Help Me Re-Stock a 60 gal FOWLR

[john2700]

My Puffer should be adopted any day now so that just leaves a red-spotted blenny and orange spotted goby in the tank. I added the puffer several months back not realizing that he would eat all the inverts. I tried added snails and cleaner shrimp a few weeks back but they didn't last 5 minutes.

The blenny n goby now appear to be a bit more aggressive themselves. (they even jumped in with the puffer on the cleaner shrimp)

So, what would you add to this tank and in what order?

Cleaner Shrimp in the dark after feeding blenny and goby?
Snails n Crabs?

Then
Wrasse?
Tang?
Clowns?

I would like to add the least aggressive fish first obviously-

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/209480Tank.jpg

[LisaD]

add least aggressive fish first

carefully choose your stock list for fish that won't outgrow the tank and that will be compatible with the fish you already have nothing too aggressive/predatory).

you will be limited on tangs, not many are really suitable for a 60 gallon tank, and I think all tangs will outgrow this sized tank. would you consider a dwarf angel instead, like coral beauty or flame?

for wrasses, you will need to identify one that won't eat your shrimp or hermits. many wrasses are not reef safe. you also need to stick with smaller wrasses. if your tank is WELL covered, consier fairy or flasher wrasses. I'm not sure if they are safe with shrimp, but radiant wrasses are really nice, IMO.

you can keep just about any clowns in this sized tank, but I'd choose less aggressive ones if you are going to have a community tank, like ocellaris.

a great site for species research is wetwebmedia. there is also a good book by Scott Michael, called "The 101 Best Saltwater Fishes". All information is good, except IMO, minimum tank size is underestimated by 30-50%.

[john2700]

Great Info! Thank You!

Any other opinions out there?

[vid660]

Sounds like you have similar wants to what I currently have. I have a leopard wrasse and a yellow wrasse together in a 75g. Very friendly and don't bother anyone. I also have a bi-color angel in with them. Sometimes he gets some attitude on him, but the wrasses hold their own. He's very energetic and adds alot of color and action to the tank.

Cleaner shrimp would be a great addition. Also a pistol shrimp and yellow watchman goby. That is one of the most interesting pairs to watch! That pistol shrimp is a little bulldozer making tunnels. The yellow watchman goby sticks right beside him making sure he's safe. It's a really neat team! I saw them at the LFS and just had to take them home!

Like Lisa said, the ocellaris clowns should be a good fit also. I have one and it does well with all the other fish I mentioned above.

There's ALOT of gobies and blennies available out there. Most are very peaceful. Start looking on liveaquaria.com and you'll start to get some ideas.

Good luck!