120g Reef Stocking

[Antrias]

Hello Everyone,

I was hoping I could get some help stocking my 120g mixed reef. I had a general idea of what I like but it seems in my research I have found there are a million things to consider when getting fish - what to put with what and when to to put it in (order wise)...ect.

So I'll give you guys a general idea of what I like and any suggestions or tips would be awesome!

I currently have a black clown, Bangaii Cardinal, Royal Gramma, and a Purple Firefish

I like:
Harlequen Tusk
Copperband Butterfly
Flame Angel- I had one but it died to a disease while in QT :(
Some Sort of Trigger
Some sort of Tang
Dwarf Lionfish
Cleaner Wrasse?
Leopard Wrasse
There are some Chromis' that i find look really nice (have like blue dots on them?)

I'm sure there are a ton more options than this too this is just what I have found and like i said just not sure what to do! Any help, suggestions, input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[kien]

Your dwarf lionfish is a predator that could eat your cleaner wrasse :sad:

[Antrias]

I suspected a dwarf lion may be a no no :( they are so cool though! Not that i'd necessarily get a cleaner wrasse either though i just thought it might be a good idea? I Saw one at a fish store and it looked cool how i saw other fish being cleaned by it and opening their gills and stuff to be cleaned haha. Maybe a cleaner shrimp is a better idea?

[kien]

I suspected a dwarf lion may be a no no :( they are so cool though! Not that i'd necessarily get a cleaner wrasse either though i just thought it might be a good idea? I Saw one at a fish store and it looked cool how i saw other fish being cleaned by it and opening their gills and stuff to be cleaned haha. Maybe a cleaner shrimp is a better idea?

Your harlequin tusk, lion fish and possibly your trigger (depending on which one you get) could go after your tasty cleaner shrimp.

[mrhasan]

The harlequin (although it depends on the individual) can tear down your whole tank (and you too :lol:). Apparently, this species doesn't like other fishes unless its a very big tank. Don't know about how it will cope up with others in a 125 though.

[Antrias]

Sounds like i'll need a fish shock collar and train them as if they are a dog getting into your garbage - then i'll setup a webcam on the tank so i can watch 24/7 :P

That's to bad the Harlequin was amongst my favorite!

[Taipan]

Hi there. There are a few options for you regarding your list. This is from personal experience and not just "text book" theory. Everyone will have their own experiences and advice.

If you're set on a Harlequin Tusk; you can try looking for a juvenile or smaller one. The smallest I've seen are approx. 2" in length. Watching it grow and morph in colour over time is very cool.

As for triggers; most of the genus: Xanthichthys are considered to be a little more docile and "Reef Safe" with caution. These include - Blue Throat and Sargassum (both of which I have); Crosshatch, Kiri Tirgger (now known as Xanthichthys greenei. At the end of the day...they still are trigger fish....with teeth. Mine have never looked at any corals or even the smallest of shrimp (ie. harlequin). However; I do make it a point to keep them well fed. I've extended the periods of time and frequency of feedings to acclimate them to longer periods without food....no missing inhabitants so far. Except the odd snail. It's an innate response for them to grab and chip away at the odd snail. Tehy will want to grind their teeth on something hard (like a beaver). In keeping these fish; I'm more than willing to sacrifice a few snails. ;)

I'm also keeping in my display (120 Gallons) a Purple Tang, and Red Lined wrasse. All inhabitants seem to get along well and have been for an extended period of time now. It is possible. ;) Good luck.

I can share some pictures of my collection if you wish. Let me know if you want them posted on your thread or sent to you privately. Cheers.

[Antrias]

I would like to see that setup! Sounds like a setup similar to what I am looking to have. Some pics on the forum would be good - i'm sure other people would like to see.

Purple Tang was even my #1 choice for tangs too - just to bad they are expensive!

[Antrias]

A Moorish Idol and a Foxface might be a really good choice by the looks of it - reef friendly with no huge downsides (from what i saw) and nice looking

EDIT:

Well JL Aquatic says that the Moorish Idol it's reef safe however live aquaria shows differently... /shrug

[Taipan]

I had to dig around for some pics. I'm in the process of a minor display upgrade that's taking forever. Enclosed is are a few Full Tank Shots and pics of the fish that are in my display......that may also be on your list ;) Enjoy.

