Aggressive Stocking

[jgross1]

I am currently planning a large aggressive tank system (~650g 120"x40"x31"). The tank will be entirely in-wall and will be visible from both sides. I am planning on having about 10 fish with some softies and maybe some really tough LPS. This is the stocking scheme that I am currently considering.

2 x eels
2 x lions
1 x tusk fish
1 x coral grouper
2 x large hawk
2 x large wrasses

And maybe a domino damsel, but that is still up for grabs. I am just looking for advise on this proposed scheme. Since I won´t be able to maintain any cleanup crew I am going to try very aggressive skimming and a very large refugarium, probably ~80g with algae scrubbing. I am looking for more ideas to help keep the nutrient load down. The other concern that I am still trying to resolve is the issue of the cover. I need a lid that will keep my fish from jumping ship, but that will still be moveable, and won´t interfere with the plumbing or disrupt the lighting too much. I would really appreciate the advise of anyone who is already running a tank like this to help me resolve these issues. Thanks

 

[D659600]

A sohal tang or clown tang will help keep alage in check. what kind of eels are you thinking about? As far as the lid goes I have been trying to come up with the same thing and I am leaning towards egg crate. Well I think that is what it is called
It is that white plastic stuff that most LFS put SPS in to display. It would be perfect for air circ., no fish or eels jumping ship, and if you add any extra powerheads the cords can go through the little square holes.

 

[jgross1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8558584#post8558584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by D659600
A sohal tang or clown tang will help keep alage in check. what kind of eels are you thinking about? As far as the lid goes I have been trying to come up with the same thing and I am leaning towards egg crate. Well I think that is what it is called
It is that white plastic stuff that most LFS put SPS in to display. It would be perfect for air circ., no fish or eels jumping ship, and if you add any extra powerheads the cords can go through the little square holes.

The only eel that I want for sure is a Jeweled Moray (Muraena lentiginosa). I think that with this big of a tank it shouldn´t be a problem. The other one I haven´t really decided on, but it will have to be another that is pretty large because I don´t want the Jeweled eating it. Do you have any suggestions?

That is a great idea with the eggcrate. The only thing that I migh have to do is weigh it down a little bit or there is a chance that the bigger critters will be able to move it. If I did it in 3 or 4 weighted sections it would be easy to work with and the fish couldn´t get out. That should work. Thanks alot.

 

[jgross1]

Also, if I went for one of those larger tangs, would there be any compatability issues with the other fis in the tank. I know that I would definetely have to get rid of the domino, but would there be problems with the wrasses or the tusk?

 

[D659600]

The Jewel that I have is a spunky little SOB, he bites anything that gets near his mouth-fish and fingers- Hes only a baby about 7 inches now. I still love him to death. I had to put him in my 210 with 2 other eels and he got in the Brazilian moray hole and "stepped up" on him, he is 2 foot . So I removed him as soon as I could get his temp. home cycled. Damn tank cycled 5 times, after the first 3 times of moving and stressing everyone out I said screw it and let it be the way it wanted to be. Sorry, I am rambling. If I was going to pair and eel with my jewel it would have to be one of the following: whitemouth moray, yellowmouth moray, yellow moray, or woodward moray. The last three are rare and new, big $....down side to everything

The tang issue really depends on what kind of tusk and wrasse you will be putting in the tank. The domino you might not have to get rid of. I have one with my 2 triggers -blue line and clown- and he is pals with my blue line and pesters the clown. Each time the clown goes for him the blue line stops it.

 

[deionized]

you wont have much activity in that tank at all, the wrasses are the only swimmers you are considering
a few pilot fish would bring a ton of life to that tank, maybe some lookdowns

 

[jgross1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8559843#post8559843 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by D659600

The tang issue really depends on what kind of tusk and wrasse you will be putting in the tank. The domino you might not have to get rid of. I have one with my 2 triggers -blue line and clown- and he is pals with my blue line and pesters the clown. Each time the clown goes for him the blue line stops it.

