150g stocking help

[Spacekitty]

okay, so with the intended fish purchases thread still being down, I am just going to post this here to get initial feedback until I can post it up there.

As someone that has only dealt with nano tanks for saltwater, I have no clue whatsoever how many fish I can stock in this tank, so if I have too many, just tell me. These are just the fish that interest me.

The tank will be a 150g display tank with a 45g sump that has a refugium section. It will be a sand bottom (unsure of depth yet) with at least 150lbs of rock.

Will have a good QT protocol that will include 1 week settle in time, TTM, and possibly a treatment of Prazi, followed by more observation time.

Will be an all snail cuc unless I add an urchin as well. Not doing crabs or shrimp.

Will have a cover of some sort, probably mesh, to avoid carpet surfing fish.

Fish I am very interested in
2x Clownfish (occelaris or percula)
Helfrichi Firefish
Bartlett's Anthias
Black Cap Basslet
Starry Blenny
2x Bengaii Cardinalfish
2x Blue Reef Chromis
2x Flame Hawkfish
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse
Scott's Fairy Wrasse
One Spot Foxface
Purple Tang
Green Mandarin (after a year or so)

Fish I am interested in if I have the space/if they are compatible
Marine Betta
Blue Velvet Damselfish
Orchid Dottyback
2x Yasha White Ray Shrimp Goby w/ Pistol Shrimp (if no Marine Betta)

So here are my current questions.
1. This seems like a lot of fish. Most of them are small, but is this too many?
2. Are the Wrasses okay with the eventual addition of the Mandarin? The Mandarin is my favorite fish, so if pod competition is too much, I don't need the Wrasses, I just really like the color they provide. Are any of the other fish an issue with the Mandarin?
3. I have heard the Marine Betta will eat small fish. Will I have any issues with the fish I have planned? Like the look of the betta, but its not needed if it will cause problems.
4. Am I going to have issues with the aggression of the damsel or the dottyback in this size tank?
5. If the Marine Betta is a no-go, are the shrimp gobies compatible with this list?
6. I eventually want to add a clam. Are any of the fish going to not work with a clam?
7. I intend for this to be a mixed reef tank. Are any of the above fish known coral eaters?
8. Are there any other issues I have overlooked?
9. If anything doesn't work, are there any other suggested fish?

That being said, I wish I had the money for a Gem Tang instead of that Purple Tang, but a $3000 fish is a little rich for my blood.

Always open to suggestions

 

[thegrun]

I would stop at your very interested list, that's a pretty heavy load all by itself. A lot depends upon how well your maintenance program is adhered to.

 

[Spacekitty]

I would stop at your very interested list, that's a pretty heavy load all by itself. A lot depends upon how well your maintenance program is adhered to.

I am pretty good about adhering to a maintenance schedule, but I could cut down on the list for sure. I don't want the bio load to be a problem. Let me rework the list minus a few fish and see what I come up with.

 

[Spacekitty]

Would removing the 2 cardinalfish, the 2 chromis, and one or both of the clowns help? I like them, but not too attached to the concept of them

 

[SecretiveFish]

2x Clownfish (occelaris or percula) - Occelaris tend to be less aggressive so would go with those
Helfrichi Firefish - This may be a fish that the marine betta could eat with its slender body
Bartlett's Anthias - Fine if you can feed multiple times a day
Black Cap Basslet - Have always wanted one of these and would be fine
Starry Blenny - This is my favorite blenny by far
2x Bengaii Cardinalfish - OK
2x Blue Reef Chromis - From what I understand (have not had these), these are not very attractive as adults and can be aggressive
2x Flame Hawkfish - Hawkfish are another favorite of mine!
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse - OK
Scott's Fairy Wrasse - OK
One Spot Foxface - I ended up trading mine in because he was a total spaz that was freaking out all the other fish. Any movement in the room and this fish would dash and crash behind the rockwork. He was a total food hog as well. After my poor experience, I have not wanted one. I have seen mixed reviews, some people have had my experience while others have a more sedate fish.
Purple Tang - Can be quite aggressive, add last
Green Mandarin (after a year or so) - I was not able to keep one fed on our 150 with no competition and a refugium. This is not a fish I want to keep again although they are beautiful.

