Looking for some stocking advice - 112g Mixed Reef

[picklz]

Looking for some advice and a review of a potential stocking list for the 112g mixed reef tank I am working on. Tank dimensions are 60x18x24.

I am considering the following, and probably in approximately this order. Note that i plan to add these fish over a period of months if not years, so if anything should be added together that would be good to understand. I have no idea what I'm going to have for Corals or other inverts yet but I'd like to keep things somewhat reef safe. I expect to have a protein skimmer sized for a heavy bio load, fuge with macro algae, daily water small water changes with larger changes as necessary, etc. Also plan to have a good QT setup to run all these fish through before landing in the DT.

Updated List I'm working on now based on conversation below and further research
Group 1
Fox Face Lo / One Spot Foxface (1)
Blood Red Fire Shrimp (1) / CUC (in a separate Non-Fish QT tank)

Group 2
Zebra Barred Dartfish (3)
Royal Gramma Basslet (1)

Group 3
Lyretail Anthias (3)

Group 4
Orchid Dottyback (2)
Longnose Hawkfish (1)

Group 5
Clownfish (2) (different varieties but from the same species Occ or Perc's)
1 Fish TBD - Atlantic Blue, Powder Blue, or Purple Tang

I expect to get most of the fish in small sizes.

Speaking of QT I plan to put everything coming into the DT through QT either the 76 day fallow period for corals/inverts or 30-60 days for fish to get through prophylactic treatment and observation.

One additional question - any advice on what to add, if anything, for cleanup crew type things outside of the fire shrimp and Conchs?

The list:

Tiger Sand Conch to help clean the sand bed, 1 or 2 maybe?
Blood Red Fire Shrimp
Pair of Clownfish, unsure specifics, probably one Ocellaris and then a Gladiator, Maroon, B&W, etc.
Orange Strip Prawn Goby
Royal Gramma Basslet
Black Axil Chromis (thinking 2-4?)
3-ish Lyretail Anthias
Orchid Dottyback (is it possible to have 2?)
Longnose Hawkfish (Can I keep this with a fire shrimp? Also concerned about reef compatibility)
Foxface Lo
Blue/Powder Blue Tang

 

[Phycodurus]

My respectful recommendation (re-sorted in order of entry):

1st batch of introductions
Tiger Sand Conch [i've heard rate of 1 per 2 SQ. FT.]
Blood Red Fire Shrimp
Orange Strip Prawn Goby
Foxface Lo [be aware they max out at ~8"-9"]
Black Axil Chromis (thinking 2-4?) [2-4 is good]

2nd batch of introductions
3-ish Lyretail Anthias
Royal Gramma Basslet
Orchid Dottyback (is it possible to have 2?) [I personally ditch the OD, and max at 1 only]

last batch of introductions
Clownfish (Ocellaris, Gladiator, Maroon, B&W, etc.) [all at same time, but no more than 2]
Longnose Hawkfish (Can I keep this with a fire shrimp? Also concerned about reef compatibility) [IMHO risky depending on size of the BRFS]
Blue/Powder Blue Tang [for a 112G tank, only one, preferably the PBT; the blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) needs more swimming room, unless you mean an Atlantic Blue Tang, Acanthurus coeruleus]


(Time between batches would be the QT period of xx-Weeks). Have fun stocking your tank month by month!

 

[Jon Fishman]

I would NOT mix clownfish species

 

[Phycodurus]

ah, my bad! i missed that maroon in there. yes, these would all be Amphiprion ocellaris.

 

[nereefpat]

