90 Gallon Stocking Ideas

[TheFishman9000]

Hey all!

Was big into reef tanks ten years ago, but got out of it to peruse what can ultimately be described as “life”.

Getting back into now by putting together a bunch of old bits and pieces to build a 90 gallon tank. Got everything running today and, after sifting through a few hours worth of fish research, I can safely say I have NO idea what fish I want to aim to stock over the coming months. For now, it will just be a FOWLR tank. Possibility of reef in the future, but not any time soon.

I’ve still got some work to do as it’s very rough at the moment, but it’s running. Will be adding more live rock as the funds become available.

Would love to hear everyone’s takes!

Picture of the tank attached.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Dwarf angels (like the flame angel), foxface, clowns, blennies, gobbys, wrasses (@i cant think can give you specifics here).

Those are just a few you could put in there. You have a good bit of options for a tank that size. If you want to eventually convert it from a FOWLR to a reef tank. I would try not to get fish that are known for picking at corals.

 

[TheFishman9000]

Dwarf angels (like the flame angel), foxface, clowns, blennies, gobbys, wrasses (@i cant think can give you specifics here).

Those are just a few you could put in there. You have a good bit of options for a tank that size. If you want to eventually convert it from a FOWLR to a reef tank. I would try not to get fish that are known for picking at corals.

Thanks! I was thinking at least a pair of Banggai Cardinalfish and a Redfin Fairy Wrasse. Both seem to be reef safe and peaceful (with the exception of cardinals having to be an established pair to prevent interspecies aggression).

I’m trying to think of a good centerpiece-esque fish that would play nice with everyone/thing.

 

[BryanM]

If you're wanting larger numbers of fish you're going to need more rock for caves, swimming lanes, and hiding places.

One spot foxface or yellow tang for reef safe options.

Flame angel for "with caution" options. I have one in my mixed reef, and apparently I feed it enough to not eat corals

 

[TheFishman9000]

If you're wanting larger numbers of fish you're going to need more rock for caves, swimming lanes, and hiding places.

One spot foxface or yellow tang for reef safe options.

Flame angel for "with caution" options. I have one in my mixed reef, and apparently I feed it enough to not eat corals

I do have more rock getting a hard cure in a bleach solution this week which I intend to add to this tank. It came from an old tank that had colonial hydroids and has sat dry for at least 3 years.

I’ve always loved the look of flame angels, just felt like the risk was too high.

 

[i cant think]

Hey all!

Was big into reef tanks ten years ago, but got out of it to peruse what can ultimately be described as “life”.

Getting back into now by putting together a bunch of old bits and pieces to build a 90 gallon tank. Got everything running today and, after sifting through a few hours worth of fish research, I can safely say I have NO idea what fish I want to aim to stock over the coming months. For now, it will just be a FOWLR tank. Possibility of reef in the future, but not any time soon.

I’ve still got some work to do as it’s very rough at the moment, but it’s running. Will be adding more live rock as the funds become available.

Would love to hear everyone’s takes!

Picture of the tank attached.

What are the tank dimensions?

Also, any specific colours or body shapes you’re after? Are you wanting fewer but more active, larger species or more but often smaller, secretive species?

 

[TheFishman9000]

What are the tank dimensions?

Also, any specific colours or body shapes you’re after? Are you wanting fewer but more active, larger species or more but often smaller, secretive species?

48”L x 18”W x 24”H

No specific body shapes. For colors, nothing specific per se. I would like at least one fish that’s going to pop if I turn the blues up.

Preferably, I’d be happy with fewer fish that are a little more social/active. Size isn’t a huge factor (though I’d love to have at least one decent size fish).

I also intend to add more vertical structure to the current rock before I put any fish in the tank, being as it’s so open at the moment.

 

[X-37B]

Swallowtail angle fish could be a center piece. I have one in my 150
A Tomini tang is a usefull nice addition also. Very reef safe in my acro system.

