[JBizz]

Hi everyone. I have just set up my first saltwater aquarium. It is a 75 gallon w/30 gallon sump, lr, protein skimmer, and one 10,000k lamp. I was wondering what should be added first. Fish, inverts, corals? I know it will be a few weeks before I add anything as the tank has been running for only just over a week. Here is a short list of fish I am interested in keeping.

Yellow stripe maroon clownfish
Powder brown tang
Blue tang
Red spotted hawkfish
Bicolor angelfish
Achilles tang

Also would like at least one bubble tip anemone for the clown.

Does anyone forsee any problems with compatability of these fish and a reef environment? Are there fish that I have not listed that I should be thinking about including? What should be the first to be intoroduced into the tank? Thank you for any help.

[e_baer]

welcome to RB!!!!

well, most tangs need at least a 90g tank.

if you are planning on having coral, you will need more than just one 10000k lamp.

[JBizz]

I thought everyone might appreciate an image of the tank as is.

[Krazy]

Welcome to RB Jim,

I will say to add inverts first, some snails/hermit crabs...

Then you retest water parameters after a week, if still well, add 1 fish, wait a week or so, then you can add another, Corals are fine to add a couple weeks after your water has been stable with good parameters...

Tangs sadly are a no-no, you can get away with 1 tang but you have to research that specific tangs needs and minium tank size before a purchase. you can find the info online, you can ask some of us, but dont trust your local fish store, they only want your $$$

[SweeTang22]

the only tangs that would be okay in a 75 gallon that i can think of would be the hawiian yellow, regal or hippo tang, and the atlantic blue tang. i would upgrade the lighting to atleast a compact flourescent. i like t-5 ho units better but there both good. metal halides would be good to, but expensive and you would probably need to invest into a chiller because they heat up water fast!!! the bicolor angel would be fine, but use caution as they tend to nip at corals and other sessile inverts. also what are you using as a protein skimmer?? i dont believe you mentioned that!

[JBizz]

The protein skimmer is a CPR bak pak skimmer that I have set up in the sump. As for lights I am planning an buying two twin compact flourescents one with 10,000k's and the other with actinic. I would run the actinic as a dawn/dusk lamp and the 10,000k's through the day. Does this sound adequate?

[Tonz of fun]

What Kind of corals are you going to do. Chat with us before you buy anything so you can get the right stuff. Im betting you will need a whole lot more light then what you are thinking...

[henwayrob]

for your lighting you need 4x65 pc or comparible t-5 or vho minimum for some corals, mh lighting is best and the heat can be controlled with fans and ac normally. as for fish always had good luck with yellow tang, other tangs had trouble keeping alive, angels dont have in reef accept the dwarf types and only one they fight. the hawkfish is hard on your crabs and shrimp. Cardinals, firefish, percula clown, gobies, blennys, are great for reef. corals - mushrooms, softies, candy corals, frogspawn, hammer, xenia are a few of easier to keep. there are plenty of sites on web about coral requirements just look and take it slow dont stock up very fast get a few and keep them alive then get more with time. Have fun.