75 Gallon FOWLR Stocking Plan

[memorysan]

O.K., stand by with the torches...you can flame me soon...

I have done a little research and decided what I want for stocking my 75 Gallon FOWLR with 35 gallon refugium / sump, and more than 75 pounds of rock.

Admittedly, most of my research to this point has been in setting up the aquarium, and not a lot of time spent on what to stock it with.

I know I want to have a Manderin Dragonet somewhere down the line (not any time soon...see below). This will be the main fish for my planning purposes.

My thinking was for a bunch (9) of peaceful to semi aggressive, small fish that can live together, rather than very few large, aggressive fish.

Stocking:

Manderin Dragonet (main focus...love this fish)
Coral Beauty Dwarf Angelfish (beautiful fish)
Flame Hawkfish (I've heard lots of good reviews on this fish)
Pair of Ocellaris Clownfish (also necessary, for the kids..."look, Nemo")
4 Yellow Tail Damsels (I like the colors, and want a group of the same fish to work well together)
Copepods / Amphipods (mixed bottle of 1000+)

Wait...don't flame me yet...

1. I checked This Compatabality Chart and got "Y" for compatibility for all species with each other.

2. I understand that the Damsels can get a little crazy, but these are supposed to be the least aggressive, and even calmer in groups of 3-7 as apposed to by themselves....hence the stock list having 4 of these.

Wait a little longer with that torch...

Stocking plan:

1. Of course, nothing is added until the cycle is completed.

2. Once the cycle is completed, I would add the Pods (half in display and half in refugium) and the 2 Clowns.

3. After seeing the test kits read 0 again, add the Dwarf Angel and the Hawkfish (Dwarf Angel first).

4. After the test kits read 0 again, add the Damsels.

5. 6 months after the initial cycle is complete (tank is established well by then, water is stable, and the pods have had a lot of time to reproduce and become abundant) add the Manderin Dragonet.

I know it's not a good way to figure out anything....but...for those of you that count. It would be about 27" of fish full grown.

O.K., "flame on"...that sounds a little gay doesn't it?

 

[agreeive?fish]

Flame....(since thats what you asked for)...

now for my reply..i would ditch the damsels (personal opinion because i just dont like damsels)..

suggestion..ad some live rock and some rubble for the pods to have a place to keep on breeding when your mandy is wiping out the pod population..with out a safe place to keep thier levels up your mandy will wipe out his food supply in a short time

 

[LauraCline]

List looks ok to me but I would also ditch the damsels. They will bully everything including each other and are a pain to catch.

 

[Gdubb]

3rd to the no damsels

 

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

I also agree about the no-damsel thing. If you want a group of the same kind of fish, try a group of chromis. They are very peaceful and will add a lot of movement and color to your tank.

 

[dropped82]

i had a yellow tailed. I was told the same thing. He was my first fish and my last fish. I've had numerous supposedly aggressive fish and that yellow tailed was the worst out of all of them. I also say scratch the damsels.