Cycle Done, What Fish to add besides Clowns?

[Chonch1224]

Hello, I have a 70 gallon (20 gal Sump) up and running, Was lucky and purchased a lightly used set up (1-1.5 years old) It currently just finished up its cycle. Been running for about a month and the cycle took about 2 weeks. Used TurboStart 900 and Fishless Fuel. Ammonia spiked and now at 0 for consecutive days, Nitrite the same and Nitrate from 0 to having levels. Have MP40 on each side one on Reefcrest and one on Lagoon. I also have an Icecap gyre in the middle but have that off for now, might be little too much flow. Lights are 2x Kessill 360x, for now set on their standard Tuna Blue Schedule.

Alk - 8.1 (plan does some All For Reef to get this a little higher)
Cal - 480
Mag - 1350
PH - 7.7
Temp 78-80
Salt - 37 ppt (know this is high and will be doing water change to get it in the 33-33.5 ppt range)
t

I have already ordered a supply of copepods and phyto that I will be adding tomorrow, want those to get established on the rocks and in the tank. Will does Phyto for next 2 weeks as well. But now I am looking at fish to add in and some soft corals to start. I have dip ready for the corals as well.

For the fish I know the clowns are in pairs, but can I add a few other fish at the same time? I read 2-4 at most and wait 2 weeks inbetween which I will do, but always open to recommendations and order of below:

Fish
- Pair of Clowns
- Diamond Goby
- Lawnmower Blenny
- Watchman Goby/Pistol Shrimp Combo
- Hawkfish
- Some kind of Wrasse
- Eventually Cowfish (this is my big goal in 3-6 months)

Thoughts on these to start and monitor, plan to do daily testing and make sure everything stays stable ( Know it wont haha)

Corals
- Zoes
- Xenia (love how these flow and look)
- Toadstool
- GSP

Thanks!

 

[littlefoxx]

Add your clowns, wait a couple (3-4 weeks) then add another fish, wait a few weeks, then add another and so on since its a new tank. Test water before adding another fish.

Also basic info regarding the cow fish:

 

[littlefoxx]

Also bring your salt wayy down before adding any fish. Thats way too high for any fish or coral or invert

 

[Chonch1224]

Add your clowns, wait a couple (3-4 weeks) then add another fish, wait a few weeks, then add another and so on since its a new tank. Test water before adding another fish.

Also basic info regarding the cow fish:

Thanks kinda the plan but checking here for more opinions.

As for cow fish, min 250gallons seems excessive. Did a ton reading on people with them in tanks 70-100 gallon and thriving. But appreciate the other info have seen similar things and why it's a down the road goal.

 

[littlefoxx]

Salt should be 1.023 to 1.026

 

[Chonch1224]

Salt should be 1.023 to 1.026

Yeah know I need to bring that down converted is about 1.028 right now. Will be doing a water change to bring ot down for sure. It was low and I went little over.

 

[littlefoxx]

Thanks kinda the plan but checking here for more opinions.

As for cow fish, min 250gallons seems excessive. Did a ton reading on people with them in tanks 70-100 gallon and thriving. But appreciate the other info have seen similar things and why it's a down the road goal.

For an adult at 12 inches not excessive at all, but Ive only ever seen a 2 inch max one at my LFS. No clue how fast they grow though, from what Ive seen they grow slow. Never actually seen anyone with a big one either to be honest! Never wanted to keep one since I dont want my tank nuked if it gets stressed lol, especially since a cucumber nuked my tank right before my tank transfer to a 300 gallon! No poisonous anything for me after that

 

[littlefoxx]

Also good you dont have any zippy fish on the list to stress it out

 

[Chonch1224]

For an adult at 12 inches not excessive at all, but Ive only ever seen a 2 inch max one at my LFS. No clue how fast they grow though, from what Ive seen they grow slow. Never actually seen anyone with a big one either to be honest! Never wanted to keep one since I dont want my tank nuked if it gets stressed lol, especially since a cucumber nuked my tank right before my tank transfer to a 300 gallon! No poisonous anything for me after that

Haha I understand that for sure and yeah going to get very small baby guy so no worries and know people with much larger tanks (knock on wood he does well and gets too big)

Any other advice on the fish list, what order to go or doestnt really matter outside waiting about 2 weeks per 2-3 fish

 

[littlefoxx]

How I would add them if it were my tank

Fish
- Pair of Clowns - first (as babies! Super cute)
- Diamond Goby third
- Lawnmower Blenny when you have a good amount of algae
- Watchman Goby/Pistol Shrimp Combo - second
- Hawkfish - not with a shrimp, they really like to eat shrimps! Pistol might be okay, but might not depending on how determined the hawk is to eat them and how fast the shrimp is with the snapping!
- Some kind of Wrasse - after the others
- Eventually Cowfish (this is my big goal in 3-6 months) last

 

[DD Corals]

I've seen cowfish in a 100-gallon tank before, but beware, if they die, they can release poison in the water, which will most likely kill everything. As long as you get a smaller cowfish, you should be fine, but you should have a plan for what to do with it when it outgrows the current tank. I have kept a blue tang in a 40g breeder but I moved him to a bigger tank once he outgrew that tank.

