Reefer 350 73G stocking plan

[Shaady]

Hello all, planning my first tank, does this look ok or is this too many fish?

Fish (in roughly the order of adding) If i have to cross out some I would say the Fairy wrasse, cardinals, and fire fish are optional.

• One Spot Foxface
• Purple Fire Fish
• Yellow Wrasse
• Shrimp Goby
• Clown x 2
• Scarlet Hawk Fish
• Cardinal x2
• Nyoko Fairy Wrasse
• Royal Gramma
• Fathead Sunburst Anthias

Clean up Crew:

• 1 Fighting Conch
• 1 Blue Tuxedo Urchin
• Bunch of snails

Other inverts:

• Cleaner Shrimp
• Pistol Shrimp
• Clam

 

[Jekyl]

Probably over stocked a touch. Would need a ton of rocks either way. Every fish needs its own "home" or safe place to sleep alone.

 

[Shaady]

Probably over stocked a touch. Would need a ton of rocks either way. Every fish needs its own "home" or safe place to sleep alone.

Thanks for this reply. I was looking at it as just numbers of fish/space, I never considered that they needed a place to sleep. Back to researching lol

So that reminds me I was looking at Ryan(BRS) and his HNSA aquascapes. Do you think this method helps with this issue? Ryan's HNSA scape

I think I'm unsure of if all those voids = comfy fish, or would they need to be more enclosed.

 

[Jekyl]

Thanks for this reply. I was looking at it as just numbers of fish/space, I never considered that they needed a place to sleep. Back to researching lol

So that reminds me I was looking at Ryan(BRS) and his HNSA aquascapes. Do you think this method helps with this issue? Ryan's HNSA scape

I think I'm unsure of if all those voids = comfy fish, or would they need to be more enclosed.

I will never use an NSA scape. Personal preference. It's good for looks, not the fish.

 

[Jekyl]

The one in the video isn't bad. Will lose a lot of places once sand is added. That tank is also much bigger than yours.

 

[Shaady]

The one in the video isn't bad. Will lose a lot of places once sand is added. That tank is also much bigger than yours.

True that. I will scale back on the fish. Thank you!

 

[Jekyl]

True that. I will scale back on the fish. Thank you!

Don't get set on a list now. Figure out what you want first and second. Take a month or 2 between additions. See how your fish react with each other and go from there.

 

[aggrofish]

I did an NSA scape, looks cool but as other have said it’s not great for the fish. I added rockwork in the back so everyone has a spot. Take your CUC and x10

 

[Jekyl]

CuC get the package from reefcleaners for a 32g or 40g.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Honestly, I'd probably have more in this tank than what you have listed. I'd skip the foxface though. To me, they act stressed and look out of place in a tank this small. I wouldn't put one in a tank under 6'. Just my opinion though, after watching my old ones get upgraded from a 75 gallon to a 180 gallon, to a 380 gallon.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I'd skip the clam as well; it's difficult to maintain them in a new tank.

I'd also skip the clowns -- unless you're going with skunk clowns, or have your heart set on them -- because you'll have a lot more flexibility with territorial arrangements without them.

I also agree with the slow approach, and think that this is a great time to determine what type of reef tank you want. Do you want fish in the water column all the time? (fairy wrasses and dwarf angels will do that). Or do you want bursts of colour that weave in and out of the aquascape? A captive-bred orchid/springeri dottyback harem might be the route to go if that is the case.

And I'd be careful about crowding your tank with rocks, as you'll want to leave room to see your Naoko's fairy wrasse doing its dive-bombing routine. The RSR350 isn't very tall to begin with.

 

[JD1188]

I will never use an NSA scape. Personal preference. It's good for looks, not the fish.

Hi, I have tried researching after seeing this comment and cannot find anything. Can you elaborate more on why it is not good for the fish? My husband set up our rock using this method and now I am worried about our fish getting stressed.

 

[gunflintcamper]

Hi, I have tried researching after seeing this comment and cannot find anything. Can you elaborate more on why it is not good for the fish? My husband set up our rock using this method and now I am worried about our fish getting stressed.

I saw a video where it was explained that the more hiding places you have for fish, the more you actually see them out and about. And we redid our tanks with a lot more caves and generally more rock, and this has been absolutely true. All the fish are out swimming more than before. Something about each having their own space to dive into, and feel completely secure….rather than just hugging the bottom of an open arch.

JME

 

[JD1188]

I saw a video where it was explained that the more hiding places you have for fish, the more you actually see them out and about. And we redid our tanks with a lot more caves and generally more rock, and this has been absolutely true. All the fish are out swimming more than before. Something about each having their own space to dive into, and feel completely secure….rather than just hugging the bottom of an open arch.

JME

Makes sense! Thank you so much for the reply. I will try to convince my husband that we need a bit more coverage in the tank if we notice this issue with our fish. This is a newer setup with only Clowns so far, but imagine we will need to make adjustments in the future.