260 Reef Stocking list - need opinions -

Xubar

Xubar

New member
I'll be starting a 260 reef soon and want to have some colorful fish in there as well. I want to be able to add ANY type of coral later on...

Below is the start of my fish-list for the setup.

Let me know if you see any that won't work well together. Also, if you see that I need more than one of any off the list - OR - could add some other cheap colorful peaceful fish.

Here's the list so far:

Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Green Mandarinfish
False Percula Clownfish
Black Percula Clownfish
Flame Angelfish
Lawnmower Blenny
(3) Blue-green Chromis
Firefish Goby
Royal Gramma
 
Although many people have no trouble with angels in reefs, they are definitely hit-or-miss with corals. If you want to be absolutely sure you won't have coral-nipping, I'd leave out the flame angel.
 
Your tank will look very empty IMO with only those fish in a 260. I would swap out the Blue Tang and the Yellow tang for larger specimens (i.e. sohal, naso). Actually you could leave the blue tang if you want to with the larger specimens.

(3) Blue-Green Chromis - you will be waisting your time with only 3. You will not get the pretty schooling effect most are looking for with these fish. You need somewhere more around 15-20. Unless you just like the fish for what it is by itself.

Otherwise your selection is fine. Just remember that you need to make sure your tank is very mature and teaming with copeopods before you add a mandarin. Not saying they don't survive without them, just that they do better and have a better survival rate with them.
 
Yes, I'm wanting the schooling effect from the chromis. I'll bump my number to 10.

I have a 5-6" mimic tang that I could add to it. I really want the blue and yellow tangs in there. Would all three get along in a 260?

Are flame angels known to pick at stuff?
 
To answer your question, Yes the three tangs would get along just fine in there. I would add them all at the same time or the Yellow last. Some flame angels pick just as some Coral Beauties nip on corals. If someone suggests one over the other, that's only based on their own personal experience so you have to decide what you like better appearance wise. I have had experience with Coral Beauties and FLame Angels and I got lucky both times as neither of them nipped, but right now I have a Flame that also doesn't even look at my corals. I picked the flame because I love their vibrant colors.
 
Theres a very good chance a majestic will pick at corals. I know that some people keep them in reefs, but the angel could turn any time.If you want an angel look at some of the Genicanthus angels. They have the best chance of not picking at stuff. Most are good sized also and would fill the tank. Some wrasses would also look very nice. You could do almost any fairy/flasher wrasse. I got a pair of McCoskers and I really like them. A good sized harem would look nicer than some chromis I think. Some of the fairy wrasses get good sized and would fill up the tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12173738#post12173738 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cmlloveless
Your tank will look very empty IMO with only those fish in a 260. I would swap out the Blue Tang and the Yellow tang for larger specimens (i.e. sohal, naso). Actually you could leave the blue tang if you want to with the larger specimens.
Click to expand...

I think those tangs are fine as well you could do another tang. I would stay way from a naso or sohal tangs though. But get really big even for a 260 gallon. A Sohal will also become mean and nasty.
 
I would avoid all angels in a reef except for Genicanthus genus. Its just too much like russian roulette.
I also agree that a Naso and Sohal will get too big for a 260g but your other tang choices will be fine.
Wait a few months before adding the mandarin to enable your pod population to develop.
The chromis will kill each other off until you only have a few left so not worth adding IMO.
 
Here's what I'm looking at now:

Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Mimic Tang
False Percula Clownfish
Black Percula Clownfish
Lawnmower Blenny
(10) Blue-green Chromis
(4) Firefish Goby
Royal Gramma
Green Mandarinfish
 
Well, I really don't want anyone killing anyone else!

Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Mimic Tang
False Percula Clownfish
Black Percula Clownfish
Lawnmower Blenny
(5) Blue-green Chromis
(4) Firefish Goby
Royal Gramma
Green Mandarinfish

The only reason I'm keeping the chormis on the list, is because I currently have a 3" one in a 150 and he's really active. I think it'd be awesome to see several of them school together around the 260. I've reduced their number to 5.

Would a Flame Hawkfish be ok to add to the list??
 
Wow if i were you id have a seriously stacked thats kind of little for a 260G although thats fine. But, i personally would go with a different types of wrasses and tangs. Like achillies,sohal, nasos, fairys, flashers and so on. Note that if you trying to add many wrasses add from least aggressive to most aggressive.
 
Flame hawkfish are one of my favourite reef fishes. Beautiful and highly entertaining. They have the potential to eat shrimp but thats a fair trade off IMO
 
JazzZero's suggestion of an achilles would be good as long as it is added well before any other Tangs. The idea of also adding a sohal is not so good as it will get to big and destroy the achilles.
 
final list (maybe, until wife sees it....)

final list (maybe, until wife sees it....)

How bout this:

- Blue Tang
- Purple Tang
- Yellow Tang
- Mimic Tang
- False Percula Clownfish
- Black Percula Clownfish
- Lawnmower Blenny
- (5) Blue-green Chromis
- (4) Firefish Goby (will go purple if I can afford to)
- Royal Gramma
- Flame Hawkfish
- Green Mandarinfish

I added a purple tang..
 
Along with the fish, I'd like to add the following:

Cerity Snails x30
Nassarius Snails x25
Nerite Snails x25
Queen Conch x4
Mexican Turbo Snails x20
Blue Leg Hermit Crabs x20
Mexican Red Leg Hermits x30
Cleaner Shrimp x4
Pepermint Shrimp x3

Any problems?
 
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