Building a Butterfly Tank

[fishfreak2009]

So I have decided to convert my 187 gallon tank (5'x2'x30") into a butterflyfish FOWLR. I love these fish, but I seem to be having troubles choosing which species of butterflyfish to get. Here's what I have now and what I want to add for sure (asterisk means I already have it) :

• 1 Pearlscale Butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus)
• 1 Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesi)*
• 1 Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus)*
• 1 Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)*

Here's some other species I've been looking at:

• Spot-Banded Butterflyfish (Chaetodon punctatofasciatus)
• Threeband Pennant Butterflyfish (Heniochus chrysostomus)
• Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula)
• Heniochus Black & White Butterflyfish (Heniochus acuminatus)
• Bennett's Butterflyfish (Chaetodon bennetti) - My LFS has a mariculture one that's eating a bunch of different foods
• Mesoleucos Butterflyfish (Chaetodon mesoleucos)

 

[jjk_reef00]

I would pass on the Heniochus acuminatus in a 5' tank. They get big are are very active.
I prefer Chaetodon fasciatus over Chaetodon lunula but they are much more expensive.
The others that would be at the top of my list are Chaetodon collare, and either Chaetodon declivis or Chaetodon tinkeri.

 

[fishfreak2009]

Tinkers and fasciatus are definitely out of my price range for this tank. Im a 19 year old college student with 17 aquariums, as well as a bunch of lizards, a turtle, and I recently have become addicted to poison dart frogs. Thumbnail darts get pricy fast, as does food for the coral catshark (not to mention Im trying to save up for a pair of epaulette sharks...

 

[angelfish boy]

Tinkers and fasciatus are definitely out of my price range for this tank. Im a 19 year old college student with 17 aquariums, as well as a bunch of lizards, a turtle, and I recently have become addicted to poison dart frogs. Thumbnail darts get pricy fast, as does food for the coral catshark (not to mention Im trying to save up for a pair of epaulette sharks...

I think we're going to be great friends. LOL

 

[stuifbol]

Welcome tot the world of butterflies:beachbum: