Another Stocking List

[ZenGuitarGuy]

Hey everybody, just wanted to get some feedback about my potential stocking list. I am a couple weeks away from getting the tank set up, so no commitments have been made. I am interested in (1) general compatibility, a (2) what order to introduce them, and (3) challenge.

The system is a 65G FOWLR, Reef Octopus 100 skimmer, 2 x Jager 150 W heaters, TLF Phosban reactor, 2 x Hydor 850, and I will be running carbon as needed. I have no plans to add corals.

Fish I'm considering, not necessarily all of them of course:
Marine Betta
Snowflake Eel
Coral beauty or other dwarf angel
Valentini or other small puffer
Tomini tang
Flasher wrasse or other wrasse

I'm assuming the eel would be last to introduce, and I'd aim for the smallest eel I can get, relative to the other fish.

Thanks in advance...Martin.

 

[scooter31707]

I would skip the tang for that size tank. IMO, the flasher wrasse would be in danger of becoming a snack for the Betta and Eel. Also with the Betta, they are known to be hard to get eating and they are also nocturnal feeders which can also pose a challenge. I had one couple years back, and did not like it, as he was in the rocks the whole time until the lights went off.

 

[ZenGuitarGuy]

Thanks. Is there another wrasse you'd recommend?

Sent from my E2306 using Tapatalk

 

[scooter31707]

IMO, I think one from the Halichoeres species will do a little better with that stocklist.

 

[SecretiveFish]

I disagree that the marine betta will eat the flasher wrasse... that is unless the flasher wrasse is quite small! I have a smallish Vrolick's fairy wrasse with my marine betta with no problems.

I have had problems with a Halichoeres Melanurus wrasse in my 65g. He killed one of my fish, harassed everyone, and was well on his way to eating all my clean up crew. I ended up taking him to the LFS with full disclosure. My previous wrasse was an angel that I had several years so it is so fish dependent! Fish in the Halichoeres family are beautiful, but I am steering clear of them unless I set up a FOWLR.

I don't know much about eels, but would the snowflake eel be a problem with the marine betta? Marine Bettas are slow, deliberate swimmers that I would be concerned that an eel would grab.

Valentini puffers are quite cool but will enjoy eating any cleanup crew. Is that a problem for you?

Have you looked at filefish? I had an orange tail filefish that was so cool, but he was not reef safe! This one is on my someday FOWLR list.

 

[BrianD]

I have had problems with a Halichoeres Melanurus wrasse in my 65g. He killed one of my fish, harassed everyone, and was well on his way to eating all my clean up crew.

I had a similar experience, and would never have another one.

 

[ZenGuitarGuy]

Valentini puffers are quite cool but will enjoy eating any cleanup crew. Is that a problem for you?

With the eel and puffer, I assumed I wouldn't have a CUC at all.