Working out a stocking list

Currently I have a 72 gallon bowfront with 60 pounds of live rock. So far on my list I have percula clown fish-2, Chalk bass 3, Orange spot blenny 2- 6 line warsse, One "center piece fish" I was thinking a yellow tang or some type of dwarf angel fish maybe a butterfly fish. What so you think?

 

tang would get 2 big in that tank....you should think about looking into adding more rock double up on what u have....i have a thread in say hello take a look at my picks and thats a 55

 

I am 14 years old so live rock can really hurt the wallet. My plan is to gradually add more a piece or two at a time. Also I perfer the minimalist look that the amount of live rock give plus there is plenty of swimming room.

 

Tangs are a nogo in that tank. Butterflies will generally attack coral. I am a HUGE dragonet fan but they are HARD To keep and require a pod fuge as a food source, or a small pod farm.

All your rock doesn't have to be live. Usually you can find base rock for $1-3. It'll fill in from coraline on your existing rock.

I'd recommend holding off on your centerpiece fish until you get the tank together. Maybe you want to do more corals? Maybe a schooling fish? Everyone ALWAYS goes for the usual suspects on the certerpiece fish. I have days where if I see another hippo tang, yellow tang, naso tang, or copperband butterfly, I'll finally just off myself for good. Everyone here seems to keep those. There must be a checklist for a cliche saltwater tank somewhere that I havn't found yet.

It is a lot of work to find an abnormal option, but here's a possibility, if you don't mind keeping a close eye on it. The Moorish Idol is an easily recognized fish, they're beautiful, BUT they are currently impossible to keep, they will die. HOWEVER, the three-band pennent fish is almost identical. It's a great head fake that many long-time keepers won't catch (at which point you can hold over them that they misidentified your fish and yelled at you for keeping a fish that can't possibly be kept). One-upsmanship aside, it's an elegant fish, and it will school if you buy several, and very few keep them.

 

If you wanted to get a tang you could get one and keep it for awhile, you just might have to take it back if it gets too big but with a 72 you would have some time. Maybe by that time you will be ready to upgrade to a larger tank. It just depends on whether you are willing to bring a fish back to the store.

 

I agree

 

I may put in for an order of base rock in the near furture. What about a Flame angel and a couple more chalk bass. My plan is to get corals after I get fish. I would be adding the clown fish first.

 

Thoughts

 

You need a royal gramma on that list.

 

You could have a tang in there once the tank is established for about 8 to 10 months and then it would possibly get around 4 inches and thats really kinda big. BUT fish grow to there surrounding and will adapt and grow per gallon. So if you add a clown to a 30 i wouldnt grow as fast as it would in a 100. But for a feature fish for you............................................................................................................................................................................ A Heniochus. There much like the Moorish idol but also not. The Heniochus is much easier to take care of than the Moorish idol and have a great chance of survival in captivity. JUST 2Cents