Whch to add first

Okay ive had my cuc for a couple of days now, and the dude from aquariumsolutions.com tested my water and said I could add fish.. which should I add first? 75 gal, canopy, live sand, 90 pounds Fiji live rock,1 B&W ocellaris clown fish pair, 3 cleaner shrimp, 1 red banded pistol shrimp to pair with goby, 1 dracula goby, 1 blue spotted jaw fish, 1 yellow highfin blenny, 1 serpent starfish, 1 fire shrimp, 2 engineer gobies (maybe)
And should I wait a week or how long before adding another one?
Which should I add second?

 

Is that list your stocking plans or what's already in the tank?

 

If thats the plan, i'd start with the clowns and then a week or two after providing all is good --> firefish. I'd wait untill alternate grazing food is established before adding blenny's and the starfish.

 

I agree with this. Also talk to someone you can trust at your LFS and see what they say.

 

okay (it is my plan) if I add a couple clowns, then 6 months later an anemone, while they still host it?

Also, the clowns cost 80 bucks-- the dude that tested my water said tostart with a cheap fish to make sure it survives. Could I add an engineer goby first-- at my lfs its 20$

 

the clowns will host it if you add the anemone later. you can try to convince them to host if you put a picture up on the tank of other clowns hosting anemones. (ridiculously sounding, i know, but many people have seen results).

well i would say, if you don't mind tearing apart your tank to get it out, just get a damsel to get the cycle going a bit better and to test your tank. they are very cheap and they will save you a lot of money, if you are willing to struggle a little bit and work to get it out.

 

I don't like engineer gobies b/c they get large and will burrow under your rocks, they can become quite the nuisance. I would start with a either one clown, you can always add another later on, or another type of goby. Clowns are fairly hardy and as long as your water is testing 0 for ammonia and nitrite and your tank have fully cycled, it shouldn't be a big deal.

One issue is that you are letting someone else test your water. They may have the best intentions or what not, but if you don't know the actual level of the parameter, I would be concerned. They may consider X ammonia/nitrite acceptable while you and others may not. The fact that the guy who tested your water said to start with a cheap fish makes me even more suspicious.

 

I don't mean to offend you, but I hate when people give this advice. Damsels can successfully co exist with many other more timid fish if you know how to deal with their occasional aggression. I added a yellow tailed damsel to my tank to start and it's still there. They are beautiful fish. He never really bothered any other addition including two clowns, a tang, a flasher wrasse, a sixline wrasse and a yellow watchman goby. If you find the damsel is being too aggressive, move the rock around. The fact that you have a 75 will also help as there will be more places to hide and more room in general. I do understand that there are some damsels that won't give up, and in those situations, you may be forced to remove it, (many other types of fish do this too though) but to so broadly perpetuate the belief that all damsels are good for is to cycle a tank isn't truthful IMO. I would suggest a yellow tailed damsel as they are cheap, beautiful and not as aggressive as other damsels (if you choose to go that path)

 

I tested my water too, and it matched up with his results. And its always recommended to add cheap, hardy fish first to make sure!!

My problem is the goby I want is 100$ so I dont want it to die. My rockwork is well supported and I want an engineer goby so could I try that way or should I go with the clowns? I just dont want 80$ fish dying in a new tank...

I DONT WANT DAMSELS

 

I know where your're coming from, I do agree with adding cheaper fish first. If you don't want damsels that's fine. People do have engineer gobies in their tanks, just be aware of what they can do. If your tests matched the lfs' tests, then go for it.