This is the fish list I was thinking of.
Banggai cardinals - 3
Ocellaris clowns - 2
Two spot bristletooth tang
Purple tang
Bristletooth tomini tang
Orange stripe prawn goby
Mandarin goby
6 line wrasse
Blue grudgeon dartfish - 2
Purple dottyback
Not to be a nay-sayer or anything, but there are a few problems with your list. I don't mean to come off as a jerk, but without someone saying something you'll make some of the same mistakes we've all made when starting out. What I'm going to tell you is based on my own experiences and what is generally agreed upon by most hobbyists.
Bangaii cardinals will coexist only if they are a bonded pair - otherwise the dominant male or female will eventually kill the others of the same sex. If you can get a bonded pair- awesome otherwise you'll need to watch them carefully and net out the third wheel.
A pair of clowns, once bonded, will stake out a pretty good but of real estate in your tank they consider "mine". In my 70 gallon reef I'd say my ocellaris have claimed more than a third. Really shy or really aggressive fish will be driven into hiding or will fight constantly with your pair.
Tangs will either be amazing or a huge pain for you. I wouldn't recommend a purple tang for your tank size. Can it be done, sure, but they get 7-9" as an adult and even in a 5' tank they get crowded, stressed and then are prone to ich and other things that can not only kill the fish, but have the potential to ruin your entire tank. I would also support only one of the bristle tooth species, as all tangs seem to fight with fish of similar body shape.
Mandarin gobys need an established reef with a thriving supply of Copepods to survive. Most people have to wait 9+ months to get their reef to that point. Some people have managed to get them to eat flake, frozen or pellet foods - but those are typically the exception, not the rule.
Six line generally become territorial as they age. I would add this fish either very last or go with a more even tempered wrasse like a fairy or a flasher.
Dart fish are notorious jumpers, and seem to do so for no real reason. A glass or net top is very much recommended.
I've never owned a dotty back, but I've heard they can get real territorial as well. But I really don't have anything helpful for this one.
Again, this isn't to discourage, only to help. Nothing is worse than bringing home your prize specimen to find out you'll never see it because it's stressed or bullied, or to have it wreak havoc on your other reef inhabitants. The more research you do the better, but remember that good husbandry and care for these creatures should be foremost. I wish someone had told me these things in the beginning... Would have saved me tons of money and heart ache.
Originally Posted by bucsnut79
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