240 gallon stocking

[AdamSabina]

I just got a new display tank that will be going up in February I hope. The issue is I have no clue what I want, because I want everything! Currently I have:

2 black ice SA clown (MUST STAY)
1 snowflake clown (will be selling)
1 bicolor blenny (will sell/give because he's a *****)
4 lyartail anthias (good looking)
1 Yellow tang (Not really attached at all)

Things I like:

Fairy wrasses
Wrasses in general (big is better, but want reef safe)
Nano tang
Convict tang
White tail bristle tooth tang
Regal tang
Mandarin dragonet
Trigger fish (dangerous I know)
Dwarf Angel fish (not likely to ever add, but wife LOVES)

Dislikes:
ANY DAMSEL (including chromis)
Most cardinal fish (the NEVER move, about as exciting as a rock)

On the fense:
Most gobies (hard to see in big tanks, I though it died for 8 months I never saw it then it showed up!.)

 

[mpcart]

I have a new 240 and am going through the same thing. I'm coming from a smaller tank so this was my first opportunity to have "bigger" fish.

I'm taking it slow but so far have a magnificent foxface, a yellow eye kole tang, and a yellow tang. They are getting along great and constantly hang out in a little group. I did a lot of research on the tangs and decided to stick with ones better suited to smaller tanks (mine is 5ft long and 3 ft wide) so the last tang will probably be a hippo to satisfy the kids.

I then want a pair of clowns and an RBTA, a dwarf angel of some sort, and a couple wrasses.

Good luck.

-Mike

 

[AdamSabina]

I have a new 240 and am going through the same thing. I'm coming from a smaller tank so this was my first opportunity to have "bigger" fish. I'm taking it slow but so far have a magnificent foxface, a yellow eye kole tang, and a yellow tang. They are getting along great and constantly hang out in a little group. I did a lot of research on the tangs and decided to stick with ones better suited to smaller tanks (mine is 5ft long and 3 ft wide) so the last tang will probably be a hippo to satisfy the kids. I then want a pair of clowns and an RBTA, a dwarf angel of some sort, and a couple wrasses. Good luck. -Mike

Where did you do your research on the tangs? I'm not a huge tang person but the do serve a purpose in a big tanks. I always seem to have aggression issues though and might like them more if they weren't problem children.

 

[ca1ore]

FWIW, my stock plan for my 265 (7ft long tank).

Have in the main display(21 fish):

Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Purple Tang
Pajama Cardinals (3)
Bartlett Anthias (3)
Dusky Wrasse
Meleagris Leopard Wrasse, Female
Yellow Tail Damsel
Green Chromis (2, on the way to 1)
Splendid Dottyback (mean little bugger)
Ocellaris Clowns (a spawning pair)
Green Mandarin
Orange Diamond Watchman Goby
Flame Angel
Potters Angel

Have in the display refugium (3 fish; temporarily):

Bipartitus Leopard Wrasse (3; one male, two females)

In various stages of QT:

Desjardini Sailfin Tang
Pyramid Butteflyfish - started with 7 (now 5) but having some issues so will be happy to have 3 make it through.
Carpenter's Wrasse (male)

Clearly I have no self-control when it comes to buying fish

I would also like to add:

Achilles Tang - a DEFINITE!
Bartletts Anthias - three more females
Chevron Tang - a maybe
Swales Basslet - may be a problem with the Dottyback
Chalk Bass Goup - may be a problem with the Dottyback

What size is your 240? 96x24-24? Sticky here at RC on tanks for tangs is a good resource to help decide what is keep-able, comfortably

 

[mpcart]

Where did you do your research on the tangs? I'm not a huge tang person but the do serve a purpose in a big tanks. I always seem to have aggression issues though and might like them more if they weren't problem children.

My research was hours and hours of reading tang threads on RC and other sites plus talking to a lot of the guys in my local club. At the end of the day, I came to the conclusion that for a tank of the length and volume of mine, I would stick with the smaller size tangs. I then just read up on the different types and found a couple that seemed to be less aggressive than others - basically, just tried to error on the side of caution.

For example, I love the naso tangs and I know that people keep them in all sizes of tanks, but I decided my tank was too small.

So far, the three fish I mentioned hang out together, they follow each other around and pick at the same rocks. So far, so good.

-Mike

 

[AdamSabina]

This sounds great! You mind if I start by copying your list?

FWIW, my stock
plan for my 265 (7ft long tank). Have in the main display(21 fish): Hippo Tang Yellow Tang Purple Tang Pajama Cardinals (3) Bartlett Anthias (3) Dusky Wrasse Meleagris Leopard Wrasse, Female Yellow Tail Damsel Green Chromis (2, on the way to 1) Splendid Dottyback (mean little bugger) Ocellaris Clowns (a spawning pair) Green Mandarin Orange Diamond Watchman Goby Flame Angel Potters Angel

 

[AdamSabina]

[QUOTE="For example, I love the naso tangs and I know that people keep them in all sizes of tanks, but I decided my tank was too small. [/QUOTE]

Dang I was really wanting a naso :-(. Time to start reading. I think I'll make a stock list by order I should add them this time. Might help so I can actually stick to the list this time.

 

[ca1ore]

This sounds great! You mind if I start by copying your list?

By all means, though in retrospect I'd skip the Dottyback and wait until your tank has matured a bit before adding pod-eating fish like Leopard Wrasses and a Mandarin.

 

[AdamSabina]

By all means, though in retrospect I'd skip the Dottyback and wait until your tank has matured a bit before adding pod-eating fish like Leopard Wrasses and a Mandarin.

I have every intention of skipping the dotty back. I'm going to dose the tank with pods at the beginning to get the pod populations up before adding the mandarin and I'll wait on the leopard wrasse.

 

[caribfan]

Do you plan on keeping Corals? Any reason there aren't many butterflies in your stocking list?

 

[AdamSabina]

Do you plan on keeping Corals? Any reason there aren't many butterflies in your stocking list?

It will be primarily SPS, LPS, with zoa garden, and 2-3 BTAs. So I can't do butterflys :-( the dwarf angels will be very boarder line but the are so beautiful.