65g Prelim Fish/Corals list

[BarbMazz]

Okay, overnight I had an epiphany of sorts; my main interest seems to be clams, so it makes sense to build my tank around them!

I'm going to go with a "biotope" of sorts; a shallow reef clam tank.

Here's a list:

3 or 4 assorted Clams; maxima, crocea, derasa~ NOT to be added until tank is sufficiently mature
5 juvenile Clownfish; Amphiprion Melanopus~ Cinnamon/Bluestripe clownfish
1 - Citrin Goby
4/5 - small school of Orange-lined Cardinalfish
1 - Six-line Wrasse OR four-line OR Hawaiian Neon Wrasse, to help with clam parasite cleanup
1 - Anthia; peaceful sort
1 - Orange-spotted Goby
1 - Alpheid Shrimp to go with OS Goby
Shrimps; Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimps & Blood-red Fire Shrimps
1 - Shallow water Bulb Anemone; clonal form, maybe rose anemone
1 - Spotted Mandarin; to be added later to mature tank
1 - Mandarinfish; Synchiropus Splendidus; to be added later to mature tank
SPS corals in pink and lavendar colors for shallow waters

Comments? Suggestions? Thanks!

[lcstorc]

Definitely headed in the right direction.
You seem to have quite a few bottom dwellers on the list and on the wants list. You may want to get another visible swimming fish.
My preference lately has been the midas blenney. Very showy but passive fish.
Do some more research on the corals and the clam. Your list has a couple of stinging corals that will need to be separated and several leathers who are known for chemical warfare. Running carbon will help with the chemical warfare. The clams you want to have an established system and be sure you have the proper lighting.
Sounds like it is going to be a fun tank.

[dobejazz]

That seems like a lot of fish for a 65g -

[BarbMazz]

Originally Posted by dobejazz

That seems like a lot of fish for a 65g -

So I need to do some trimming..

cut the clownfish down to two..
cut the Cardinalfish down to three...
no Anthia

Would this be a more realistic fish count, or do I need to leave out some others? Maybe down to one Mandarin?

Thanks for your input.

[dobejazz]

Originally Posted by BarbMazz

So I need to do some trimming..

cut the clownfish down to two..
cut the Cardinalfish down to three...
no Anthia

Would this be a more realistic fish count, or do I need to leave out some others? Maybe down to one Mandarin?

Thanks for your input.

That sounds better - really though I won't put a mandarin in my 95g because of the limited success people have keeping them fed

[BarbMazz]

Originally Posted by dobejazz

That sounds better - really though I won't put a mandarin in my 95g because of the limited success people have keeping them fed

I did think maybe it was too many fish! I understand about the Mandarin. It's on my "want to someday" list, and only if my tank seems appropriate at some point in the future.

It seemed like a good idea to have some sort of a plan in place of what I'd like to aim for. I'm hoping to actually set up in the next couple of weeks, depending upon how my DIY skills go in constructing the sump/fuge tank.

I'm going S-L-O-W.

[dobejazz]

Originally Posted by BarbMazz

I did think maybe it was too many fish! I understand about the Mandarin. It's on my "want to someday" list, and only if my tank seems appropriate at some point in the future.

It seemed like a good idea to have some sort of a plan in place of what I'd like to aim for. I'm hoping to actually set up in the next couple of weeks, depending upon how my DIY skills go in constructing the sump/fuge tank.

I'm going S-L-O-W.

LOL good deal and a plan is awesome - my problem is the plan is always changing

[lcstorc]

slow is the way to go. Great planning but they are right your plans will tend to change as things come together.