 

[saltcreep74]

Hello, I have a 70 gallon (20 gal Sump) up and running, Was lucky and purchased a lightly used set up (1-1.5 years old) It currently just finished up its cycle. Been running for about a month and the cycle took about 2 weeks. Used TurboStart 900 and Fishless Fuel. Ammonia spiked and now at 0 for consecutive days, Nitrite the same and Nitrate from 0 to having levels. Have MP40 on each side one on Reefcrest and one on Lagoon. I also have an Icecap gyre in the middle but have that off for now, might be little too much flow. Lights are 2x Kessill 360x, for now set on their standard Tuna Blue Schedule.

Alk - 8.1 (plan does some All For Reef to get this a little higher)
Cal - 480
Mag - 1350
PH - 7.7
Temp 78-80
Salt - 37 ppt (know this is high and will be doing water change to get it in the 33-33.5 ppt range)
t

I have already ordered a supply of copepods and phyto that I will be adding tomorrow, want those to get established on the rocks and in the tank. Will does Phyto for next 2 weeks as well. But now I am looking at fish to add in and some soft corals to start. I have dip ready for the corals as well.

For the fish I know the clowns are in pairs, but can I add a few other fish at the same time? I read 2-4 at most and wait 2 weeks inbetween which I will do, but always open to recommendations and order of below:

Fish
- Pair of Clowns
- Diamond Goby
- Lawnmower Blenny
- Watchman Goby/Pistol Shrimp Combo
- Hawkfish
- Some kind of Wrasse
- Eventually Cowfish (this is my big goal in 3-6 months)

Thoughts on these to start and monitor, plan to do daily testing and make sure everything stays stable ( Know it wont haha)

Corals
- Zoes
- Xenia (love how these flow and look)
- Toadstool
- GSP

Thanks!

a couple of the blue-green chromis...cheap, reef friendly, abundant, and overall great starter fish to have.

 

[Chonch1224]

I've seen cowfish in a 100-gallon tank before, but beware, if they die, they can release poison in the water, which will most likely kill everything. As long as you get a smaller cowfish, you should be fine, but you should have a plan for what to do with it when it outgrows the current tank. I have kept a blue tang in a 40g breeder but I moved him to a bigger tank once he outgrew that tank.

Thanks Ive done a lot of research on them and saw a lot of people that have them. I know that is an issue and yes have a place if (knock on wood) were to get too big. They are just too cool not to try haha

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Hello, I have a 70 gallon (20 gal Sump) up and running, Was lucky and purchased a lightly used set up (1-1.5 years old) It currently just finished up its cycle. Been running for about a month and the cycle took about 2 weeks. Used TurboStart 900 and Fishless Fuel. Ammonia spiked and now at 0 for consecutive days, Nitrite the same and Nitrate from 0 to having levels. Have MP40 on each side one on Reefcrest and one on Lagoon. I also have an Icecap gyre in the middle but have that off for now, might be little too much flow. Lights are 2x Kessill 360x, for now set on their standard Tuna Blue Schedule.

Alk - 8.1 (plan does some All For Reef to get this a little higher)
Cal - 480
Mag - 1350
PH - 7.7
Temp 78-80
Salt - 37 ppt (know this is high and will be doing water change to get it in the 33-33.5 ppt range)
t

I have already ordered a supply of copepods and phyto that I will be adding tomorrow, want those to get established on the rocks and in the tank. Will does Phyto for next 2 weeks as well. But now I am looking at fish to add in and some soft corals to start. I have dip ready for the corals as well.

For the fish I know the clowns are in pairs, but can I add a few other fish at the same time? I read 2-4 at most and wait 2 weeks inbetween which I will do, but always open to recommendations and order of below:

Fish
- Pair of Clowns
- Diamond Goby
- Lawnmower Blenny
- Watchman Goby/Pistol Shrimp Combo
- Hawkfish
- Some kind of Wrasse
- Eventually Cowfish (this is my big goal in 3-6 months)

Thoughts on these to start and monitor, plan to do daily testing and make sure everything stays stable ( Know it wont haha)

Corals
- Zoes
- Xenia (love how these flow and look)
- Toadstool
- GSP

Thanks!

GSP and Zenia- CAUTION. isolate them on a rock that wont touch another rock. You dont want them taking over your structure. the leather and zoas are awesome to start with. Looks like you spared no expense to make a nice tank. I would tune the mp40's to no more than 50%. Thats a 4 foot long tank, right?

Also- you dont need AFR for awhile, and the softies wont require it. Once you get corals with skeletons, and then coraline, you will need it.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

How about a flame angel? Its gorgeous. A sixline wrasse is also impressive and neither ever gave me a problem.

 

[stewy14]

Add your clowns, wait a couple (3-4 weeks) then add another fish, wait a few weeks, then add another and so on since its a new tank. Test water before adding another fish.

Also basic info regarding the cow fish:

I would recommend, add fish, then clowns, just so the clowns dont get territorial imo

 

[stewy14]

add a CUC!!!! they will come in handy!!
astrea snails, conches, mexican turbo snails, CRABS!!!!(those REAAALLLY HELP, mainly emeralds!!!!) nassarius snails, cleaner shrimp, blue legged hermits and ye!!!

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Yes- what CUC's did you plan. You obviously did your homework.

 

[Chonch1224]

Yes- what CUC's did you plan. You obviously did your homework.

Thanks been reading a lot haha

As for CUC I didn't want to add them too fast since I'm adding pods first and didn't want them to starve.

However I'm thinking of ordering a kit from reef cleaners. Saw a lot of great reviews. Few others as well I was considering

 

[littlefoxx]

I would recommend, add fish, then clowns, just so the clowns dont get territorial imo

Not juveniles typically. Adults and bonded clowns yeah, little juveniles that most stores have not so much