Introduction order

[Lindsay1126]

Updated: Ijust realized that the post didn't post over half of what I orginally wrote. Here is what I intended:

So my quarantine is at the end of its cycle. I am getting ready to start curing my rock and finishing up my 120 gallon build. Now I get to really start thinking about fish!! I have a list, but wanted to get opinions and tips on the order in which I should start. There are also some I haven't decided on. Thanks. The only ones that are a must are the clowns, orchid dottyback, goby and cardinal.

• 2 firefish
• 2 ORA white wyoming clowns
• 1 either flame or coral beauty angel
• 1 watchman goby (and pistol shrimp)
• 1 royal gramma
• 1 orchid dottyback
• 1 ORA bangai cardinal
• 1 bristletooth tomni tang (I would love a tang, and these seem to be the smallest, think it will be ok in a 4'x2'x2' tank? I truly do want the best for my fish thats why I am here.)
• either a group of chromis or anthias (can someone give me some tips on either of these groups, do they actually do well in groups?)

I would also love to get a ORA mandarin dragonet, I have been reading and researching;Bookworm about them and know they need a lot of copods. Since I am setting up my tank for the triton method (there will be a large refugium in the sump) that shouldn't be a problem. I know it still needs to be well established, also so don't worry I know it won't be soon! But any other tips or things I should know would be great!!

 

[sfin52]

If it’s going to be a flame angel add that last. My coral beauty is a model citizen.

 

[sfin52]

My flame angel is a butt head. It’s in another tank. It chases everything and I added it last. Just a heads up flames can be quite aggressive. A very striking fish.

 

[Lindsay1126]

I just had to edit my OP, for some reason it only added half. Please if you have posted re read.

Thanks for the tip on the flame, do CB's tend to be good citizens overall?

 

[sfin52]

CB in my tank have been model citizens. They can nip at coral. My never has. Have you looked at a potter angel. Firefish may be skittish so I would add them first.

My blue green chromis are in a group of 5. I’ve had them for a year in a half. No problems yet. There seams to be a pecking order so add them all at one time. But that’ls with the blue green chromis.

Bengi are a great fish. Docile. My wife’s favorite fish.

A tang should be ok in that tank depending on species. They are active swimmers so add those towards the end. It will help the more skittish fish.

Research Paul B on the mandrians. He has some great write ups on this site and YouTube.

 

[Lindsay1126]

CB in my tank have been model citizens. They can nip at coral. My never has. Have you looked at a potter angel. Firefish may be skittish so I would add them first.

My blue green chromis are in a group of 5. I’ve had them for a year in a half. No problems yet. There seams to be a pecking order so add them all at one time. But that’ls with the blue green chromis.

Bengi are a great fish. Docile. My wife’s favorite fish.

A tang should be ok in that tank depending on species. They are active swimmers so add those towards the end. It will help the more skittish fish.

Research Paul B on the mandrians. He has some great write ups on this site and YouTube.

No I haven't even heard of the potter angel, will look into. Thanks
Good to know about the chromis, I kept reading that they will kill each other. Yet every bio on them says they belong in groups

Can the cardinals be kept in groups, or do they need to be single? I had planned to go last with the tang since it was the biggest anyway.

So if you were to add these to your tank, what order would you go after the firefish?

 

[sfin52]

Bengi maybe if they pair off they will go after the third or others. I’ve only kept one at a time. You can add the clowns, bengi, gramma, watchman goby in any order the Danes goes with cb. Flame should be last. My flame chases triggers (blue throat) and all fish. He is a beast.

 

[sfin52]

Potter’s angel

 

[BootyPup]

Advice I'd give with the blue green chromis is
1. Get lucky
2. Feed them a good amount
3. I'd say get a good amount. 7 minimum, preferable more. I say this since they seem to do best in bigger numbers, or alone. And best in odd numbers.

 

[sfin52]

They can be prone to a bacteria that will kill them off. Very important to quarantine these guys. Once it’s in your system it’s in your system. They are an extremely active fish that do better in odd numbers. I’ve got five, when they get a little squirrelly my foxface and sailfin tang settle everybody done. They also pull the fish out into the open more and make all feel more comfortable in open space.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Updated: Ijust realized that the post didn't post over half of what I orginally wrote. Here is what I intended:

So my quarantine is at the end of its cycle. I am getting ready to start curing my rock and finishing up my 120 gallon build. Now I get to really start thinking about fish!! I have a list, but wanted to get opinions and tips on the order in which I should start. There are also some I haven't decided on. Thanks. The only ones that are a must are the clowns, orchid dottyback, goby and cardinal.

• 2 firefish -- First is fine
• 2 ORA white wyoming clowns -- as age get quite aggressive and territorial. could take lots of tank so introduce all fish prior to spawning
• 1 either flame or coral beauty angel --no experience personally
• 1 watchman goby (and pistol shrimp) -- anytime as most fish ignore these guys
  
• 1 royal gramma --no experience personally
• 1 orchid dottyback -- these guys I am not sure, I had indigos that were great and never bothered anyone. I have heard the orchids are more aggressive
• 1 ORA bangai cardinal --I have had Pajam, dot dash and blue eyed and all did the same thing and dwindled to two dominant over the course of a year or two (I started with 3, 4, and 10 of each)
• 1 bristletooth tomni tang (I would love a tang, and these seem to be the smallest, think it will be ok in a 4'x2'x2' tank? I truly do want the best for my fish thats why I am here.)
  
• either a group of chromis or anthias (can someone give me some tips on either of these groups, do they actually do well in groups?) -- smaller anthias (resplendent, saddleback, diadem, slender all do well in larger groups of 5 or more (with your size tank I would stick to smaller anthias), larger guys like dispar, would be fine in your tank with 3, same with lyretails. I would stay away from the square back (get big) and Barletts can be big and territorial. I would always go with Anthias over chromis.

I would also love to get a ORA mandarin dragonet, I have been reading and researching;Bookworm about them and know they need a lot of copods. Since I am setting up my tank for the triton method (there will be a large refugium in the sump) that shouldn't be a problem. I know it still needs to be well established, also so don't worry I know it won't be soon! But any other tips or things I should know would be great!!

-- definitely wait a long while on this guy. Even captive bred they eat live food. Glad you are researching first. Kudos to you!

 

[Lindsay1126]

So my quarantine has cycled. It is taking a bit to get my pukani rock cured for my DT. So I was thinking of adding some fish to my QT while I wait on my cure to finish. Is there any reason not to do this? I figured this would get me some fish action while I wait patiently to get my phosphates in check for the DT. It would also allow for me to add my fish right into DT, once I get it cycled. If I go this route, should I still start with the fire fish? Clowns are on a huge sale at my LFS this week(the ones I want are pretty pricey), so I was contemplating that, but I know they are not a great first pair, I mean they are still damsels.

BTW, my quarantine is a bare bottom, 29 gallon with a Aquaclear 70 HOB: I keep a few bio filter media (block, sponges, and bio balls) filters, and I just added carbon . Cobalt 100 heater. I have a ton of hiding places with pvc and regular aquarium decorations my kids picked out. My levels are:

• salinity is 1.025
• ammonia 0
• Nitrite: 0
• Nitrate: 5
• PH: 8.2
• Alk: 8.344 dkH
• phosphate: 0.0ppm
• Calcium: 400
• Temp: 78F

Thoughts, opinions.

Also on a side note, are all these parameters as important to a setup like my quarantine? I know salinity ammonia, ph, nitrite and nitrate are very important to all aquariums. Are the others also for FO setup or are they just for reefs? Thanks.