantine if you like. Doesn't hurt, but would need to be done separate from the fish. Most meds will kill inverts. I like to introduce the shrimp first.
The mandarin if captive bred will already be eating mysis shrimp. If it's wild caught they can be trained to eat frozen, but not all will accept it. A healthy pod population is always a good thing.