100G fish stocking - seeking opinions

[philly_rfa]

Pretty new in the hobby... Hoping I could get some feedback on my fish wish list... been working on this list for a few weeks, trying to find fish that interest me, yet seem to fit right temperament (looking for mostly peaceful, so put the few semi-aggressive to towards the end). I really like the look of a colorful and busy tank... so have to temper myself and not over stock.

Right now I am only a FOWLR (running for about 3-4 months), but plan to start introducing softies once i hit around the 6 month mark, so took reef safe into consideration. Eventually want to move into LPS as well, maybe at the 12 month mark. Need to get my husbandry routine nailed down first.

Any thoughts on this list for compatibility? Is it too much, or do I have a little breathing room? Any suggestions for adds/replacements/deletes?

I split up the wants into batches... I'd get one set, QT them... once released, get QT cleaned and setup again for next batch, etc...

Display Tank:
36w x 30d x 24t - ~1-2" of sand, ~125lbs of rock.

Have:
Oscellaris Clown (2), Blue/Green Chromis (4), Neon Goby (1)

Want:
1st - Pajama Cardinal (2), Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse (1)
2nd - One Spot Foxface (1)
3rd - Firefish Dart (3)
4th - Clown Goby (1), Fathead Sunburst Anthias (1)
5th - Segmented Sailfin Blenny (1), Black Hat Bass (1)

I really wanted to add one more in either the small Tang or Dwarf Angel family... but shied away due to proneness to ich (Tang) and aggressiveness towards corals (Angel).

Thoughts?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Pretty new in the hobby... Hoping I could get some feedback on my fish wish list... been working on this list for a few weeks, trying to find fish that interest me, yet seem to fit right temperament (looking for mostly peaceful, so put the few semi-aggressive to towards the end). I really like the look of a colorful and busy tank... so have to temper myself and not over stock.

Right now I am only a FOWLR (running for about 3-4 months), but plan to start introducing softies once i hit around the 6 month mark, so took reef safe into consideration. Eventually want to move into LPS as well, maybe at the 12 month mark. Need to get my husbandry routine nailed down first.

Any thoughts on this list for compatibility? Is it too much, or do I have a little breathing room? Any suggestions for adds/replacements/deletes?

I split up the wants into batches... I'd get one set, QT them... once released, get QT cleaned and setup again for next batch, etc...

Display Tank:
36w x 30d x 24t - ~1-2" of sand, ~125lbs of rock.

Have:
Oscellaris Clown (2), Blue/Green Chromis (4), Neon Goby (1)

Want:
1st - Pajama Cardinal (2), Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse (1)
2nd - One Spot Foxface (1)
3rd - Firefish Dart (3)
4th - Clown Goby (1), Fathead Sunburst Anthias (1)
5th - Segmented Sailfin Blenny (1), Black Hat Bass (1)

I really wanted to add one more in either the small Tang or Dwarf Angel family... but shied away due to proneness to ich (Tang) and aggressiveness towards corals (Angel).

Thoughts?

The list looks pretty compatible. The biggest issue I see are the 3 firefish. For the most part firefish are intolerant of each other unless they are a bonded pr.

 

[philly_rfa]

The list looks pretty compatible. The biggest issue I see are the 3 firefish. For the most part firefish are intolerant of each other unless they are a bonded pr.

Hmm, ok, good to know. I will consider going with just 1 then...

Any thoughts on a replacement that would work with the others? I know I should probably just err on side of less... but...

 

[scooter31707]

I also would not recommend the Foxface. Your tank is 3ft long and that may be a issue.

 

[philly_rfa]

I also would not recommend the Foxface. Your tank is 3ft long and that may be a issue.

That gives me the saddies. I kind of thought it might be an issue, lack of lateral movement room.

Any recommendation on something similar, maybe not in size, but color and shape? Looking for something in the 'round' shape to fill out the roster...

