Tank build is slowly progressing, so now need help with stocking ideas

[kdx7214]

I'm in the process of setting up a 75 with 40B refugium/sump. My initial plan was for mandarin dragonets, but the more I think about it, the more I think I'd like some fish that wouldn't work with them (i.e. wrasses). Eventually, when stable, I want to keep some LPS and SPS in the tank, so really am looking for colorful reef safe fish. Of course, I'd also like some inverts - assuming they're compatible with anything else lol.

Things I'd like to have, but probably can't:

• Mandarin Dragonet
• Coral Beauty angel

I'm told that anthias are a bad idea and that green chromis (my standard in the old days) bully each other until only one remains.

Would it be a good idea to have a sticky for some easy to keep, reef-safe fish? That's pretty much what I'm looking for.

Thanks!

 

[fishface NJ]

Do you want peaceful fish or aggressive fish?

 

[kdx7214]

Do you want peaceful fish or aggressive fish?

I honestly don't care a lot as long as they all get along with each other and corals. I adore niger trigger's, but they're sort of a hit or miss for aggression I'm told.

 

[Hermie]

I honestly don't care a lot as long as they all get along with each other and corals. I adore niger trigger's, but they're sort of a hit or miss for aggression I'm told.

Why do you think you can't keep a Mandarin Dragonette?

 

[kdx7214]

Why do you think you can't keep a Mandarin Dragonette?

I'm sort of torn on them. I love the fish, and would love to get a breeding pair and attempt to raise the young, but then again I would also love to have a wrasse or two and from what I gather they eat so rapidly the mandarin's never get the chance. I do plan to have another tank/container as a completely separate refugium for growing pods. I found a place I can get a 90 gallon horse trough (big circular dog dish looking thing) that I can use that isn't too expensive.

I guess I'm just sort of torn on which way to go. I love the mandarins, but I would really like to find a way to have a coral beauty angel - but then again, they eat coral lol. It's like a catch-22 of fish

 

[blaxsun]

Coral beauty is probably 75% reef-safe. I don't know what it is about chromis either, but I always seem to lose one every few months.

 

[kdx7214]

Coral beauty is probably 75% reef-safe. I don't know what it is about chromis either, but I always seem to lose one every few months.

I've read that they are damselfish and one becomes dominant and kills the others. I could certainly never keep more than one when I had a tank years ago.

Would also love a niger trigger, but not sure a 75 is really big enough for one - or that it wouldn't snack on everything else in the tank.

 

[blaxsun]

I've got six at present, down from eight 2 months ago. I also have four damsels that all get along fine.

 

[fishface NJ]

Examples of Reef safe...peaceful...

beginners wrasses" : Carpenter, McCosker wrasse, Bluehead fairy wrasse, Lineatus fairy wrasse, male pink margin fairy wrasse
midas blenny
firefish (3 choices of colors)
Fancy "Ocellaris" Clown fish(2)
Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse
yellow candy hogfish


Examples of Reef safe...semi-aggressive...

Clown fish (2)
chromis
dottyback
damselfish
jawfish
royal gramma basslet
Six or eight liner wrasse
Coral beauty (reef safe but with caution)
Anthias
forktail blenny
canary blenny



niger trigger needs a 180 gallon or bigger tank and is aggressive

 

[Hermie]

I'm sort of torn on them. I love the fish, and would love to get a breeding pair and attempt to raise the young, but then again I would also love to have a wrasse or two and from what I gather they eat so rapidly the mandarin's never get the chance. I do plan to have another tank/container as a completely separate refugium for growing pods. I found a place I can get a 90 gallon horse trough (big circular dog dish looking thing) that I can use that isn't too expensive.

I guess I'm just sort of torn on which way to go. I love the mandarins, but I would really like to find a way to have a coral beauty angel - but then again, they eat coral lol. It's like a catch-22 of fish

Oh thanks for the reply. I see what you mean now. Personally I introduced a ~1" female mandarin into a tank with only a puffer (aside from inverts) and it's now doing great. I do wish I had two though because they probably enjoy life better that way.