Fish Planning (Reef Tank)

[PharmrJohn]

OK. I'm in the planning phase of setting up a reef tank. Going to be 90 to 100G. My choices are 1x Kole Tang, 2x Ocellaris Clowns, 1x Coral Beauty, 1x Mandarin Goby and 1x Maroon Clown. At maximum sizes, I'll be looking at about 28 inches of fish. Staying away from Damsels entirely. I plan on getting these at juvenile ages and watching them grow. That'll be good on the tank as well (a slow grow over time). My questions are these....1.) They appear to be reef safe, is this one of life's great truths? 2.) Will they get along? I plan on adding them in order, Ocellaris, CB, Maroon, Goby and then Tang. Im thinking about adding the Goby and Tang last as they can be agressive. Which leads to the last query, is this a reasonable order? Thx.

 

[krollins]

Stocking is okay. Mandarin gobies aren't aggressive, just hard to keep.

 

[Reefering1]

Interesting fact...by having clownfish, you are not staying away from damsels at all.

 

[lapin]

The clowns will fight to the death of one of them. The mandarin is a hard to keep fish . Very shy and needs lots of pods.

 

[krollins]

Interesting fact...by having clownfish, you are not staying away from damsels at all.

Clownfish are damsels that were never told to act like damsels.

 

[Reefering1]

Clownfish are damsels that were never told to act like damsels.

Kinda. They eventually remember

 

[kevgib67]

You won’t want a maroon clown in with the 2 ocellaris. You’ll end up with one maroon clown.

 

[littlefoxx]

Dont put those regular clowns with a maroon! Maroon will murder them, literally

 

[PharmrJohn]

Dont put those regular clowns with a maroon! Maroon will murder them, literally

Got it. I really DO want a pair of Ocelaris. I'll just keep them in a separate 30 or 40G tank. And really? Clowns are Damsels? Cool!

And oops about the aggressiveness of the Mandarin BUT THAT'S WHAT I READ ON THE INTERWEB lol! I understand tho, they are hard to keep --- that they need to go into a mature tank. I'll get that one in when the parameters are right. I did keep a SW aquarium for about 5 years, so I have experience. It just amazes me all the mistakes I made back in the day. I'm not sure if it was flat out ignorance or just what was available as knowledge 15 to 20 years ago. Probably 3 parts ignorance and 1 part ancient history. My main focus is planning EVERYTHING down to the smallest detail prior to starting. I WILL NOT knowingly kill a lifeform due to stupidity

 

[littlefoxx]

Got it. I really DO want a pair of Ocelaris. I'll just keep them in a separate 30 or 40G tank. And really? Clowns are Damsels? Cool!

And oops about the aggressiveness of the Mandarin BUT THAT'S WHAT I READ ON THE INTERWEB lol! I understand tho, they are hard to keep --- that they need to go into a mature tank. I'll get that one in when the parameters are right. I did keep a SW aquarium for about 5 years, so I have experience. It just amazes me all the mistakes I made back in the day. I'm not sure if it was flat out ignorance or just what was available as knowledge 15 to 20 years ago. Probably 3 parts ignorance and 1 part ancient history. My main focus is planning EVERYTHING down to the smallest detail prior to starting. I WILL NOT knowingly kill a lifeform due to stupidity

Pods are important for the mandarin. Matute tank for them yes but they need lots of pods. I still dose pods once a month for my mandarin just to be safe. He is a fatty but a fat mandarin is a healthy one! And I agree with the clowns. I love them! I have 4 pairs, maroon pair, regular occ pair, a mocha storm pair, and a black ice male and darwin female pair! All in separate tanks… yeah lets not talk about how many tanks that is lol. The boyfriend was like NO MORE TANKS

 

[PharmrJohn]

Dont put those regular clowns with a maroon! Maroon will murder them, literally

OK. So. How about, in the place of the 2x OC, a Royal Gamma and an Orchid Dottyback. I'd place thr OD in absolute last. Don't know if it is truly reef safe. My research says yes, but I need to know about real life.

 

[littlefoxx]

OK. So. How about, in the place of the 2x OC, a Royal Gamma and an Orchid Dottyback. I'd place thr OD in absolute last. Don't know if it is truly reef safe. My research says yes, but I need to know about real life.

Yes reef safe on both. People have issues with the dottyback family and aggression. Ive had an orchid and a neon. Never had aggression issues with either

 

[PharmrJohn]

Yes reef safe on both. People have issues with the dottyback family and aggression. Ive had an orchid and a neon. Never had aggression issues with either

I read that might be the case. The article I read said to add them LAST, LAST, LAST! I didn't have any in my previous tank. I may change my mind on that one, but I've got plenty of time. If it doesn't work I'll move it to another tabk or adopt it out somehow.