Full Tank Shots (FTS):

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab158/IamTaipan/Taipan120G/FTS_zpsf047488d.jpg (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/IamTaipan/media/Taipan120G/FTS_zpsf047488d.jpg.html)

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab158/IamTaipan/Taipan120G/FTSa_zps15675d4a.jpg (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/IamTaipan/media/Taipan120G/FTSa_zps15675d4a.jpg.html)

FTS with Purple Tang:

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab158/IamTaipan/Taipan120G/FTSb_zps345fb8b9.jpg (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/IamTaipan/media/Taipan120G/FTSb_zps345fb8b9.jpg.html)

Triggers:

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab158/IamTaipan/Taipan120G/DSC02171_zps84ecc545.jpg (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/IamTaipan/media/Taipan120G/DSC02171_zps84ecc545.jpg.html)

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab158/IamTaipan/Taipan120G/DSC01881_zps3a573eb8.jpg (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/IamTaipan/media/Taipan120G/DSC01881_zps3a573eb8.jpg.html)

Baby Harlequin Tusk:

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab158/IamTaipan/Taipan120G/BabyHarlequin_zpsa45c3aa4.jpg (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/IamTaipan/media/Taipan120G/BabyHarlequin_zpsa45c3aa4.jpg.html)

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab158/IamTaipan/Taipan120G/BabyHarlequin1_zps78a521c5.jpg (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/IamTaipan/media/Taipan120G/BabyHarlequin1_zps78a521c5.jpg.html)

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab158/IamTaipan/Taipan120G/BabyHarlequin2_zps8252640a.jpg (http://s859.photobucket.com/user/IamTaipan/media/Taipan120G/BabyHarlequin2_zps8252640a.jpg.html)

[kien]

One downside with the moorish idol is that it is ridiculously difficult to keep long term. Even short term for that matter. They are gorgeous fish, but there's a reason why virtually no one has them in their tanks. They have a sadly low survival rate.

[gregzz4]

Take this 'as is'
I'm no expert, but I've learned a few things this last couple years

When I first started my tank I asked a similar question, but shouldn't have
There's so much info on the web if you look for it
Research each fish you like and check their compatability against each other
Use this tool (http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/compatibility_chart.cfm)for reference

As far as your list goes, the first things I see as bad are;
Lionfish and your current stock
CBB and a new tank
Trigger and SPS, plus a tank not large enough
Leopard wrasses are sensitive, so wait 6 months or a year for your tank to mature and you still have to be careful
Cleaner wrasses need natural food ie parasites, so I'd suggest a no go
Chromis are jerks to each other so good luck with that. And they're food for the lion

Check out liveaquaria (http://www.liveaquaria.com/) for lots of info, and do some cross-research about the fish you 'must have' before you make any decisions

Basically, I suggest you decide whether you want a 'gentle', 'active', or 'aggressive' tank before you buy any more fish as what's on your list is not a good mix

[gregzz4]

I have a cleaner shrimp and feel bad for him as there's no interest from the fish to 'be friends' because our tank is parasite-free, 'knock on wood'

I hand feed ours on a regular basis due to guilt

[Azzkr]

As Kien said the Moorish Idol are very hard to keep and live best in very mature tanks as they like to eat sponges. Best kept in the ocean

[Antrias]

I wasn't planning on picking most of these fish of for 6-12 months - with the exception of one. I need atleast one more fish to make the tank look like it has something in it for now haha. So taking some of the feed back here is my thoughts (still open to more suggestions of course or even a better stocking list. If someone can tell me of a fish that is reef safe, active, overall a good fish i'll look into it!) Overall i just want an active tank but as much coloration / uniqueness as possible but all within the realm of safe

Harlequen Tusk: Final addition? and get a small one if i am to get one at all.

Copperband Butterfly - wait a year , which i am fine with

Flame Angel- Haven't seen feedback on this. I assume they are OK and may
get another one to fill the spot i had for him. havent decided yet >.<

Trigger - If i get one (not saying i am) feed alot so they don't destroy coral

Purple Tang - This looks like a safe, active, pretty fish. Perhaps this will be my first new addition. Can I get two different tangs? I read that purple and yellow tangs may not like eachother... is there two tangs that will get along? Would two be happy in my tank?

Dwarf Lionfish - will eat my fish!

