Stocking Question

Oooops ... I posted this in the hello forum... so I have moved it here..

I have a 65 Gallon that I am about to get started in the next week or so.. I have been reading and reading for about 1 year now.

Tunze 9010, Ehiem Canister Filter(don't know media yet) or Emperor 400, 2 Hydor Koralia 3's, 4" DSB and about 65 lbs of Live Rock.

I have not decided what filter to use yet. But it will be one or the other, I am weighing out the ease of use with how well each will work for me.

I have a Stocking Question for you...
Here is the list I have came up with.

Questions:

A) Is this a Heavy Stocked tank or Medium or what?
B) I think I need to add ONE more FISH. What fish would you guys recommend to add to this list?

FISH
2x Ocellaris Clown Fish (Amphiprion Ocellaris)
1x Fire Fish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
1x Yellow Watchmen Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

Maybe add more in here any ideas?

INVERTABRATES
3x Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)

CLEAN UP CREW
15x Nassarius Snails
5x Mexican Turbo Snails
10x Banded Trochus Snails
1x Brittle Starfish

*May add more later.
**May add 2-5x Blue and Red Hermit Crabs once tank is established. (Most likely not because they eat too much good stuff)

OTHER
1x Bubble tip Anemone
Various polyps
Various Mushrooms
1x Orange Sun Coral
1x Dendrophyllia coral
1x Chocolate chip Star Fish
*This list to be added to later on once the tank is established.

 

Your list of livestock is/sounds fine with the exception of the CC starfish. They have been known to eat corals. They are not reef safe. Keep us posted on your progress. Luna

 

I wouldn't do an anemone or choc chip starfish. But otherwise, as long as you add fish gradually and slowly, it wouldn't be over stocked at all with those 4 fish you listed above.

 

Hey, Sounds like you have done a lot of research.

You could add a wrasse of some sort?

Also I don't think you will need a filter. with your LR and LS you shouldn't need it

J

 

Yeah I was going to start with the filter and then from there take it off and see what happens..

Umm I have heard that about the CC starfish .. I could think about all that later.. my main concern is to get an Idea of starting the stocking..

I was thinking about 2 - 3x Anthias.

The other one that I was thinking .. Ready.. the Tang Police are all lined up for this one.. But considering a Yellow Tang ... but that is pushin it in a 65 gallon... I have heard of people in 55s. and some sites say min 55 and others say min 90 ..

The other one that I was thinking was a Flame Angel. <--- Reef safe? may nip at corals eh?

 

I wouldn't add to many more fish than your original list.You'll start to put a heavier bio load.

Dont put a tang in there its not big enough

 

2x Ocellaris Clown Fish (Amphiprion Ocellaris)
1x Fire Fish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
1x Yellow Watchmen Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

Ok well see my concern here is this. Those are all smaller species of fish. I would like maybe one bigger species of fish in there...

 

4 fish which 2 stay fairly small is not any where near a heavy bio load for a 65.

And in my opinion you could have a tang as long as its small but be aware that as it gets bigger your going to have to trade it in on another small one. I would get a Hippo tang though, they tend to stay smaller than most other tang and grow a little bit slower.

CC stars can go either way, but if they go the bad way they can do allot of damage in a very short time. I wouldn't put one in a reef tank.

And to be honest I don't feel that Anemone should be kept in a reef tank, they should be kept in a species specific tank mostly because they can be really hard to keep alive and when they do die it can really be a disaster.

 

As long as you give plenty of time between introducing new fish you could add a few more. It will depend heavily on the type of fish however, as some fish species are larger and/or more voracious eaters. Several small fish would approximately equal one larger fish, but again type and appetite are key factors.

Keep in mind that filtration is the paramount concern--some people can have reef tanks that are loaded with fish because they run mega-filtration. Most of us don't have that level of filtration so a few fish is all we keep. Your system will be unique to you. Make sure you keep the canister filter nice and clean because it can become a nitrate factory if you are not careful.

Finally, if you want more fish, stick to certain soft corals that can thrive when there are nitrates in the water. Anemones need extra clean water, as do sps, so those may not be the greatest choices. And go slow--take 9-12 months to complete all the additions so that your system can catch up more easily.

 

Hmm!! yeah I think I may look at a different type of StarFish.. and I was thinking Yellow tang but blue would be ok.. Yellows grow fast? how about blues?

Anemone is not a must either.. I can find plenty of brains and leathers to add in there..

Polyps are a must though lol and mushrooms...