Another stocklist proposal

[flashyleopard]

I have been rethinking my stock list and overall plans for my display. I am getting the tank this week, so I have at least 6 months, before anything will go into the tank, but I like to plan ahead. The display is going to be 72''X18''X24'' or a 150 long and I will have at least a 55 gallon sump. Skimmer will be one of the $400 or so models and I am narrowing it down, but probably going with C&C marine. In other words it will be decent, but not the most expensive. I am planning on a moderate liverock amount of about 150lbs or so grouped near the back and sides to allow for a clean and open front view. A shallow bed of fresh live sand will be used in the display and about a 20 gallon remote DSB will be in the sump, with chaeto.
I just want to bounce my stocklist off of those with more experience and take suggestions, I am including my invertebrate list as well, but not corals. I will be doing a mixed reef with a dozen or so sps, like montipora, acros, pocillopora, and seriatopora, and few odds and ends, like brains, fungia, gorgonians, zoos, rics, and so forth. I have researched the fishes needs and am aware that the butterfly has specialized feeding habits and isn't always reef safe. I have read up on how to get them feeding and feel confident enough. I have also taken into account the competition for pods amongst some of the fish and with that considered, there will be a pod filled refugium available for the mandarin, if need be, so no worries there. I am also aware that the firefish don't always coexist as a trio, but I have had luck in the past and there is always the option to relocate, if problems occur. I'm also aware that some of my possible tang choices aren't the most hardy and are ick prone....all fish will be properly quarentined, before being added. I am also aware of the jumpers. I know the stocking levels are a little high, but I stuck with smaller fish of low bioload for the most part, so am hoping it is practical.
Other than those concerns, please let me know your experience/ opinion about stocking levels and compatability. Any alternative suggestions are welcomed, but I am trying to keep everything Indo-Pacific. Thanks

Fish:
1 false percula clown(tank-bred)
3 leopard wrasse (either meleagris or bipartitus)
2 banggaii cardinals (tank-bred)
1 of the following (help decide which) , powder brown tang, CBB or marginalis butterfly, or bristle tooth tang
1 green mandarin
1 tailspot blenny( would consider another algae eating blenny here)
1 red striped hog
5 long spined cardinals
3 red or purple firefish(which color?)(would consider three yellow-tailed damsels instead)

Inverts:
5 fire shrimp
3 cleaner shrimp
3 anemone shrimp
2 bubbletipped anenomes
10 dwarf zebra hermits
10 electric blue hermits
10 halloween hermits
10 yellow tipped hermits
3 serpent stars
2 yellow sand sifting cucumbers(supposed to be non toxic)
1 yellow netted fromia
10 cerith snails
10 nassarius snails
5 trochus snails
5 turbin snails
5 top crown snails
5 zebra turbos
3 tropical abalones
3 fighting conchs
1 blue tuxedo urchin
6 tridacna clams (cocea and maxima)

 

[urbor]

why wouldnt you get a pair of clowns that the great part of owning clowns is watching them hang out together

im pretty sure ablones are nearly impossible to keep

and for the urchin i would only get one if you dont mind picking up rocks that fall down(mine always knocked over coral and such)
and i have heard of them sratching acrylic tanks

i would go for the powder brown although they can be aggressive i dont think it would matter beacuse that would be your only tang

 

[snorvich]

3 firefish are likely to end up as one unless you get lucky and two are a mated pair. Copperbanded butterflies are problematical as far as survival. If this is FOWLR, red sea raccoons are superb, if reef, yellow pyramids are reef safe and very hearty. Long spined cardinals are excellent but ship poorly; once acclimated they are very hearty.

 

[flashyleopard]

Thanks for the input. I have considered the issues with the CBB and am well prepared. I am also prepared to watch the firefish for signs of bullying and relocate, if needed. I think keeping 2 clowns is a great idea, but I fear the aggression in the display, if they spawn. No one though this was overstocked...I'm glad, b/c I was sweating it...lol It is so hard to occupy all levels of the tank, have all fish compatible, have all fish be reef safe, and not overstock. I like a lot of fish and in different colors and shaped to truley represent the possibilities on a reef.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, two clowns, once sexually differentiated and breeding can be a problem.

 

[mrp2g]

My exp. with cardinals is that they slowly deplete in numbers. mixing can be problematic.

 

[flashyleopard]

Seems as though most schoolers have that trouble. Are you saying they just die off or do they kill eachother off, like chromis? I like anthias as a schooler, but my research indicates the need for several feedings a day and that they are not the most hardy. I also think of them as more of a surface schooler and less of the ''reef'' schooler, than the cardinals. I may toss in a trio of some of the less difficult ones in the end anyway. I also like the McKoskers wrasses, but again, less of a ''reef'' schooler and it is nearly impossible to find a female. I'll keep an eye on the cardinals for agression and remove any bullys, until the bullied have a chance to to shift in size or hierarchy, then ad the bullies back and see what happens, if there is an issue. I would hope, in a 150, they can avoid murdering one another for the sake of my vision

 

[flashyleopard]

There area a few other nice flasher wrasses that have females available. Think I can get away with a trio, with my above stocklist? I know they are small, but I thought I was already at the limit of my stocking potential.

 

[snorvich]

Flasher wrasses and firefish are problematical to the firefish. I have 10 long spine cardinals with no issues whatsoever.

 

[flashyleopard]

Good news in regards to the long spine cardinals. i could always replace the firefish with the 3 damsels, if that would be a better mix.