150 - generating a compromise list

[mattsilvester]

Hi All,

Its no secret that I like fish. Big fish. The bigger the better However, for my forthcoming tank, I plan on making it a reef - it will likely be a mixed LPS / SPS reef. So, I am currently evaluating stocking options and would apprecaite the views of folks with a reefing back ground, AND, an afinity for fish.

Tank is a standard 150gal.

Aquascaping will be very open. Perhaps a hybrid bonsai inspired / reef bommie type of thing.

Fish - with the exception of a few "special" species the "little" guys don't really ring my bell - I am more into angels, tangs, butterflies, triggers..... traditional non-reef type fish - I'd rather a few really nice, must have fish than a group of "fillers" that don't excite me. But a compromise needs to be found and I plan on selecting corals based on fish as much as fish based on corals.

So far, the short list includes:
- navarchus or regal angel
- yellow long nose butterfly
- achillies tang
- dwarf angel (cherub, coral beauty, or flame)
- regal / hippo tang
- mandarin
- flame hawkfish
- blue jaw trigger

Not necessarily looking for a stocking list at this stage, but rather a short list from which I can identify potential trouble makers (for eating corals) and either eliminate them as too high risk, or eliminate coral types which are most likely to be eaten.

I am also looking for additions / recommendations for consideration which may be entirely reefsafe - as I say I am "new" to selecting fish for reef tanks - despite a decade+ of marine fish keeping.

 

[reeferstace]

Have you considered one of the Genicanthus angels instead of a dwarf?

A hippo tang may eventually outgrow the tank. Are you absolutely set on having it?

I have heard of many positive experiences of keeping the YLNB, Navarchus, regal angel, and blue throat trigger in reefs.

The hawkfish may feed on ornamental shrimp but probably won't bother any corals.

 

[SDguy]

I just love genicanthus angels. Folks poopoo them since they are not as gaudily colored as other angels, but they are so graceful, reef safe, and have subtle, yet intricate and beautiful colors/patterns. I much prefer them over centropyge angels

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Hi Matt, from the list of potentials I like the regal rather than the majestic. I'm keeping a majestic in a 180 standard and all is well for now (I have had him for 4 years and his growth really slowed at around the 7 inch mark) but I wonder if it will need a bigger tank someday, otherwise a great fish but for a 150 a regal is a much more appropriate choice and probably more reefsafe than the Pomacanthus and stays smaller as well.

I also think the hippo gets too big for that tank and the trigger is a red flag for me, both in terms of size and bioload. Achilles as you probably well know are very touchy and two big potentially aggressive tangs in a 150 might spell trouble. I just picked up a beautiful yellow-eye kole from Hawaii and I forgot how incredible a healthy kole looks, and is a great size for that system. I love triggers but I love shrimp too so I have gone with filefish instead, I keep an orangetail now and it is just an awesome fish, like a mini-trigger without the attitude and a lot more reefsafe and hasn't touched any corals or shrimp.

I like the make up of your list, just thinking if you went with smaller species you would have a better fit with your system.

 

[Curious George]

I like the Majestic over the Regal. Matter of preference and disposition that appeals to you. I think that is quite a dream list and would be very colorful/interesting. The angels (Pygmy and Large) would be hit or miss when it comes to the corals you keep. Lots of success stories in keeping angels in a reef, but also a lot of destruction too.

Either way, I think that your choices are great. Yeah, the hippo gets big and needs some room, but I don't think you are way out of the realm of keeping one considering some have them in 50-75 gallon tanks only to be hacked when they show a pic.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

BTW my majestic has never touched my lobos, sinularia, sarcaphyton or rhodactis shrooms. It nips at zoos (I dont keep any but have several which came in with other corals) and some survive in the nooks and crannies. The majestic also destroyed actinodiscus shrooms which is weird since he has never touched the rhodactis. I would imagine the fleshy corals like LPS, brains, acans, would be toast and I cant speak about SPS.

