Will they play together?

[robvia]

I am trying to setup a new saltwater tank. I am wondering what fish I should plan to put in it.

The tank is a 90 gallon and is 6 feet long 1 foot wide.

Thinking about 2 to 4 ocellaris clown fish. Would like to try and hatch some fish, but that may be out of my league.

Was thinking about a blue and a yellow tang.

Also maybe a shrimp or two.

This would be to get it started. Any suggestions on whether these will work together? Should I look into some other combinations, or some additions to these?

Also, any suggestions on where to get rock (sand) for the bed?

Thanks,
Rob

[Ninong]

Rob,

I got my live rock from Darren at Palmetto Reefs: http://www.palmettoreefs.com/index.html

As you can see by the name, he's in South Carolina, too! I was extremely satisified and highly recommend him. Darren can fix you up with good live sand, too. If he's within driving distance, you would save on shipping costs, too.

I believe you would be better off sticking with just one yellow tang in a 90-gal tank. That will save you a lot of headaches.

As far as Ocellaris clownfish are concerned, it is possible to keep more than two in the same tank but I think you would be better off sticking with just two in your tank. With most other clownfish species you would be strongly advised to stick with just two fish in a 90-gal tank but Ocellaris clowns are more tolerant. If you get two captive-bred juvenile Ocellaris clowns, you will eventually have a pair. Even if you can get them to spawn, you would need a separate grow out tank for the babies. I recommend you buy Joyce Wilkerson's book, Clownfishes, for guidance on the care and breeding of clownfish: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...A18923%3A22520

[Ninong]

I just checked a map of South Carolina. Looks like Elgin is about 10 miles outside of Columbia, which would make it about 75 miles from you. That's within driving distance.

[Poseidon]

Man sure wish I was within Driving distance!!!! Being in MI everything tropical is a LONG LONG Drive!!!

[Ninong]

Man sure wish I was within Driving distance!!!! Being in MI everything tropical is a LONG LONG Drive!!!

You're within easy driving distance of Tropicorium: http://www.tropicorium.com/

[robvia]

Are you saying I shouldn't mix a blue tang and a yellow tang in the same tank? I was thinking of the yellow because I read they were good algae eaters. Thought that might help keep the tank clean.

Are the shrimp a good idea? I thought they would help clean some also.

Any suggestions for other fish I should consider?

[Poseidon]

You're within easy driving distance of Tropicorium: http://www.tropicorium.com/

I KNOW that!!! Thats where all my rock came from, but he is up to $8-10 per pound now. But as far as livestock and Coral goes, nobody can even compare to what they have.

[Ninong]

Are you saying I shouldn't mix a blue tang and a yellow tang in the same tank?

I think that a 90-gal tank is a bit small for more than one tang. The yellow tang is your safest choice anyway, so I would go with one of those.

Are the shrimp a good idea?

A couple of Lysmata amboinensis cleaner shrimp would be a great idea provided you do not plan on keeping any fish that eat them.

Any suggestions for other fish I should consider?

That's a matter of personal preference. There are so many nice possibilities that you will soon wish you had a 500-gal tank. I can tell you what I have in my 120-gal tank. I purchased a Siganus vulpinus (Foxface Rabbitfish) as my very first fish because I wanted an algae eater but did not want to put something as aggressive as a tang as the very first fish in the tank. I am very happy with my Foxface Rabbitfish. I used fully cured live rock in my tank so I was able to add my first fish at 8 weeks. I recommend waiting at least 5 or 6 weeks before adding any fish and even then you have to be selective because certain fish are more delicate than others. Angelfish and Butterflyfish should not be added first.

I don't know what your plans are as far as the size of fish you plan on keeping or their suitability for a reef tank environment in the future should you decide to try some corals. Most Angelfish and most Butterflyfish are not suitable for reef tanks but they make gorgeous fish for FOWLR tanks. If you are not planning on keeping triggers, puffers, lionfish, etc., then I highly recommend either Fairy Wrasses or Flasher Wrasses. They are very gorgeous lively fish but I recommend that you choose only one species and then go with three or possibly four individuals of that one species. Make sure that they are all small or that only one of them is a male. I strongly advise against trying to keep more than one male unless the tank is larger than 300 gallons.

I have a captive-bred (from O.R.A.) Pseudochromis fridmani orchid dottyback and he is a very beautiful fish that is not aggressive like the other members of that genus. This is the only dottyback that I would trust with wrasses, grammas or other similar shaped fish.

There are literally dozens and dozens of fish that I would love to keep if I had a large enough tank. Just make sure you know in advance before you buy something exactly what its adult size is, what its dietary requirements are and whether it will be a potential threat to anything else you would like to keep.

Good luck,

[Poseidon]

I think Ninong is trying to say, don't do this....


A Niger tigger in my reef tank, had I know it would get over 12" as an adult, I would never have added him. so far he has been a model citizen, but that is subjuect to change on a daily basis!!! ;;