100 gallon stocking - first reef tank

[Samwow]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the salt water world. After keeping freshwater my whole life I decided to try something new. I was lucky enough to buy a used tank 100 gallon 6 ft with a 25 gallon sump, uv light and protein skimmer and live rock for pretty cheap. The live rock has some corals on it already and I would like to add more in the future.

Right now, the tank is up and running and cycled and I have :
2clown fish
2 firefish
Diamond watchman goby
Yellow prawn goby
Banded coral shrimp

They all seem to be doing well but my tank is sparse. Any advice on what to add onto that stocking? Ideally I would like one bigger showfish (I really like the cow fish but Im not sure)
Thank you!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the salt water world. After keeping freshwater my whole life I decided to try something new. I was lucky enough to buy a used tank 100 gallon 6 ft with a 25 gallon sump, uv light and protein skimmer and live rock for pretty cheap. The live rock has some corals on it already and I would like to add more in the future.

Right now, the tank is up and running and cycled and I have :
2clown fish
2 firefish
Diamond watchman goby
Yellow prawn goby
Banded coral shrimp

They all seem to be doing well but my tank is sparce. Any advice on what to add onto that stocking? Ideally I would like one bigger showfish(I really like the cow fish but Im not sure)
Thank you!

I'd stay away from the cowfish, just too many issues come with them.

Possible Tang? Bristle tooth, kole or tomini.

 

[Hemmdog]

Tang for sure, and wrasses.

 

[Firedawg1983]

Definitely agree with what Hemmdog said. Get a tang and wrasses. Very colorful active fish. Make sure you have a top screen on your tank. Firefish can be jumpers. Better to be safe than sorry

 

[vetteguy53081]

FIREFISH GOBY
hEPATUS BLUE TANG (dORY)
purple basslet
yellow tang
tail spot goby (good algae eater)
4 lined wrasse

 

[Zach Judge]

FIREFISH GOBY
hEPATUS BLUE TANG (dORY)
purple basslet
yellow tang
tail spot goby (good algae eater)
4 lined wrasse

A blue tang will get a foot long. Need 300+ gallons

 

[vetteguy53081]

A blue tang will get a foot long. Need 300+ gallons

A hepatus blue- MAYBE 4"........ No way a foot

 

[Pbh-reef]

A hepatus blue- MAYBE 4"........ No way a foot

Hepatus tangs definitely grow a to at least a foot and benefit from very large tanks. I’ve seen many larger than 4” https://m.liveaquaria.com/product/330/?pcatid=330

Many wrasses would work well fairy and flasher wrasses benefit from multiple feedings a day but have the benefit of not eating CuC, melanuarus and yellow “coris” wrasses night eat CuC but are a bit easier to care for I think.

Blackcap basslet or royal gramma are both great fish.

Depending on your tolerance for coral nipping you could try a dwarf angel like the coral beauty.

If you’re up for a challenging fish and limit aggressive fish in the tank (no Zebrasoma tangs) you could consider a copperband butterflyfish.

One spot Foxface would work, good algae eater and less aggressive than a tang. You could also do a kole tang or one of its relatives in the bristletooth group or a yellow Or purple tang but they are aggressive so will limit other fish you add

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hepatus tangs definitely grow a to at least a foot and benefit from very large tanks. I’ve seen many larger than 4” https://m.liveaquaria.com/product/330/?pcatid=330

Many wrasses would work well fairy and flasher wrasses benefit from multiple feedings a day but have the benefit of not eating CuC, melanuarus and yellow “coris” wrasses night eat CuC but are a bit easier to care for I think.

Blackcap basslet or royal gramma are both great fish.

Depending on your tolerance for coral nipping you could try a dwarf angel like the coral beauty.

If you’re up for a challenging fish and limit aggressive fish in the tank (no Zebrasoma tangs) you could consider a copperband butterflyfish.

One spot Foxface would work, good algae eater and less aggressive than a tang. You could also do a kole tang or one of its relatives in the bristletooth group or a yellow Or purple tang but they are aggressive so will limit other fish you add

Yes- X-large is about 6". We are talking about captive size, not wild. 31 years in hobby and never seen one past 5"

 

[Reeferguy365]

I'd go with a yellow eye Kole tang, purple or yellow tang, and a Sailfin Tang. Then some flasher and fairy wrasses

 

[eatbreakfast]

I've seen a number of hippo/Hepatus blue tangs reach close to a foot in captivity, so I can assure you thay they can and do outgrow a 100g.

Fairy and flasher wrasses are great choices, as are small Halichoeres wrasse species. I would advise against a 4line wrasse and any other wrasse in the genus Pseudocheilinus, as they can get pretty cranky when they mature.

A group of zebra or scissortail dartfish can add a lot of activity as they are social.

Flame or longnose hawk adds a ton of personality.

 

[Zach Judge]

Maybe

Yes- X-large is about 6". We are talking about captive size, not wild. 31 years in hobby and never seen one past 5"

My LFS has one rn that’s 8 inches easy. He’s in a 125 until he’s sold and he uses all of that tank. In a perfect world an 8 foot tank is what acanthurus tangs would b housed in minimum. Certainly not a 100 gallon.