Stocking suggestions /tips

rookie_reefer703 · Sep 9, 2016

Hi everyone,

New to saltwater and almost ready to stock my tank. I have a 90 gallon DT with a 30 gallon sump that is halfway through the cycle.

I have my wife and kids involved and they have requested 2 clown fish. Involving them will make future purchases a little easier.

What other fish and invertebrates could I keep?

I've read plenty and have an idea of my options. However, I've learned so much from reading through the threads on this site and wanted to get some expert opinions. As I know, this is all personal, I'd love to hear feedback from the community. I know everyone has their favorites so please share. I'm looking for a friendly, colorful tank.

Thanks in advance!!!

Reefing Madness · Sep 10, 2016

Brew12 · Sep 10, 2016

rookie_reefer703 said:
Hi everyone,

New to saltwater and almost ready to stock my tank. I have a 90 gallon DT with a 30 gallon sump that is halfway through the cycle.

I have my wife and kids involved and they have requested 2 clown fish. Involving them will make future purchases a little easier.

What other fish and invertebrates could I keep?

I've read plenty and have an idea of my options. However, I've learned so much from reading through the threads on this site and wanted to get some expert opinions. As I know, this is all personal, I'd love to hear feedback from the community. I know everyone has their favorites so please share. I'm looking for a friendly, colorful tank.

Thanks in advance!!!

There are so many options based on just clownfish that it is hard to make a recommendation. You will probably get more responses if you post what you think you would like and ask if it would be ok.

Bob Escher · Sep 10, 2016

I think a diamond watchman goby would be great. Letting the kids watch him sift the sand would be cool. Or a goby and Randall shrimp living together would be another to let the kids see the relationships. Another would be a scooter blenny. Sure to amaze the kids

rookie_reefer703 · Sep 11, 2016

Bob Escher said:
I think a diamond watchman goby would be great. Letting the kids watch him sift the sand would be cool. Or a goby and Randall shrimp living together would be another to let the kids see the relationships. Another would be a scooter blenny. Sure to amaze the kids

Thanks Bob! I've looked up the goby and shrimp combo. I am definitely adding that to the tank. The kids love the idea friendship!!!

rookie_reefer703 · Sep 11, 2016

Brew12 said:
There are so many options based on just clownfish that it is hard to make a recommendation. You will probably get more responses if you post what you think you would like and ask if it would be ok.

Thanks for the suggestion Brew12. You are absolutely right. With so many choices to even begin with, who knows where to start. I'll continue to research and will ask questions along the way.

Bob Escher · Sep 11, 2016

The scooter blenny doesn't swim by the way it glides. One second it's on top of the rocks and the next it across the tank on the sand. You can watch one in one of my videos

Dreadnaught · Sep 11, 2016

Liveaquaria.com is a great resource to see what type of fish are available, care requirements and compatibility. Get a a good algae eater early. Such as a rabbit fish, small unaggressive tang, etc. QT is worth it's weight in gold for long term success and health of your system.

Maritimer · Sep 11, 2016

Dreadnaught's right about quarantine ... I didn't at first, and wound up losing a lot of fish . . .

When kids think of clownfish, they're probably thinking "Nemo" - which is great, because A. ocellaris clownfish are about as easygoing as clownfish come. That means there are _lots_ of cool fish they'll get along with just fine!

In a 90 gallon tank, a bristletooth tang or smaller rabbitfish wouldn't be out of place, and will provide a tall, billboard shape that moves gracefully through and above the rock. Some folks recommend adding them early to help clean up algae (snails, a few hermit crabs, perhaps a sea-urchin or two will help with that as well), but others suggest adding such fish later in your stocking to avoid possible territorial issues. Dartfish and firefish will give a slim silhouette which hovers well above the rockwork, and can be accented by sleek fairy and flasher wrasses that utilize the same area, but glide ceaselessly throughout the tank - and pretty much get along well if the species you keep are researched with attention to which combinations might provoke aggression between closely related groups. _Some_ damselfish can add a shot of brilliant color without being _too_ aggressive, but others can be trouble from the word "go". Gobies of various sorts generally stay closer to the rockwork, or even the sand and again, generally are peaceful and interesting to watch. If you don't mind a bit of risk to your corals, many folks enjoy a dwarf angelfish - they can provide a dash of brilliant color, elegant shape, and continual movement down among the rockwork - but they can sometimes be coral-nippers. Smaller sea-bass like the royal gramma will hover about the rock as well, and can be brilliantly colored and moderately sociable. So! Many! Choices!!

~Bruce, who has probably got entirely too many fish in his tank . . .

rookie_reefer703 · Sep 12, 2016

Maritimer said:
Dreadnaught's right about quarantine ... I didn't at first, and wound up losing a lot of fish . . .

