Finally stocking my 60 gal after xmas

[shy07guy]

Here is what I am thinking as far as my tank goes. I am on vaction unitl after new years but when I get back to school I will beable to get my first fish.
My Tank started 9-16-03
60 gal acrylic
bac pak 2 skimmer with preskimmer box and bubble trap (biobale removed)
2 maxi jet 900 (soon to have one more after xmas)
1 mini jet 606
150 watt ebo jeg
70lbs LS
80lbs LR
65x4 CSL PC retrofit (2 actinic, 2 white)
CPR aquafuge 12" (set up after xmas)
I run carbon and Rowaphos 24/7

Tank Parameters
trites - 0
trates - 0
ammonia - 0
phosphates - 0
pH - 8.2
Cal - 420

I want to have a full blown reef with all corals and clams ( I am upgrading my lights in the summer to allow for this) Some corals I want are a hammer, frogspawn, bubble, shrooms, zoos and I am sure others I have not come up with a list still waiting on getting a coral book.

I have a clean up crew of snails and scarlet hermits I would also like a pair of pepermint shrimp, pair of cleaner shrimp, and a pair of Harliquin shrimp (the starfish for food will not be a problem)

Fish List (in the order they will be added)
1. 2 or 3 Banggai Cardinal fish (2 or 3 depending on peoples experinces on which combination works best)

2. Pair of True Percs

3. Potter's Angel (i know about the potential for nipping im crossing my fingers)

4. Mandarin Dragonet (going in last after the fuge has been up for 6 months or so)

I was hoping I could add one more fish like a purple tang or chevron tang as my last fish... I know they require a larger tank but I have talked to my LFS and once they out grow the tank they will take them back so I was hoping that while they were small it would work, my other choice was some kind of schooling fish I know the size is once again an issue but any help would be great so that I know what options I have. I was also wondering if there were any other schooling fish besides chromis that might work.
So there is my stocking ideas so far it needs a little work and wanted some opinions thanks in advance for the help.

Sincerely
Derek

 

[Anonymous]

Derek,
Your tank sounds like a nice little setup. The only thing I can suggest is a bit more flow in your tank. How many gph do the 900s do? IIRC, the 900s do something like 200 gph or so. I'd shoot for at least somewhere around 1000 gph total flow.

Stony corals are not the best corals to start with; I still go with zoanthids or corallimorphians as my first coral in a newly established tank. Having said that, the ones you listed in the genus Euphyllia are some of the hardiest stony corals.

1. I hear captive raised cardinals are a bit more suitable for groups of 3...wild caught ones can be quite aggressive in groups of larger than 2.

2. Excellent choice. Please buy captively bred clowns! www.orafarm.com

3. Potter's are supposedly pretty touchy, as far as pygmy angels go. I've never kept one. Captively bred flame angels are now available through www.liveaquaria.com

4. Ah, mandarins.....there's no easy way to say this. Mandarins are ideally suited for very large, mature tanks, with lots of live rock, and no other competitors for food. I suppose it's possible to keep one in a 60 gallon tank, but with a pygmy angel constantly competing for food it probably won't do very well. This fish has a very high mortality rate in captivity....please do yourself and this fish a favor by researching it extensively before you buy one.

As for the tangs...personally, I don't like to put fish in tanks that they can't live their entire lives in. The problem is that you'll have to tear apart your entire tank to catch it. This is an enormous task, and one that people sometimes put off until it's too late.

Other than chromis and some cardinals, I can't think of any good fish that would school in your tank. You may want to check out some of the Paracheilinus spp., flasher wrasses. They can be kept in small groups and are pretty hardy.

 

[Len]

In regards to schooling fish, the unfortunate truth is no species will really form schools in a 60 gallon. I've tried for years now to find a fish that forms tight aggregates since it's such a marvellous sight to behold, but i've resigned myself now to the fact that even schooling fish won't school in smaller tanks (and by smaller, I mean anything less then 180 gallons). But maybe it's just me and my bad luck

This isn't to say, however, there aren't species that don't do better together. Fish like flasher wrasses and most anthias will do better in haremic groups; they just won't form tight schools like we want

I've only had experiences with wild Bangaiis, and IME they don't do well together other then mater pairs. Once multiple specimens get acclimated to the tank, the dominant specimen will harass the other cardinals in the tank (with the exemption of a mate).

I think a 60 gallon with a large refugium and no direct competitors may be able to sustain a Mandarin. Personally, I don't like buying this species (as beautiful as they are) because they're a mixed bag and the mortality rates, even under proper care, is above average.

This might get me in hot water but I think a small tang will be ok so long as your LFS has agreed to take it back when it grows to large.

 

[shy07guy]

Hey thanks for the relpys. As far as tha mandarin goes he will not be going into the tank until it is a year or more old and I also have a question about pods for him. I have a way that I could have unlimited pods but they would come from the local waters of santa barbara where the water temp is about 60 and I am guessing they would die right away when I put them in the tank I was just wondering if I could still count on them being food if so then I am good to go with the mandarin and could add him sooner with out ever worrying. Let me know what you think about this or if anyone has experience with it. As for Anthias I really like them but heard they are difficult to keep. However if it is possible with out to much trouble then I would love to add one male and 2 females and the rest of my list or that may be to much for the tank in which case I would not get the tang. One last thing is I really like the purple tang but how mean are they would the rest of my fish really be in danger if so maybe I should stick with a small yellow. Thanks again for the help
Keep the advice coming

 

[ozadars]

Actually cardinals are very good schooling fish but not bangaii ones. You can go w/ apagob cardinals, they will stay together and wont fight. IMO more then 2 bangs will fight.

I agree w/ Len that fish dont show schooling action in smaller tanks.

I wouldnt go w/ a mandarin because when i have a fish that just eats pods or algea and not taking dead food, i always think about it and if its taking enough food or not. This also makes me sad. Why dont you go w/ a watchman or clown goby?

clowns and angel is a great idea

 

[PopeShawnPaul]

Seems like too many fish in my opinion. I have 4 fish with one small tang in my 55. It's all I can handle to keep the parameters good long term. All those fish will muck up your tank parameters and your corals/clams will suffer. Maybe one small tang and a couple clowns would be best. Two tangs is too much, and they will fight.

 

[shy07guy]

I was never going to put 2 tangs in the tang that would be suicide it was going to be one or the other sorry if that was not clear.

 

[Anonymous]

local waters of santa barbara where the water temp is about 60

i have done this...i captured pods in morro bay in a small water bottle....not only did they survive in there for 4 hours.....they did not die right away....most copepods are VERY hardy and can withstand extremes...i think this would be an ideal thing for you to do...just use a bbs net to get them out so you don't put any ocean water in your tank...the pods i captured lasted months...

 

[shy07guy]

I actually dont even have to capture them I have a friend who works in the Marine bio dept at UCSB and she can bring them over to me whenever. I was just concerned about the mandarin eating them since they could die quicker. Thanks for the reply sounds like I am set then.