 

[BigBlueTang]

That gives me the saddies. I kind of thought it might be an issue, lack of lateral movement room.



Any recommendation on something similar, maybe not in size, but color and shape? Looking for something in the 'round' shape to fill out the roster...

I honestly think you're going to be way overstocked. You already have 7 fish, even though they are small. I think add your first and fourth batch, and be done. Even then you're still going into the overstocked section. Most 75-120 gallon tanks have 8-10 fish maximum. Not to sound like a jerk or anything but I'm surprised no one else said this.


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[eatbreakfast]

I honestly think you're going to be way overstocked. You already have 7 fish, even though they are small. I think add your first and fourth batch, and be done. Even then you're still going into the overstocked section. Most 75-120 gallon tanks have 8-10 fish maximum. Not to sound like a jerk or anything but I'm surprised no one else said this.


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I don't think that that is true. Too many factors can be at play. I have 25+ fish in an 80g with only 1ppm NO3 and .5ppm PO4 and no aggression, so what would be the limiting factor?

 

[philly_rfa]

On my question on option other than the Foxface... lets remove the overstocking from equation right now, and just looking purely at tank dimensions... would a Longnose Atlantic Butterflyfish be doable as far as swimming room? Liveaquaria rates it at 50gal minimum, but not sure if that is accurate for my tank shape (being more square).

 

[eatbreakfast]

On my question on option other than the Foxface... lets remove the overstocking from equation right now, and just looking purely at tank dimensions... would a Longnose Atlantic Butterflyfish be doable as far as swimming room? Liveaquaria rates it at 50gal minimum, but not sure if that is accurate for my tank shape (being more square).

Your dimensions will work for the Atlantic longnose.

 

[philly_rfa]

I don't think that that is true. Too many factors can be at play. I have 25+ fish in an 80g with only 1ppm NO3 and .5ppm PO4 and no aggression, so what would be the limiting factor?

I am curious on this as well... would dramatically change my wishlist. I have read somewhere in the depths of these forums, general rules of thumb for size of fish (max size) per x gallons of water. Problem is, some say 1" per gallon. Others say 1" per 3 gallons. Its a pretty stark contrast... For me it would be difference of 33 total inches, vs. 100 total inches. That being said, i think my list would put me somewhere in the middle-ish area.... 1" per 2 gallons, roughly.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I am curious on this as well... would dramatically change my wishlist. I have read somewhere in the depths of these forums, general rules of thumb for size of fish (max size) per x gallons of water. Problem is, some say 1" per gallon. Others say 1" per 3 gallons. Its a pretty stark contrast... For me it would be difference of 33 total inches, vs. 100 total inches. That being said, i think my list would put me somewhere in the middle-ish area.... 1" per 2 gallons, roughly.

There are other factors than just size, so I don't buy into those stocking guidelines. Aggression, activity level, eating habits, tank flow, biological filtration are all part of a myriad of issues that affect stocking.

Add slowly, test frequently, and observe. Your tank will let you know it's capacity.

 

[philly_rfa]

Add slowly, test frequently, and observe. Your tank will let you know it's capacity.

Good advice. :thumbsup:
I'll work on my wish list some more, put the must-haves up front, so when I feel I am at max for the tank, I don't regret not having the ones i wanted most.

 

[fishguy2501]

Personally i would sell those chromis, there are nicer looking fish you can put in place of those. I would stock it with a few different cardinals like 3-5 PJ and 3-5 blue eye cardinals. I would also put in some gobies, blennies, dottybacks, and small wrasses. If you do a bunch of just smaller fish it will fill up the tank. For a centerpiece fish maybe a pair of wrasses like flames or rhomboidalis or maybe even a couple halichoeres. I dont know if it is possible but there are also some small anthias 2.5-3" that might work in there. Something to replace the chromis could be a small group of chalk basslets.

