Audit my livestock list - 600 gallon reef

[Jason B]

Hi All,

I purchased an entire set up about a month back. All of the fish on the list are now being held at a LFS while i get the system up and running. I am starting the tank as fish only but will transition to a mixed reef as soon as possible. Im assuming mostly softies and LPS first then SPS. I dont want to run into any issues with the fish that i introduce to the tank later on as i add coral so I would like as much input as possible on the livestock that i have and what i should sell to avoid moving to the tank.

Updated livestock list....
3 YELLOW TANGS
1 BLUE HIPPO TANG
1 PURPLE TANG
1 HYBRID ACHILLES TANG
1 BLONDE NASO TANG
1 UNICORN TANG
1 FRECKLED TANG
1 CHOCOLATE TANG
1 SAILFIN TANG
1 VLAMINGI TANG
1 MOORISH IDOL
1 HENIOCHUS
1 WATANABEI ANGELFISH
1 NIGER TRIGGER
1 ANNULARIS ANGEL
4 SKUNK CLOWNS
2 FOXFACE
1 MAGNIFICENT FOXFACE
1 RED CORIS WRASSE
1 MELANURUS WRASSE
1 PEARLY WRASSE (NOT SURE SPECIES)
1 HARLEQUIN TUSK
1 GREENE MANDERINE
FEW DAMSELS
1 RED SERPENT SEA STAR

Thanks,

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[piusma]

It seems like you have a heavy list of tangs and a few of them can grow quite large. It's hard to say if it will work out in the short run, but definitely will be a tough one in a long run.

Buddy has a 8'x3'x3' and is heavily stocked with tangs and angels. For the first 3 years, things were going okay. As the fish grow bigger, there are more aggression and a few mystery deaths every now and then. Fish are all big and fat and properly QT'ed with no obvious diseases. And we're talking about a 5 years old tank with no ick outbreak or anything like that.

His fish are not fully growth yet. However if he doesn't remove some of them, I'm sure there will be a few more losses and the fittest will survive.

Another question is how are you going to QT all these fish? If something went wrong, it'll be a very expensive lesson.

 

[Jason B]

Here is a video to get an idea of the sezes. He has had the in the tank for two years i believe. They all seem to be fat and happy. So as these fish grow/age you think i will run into issues between Tangs? Since they have been togather for a while i didnt think i would run into any issues with personalities. I figured thw biggest isseu would be keeping nitrate and phosphate levels in check.

https://vimeo.com/185749791

I do plan on quarentining them. I just picked up a 40g from petco and am planning out my QT process.

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[BigBlueTang]

Those Vlamingi and Unicorn tangs look HUGE! I highly doubt a 3' 40b will work for them. Look into getting a 125g 6' tank or at the least a 4' 75g.
Just saying, you already have some chasing in that tank.. Might be something to think about in the long run.

 

[Jason B]

Those Vlamingi and Unicorn tangs look HUGE! I highly doubt a 3' 40b will work for them. Look into getting a 125g 6' tank or at the least a 4' 75g.
Just saying, you already have some chasing in that tank.. Might be something to think about in the long run.

I was thinking i would need to go larger for some of the bigger tangs. There are a few places locally where i could pick up a larger tank. The $1 per gallon sale is on so i figured i would grab a 40g to use as an emergency QT tank or hospital tank.

My main concern was the species in the list and wheather they are considered "reef safe". I know it can vary from person to person based on experience as to whether or not the fish will pick at corals, but i want to play it on the safer side. What has been your experience with, for instance, the wrasses, trigger, and angel. I see muxed reviews on all of them.

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[ThRoewer]

Just one 40B??? You got to get a garage or basement full of them...

The trigger can be a problem - it will get big and can kill a large fish with one bite (not to mention that he can also easily bite a finger off).

I would also seriously cut down on the tangs.

 

[Dmorty217]

way too many tangs for sure. I have 3 in my 625g and I might be able to add one more but thats it. Too many foxfaces on the list too, especially with other tangs. It will take you a year or more to QT all those fish correctly in a 40g breeder especially since you will only be able to QT 3 fish max at once in that size tank. I have a 40g i use for QT along with a 125g

 

[d-man]

Umm.....yeah....nuff said

 

[Jason B]

Ouch.... i really didnt want to hear that i was going to run into issues with the Tangs. The truth hurts. I can get rid of a few right away and see how the rest do. If need be i can remove the ones that are problematic. Im hoping that since they have been togather for a while and have not had any issues that i will be able to make it work. Here is what im thinking about doing initially....

