Stocking a 75g Reef

[eatbreakfast]

Richmond and leucurus wrasses are predominantly blue and are pretty hardy.

Later this month drachi soapfish should be available and they are very cool.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Blue star leopards are allegedly easier leopard species but I went through heck getting them to survive - I can keep every other type just fine. My males were no challenge, which I hear is reversed from normal experience.

They're a gorgeous leopard. I recommend adding a group of leopard wrasses and waiting until your tank is very established with lots of pods. Adding 2-4 would be my suggestion. If it were me I would get a male blue star, a female blue star, an ornate, and a potters. Sweet mix of leopards! I have all four and others as well they're fantastic additions but they are demanding. You'll need a sandbed and prazi pro.

Once established they're hardy. That first two to four weeks is critical.

Tank has been running almost 2 years now. I think I'm going to add pods in next week... The display has quite a few but I replaced my sumo and would like to jump start the pod population in the fudge to feed the display.
Do you think I could sustain 4 in a 75? I've never seen the ornate or Potter's... That might be a tricky hunt. Would it be best to add them all simultaneously? Everything is QT'd and given PraziPro so that wouldn't be an issue.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Tank has been running almost 2 years now. I think I'm going to add pods in next week... The display has quite a few but I replaced my sumo and would like to jump start the pod population in the fudge to feed the display.
Do you think I could sustain 4 in a 75? I've never seen the ornate or Potter's... That might be a tricky hunt. Would it be best to add them all simultaneously? Everything is QT'd and given PraziPro so that wouldn't be an issue.

Adding them simultaneously will alleviate some of the issues of having multiple leopard wrasses, but not always possible. A social acclimation box helps if you can't get them all at once.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Adding them simultaneously will alleviate some of the issues of having multiple leopard wrasses, but not always possible. A social acclimation box helps if you can't get them all at once.

Any tips on a good source for them?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Any tips on a good source for them?

Finding all of them at the same time will be difficult. Meleagris and bipartitus are frequently and easily available from all the usual suspects. Ornatue and potters are still available enough. Live Aquaria, NY Aquatic, Coral Imports are all sources I have used and trust, but there are plenty of other suppliers available as well.

 

[Wills Gills]

You should get a cherub angel! Most people say that they are the most reef safe.

 

[Humblefish]

You should get a cherub angel! Most people say that they are the most reef safe.

But sometimes they turn into mean little suckers. Must be the Napoleon complex or something...

 

[Virtualbasil]

Hawk fish may try to eat your shrimps or at least scare the hell out of them

 

[Mike in CT]

Hawk fish may try to eat your shrimps or at least scare the hell out of them

Yes, probably won't be able to mix hawkfish and shrimp. I have heard of people having luck, but the last time I added a shrimp when I also had a long nose he quickly dismantled it.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Hawk fish may try to eat your shrimps or at least scare the hell out of them

I already have one. He's been in the entire life of the tank, as has the cleaner shrimp. I've also got a peppermint and a harlequin. He doesn't bother them, and he's fairly small. Harlequin is circled.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have frequently kept flame hawks with cleaner and pistol shrimp together. As long as the shrimp aren't tiny and in the tank first you should be fine.

 

[clsbgirl]

I was interested in getting the Eibli too, I went to 2 different LFS and they both flat out told me it was a bad idea in a reef tank. I got a coral beauty and a flame angel instead, which they also advised not to do that combo, but they were good together till the flame got sick and died. Too bad cause they are great looking fish, but I have mainly soft corals and the coral beauty never touches them.

 

[Virtualbasil]

I had a hawkfish with two shrimp and I never saw any of the shrimp they always were hiding.

 

[4FordFamily]

Petsolutions is my favorite leopard wrasse source

 

[billgillette]

Petsolutions is my favorite leopard wrasse source

I love petsolutions I get all my supplies through them.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Scratch the Kole Tang. He went rogue on my Anthias and got the boot.

 

[4FordFamily]

I love petsolutions I get all my supplies through them.

They're a great source for saltwater fish too. Same exact source, neither touches the fish they come directly from quality marine. Petsolutions has some guarantee, only they're free shipping after $99 not $225 like liveaquaria

 

[kkgaskin90]

They don't have the bipartitus I want though :(

 

[kkgaskin90]

There is a local (mostly freshwater) fish dealer going directly to wholesalers (Nautilus, FAN, and Seagrest) the end of the month offering fish at cost + 30%. Not sure if it's worth it or not... I don't know anything about wholesalers or if the source even makes a difference?

 

[kkgaskin90]

How does this sound:

Flame Hawkfish*
Gold Head Sleeper Goby*
(3) Bartlett's Anthias*
(2) Helfrichi Firefish
Royal Gramma
(2) Blue Star Leopard Wrasse
Bristletooth Tang... Maybe