Tiger Sand Conch to help clean the sand bed, 1 or 2 maybe? Fine
Blood Red Fire Shrimp Fine
Pair of Clownfish, unsure specifics, probably one Ocellaris and then a Gladiator, Maroon, B&W, etc. 1 pair of the same species. Occ or perc would be more peaceful and smaller than maroon
Orange Strip Prawn Goby Fine
Royal Gramma Basslet Fine
Black Axil Chromis (thinking 2-4?) Although it's a different species than the popular C. viridis, I still would suspect them to pick each other off. Most folks are disappointed with chromis, although some folks do report success with groups.
3-ish Lyretail Anthias Fine
Orchid Dottyback (is it possible to have 2?) Yes, and they do pair. They even mate in captivity. I would add small ones at the same time. Make sure you get the orchid (fridmani) and not a purple, strawberry, etc. There is a possible compatibility issue with the gramma. I haven't personally kept them together. Hopefully the tank will be large enough that things work out.
Longnose Hawkfish (Can I keep this with a fire shrimp? Also concerned about reef compatibility) Totally coral safe. Small shrimp like sexy, or possibly peppermint shrimp would be a gamble. Lots of people keep longnose hawks with inverts. The fish is awesome, and most likely will be fine with larger shrimp like skunk cleaner or fire cleaner shrimp.
Foxface Lo They do get large, but will be fine.
Blue/Powder Blue Tang I wouldn't do the Pacific blue/regal/hippo, for size reasons. Somewhere in the standard 180-standard 240 is best here. The powder is borderline for size, and they are very active. It will probably be fine, as long as you don't plan to add any other deep bodied fishes in the future, and it may not even like your foxface. Powder blue, if it happens to eventually outgrow the tank, you will know it by its "pacing" and neurotic behavior. Give it plenty of swimming room, flow, and food. QT is also important here, and probably including all fish, since Acanthurus tangs are infamous for getting parasites. Personally, I would steer you towards one of the non-sailfin Zebrasoma tangs, like purple, yellow, scopas, black, or gem....or one of the Ctenochaetus genus tangs, like tomini, kole, truncated, white tail, etc.

Hope that helps.

 

[picklz]

I love this place, sincere thanks to everyone that has put their .02 in so far. Based on additional reading/research and your guys' suggestions i have a revised list/order I'm considering.

Group 1
Tiger Sand Conch (2) (Maybe add 1 or 2 more later if it seems like it's needed)
Blood Red Fire Shrimp (1)
Orange Strip Prawn Goby (1)
Royal Gramma Basslet (1)

Group 2
Foxface Lo (1)
Black Axil Chromis (3)

Group 3
Lyretail Anthias (3)

Group 4
Orchid Dottybacks (2)
Longnose Hawkfish (1)

Group 5
Clownfish (2) (different varieties but from the same species Occ or Perc's)

Group 6
1 Fish TBD - Atlantic Blue, Powder Blue, or Purple Tang

I could move the hawkfish to group 5 with the clownish if that's a better match to get through QT. I expect to get most of the fish in small sizes.

Speaking of QT I plan to put everything coming into the DT through QT either the 76 day fallow period for corals/inverts or 45-60 days for fish to get through prophylactic treatment and observation.

One additional question - any advice on what to add, if anything, for cleanup crew type things outside of the fire shrimp and Conchs?

 

[nereefpat]

I would probably wait to add the conch. Will it starve if you add it that early? For others, cerith snails are recommended by many. I personally don't have much luck with snails. Some folks like hermit crabs, and some don't. They 'can' misbehave on occasion.

Keep in mind that the fire shrimp really isn't part of the clean up crew. It needs fed. They love to eat shrimp.

 

[Phycodurus]

once your tank is pretty mature, i recommend a sea cucumber like a tiger tail cucumber or a black cucumber. they're great at moving the sand around (well, they eat to get nutrients out of the sand), and they're just overall fascinating to watch. in a 112G, you can comfortably support two (i.e. one of each).

i also recommend snails to help with overall algae/film buildup removal. you may wish to consider a small group of trochus snails (i prefer them over turbo snails, because turbos will knock things over more often). astrea snails are great too, but they have this odd problem of not being able to right themselves up all the time. one or two nassarius snails are also an idea (nassarius snails love to bury themselves, and they come up out of the sand like little submarines when they smell food).

hermit crabs are helpful too, but it's a mixed bag keeping snails & hermits together, because hermits are likely to kill snails for their shells. look into blue-legged hermits and scarlet hermits as typically the most snail-friendly.

 

[Phycodurus]

I would probably wait to add the conch. Will it starve if you add it that early?

this is a good point.


i forgot: a red or blue tuxedo urchin (more for kicks, but they also eat algae)

 

[Bluecbs]

You can always change the foxface lo to one spot foxface. Same coloration except for one dark spot and they don't get as big ( 5 - 6 ")