 

[philly_rfa]

Personally i would sell those chromis, there are nicer looking fish you can put in place of those. I would stock it with a few different cardinals like 3-5 PJ and 3-5 blue eye cardinals. I would also put in some gobies, blennies, dottybacks, and small wrasses. If you do a bunch of just smaller fish it will fill up the tank. For a centerpiece fish maybe a pair of wrasses like flames or rhomboidalis or maybe even a couple halichoeres. I dont know if it is possible but there are also some small anthias 2.5-3" that might work in there. Something to replace the chromis could be a small group of chalk basslets.

...was already considering it. I actually thought about doing a few Chalk Basslets before the Chromis, but since tank was newish and still making sure i can keep the levels proper, i didn't want to drop that much money, just in case. I think i am pretty stable now, so might not be a bad idea to swap out...
Are there are any issues with multiples? I am pretty sure i could do 3 or 4 without issue?

 

[eatbreakfast]

...was already considering it. I actually thought about doing a few Chalk Basslets before the Chromis, but since tank was newish and still making sure i can keep the levels proper, i didn't want to drop that much money, just in case. I think i am pretty stable now, so might not be a bad idea to swap out...
Are there are any issues with multiples? I am pretty sure i could do 3 or 4 without issue?

There won't be an issue with multiple chalk bass if they are added simultaneously.

 

[ZukoThePug]

There are other factors than just size, so I don't buy into those stocking guidelines. Aggression, activity level, eating habits, tank flow, biological filtration are all part of a myriad of issues that affect stocking.

Add slowly, test frequently, and observe. Your tank will let you know it's capacity.

I totally agree with you.

 

[philly_rfa]

Anyone have suggestions on resources to read up on what level of the tank different fish tend to like in an aquarium setting? I'd like to also to review my list, to take this into account, so they don't all compete for the same space. Particularly, I want to make sure I have some high level swimmers in the rock free areas with high turbulence, etc.

 

[Gweeds]

I am curious on this as well... would dramatically change my wishlist. I have read somewhere in the depths of these forums, general rules of thumb for size of fish (max size) per x gallons of water. Problem is, some say 1" per gallon. Others say 1" per 3 gallons. Its a pretty stark contrast... For me it would be difference of 33 total inches, vs. 100 total inches. That being said, i think my list would put me somewhere in the middle-ish area.... 1" per 2 gallons, roughly.

I would say that the 1" per gallon or whatever rule is not really true for marines... the biggest factor is going to be compatibility and natural habitats / habits... look at the difference between a maroon clownfish and a kole tang... both grow to around the same size but you could quite happily keep a maroon clownfish in a much smaller set up than a kole tang... the clown will set up 'home' and never stray too far from it. Whereas the kole will want to cruise the reef all day long. Equally, yellow tangs have a max size of around 8"... using the 1" per gallon rule, you could keep one in a 8 gallon tank?!? I don't think so somehow... research the natural behaviour of the fish and then make your choices based on that. In theory if you could just stock fish which will get along with one another and which will have a very small home territory then you could get a lot more than the 1" rule dictates... choose one large tang though then that would be your only fish and would be horribly cramped!

In essence, don't get hung up on 'rules' stock what fits and what's compatible and then over filter... just in case

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[Gweeds]

Anyone have suggestions on resources to read up on what level of the tank different fish tend to like in an aquarium setting? I'd like to also to review my list, to take this into account, so they don't all compete for the same space. Particularly, I want to make sure I have some high level swimmers in the rock free areas with high turbulence, etc.

Just check out the natural habits / habitats... and pick to suit what you want.

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[Gweeds]

Just check out the natural habits / habitats... and pick to suit what you want.

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Also, remember that whatever size your tank is, it's a he'll of a lot smaller than any natural reef... 'surface dwellers' in the wild will often go a couple of metres below the surface... in our tanks that'd likely put them in the basement! So they're unlikely to stay in the top few inches in reality. The fish we keep won't display their natural behaviour 100% in an aquarium... the trick is to try to fit our aquariums to suit their natural behaviour, not the other way around.

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