When kids think of clownfish, they're probably thinking "Nemo" - which is great, because A. ocellaris clownfish are about as easygoing as clownfish come. That means there are _lots_ of cool fish they'll get along with just fine!

In a 90 gallon tank, a bristletooth tang or smaller rabbitfish wouldn't be out of place, and will provide a tall, billboard shape that moves gracefully through and above the rock. Some folks recommend adding them early to help clean up algae (snails, a few hermit crabs, perhaps a sea-urchin or two will help with that as well), but others suggest adding such fish later in your stocking to avoid possible territorial issues. Dartfish and firefish will give a slim silhouette which hovers well above the rockwork, and can be accented by sleek fairy and flasher wrasses that utilize the same area, but glide ceaselessly throughout the tank - and pretty much get along well if the species you keep are researched with attention to which combinations might provoke aggression between closely related groups. _Some_ damselfish can add a shot of brilliant color without being _too_ aggressive, but others can be trouble from the word "go". Gobies of various sorts generally stay closer to the rockwork, or even the sand and again, generally are peaceful and interesting to watch. If you don't mind a bit of risk to your corals, many folks enjoy a dwarf angelfish - they can provide a dash of brilliant color, elegant shape, and continual movement down among the rockwork - but they can sometimes be coral-nippers. Smaller sea-bass like the royal gramma will hover about the rock as well, and can be brilliantly colored and moderately sociable. So! Many! Choices!!

~Bruce, who has probably got entirely too many fish in his tank . . .

Great suggestions. I will do some more homework and see what's readily available at the lfs.

I will definitely set a qt tank and go slow.

I appreciate the input.

4FordFamily · Sep 12, 2016

Flame hawkfish - pretty and bring a rare color to the tank (red). Also very hardy and they do not swim they perch. You can teach the kids about a lack of a swim bladder as to why.

Budman93 · Sep 12, 2016

I personally love Foxface Rabbitfish! They are extremely personable and the one I used to have ate right out of my hands! They are a great community fish too, as they get along with everyone, just watch out for the spines!

You could also get a Goby and pistol shrimp combo, they are super fun to watch! The shrimp will dig tunnells in your tank and the goby will guard the enterance for him!

For inverts I'd reccomend skunk cleaner shrimp, fighting conch, trochus snails, and scarlet hermit crabs.

SantaMonicaHelp · Sep 13, 2016

Ocellaris Clownfish for sure. Like @Brew12 said,

Brew12 said:
There are so many options based on just Clownfish that it is hard to make a recommendation. You will probably get more responses if you post what you think you would like and ask if it would be ok.

I recommend just a typical A. Ocellaris so that you can have a Nemo and a Black Ocellaris or a Snowflake. Stick with the Ocellaris', they're so many variations. A Diamond Watchman Goby looks cool, and their infamous shifting of sand may entertain the kids for awhile, but I've never owned one, so I don't speak from experience. Finally I recommend a Mandarinfish just because they are one of the most beautiful fishes! However some people have trouble feeding them. Let me know what you end up choosing.

- C. Smith

rookie_reefer703 · Sep 15, 2016

4FordFamily said:
Flame hawkfish - pretty and bring a rare color to the tank (red). Also very hardy and they do not swim they perch. You can teach the kids about a lack of a swim bladder as to why.

I'll be researching this flame hawkish. Sounds pretty cool. I've never heard of it before

rookie_reefer703 · Sep 15, 2016

Budman93 said:
I personally love Foxface Rabbitfish! They are extremely personable and the one I used to have ate right out of my hands! They are a great community fish too, as they get along with everyone, just watch out for the spines!

You could also get a Goby and pistol shrimp combo, they are super fun to watch! The shrimp will dig tunnells in your tank and the goby will guard the enterance for him!

For inverts I'd reccomend skunk cleaner shrimp, fighting conch, trochus snails, and scarlet hermit crabs.

Thanks for the suggestion. So many options. I may go with the foxface!!

rookie_reefer703 · Sep 15, 2016

SantaMonicaHelp said:
Ocellaris Clownfish for sure. Like @Brew12 said,
I recommend just a typical A. Ocellaris so that you can have a Nemo and a Black Ocellaris or a Snowflake. Stick with the Ocellaris', they're so many variations. A Diamond Watchman Goby looks cool, and their infamous shifting of sand may entertain the kids for awhile, but I've never owned one, so I don't speak from experience. Finally I recommend a Mandarinfish just because they are one of the most beautiful fishes! However some people have trouble feeding them. Let me know what you end up choosing.[emoji14]
- C. Smith

Thanks. I'll share my final choices. It'll be a few at a time. I believe the first set will be the Ocellaris clowns. Kids choice, I cannot fight them on that.