70 gallon tank stocking list for a new person

[billy123]

Hi,

I am brand new to reefing.
I have a 70 gallon tank that is cycling. My plan is to make it a reef tank.
I wanted to see if the below stocking idea would work or if there are any other fish you recommend I look at. Also if there is a order I should add them besides clown fish first. Is this to many fish or can I add more?
Thanks for any advice

2 clown fish
1 foxface
1 flame angle
1 watchman golby
1 Hippo Tang
1 royal Gamma
2 cardinal Fish
1 wrasse (not sure type)
Purple fire fish

clean up crew

 

[Widdlyscudds]

Ditch the clownfish, once they they get settled in they are the biggest jerks on the planet, or if you really want a pair add them last. Mine try to murder anything and everything that goes in the tank these days and adding new fish is a giant hassle as a result

 

[Sharkbait19]

Add the clowns last - they are mean but all of your other options would be okay with them in a 70.
I’d pass on the blue tang though - they get far to big to be okay in a 70 long term.

 

[dedragon]

Pass on Blue tang and Pass on the foxface, both get way too big for a 75. Something like a tomini tang is better for a 75 gallon for years.

 

[dedragon]

Also dwarf angelfish can be coral nippers in reef tanks but they are hit or miss.
Clownfish as well can be a--holes, sometimes and sometimes not. My last couple of pairs have been super friendly but they can get territorial in smaller tanks. Percula, ocellaris, and skunk clownfish are the least aggressive, while maroon clownfish and tomato are some of the most aggressive

 

[bnord]

Nice balance for a 70. May want to consider a tomini or related tang in place of the blue due to size (and utility)

Start with a SMALL fox face

In regards to the clownfish comments, personal experience is (as dedragon suggests) tomatoes and cinnamon clowns

should be avoided, but I find a young pair of of ocellaris are fine They are in each of my 3 tanks, (and in most of my friends) and in a tank this size should find their territory and not be a burden

 

[billy123]

Thanks for the advice

 

[davidcalgary29]

I ended up with the following in one of my 65g:

-bicolor angel
-keyhole angel
-spotband butterflyfish
-blue headed fairy wrasse
-orchid dottyback
-squirreflish

The angels are fine with coral. The butterfly is a dedicated corallivore (and nori chomper and mysis devourer). It's an amazing fish -- very personable -- and I wouldn't want the tank without it. It leaves soft corals alone, so the tank is populated with them. The butterfly is also the only fish that I've ever seen that eats majanos -- I had a major problem with them in this tank -- so it's nice that I've found a natural control.

If I started again where you are, I'd build a tank around the fish, and forget about corals. FOWLR tanks are great, because you can often get outstanding fish that people want to rehome because they're destroying expensive SPS colonies. You can then experiment with coral when the fish become established. FOWLR tanks are also much easier to maintain than reef tanks for the novice aquarist. Softies really are underrated, and most fish won't touch them. If you want a beautiful reef tank, then get an Evo, use it for a quarantine tank, and turn it into a mini reef after your fish have cycled through it.

 

[blaxsun]

@davidcalgary29 is bang on the money - FOWLR tanks give you unlimited fish possibilities. Otherwise you go the same route some of us do: get the fish you want, corals be danged!

 

[Katherine Corals]

I have to agree with the others posting, the FoxFace and the Blue Hippo will outgrow your tank. If youre looking for a good algea eater, I recommend a Lawn Mower Blenny. Theyre small, but BUSY! You could also consider a Bristletooth Tomini Tang. Theyre a bit shy, but are the only tang I would recommend for a tank your size.