Help stock the 75g

[Dapozer]

Looking for ideas from those who know. Tank is a 75 reef ready Oceanic with wet/dry filter and a Magnum 350 canister filter. I am in the last few days of the "Cycle" and now it is time to start planning this tank out. I put this tank together so I could get a lion fish (my favorite), and am thinking a Harlequin tusk, possible trigger and who knows what else. Planning on a fish only tank, as I will do a cube later on.

Here is where you come in, What all should I look at and what order to put the in together. Budget per fish should be $100 or less and be able to hang with each other. Pics would also be great. Right now I have the Lion (red), a small yellow tail damsel and another damsel (pinkish). Lion is being fed live and frozen.
Ideas welcome.
Tx
Shawn

Update:
Added a maroon clown and a Cherry grouper today. The lion is still a main focal point and I have 2 smaller damsels also hanging out. Still have a plan for a Australian Harlequin tusk, and maybe 2 other? ideas? Tangs, triggers, others?

 

[cdrewferd]

What type of lion do you have? Getting a tusk for around $100 is going to be really tough. They might also get too big for the tank. Not really sure there are any triggers that would work in that tank long term, but if you're willing to rehome or upgrade down the road then just about any of them would work. Cris at Aquatic Art had a Humu Humu trigger, about 3", for $15 when I was at his shop on Saturday. Might be worth a try at that price.

 

[Cake_Boss]

Your damsels might become someones meal once your more aggressive fish grow up. Personally, I begin by creating a list of the fish I like (like your lion), then I research size/swim requirements, then compatibility with others. With that in mind, what are the fish you like? Wrasses, angels, pipes, eels, butterflies, clowns, anglers, hawkfish, triggers? More specifically, which one (undulated trigger, clown trigger...that sort of thing)

 

[daverf]

I'm doing a bigger FO and have researched a similar rough and tumble crew as you mentioned, looked at size/compatibility etc. Here are a few you could check out that are on my stocking list. You can see pics on liveaquaria.com. I've been told to stock lighter with predators, so you may want to make sure there's enough elbow room and not overcrowding.

Engineer goby (liveaquaria only has juvi pic). These are awesome, eel-like fish, tons of personality, get to 12". You could do a pair. They are constantly digging (why they're called engineers) and will knock over your rockwork if it isn't stable. Make sure you don't get them small enough for the lion to eat.

Maroon clown (yellow stripe, I like better). You would need to get a very big one, since they grow slow and the lion will eat one that fits in its mouth (also, the lion grows fast).

A smaller Thalassoma wrasse, my favorites are paddlefin wrasse and bluehead wrasse. I have a bluehead, active/awesome fish. Grow fast and move faster, so probably can fend for themselves (w/ regard to lion) unless you get a tiny one.

 

[ShelbyJK500]

Definitely get juvenile fish of those you mentioned (tusk/trigger). They get big fast and are more suited for much larger tanks. You could get away with small ones for a year or two possibly, depending on how fast they grow. Also, do some research on triggers with lionfish. I've heard many experiences, several from maintenance companies, of triggers and angels picking on Lionfish to their demise.

 

[Dapozer]

Thanks for the info. I wil start researching and get a better list together for ya. Still have time.
S

 

[Dapozer]

updated in OP.
Shawn

 

[daverf]

hey Shawn I'm sure you'll get a few suggestions, mine would be that it would be overstocked if you put any of those other fish in, except maybe a smaller non-peaceful wrasse. If you're going to put any more in, I would make sure you QT them fully and be ready to catch and separate as needed, soon enough it will be a high stress tank due to how fast/big most of these fish grow so disease will take over if it makes its way to the tank.

also have you thought about doing a protein skimmer? many would say it is a must for a messy predator tank like yours. i can't see how your wet/dry or canister are inline but you could probably trade the wet/dry for a skimmer, then maybe just run carbon and something like Seachem Purigen (or something similar) in the canister.

 

[Dapozer]

@davert- Great thoughts and I am thinking the same with size, they just seem so small right now. I have plans on adding a skimmer soon just trying to figure what one I want and how to get it plumbed in. Hopefully within the next few weeks. Canister and wet/dry are independent at this time but when skimmer is chosen I am sure I will re-work the plumbing some. Thanks for the suggestion I really appreciate it.
Shawn

 

[cdrewferd]

Yea, you have to plan for when the fish are full grown. They are cute and small now, but they are going to get bigger and meaner if they don't have room to swim.

 

[DyM]

There are general characteristics of fish, but they have personality that can make them compatible or not. I agree with starting small, and all at the same time. Regarding personality, I have a Powder Blue Tang, that loves to eat leathers, and some softie corals. I have 2 Flame Angels that have never touched a single SPS polyp. Both of those descriptions are out of character, but it's a part of their personality. I don't know how accurate it is for the more aggressive fish, but live aquaria has this matrix that I found well organized. Good luck.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/compatibility_chart.cfm