SELL...
1 UNICORN TANG
1 CHOCOLATE TANG
1 SAILFIN TANG
1 HENIOCHUS
1 NIGER TRIGGER
1 ANNULARIS ANGEL
4 SKUNK CLOWNS
2 FOXFACE
1 RED CORIS WRASSE
1 MELANURUS WRASSE
1 PEARLY WRASSE (NOT SURE SPECIES)
1 HARLEQUIN TUSK
FEW DAMSELS
1 RED SERPENT SEA STAR

KEEP...
3 YELLOW TANGS
1 BLUE HIPPO TANG
1 PURPLE TANG
1 HYBRID ACHILLES TANG
1 BLONDE NASO TANG
1 FRECKLED TANG
1 VLAMINGI TANG
1 MOORISH IDOL
1 WATANABEI ANGELFISH
1 MAGNIFICENT FOXFACE
1 GREENE MANDERINE

I was going to get rid of the manderine but he eats frozen food like a champ. The guys at the LFS who are babysitting them for me said i wouldnt have a problem. I was contemplating getting rid of the foxface from the begaining so that just confirms what i was thinking. I knew the trigger was touch and go so ill get rid of him too (plus i like my fingers intact). I figure the unicorn being the largest would be the best to get rid of. As you can see in the video he was chasing the Vlamingi. Although the chocolate tang is really cool i like the others a little more. Um not a big fan of sailfins and mine is a little larger so ill sell him too to cut down on the tang population. I know the wrasses are questionable so i figured i would sell the to leave me open to reef safe wrasses later on.

As for QT, i was figuring on doing 3 or 4 at a time but obviously less with the large tangs. I'll add a larger tank or two to the plan and organize the batches and timline, but i want to finalize the list of fish i will keep first. That will help me with the QT plan. I have a fish room with plenty of space to do whatever i need.

I realized i did not give any specifics on The system. Here is a breif overview as it pertai s to this discussion.

Display Tank: 600g 96"L x 36"W x 40"T
Sump: 170 +/-
Refugium
Royal Exclusive Supermarin 300
Custom denitrator
Kalk stirrer and doser
ATO and RODI
600 gallon saltwater storage with auto water change system
10 kessel A360
Neptune apex w/bunch of modules


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[fishyfish91202]

Jason,
If you decide to sell some of you fish, please reach out to me. I have a 375g 8ft tank, lightly stocked currently. I have seen those fish, they are beautiful! I live in Pompano. Would be happy to rehome some of them.
Bill

 

[Jason B]

Jason,
If you decide to sell some of you fish, please reach out to me. I have a 375g 8ft tank, lightly stocked currently. I have seen those fish, they are beautiful! I live in Pompano. Would be happy to rehome some of them.
Bill

Pm me your number, im going to start selling them soon once i finalize.

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[snorvich]

Quarantine thoroughly; once they are at an LFS, they are exposed to all sorts of issues. I agree with "too many tangs".

 

[d-man]

Your list is better now, but still a little heavy.
Keeping 1 large tang in the group is fine, but you have the vlamingi and the Naso. I'd also get rid of the foxface as well unless u have valonia algae. These are/get very large as well.

U could always use the water storage tank as a QT for temp depending on how you plan to QT..
I did that with one of my 275g containers. But I didn't use copper. I used ick shield, then power washed it down with a little bleach. All good now

 

[brett559]

I'd sub some of those tangs for a large angel or two, and some wrasses. Of the tangs you have, I'd keep the yellows, the blue, the purple, and the naso (love all those).

Some of those tangs looked like they belonged in a public aquarium. Just huge! Good luck with everything.

I feel for that poor mandarin...in there with all those big jerks.

 

[Jason B]

I'd sub some of those tangs for a large angel or two, and some wrasses. Of the tangs you have, I'd keep the yellows, the blue, the purple, and the naso (love all those).

Some of those tangs looked like they belonged in a public aquarium. Just huge! Good luck with everything.

I feel for that poor mandarin...in there with all those big jerks.

Would you keep the Annularis Angel or go for something else? I thought most large angels pick at coral.

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[Marshall O]

I'd also get rid of the foxface as well unless u have valonia algae. These are/get very large as well.

Some Rabbitfish do get rather large, not not Foxface's however (they get 6"-9" generally). This tank is plenty large enough IMO.

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[Dmorty217]

Would you keep the Annularis Angel or go for something else? I thought most large angels pick at coral.

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They will pick at coral and a generally aggressive especially to new additions