125 stocking suggestions?

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brad_G

New member
The tank is a standard 6ft 125 with a 30g sump and around 100-125 lbs of rock. The sump holds my diablo xs200 a refugium and gfo reactor. Current fish are 2 Perc clowns 2 cardinal fish a mandarin goby and a kole tang.

I want to bring my bio load up so I have been thinking about adding 3-4 small fish and maybe 1 bigger fish. The small fish I was thinking about are the Carberryi Anthias. Possibly get 3 small ones from live aquaria maybe 4. On the big fish I'm not sure. I would really like an Atlantic blue tang ( Caribbean blue) juvenile but am afraid my kole (bout 3 inches) would chase it to death! The kole seems friendly now but still a concern. If not the Atlantic blue what else can or should I get?

I don't feel that is too many fish but I could be wrong! I have never stocked very heavy but I feel this tank can support more. Any suggestions on alternative fish or if I will be over stocked would be great!
 
I would do 3 or 4 anthias. They should be fine. I would avoid barletts, I have a pair in my tank right.

You could also add another tang (scopas, Yellow, etc). I have two tangs in my 125 with quite a few other fish. You could add some wrasses as well. I think Atlantic Blue's can get larger than 9" as LA says, you might want to look for another tang in that size range.
 
Ya I saw on LA they call for a 180 but the list on Rc says 125. That was my biggest concern but my tank is pretty open. Any specific reason to avoid the Bartlett's? I have never been a big fan of wrasses. Not really sure why but I've never kept one and never really thought about it!

I have concidered a fox face. The problem there is them being toxic and I have my kids work in the tank some (12-11-10 and technically its their tank) so I really didn't want them getting sick or hurt from a stupid fish.

My favorite fish by far is the kole tang! The personality of tangs is just great. That thing is crazy chasing bubbles. What kind of personality do fox face have? Everyone I've seen in person is usually dark in coloration and stays hid in the rock and won't come out but I've never seen one in an established tank either.

I will check LA 125 tangs and fox face list and might even check out some reef safe wrasses. Will report back

Thanks for the feedback!
 
Well I lied! I have kept a wrasse.....6 line didn't even think bout that one! He went for a magic carpet ride if ya dig. That sucked but first jumper I've ever had! Most wrasses jump I guess? There are some really nice reef safe ones but I'm probably not gonna cover my tank so....

On the fox face the one spot would definitely be the one I get but it says reef safe with caution? Anyone have many problems with em eating corals mainly sps? Pretty cool fish though for sure!

OK bear with me but why is a purple tang OK for a 125g but gets 10 inch but a blue tang that only gets 9 inch need a 180? I would prefer the purple but dang they are very expensive. The main reason I would like a blue is to get a juvi and watch it morph but if it's too big....
 
As far as Foxface's go, they are not toxic. They just have venom in their dorsal and anal spines. However, they are very cautious fish and so the likelihood of getting hit by their spines is very low. I would still not advise to work in the tank without gloves.

As far as being reed safe, I believe them to be just as reef safe as any Tang. I have a 6" Magnificent Foxface in my 125, which is a mixed reef (softies, Zoas, mushrooms, lots of LPS, and some SPS) and it has not touched a coral in the 5 months it has been in there. Still too early to say it never will. But again, there have been plenty of Tangs that will go after a specific coral or two, even though they are listed as Reef Safe.

And as far as Wrasses, do not attempt any others unless you cover your tank 100%. They will jump.
 
I also have a mag fox face. Very easy fish. I do not have corals but chimed in to concur with Marshall. Maybe just me but I do not wear gloves in my tank (although should to avoid my clownfish from biting me each time :mad2:) and never have concerns about the fox face.
 
TBH, I don't wear gloves most of the time either. I hand feed mine no problem. I just don't want to tell others not to and then have them come back here after getting hit ;)
 
brad_G said:
... I have concidered a fox face. The problem there is them being toxic and I have my kids work in the tank some (12-11-10 and technically its their tank) so I really didn't want them getting sick or hurt from a stupid fish. ...
Click to expand...

