Please help us vote for our stocking list :)

So, we've just started up our system (60g DT + 20g sump). Right now it's a box full of saltwater (pretty exciting stuff, lol). Our next milestone will be adding the cured live rock/aquascaping (about 7 days away). We do intend to keep some of the easier live corals and our CUC will in all likelihood be just an assortment of snails (nerite/trochus, etc.). We're trying to put the finishing touches on our plan for stocking but we got seriously stuck. Overall, we wish to create a calm/un-stressed community tank consisting of peaceful to semi-aggressive fish requiring easy/moderate care. Because our tank is "see-through" and offers unobstructed views from 3 of 4 sides and is situated between 2 high-traffic rooms, we also want a high level of activity and color impact. So in the spirit of democracy, we would like to put it to vote here on 3reef. What do you all think?

Should we go with...

"The A-Team"
1 Yellow Clown/Coral Goby - Gobiodon okinawae
1 Velvet Wrasse - Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis
2 Ocellaris Clownfish - Amphiprion ocellaris
1 Fridmani Pseudochromis - Pseudochromis fridmani
1 Flame Angelfish - Centropyge loriculus

OR

"Plan B"
1 Green Clown/Coral Goby - Gobiodon atrangulatus
2 Ocellaris Clownfish - Amphiprion ocellaris
1 One-Spot Foxface - Siganus unimaculatus
1 Bicolor Pseudochromis - Pseudochromis paccagnella

Please let us know if there are any incompatibility issues we might have overlooked (they are also listed in order of their introduction into the tank). And while we've given it some serious thought...a Choice C write-in candidate could also be accepted.

Please share your vote with us. And thank you all (in advance) for your help!

Amanda & Matthew

 

On team A you might have an issue with the wrasse and the pseudochromis. If the tank is 4 feet long and you have enough hiding places should not be problem though. I vote team A as it seems to be the most colorful.

 

fox face get huge otherwise I would go w plan b with a kole tang in the foxface place

 

Thanks, but I thought they both go to ~7"...note it's the "one-spot" not the "lo" variety of foxface (which does tend to get a few inches larger as I understand). I'm blessed with what seems to be a very helpful and experienced/knowledgable LFS which is right down the street from me and they absolutely give rave reviews to the one-spot foxface as one of their all-time faves. They have several in their display tanks and not of them seems to be any larger than 7". But thanks on the Kole Tang, also a beauty I did overlook (did not give Tangs in general much consideration because of their swimming space needs)

 

I am about a month or two in front of you. A 55 gal DT and 40 gal sump/refugium.

I decided against the Foxface because of future size. I decided against the Flame Angel because of concerns over a short life span.

This thread might help you.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hobby/live-stock-strategy-question-79066.html

Very similar to your Choice A, with only one Clown and minus the Flame Angel.

Hope that helps.
Mark

 

BTW... I found liveaquaria.com was a good source for minimum tank size, compatibility, etc.

Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Kole Yellow Eye Tang

Mark

 

i personnaly like plan A better. you have the nice angelfish as a show piece

 

Thank you for the responses so far! Here is where we are at right now...it is a Choice C that seems to have a little bit of everything going for it...what do you all think?

1 Yellow Clown/Coral Goby - Gobiodon okinawae
2 Ocellaris Clownfish - Amphiprion ocellaris
1 Kaudern's Cardinalfish - Pterapogon kauderni
1 Bicolor Pseudochromis - Pseudochromis paccagnella
1 Flame Angelfish - Centropyge loriculus

Please chime in on your experiences with Kaudern's. Also, do you think the Kaudern's and the Bicolor would play nice together?

 

There's no 100% in this hobby....however, as a general rule I would say they would be fine.

You are picking a bunch of boring fish (IMO obviously). Clownfish barely move, Cardinals barely move, Clown Gobies barely move.

I would always tell customers to have something that hops around the rock and/or sandbed, things that swim a lot, and something that grazes a lot. The bi-color will hide in the rocks for half of the day. The only movement you would have in your tank will be your angel. The clown goby will sit most of the day, the clowns will occupy that same 1 square inch of space a day, and the cardinals will just hover in a space barely bigger than their body.

 

We're new to the hobby. Selections were based on color, compat. and size constraints. Just curious, if this were your tank...what would you have it stocked with?