 

[Electric Corals]

Goldline Rabbitfish!

 

[TheFishman9000]

Swallowtail angle fish could be a center piece. I have one in my 150
A Tomini tang is a usefull nice addition also. Very reef safe in my acro system.

I’m leaning toward a Tomini tang as the last addition to the tank. So far I have a young pair of clowns and a Royal Gramma. I only hesitate because it’s not unheard of for Tominis to be aggressive. I’m also thinking about adding a Cardinal and/or a Tailspot blenny. Just want everyone to get along!

 

[X-37B]

I’m leaning toward a Tomini tang as the last addition to the tank. So far I have a young pair of clowns and a Royal Gramma. I only hesitate because it’s not unheard of for Tominis to be aggressive. I’m also thinking about adding a Cardinal and/or a Tailspot blenny. Just want everyone to get along!

Well I always add a small Tomini to my large systems first, >100g's.
Never had a problem with them.
My ext 112's first addition was a Tomini at 3 months. Just added a file fish for fish #2 at 4 months.
Only 2 fish at 4 months.

 

[Zionas]

Some centrepiece ideas:

Tangs you want to go with one of the Bristletooths, which means Squaretail, Tomini, Twin-Spot (Blue Eye), and an “Orange Stripe” one that goes by the name of cf striatus or was it cyanocheilus?

Plenty of people have kept a Yellow Tang or smaller Zebrasoma for a long time in a 90, though some will disagree but people have done it for over a decade, or two.

Second the Swallowtail Angelfish, a Spotbreast, Watanabei or Bellus would be good. Female Bellus look better than the males IMO but all the females of these 3 species look nice. Spotbreast and Watanabei more subtle.

Some would suggest a One-Spot Foxface though others will disagree. I’m not entirely convinced either way as to whether they’re the same species as the regular Foxface Lo, or a separate one. From photos I seen there seems to be intermediate ones where there’s a faint black spot, or ones that have more of a dark patch than a spot.

If you’re willing to get a cave for it and get peaceful tankmates, a Marine Betta’s one of my faves although wild ones can have issues eating at first and might be caught with drugs if you get unlucky. If this is the route you want, wait for a captive bred one. Not the most active and won’t be an open-water swimmer.

There’s a few of the “medium” Angels you could consider, I’d argue a Regal if you get it small, they grow slowly. Get a Yellow Belly if you can (that’s eating at least something), or a bigger captive-bred one that’s already eating well. I’m not a fan of the misbarred and aberrant patterned captive-bred ones and prefer the clean stripes of most, although I think the misbars with an X-shaped pattern that fuses two of its stripes are pretty attractive. I suggest not getting a small captive-bred one, people have reported issues with them being DOA or not really eating well enough to keep weight, or not eating much at all and taking none of the food on offer or just something very limited. They’re selling them way too small still.

Copperband Butterfly could be an option but given how it’s luck of the draw getting one to thrive, feeding wise and it getting enough to eat, personally I’d skip.

The deepwater Roaps butterflies have some pretty ones among them, Burgess and Mitratus aren’t cheap but they’re the more affordable of the bunch, especially the Burgess.

Biota’s Milletseed Butterflies are nice.

I don’t know what the general opinion is, I’d be tempted to get a Flagfin Angel (not sure how big they get in captivity) or if Poma Labs has them, a Red Sea Angel (Apolemichthys xanthotis).

This is all just a list of what you could do.

If I were you I’d get a Biota Swallowtail, or the Tomini or another smaller Bristletooth.

For a “co-centrepiece”, a Dwarf Angel. There’s some captive bred ones, Multi-Bar and Venusta aren’t easy even as captive bred ones from what I heard. Some people have theirs eating pellets and everything great from day one, others have them lose weight and die or eat nothing at all. Again, they sell them too small. A captive-bred Coral Beauty, Flame (if available), or African Flameback would be good choices.