Another awesome angel I am keeping and would be a good fit in that tank is the blueline. Cant speak of long term success but hasnt touched any corals either so far.

 

[mattsilvester]

Thanks to all for the contributions.

RE. majestic / navarchus, yes I'm aware they are capably of nuding (sometimes even exceeding) the 12" mark - but I am also aware they will take many years to get there at perhaps 1 - 1.5" per year. I would like to try a regal, however I am a little cautious regarding its level of hardiness and have a personal preference for the majestic.

Hippo / size. Yes, in the past I had a hippo grow to 6-7" (maybe even 8"). I am a little concerned about size, because unlike the majestic / navarchus, it will not take years to get there..... what Ilove most about these guys is the vibrant blue - anyone got any ideas for substitutes?

Genicanthus angels - I'll look into these a bit more. Like most, I sort of don't consdier them "real angels" - an opinion born of ignorance to be honest. But they are worthy of consideration in their own right, not just because they have the magic word "angel" in ther name. Subtle beauty - yeah, I am into that..... sometimes there is elegence in simplicity.

Achilies tang - well its an either / or in repsect of the hippo tang. Not keen to invite tang conflicts. Its part of the reason that the YLNB is on the list - because I love the strong yellow of a yellow tang, but I fancy a different tang and so the YLNB is a great fish in its own right and also mitigates the desire for yellow

FILEFISH - now that's a great idea. I am reminded of a blue-green with yellow-orange markings fish that I say recently...... I think the longnose filefish (although I suspect they are obligate coral eaters ).

I am also thinking what about a commet grouper? I know that shrimp may be on the menu for these guys, but I am not so worried about shrimps to be honest. I n my experience they spend most of their time hiding anyway.

Trigger - yeah, I think I'll axe him from the list. Principlally on bioload. 1 reason to axe it is enough - so consider it gone.

So, the new potential short list is (let me reiterate - this is not necessarily the stocking list):

- navarchus or regal angel
- yellow long nose butterfly
- achillies tang OR regal/hippo tang
- dwarf angel (cherub, coral beauty, or flame)
- mandarin
- flame hawkfish
- filefish
- commet grouper
- genicanthus angel

Thanks

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Both the watanabei and female bellus Genicanthus angels are blue or have blue coloration and are the most beautiful of the genus IMO. Perhaps one of these could replace the hippo on your list. This genus also pairs up easily compared to most other angels and you could do a pair and skip the other dwarves.

The longnose harlequin filefish, Oxymonacanthus longirostris is the fish you are talking about and is an obligate coral eater. There are a handful of people including a few here at RC that have kept this fish and weaned it to other food but its nearly impossible to keep. The file I am keeping is the orangetail filefish, Pervagor melanocephalus, and I love this fish. A lot of files can be very destructive in a reef but I have had good luck with this species so far. The other species I've kept was the aiptasia eating filefish, Acreichthys tomentosus and I had good luck regarding reef safety as well. Both of these stay fairly small (under 4") but many files can grow to trigger size and be just as destructive.

I like the comet (marine beta) as well but they will get shrimps sooner or later. Not the most colorful fish but interesting and unusual coloration and behavior.

 

[treylane]

Have you looked into yellow/black pyramid butterflies? They're close to reef-safe, get to a good size and are quite pretty.

 

[mattsilvester]

Kahuna - I've never seen the watanabei in the flesh..... time to go hunting to see how "blue" they are. Sounds like a great substitute though. Thanks

treylane - I saw a few pyramids the other day. They were quite big, and quite dull - although I suspect they would colour up very quickly? Are they a "uniform" species i.e. all colour up the same, kind of like a yellow tang?

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

The Watanabei's are nowhere near as blue as the hippo tang to be sure but a beautiful fish, the pic I posted is from a trio for sale at live Aquaria and the colors are pretty close to what you see in the pic. The males are a more intense blue and have those beautiful stripes on the body. They are however one of the touchier Genicanthus, most being collected in deeper water.