Help me finalize my stocking choices

Pertecto 44 gallon Pentagon tank 22x22x24
Aquac Remora Pro w/mag3
40 lbs of Kaelini
40 lbs of Aragonite
Already Chosen
1 Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
1 Swale's Swissguard Basslet(liopropoma swalesi)
2 Red Skunk Cleaner Shrimp(Lysmata amboinensis)
Suggested Additions
1 Purple FireFish(Nemateleotris decora)

After Lighting Upgrade:
(This item removed upon recommendation)
3 Maxima Clams(Tridacna maxima) Gold, Blue, Green
1 Green Brain Coral(Trachyphyllia geoffroyi)
1 Red Brain Coral(Lobophyllia hemprichii)
4 Fiji Polyps(Zoanthus sp.) Red, Green, Orange, Pink

I need suggestions on what fish to add to the 2 I have already chosen. i would like to finish my stocking choices now since I got about a week for my LR to finish curing and I want to start QT asap.

All input welcome.

 

Well before i get into prechosing stuff i will tell you that unless you are buying a mated pair of fire fish, they will eventually fight with each other.

Ok now that that is over, i would not choose ahead of time what exactly you want. this applies to corals more than fish. Believe me...its alot more fun to have room in your tank and you walk into the store and see the most amazing coral you need to buy lol. Reef keeping is a very slow hobby, dont try to rush everything Besides that what kind of lights do you plan on getting? the clams need alot of light so i would keep that in mind.

I think you should stick with the midas...I would check out he basset. The swissgaurd might cause problems if you want to keep smaller ornamental shrimp. One purple fire fish would be ok to add though

 

The corals are subject to change but I would like to finalize my fish selection.
If I go with a Midas and Purple Firefish what other fish would be good choices?

 

Well, The midas is a good fish, the purple fire fish is good. But if you plan on choosing more fish i would not put them in the tank all at the same time. Because your tank is new that might cause a bio overload. Also, fish choices also will matter depending on the corals you choose. For me, i have many branching soft and hard corals so i purchased 2 clown gobies, they perch on the corals all day. Its all about what you like. If you find a fish that looks nice to you let us know, that way we can tell you if it is a good choice for your tank or if we have any expierence with it

 

Is this a better stocking plan and order?

1 Ocellaris Anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris)

1 Purple FireFish(Nemateleotris decora)

1 Swale's Swissguard Basslet(liopropoma swalesi)

1 Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
Possible additions w/o Basslet

Mated Pair Hippocampus barbouri

Fish Suggestions Please.

After Lighting Upgrade:
3 Maxima Clams(Tridacna maxima) Gold, Blue, Green
1 Green Brain Coral(Trachyphyllia geoffroyi)
1 Red Brain Coral(Lobophyllia hemprichii)
4 Fiji Polyps(Zoanthus sp.) Red, Green, Orange, Pink

 

Only bad choice I see is the carpet anemone as it's a notorious fish eater. Best left to a species only tank IMO.

 

Like i said before, i would watch out for the Swale's Swissguard Basslet. It shouldnt be a problem if you get slightly larger shrimp...but it might make a meal out of them

 

Larger shrimp and adding them before the basslet is the plan I devised after your 1st warning and if the shrimp are the only risk I take then that is acceptable for now. I Just want to come up with 1 more fish that will cruise the mid to upper tank. I will lose one of my current choices to make it possible if I have to. Any suggestions?

 

i personally love my scopas tang. check them out. good fish... never had any problems with it. also great to look at.

 

Cerpin, his tank is 44 gal and only 22" long, not suitable for long term keeping of any type of tang...unless he plans to upgrade as the tang grow bigger.

IMO, I would get those fishes you suggested (1 by 1 over a few wks time of course) and wait for your tank to mature and get a mandarin dragonet or a watchman goby and a pistol shrimp (hmm...then you(we) can find out how good the goby can watch the shrimp's back w/ the S.S. basslet in the tank )

I also like the sixlines or the fourlines wrasse and the orchid dottyback. I think the dottyback pick on smaller fishes, not sure tho, never had one....yet! And can't be mixed with basslets and careful around dragonets and wrasses........you know, forget I suggested the dottyback. :-X

HTH!