Marine Betta - I LOVE MINE! However, I never kept really small fish or firefish with him.
Blue Velvet Damselfish - IMHO, I would not. If/When the fish becomes a problem it will be very hard to catch!
Orchid Dottyback - IMHO, I would not. If/When the fish becomes a problem it will be very hard to catch!
2x Yasha White Ray Shrimp Goby w/ Pistol Shrimp (if no Marine Betta) - From what I understand, these are hidey fish and with more active/aggressive fish you will probably never see these.

1. This seems like a lot of fish. Most of them are small, but is this too many?
I think it is too many fish, but I tend to stock low to moderate. I am only planning to put 10 fish in my 150.
2. Are the Wrasses okay with the eventual addition of the Mandarin? The Mandarin is my favorite fish, so if pod competition is too much, I don't need the Wrasses, I just really like the color they provide. Are any of the other fish an issue with the Mandarin?
I do not think the mandarin will get enough food with any wrasse. As I mentioned, with no wrasse in my 150 mine still was not getting enough food.
3. I have heard the Marine Betta will eat small fish. Will I have any issues with the fish I have planned? Like the look of the betta, but its not needed if it will cause problems.
I would worry about the firefish or a goby with the Yasha goby body type. Otherwise, I would not be worried.
4. Am I going to have issues with the aggression of the damsel or the dottyback in this size tank?
I think so but have not tried it because after having to disassemble the rockwork multiple times, I no longer take risks like this. I don't want to take this tank apart again...
5. If the Marine Betta is a no-go, are the shrimp gobies compatible with this list?
I don't know.
6. I eventually want to add a clam. Are any of the fish going to not work with a clam?
A clam should be fine with this fish list.
7. I intend for this to be a mixed reef tank. Are any of the above fish known coral eaters?
Foxface may pick at corals, otherwise no.
8. Are there any other issues I have overlooked?
I think you may have mixed a couple too peaceful of fish with too boisterous fish. Again, I think that is too many fish for a tank this size, but others will disagree.


ETA: I have no idea where the sad face came from and I can't seem to get rid of it!

 

[Spacekitty]

Updated list:
Helfrichi firefish
Bartletts Anthias
Black Cap Basslet
Starry Blenny
2x Flame Hawkfish
McCoskers Flasher Wrasse
Scott's Fairy Wrasse
One Spot Foxface
Purple Tang
Green Mandarin (if I feel like I can get enough of a pod population to support it and find one that also eats frozen foods to supplement it)

Ditching all the other fish because it's just too much.

Does that sound any better?

 

[SecretiveFish]

That list looks good!

 

[nuxx]

Seems pretty good

 

[Spacekitty]

150g stocking help

I have also decided on setting up a separate fuge as well to try and really keep the pod count up. Going to have the small one in the sump and then have a separate tank for a display fuge and shove some sand, ton of rock, and some pretty macro algae in there. Going to make it as big as I can fit in the space I have to work with.
I just need to figure how to properly connect it to my system without flooding my house, but I will make a separate thread for that.

 

[stingeragent]

Damsels do fine in big tanks

 

[lilyep125]

I would be wary of having the mandarin even with a decent pod population. If you wait to add him he will likely be picked on by other fish and they are shy to begin with. If you add him early he wont have enough food

 

[Bent]

I would be wary of having the mandarin even with a decent pod population. If you wait to add him he will likely be picked on by other fish and they are shy to begin with. If you add him early he wont have enough food

So far my rescue mandarin has been fine. I have 90 total gallons and pods the size of my pinky nail in the fuge.


No one picks on him and he doesn't seem to have a care in the world. Granted the only thing I have that's supposed to be aggressive is a red head Solon. But mine is a gigantic slug who does nothing all day long. He's never looked at the mandarin.

 

[Spacekitty]

I would be wary of having the mandarin even with a decent pod population. If you wait to add him he will likely be picked on by other fish and they are shy to begin with. If you add him early he wont have enough food

He would likely still be early on the list tbh. My current income and budget will have these fish added slowly over years. All of the more aggressive fish would be added after him, even if I did wait a year to add him.