New and need stocking ideas!

[BriellesAbyss]

Hi everyone!
I've been keeping freshwater tanks for a few years and finally decided to get into saltwater tanks. I've been lurking in the R2R forums for awhile, but finally decided to make an account.

I need some help with ideas for stocking the tank. What would you all add (both fish and corals)?

Tank stats:
• Lighting: Orphek Atlantik icon x2
• Flow: Icecap 4k Gyre Pumps x2
• Tank size: 180 gallons (72in x 24in x 24in)
• Sump size: 60 gallon breeder (2 hygger pumps, red sea reefmat 1200, a tunze skimmer i havent turned on yet, Heaters, carbon, seachem seagel, and leftover dry rock)
• 2 inch sand bed: Tampa Bay Saltwater Live Sand (70 pounds) + 40 pounds of Caribsea Bimini Pink sand
• Rocks: 45 pounds of Tampa Bay Saltwater Live rock + dry rock (can't remember how much)
• PH:
• Alkalinity: 9 dKH
• Nitrate: 0ppm
• Nitrite: 0ppm
• Saltinity: previously 1.025, but is currently 1.023 since removing 20 gallons for a small temporary tank. Its stable at 1.023.
• Ammonia: 0ppm
• Temperature: 78-79 Fahrenheit

Current inhabitants:
• Royal gramma
• Zebra Porclain Crabs (TBS hitchhiker)
• Micro brittle stars (TBS hitchiker)
• A ton of copepods and amiphods
• Hermit crabs (TBS hitchikers)
• Turbo snails x3
• Cerith snails
• Dwarf cerith snails
• Tiger conchs x2
• Nassarius Snails
• Nassarius vibex snails
• Astrea Snails
• Limpets (TBS hitchikers)
• Nerite snails
• Toadstool leather x1
• Duncan coral x1
• Zoanthids x2
• Birdsnest x1 (a free frag from my first coral purchase)
• Hidden cup corals (TBS hitchikers)
• Decorator crab? Maybe... (TBS hitchiker)
• A ton of barnacles (TBS hitchikers)
• A few different. Tunicates, sponges, etc (TBS hitchikers)

Any ideas for stocking the tank are welcomed! My fiance would love to add an Arrow Crab and I would love to add a rock flower anemone.

Photo:

Video:

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D

 

[Sean Clark]

Welcome to R2R

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi everyone!
I've been keeping freshwater tanks for a few years and finally decided to get into saltwater tanks. I've been lurking in the R2R forums for awhile, but finally decided to make an account.

I need some help with ideas for stocking the tank. What would you all add (both fish and corals)?

Tank stats:
• Lighting: Orphek Atlantik icon x2
• Flow: Icecap 4k Gyre Pumps x2
• Tank size: 180 gallons (72in x 24in x 24in)
• Sump size: 60 gallon breeder (2 hygger pumps, red sea reefmat 1200, a tunze skimmer i havent turned on yet, Heaters, carbon, seachem seagel, and leftover dry rock)
• 2 inch sand bed: Tampa Bay Saltwater Live Sand (70 pounds) + 40 pounds of Caribsea Bimini Pink sand
• Rocks: 45 pounds of Tampa Bay Saltwater Live rock + dry rock (can't remember how much)
• PH:
• Alkalinity: 9 dKH
• Nitrate: 0ppm
• Nitrite: 0ppm
• Saltinity: previously 1.025, but is currently 1.023 since removing 20 gallons for a small temporary tank. Its stable at 1.023.
• Ammonia: 0ppm
• Temperature: 78-79 Fahrenheit

Current inhabitants:
• Royal gramma
• Zebra Porclain Crabs (TBS hitchhiker)
• Micro brittle stars (TBS hitchiker)
• A ton of copepods and amiphods
• Hermit crabs (TBS hitchikers)
• Turbo snails x3
• Cerith snails
• Dwarf cerith snails
• Tiger conchs x2
• Nassarius Snails
• Nassarius vibex snails
• Astrea Snails
• Limpets (TBS hitchikers)
• Nerite snails
• Toadstool leather x1
• Duncan coral x1
• Zoanthids x2
• Birdsnest x1 (a free frag from my first coral purchase)
• Hidden cup corals (TBS hitchikers)
• Decorator crab? Maybe... (TBS hitchiker)
• A ton of barnacles (TBS hitchikers)
• A few different. Tunicates, sponges, etc (TBS hitchikers)

Any ideas for stocking the tank are welcomed! My fiance would love to add an Arrow Crab and I would love to add a rock flower anemone.

Photo:

Video:

Fish can be added. Most everyone wants clowns and i recommend adding them last as they get territorial. Quarantine your fish even if purchased as quarantined

 

[Evil1]

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Dr. D]

Way more thought than i put into my initial stocking. Nice equipment list.

My only comment, based on recent experience, is to consider placing the TBS live rock in the sump rather than the DT. I did that, and I’m glad I did because I’ve recently found a large stone crab and at least two gorilla crab hitchhikers in the sump, where they’re curiosities rather than serial killers.

 

[Ocean_Queenie]

Hello & Welcome to R2R!

 

[Mark82]

Welcome

 

[BonnieB]

Welcome to our R2R family!

 

[bast]

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef! I'm sure you'll get lots of great answers!

 

[fishface NJ]

Welcome to R2R

 

[edsbeaker]

Hello and welcome!

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome, glad you are here!

 

[Gman83]

Welcome!

 

[Fish Styx]

Greetings and welcome to the reef!

 

[Utubereefer]

Welcome to the club

 

[Utubereefer]

You should look into Chalk Bass
Beautiful fish

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Welcome! Go big or go home- that's cool to start with that water volume.

You have almost endless options for fish. I love fairy wrasses. You also have a huge choice of tangs that you can put in a 180. For corals, its all based on what appeals to you. I wouldnt touch acropora for at least 8 months to a year or more. Other stonies you can do within 6 months or sooner. Zoanthids are relatively easy as are mushrooms and some LPS. Looks great so far