Stocking for my reef
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Jon Fishman
Cleveland Ohio, buy/sell local!
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Tank size, Reef/not, goals?
ReeferWarrant
Valuable Member
I'd find out what you want to do with it first before asking what to stock it with. If you want corals then start looking at reef compatable fish. If you are doing fish with live rock then start looking at those.
ReeferWarrant
Valuable Member
For corals start looking at soft corals as a starter, they are easier to care for and can withstand chemical changes in the water better. Fish, I'd look at some of the beginner ones as well. It just depends on what you like. I spent months researching what the fish I absolutely had to have and then started looking at what was compatible.
Jon Fishman
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Me, I’d go 4-5 urchins..... 7-8 shrimp (all fire/skunk/etc. No Mantis or Coral Banded) a dozen snails, Probably squeeze one eel in there if you get a small enough species, then I would would house a clown pair as the only fish, and do nothing but BTAs, and a Haddoni (a gamble but worth it) and fill the rest with your favorite softie..... all hammers or all torches or all frogspawn/octospawn etc.
ReeferWarrant
Valuable Member
Best to start researching then, BRS and Tidal Gardens videos for Corals helped me a ton. I would spend some time researching on Youtube and the Articles tab on here.
Just don’t go by the freshwater inch per gallon rule. Take a look at Live Aquaria’s site at reef safe fish. Most of their information is good for tank size/compatibility/care requirements. Its a good way to start tour research imo.
ReeferWarrant
Valuable Member
Clowns and Blennies are fairly easy to take care of, both were my first fish that I added to the tank.
Jon Fishman
Cleveland Ohio, buy/sell local!
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Fair enough. I have learned to love the inverts! Usually the most enjoyable things in my tank
I’m no fish expert, but my ocellaris and designer da Vinci ganged up on my flame angel and killed him
. Not saying every clownfish is bad, there are plenty of peaceful ones out there, but if you plan on buying clowns, IMO I would have an anemone in the tank ready for them to host so they don’t stray to far from home. There’s still a huge chance they won’t host it and move around the tank, but that’s a risk you should take if you really want them! Then your wrasse( a six line wrasse would control pest such as worms) would have more space to swim. IMO you should spend weeks researching fish as people above me stated, live aquaria has a good chart, but also there are plenty of YouTube channels designed to help you with this type of stuff! In reefing if you don’t have patience to watch and observe your fish/coral for days before the next purchase, you shouldn’t be in the hobby! ALSO, if you plan on stocking your tank before you even start, I would buy essentials such as a iodine based dip, some tweezers, extra frag plugs, etc, so you can be ready for anything! Let me know if I missed anything!
ReeferWarrant
Valuable Member
My two favorites:
Bulk Reef Supply
Tidal Gardens
Bulk Reef Supply
Tidal Gardens
Soren
Valuable Member
These are both great places to learn about reefs and corals directly from people that make a living off of reefs and are willing to share what they know!
Sebastiancrab
2500 Club Member
Hi! I have a 29 gal and am upgrading to a 40 breeder with 20 gal sump. I have 2 regular clowns, a royal gramma and a yellow tail damsel. All have gotten along fine. I did have to switch out the yellow tail because the first two were too aggressive. No problem at all with the others!