I had a one spot foxface and hated him. He was a pig-faced spaz. He was super, super fat because he tore around at feeding time eating all of the food, but then if something startled him (something being me walking by the tank... or nothing), he would crash and dash for cover. The other poor fish
constantly on edge because of that idiot... Envision someone with frazzled hair jumping at anything and everything.... EVERYONE was happier when he was removed and gotten rid of. I know not all foxfaces are like this, but in my research, I have not found this behavior to be uncommon.

As far as other suggestions, hawkfish? If you do not have shrimp (or only have a big cranky coral banded shrimp like me), these guys are SOOOOOO much fun! I have had a flame hawk, a longnose, a red hawkfish and loved all of them. Also, melanurus wrasses are extremely active and pretty although they also might eat invertebrates. A personal favorite of mine is hamlets although not expensive they can be hard to find.

Also, have you considered a blenny? Midas blennies are pretty, active, easy, and personable. I have had a starry blenny for years that I have enjoyed thoroughly too.
 
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I am against Bartletts since they are agressive to my wrasses. They are very easy to keep and extremely active which is a positive. When the male is showing off he will chance any fish which is about the same size/shape as him (aka my flames, carpenters, lubbocks). I am going to try and add a couple more females to see if that helps in the next couple weeks.

Removing them is such a pain compared to tangs.
 
brad_G said:
OK bear with me but why is a purple tang OK for a 125g but gets 10 inch but a blue tang that only gets 9 inch need a 180? I would prefer the purple but dang they are very expensive. The main reason I would like a blue is to get a juvi and watch it morph but if it's too big....
Click to expand...

Price has to do with the region. All red sea fish shot up in price recently. The blue is also a more active fish, and grows faster than a purple. If you get the purple make sure it's your last addition, as they can be little jerks. That being said, you'll love the fish. One of my top 5...
 
Funny you mention coral banded shrimp secretive! I forgot how crabby a shrimp can be! Mine is a huge pain haha. I really wish I would have never put him in there!

Why is it tangs have to be a pain? Seems like the more color they have the more attitude comes with it! Sounds like an Atlantic blue or a purple will be pretty aggressive. Found a white cheek or something like that (looks black with a white patch on its face) that looks pretty good. I think powder blue or brown are out and I guess any bristletooth would probably cause issues with the kole. Hmmm

I read up on fox face and it seems like about 1 out of 10 people say that sorry fish ate my sunny D's and half my acro. I can't do that even if its just 10% chance! My tank is really a coral tank that I let fish live in sometimes!

Wrasses are out! Don't care to cover my tank and I would rather have anthias so I guess its back to the drawing board!
 
I love the foxface. I have had many-and they do have individual personalities. As far as the venomous nature- I have one I can hand feed and never worry about- but there are some that are prone to going spastic. If you were to get stuck by one- it would be accidental. The two times I was stung was in transfer where I didnt pay attention to what I was moving and cradled the net in my hand. I put them into office tanks without fear of anyone getting injured. I simply point out that the fish has potential to sting, and do not handle it.
 
brad_G said:
Why is it tangs have to be a pain? Seems like the more color they have the more attitude comes with it! Sounds like an Atlantic blue or a purple will be pretty aggressive. Found a white cheek or something like that (looks black with a white patch on its face) that looks pretty good. I think powder blue or brown are out and I guess any bristletooth would probably cause issues with the kole. Hmmm
Click to expand...

Same applies with whitecheek, sometimes called powder black, as the powder blue and brown...
 
brad_G said:
I really like the one spot fox face....someone convince me it will be OK!
Click to expand...
I'm always surprised when people tell someone that a tang is too big for their tank and suggest a foxface as an alternative. These fish grow fast and get just as big as a lot of tangs. They are prodigious poopers, too.

Don't get me wrong - they're fine fish, non-aggressive and generally pretty coral safe, but I don't think people really appreciate how big they get if they're healthy and well fed. A one-spot would do ok in a 125, but when it grows to full size, it might make even a six-foot tank look tight.

If it was me, I would get a bigger group of the smaller more active fish you're after (anthias or wrasses) and wait on the fox face.
 
The flasher wrasses are some of my favorite:

2mccoskersnov13.jpg
 
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