Cleaner Wrasse - I thought these were a good idea but based on that they need parasites to eat maybe not? Maybe thats why LFSs have them because they probably constantly get parasites. I should ideally have none - so no point in this or cleaner shrimp

Leopard Wrasse - Wait a year

Chromis - not sure if it was a chromis that i even liked... I cant find the name of the fish i liked - it very well may have been a damsel. It was black with blue 'stars' / dots. So If i get a chromis just get one.

Damsels ? Get one? Get more than one? Maybe Get none. /shrug

Moorish Idol - Waste of money will just die. Although I do have sponge tanking over the bottom of some of my rocks! Hate this sponge :( Tried killing it a few times but haven't been very successful

FoxFace - no feedback on this still seems like a viable option for me

Great feedback so far guys thanks!

Taipan your tank looks great! It's basically the tank I had envisioned when I bought mine. My only fear is i tend to have awful luck! For me if something can go wrong it does!

The experience I have with mixing fish that aren't recommend together is limited to my freshwater cichlids experience. Which went over really well mixing south/central american cichlids with african of many different lakes (I like to get one of very fish! makes for a super diverse / pretty tank haha)

But cichlids were way cheaper to buy vs saltwater fish tend to be fairly expensive so i want to make sure i dont waste money and kill fish that don't need to die! Considering these fish are all mostly ocean caught - seems like a shame to have one die!

[SoloSK71]

Is this the chromis (damsel) you were looking at?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+119&pcatid=119

Charles

[Antrias]

Is this the chromis (damsel) you were looking at?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+119&pcatid=119

Charles

Yes that it! I think that's a pretty safe choice to get one of those (judging by live aquariia description)

Thanks!

[Madreefer]

So you decided on going with an aggressive tank?

[Antrias]

So you decided on going with an aggressive tank?

I assumed it would be peaceful with other fish based on the description but I am probably wrong

[mrhasan]

I assumed it would be peaceful with other fish based on the description but I am probably wrong

LA quote:

It is overly aggressive, and therefore, only one should be kept per tank. An aquarium of 50 gallons or larger provides suitable housing.

[Antrias]

LA quote:

It is overly aggressive, and therefore, only one should be kept per tank. An aquarium of 50 gallons or larger provides suitable housing.

Yea but when I have read similar descriptions for chiclids it was because they were.overly aggressive to the same species. That's why I made that assumption which was clearly wrong.

So they won't be on my list because all my other fish are.peaceful

[mrhasan]

Yea but when I have read similar descriptions for chiclids it was because they were.overly aggressive to the same species. That's why I made that assumption which was clearly wrong.

So they won't be on my list because all my other fish are.peaceful

Well they can work out in an aggressive tank. Possibly they wont bother fishes like flame angel (if they value their life i.e. :P) or foxface (because of the venomous sting). You gotta decide what type of fishes you want. It will narrow down your options a lot and will help your decide much better. Like, I prefer semi-aggressive fishes and they can mix easily with peaceful fishes (given the right order of stocking) but aggressive are meant to live in a tank where each other would have to leave each other alone :P

[Antrias]

I think i prefer semi-aggressive and aggressive fish - looks wise and active wise.

My Cardinal just sits there, firefish just hides, royal gramma is a hit and a miss for doing stuff, and my clown swims around a ton.

Here's what I am thinking of doing... Sell all my current fish as they are all peaceful (They are currently only in my 30 gal anyway).

Eventually get all or some of the follow:
A larger type of clown (tomato maybe?)
Dwarf Lionfish
Purple Tang
Harlequin Tusk
Jewel Damsel
One spot FoxFace
BlueThroat Trigger
Flame Angel
Flame Hawk (maybe)
Hermit Crabs, various snails
Potentially a SixLine wrassee but probably not because it wont stand in this setup?


I will mostly have LPS corals as well. but a few softies and a few SPS.

Will this work? This list was based off of Semi-Aggressive and Aggressive fish that are all mostly reef safe with caution so my plan is to feed alot in hopes that none will eat my snails, crabs, and corals.

Thoughts? Bad idea? Good idea? This is my favorite list of fish however if this is not overly advised here is my second list.

Purple Tang
Royal Gramma
Firefish
Cardinal
Marine Betta
Leopard Wrasse
CopperBand Butterly
Black ocellaris clownfish
One spot FoxFace
Flame Angel
Flame Hawk (still maybe)