I am thinking about a Harlequin Tusk and a Formosa Wrasse. I figure with those I am going to need a pretty big tang, but I guess the Sohal and Clown tangs both get big enough that it shouldn't be a problem. The other question that I had about all of these fish is if any of them will bother some softies and LPS in the tank?

 

[jgross1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8560535#post8560535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deionized
you wont have much activity in that tank at all, the wrasses are the only swimmers you are considering
a few pilot fish would bring a ton of life to that tank, maybe some lookdowns

That sounds like a great idea. I don't currently know anyone who is keeping lookdowns. I know that they are schoolers, but how many do you need to keep them happy? I agree that the tank will need some more movement and this might be just the thing.

 

[D659600]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8561511#post8561511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jgross1
I am thinking about a Harlequin Tusk and a Formosa Wrasse. I figure with those I am going to need a pretty big tang, but I guess the Sohal and Clown tangs both get big enough that it shouldn't be a problem. The other question that I had about all of these fish is if any of them will bother some softies and LPS in the tank?

I have never tried to keep a tang in a reef. I like tiny small fish in a reef. But, I think that might bother some softies and clams. I know mine like to eat clam for dinner, but they are pigs. I have seen a sohal in a reef with some sps and very few lps. Sorry cant help to much there.
Are you going to start with juvi or go straight to show size? I am thinking if you start with smaller size you can get away with more. Meaning if the corals are in there when certain fish are introduced most of time they will not bother them. Angels are like that. So I think tangs are the same way. I think that it is just more of a personality thing, each fish is different from the same. Doesnt make to much sense. :rollface:
Good luck and keep us all informed.

 

[deionized]

tangs are reef safe, they are into the vegies more then anything else (this is why most people go with them as many are aggressive algae grazers)
well acclimated fish will eat anyting you drop into the tank, but this has little to do with prefrence and more to do with competition -the fish are thinking 'if i dont eat that the next guy will and i cant have that' and they race to eat as much as possible
however; many reef safe fish will eat corals, if the coral is in destress

lookdowns do school, but they also grow to the size of dinner plates, your tank should hold between 4 and 6 with no problem -remember this: those flat little guys are eating machines, i dont know where they put the food they eat but man do they put it away

 

[jgross1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8565783#post8565783 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by D659600
I have never tried to keep a tang in a reef. I like tiny small fish in a reef. But, I think that might bother some softies and clams. I know mine like to eat clam for dinner, but they are pigs. I have seen a sohal in a reef with some sps and very few lps. Sorry cant help to much there.
Are you going to start with juvi or go straight to show size? I am thinking if you start with smaller size you can get away with more. Meaning if the corals are in there when certain fish are introduced most of time they will not bother them. Angels are like that. So I think tangs are the same way. I think that it is just more of a personality thing, each fish is different from the same. Doesnt make to much sense. :rollface:
Good luck and keep us all informed.

My game plan right now is to start setting up the system this summer. I want to let it cycle for about 3-5 months to fully establish the refugarium and make any adjustments to the system. That way if I have to replumb anything than I won't end up killing something. I have never attempted a completely in-wall tank like this and I want some lee-way to deal with unforseeable problems. Then I plan on moving in the softies and LPS over about a year period because I am not going to have the daily time to devote to finicky fish.

When I have the time I want to introduce th fish slowly, as juvis, until I get to the stocking level that I want. I think that way I can minimize the impact the fish will have on the corals, and the aggressiveness that they will show each other.

 

[jgross1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8566544#post8566544 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deionized

lookdowns do school, but they also grow to the size of dinner plates, your tank should hold between 4 and 6 with no problem -remember this: those flat little guys are eating machines, i dont know where they put the food they eat but man do they put it away

That was about what I thought. I am going to have to be careful with the corals that I want because I think that it is going to be difficult to keep the nutrient levels down in this system. I plan on using a myreefcreations MR-6 skimmer, which is rated at 1250g. There will also be the 80g algae-scrubbing refugarium in a 150g sump system. And in the show tank I am thinking 3-4" sand bed (for the wrasse) and a sizeable quantity of live rock. I just was wondering what everyone thinks about that scheme. Will it be sufficient or am I going to need to take more drastic measures?