FOWLR Tank stocking list?

[vek555]

i was wondering about this hypothetical tank stock list:

4 Kaudern's cardinalfish
2 clownfish
1 bicolor dottyback (or maybe orchid dottyback?)
1 midas blenny
3 firefish
2 clown gobies
1 yellow tang
1 blue tang
1 long-nose hawkfish
1 six-line wrasse

135 gallon FOWLR, with 29 gallon sump

which of these are incompatible with large ornamental shrimp? (the hawkfish?)

which of these must be kept singly? which can be kept in pairs? and which can be kept in larger groups? (i did some research and got conflicting answers, and i know it depends on tank size - so i was wondering what y'all think, given the specifications i outlined). i'm sure i'll have to take some off this list since I'm this is probably overstocked?

lastly what is your experience with royal gramma basslets versus bicolor dotty backs?

 

[farfromsea]

I feel like the 3 firefish would whittle down to 2 or 1 unless you can somehow sex a pair. I would introduce them in the tank first since they are timid and make sure you have a tank with a mesh lid that has 1/4" holes or smaller. Some people put some mesh on the egg crate or just get a mesh top from BRS.

 

[jayjay5531]

Thanks! What do you think about cardinalfish? Is it better to just get one, or a mated pair, or will four be okay?

 

[jayjay5531]

Sorry this is still me! I unintentionally created two accounts (I thought the first one didn't go through, and now it looks like safari saved the log-in info). I'll delete one of them.

 

[anthonys51]

i wouldn't get the six-line, mine was one bad and mean fish. its hard to get a fish out of a reef or fowlor tank. i thought i was in trouble but one day he decided to make my life easy and jumped out of the tank

 

[farfromsea]

Thanks! What do you think about cardinalfish? Is it better to just get one, or a mated pair, or will four be okay?

Some say that you could do 2 pairs if the tank is large enough which I believe yours is. There are reports that the males rip each others' fins as they become territorial due to breeding.

Here is a guide to sexing the fish http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/how-to-determine-the-sex-of-banggai-cardinalfish

IMO Ultimately 2 (MF) or 2 pairs (MF MF), your call just introduce them all at once for best results I would think!

Also many report similar behavioral issues with the Six Line wrasse as stated above; the filamented flasher wrasse may be a suitably striped wrasse with better temperament that interests you http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1378+1400&pcatid=1400 keeping the male with some females can induce him to display better color than just alone

 

[Dmorty217]

Not sure what the "blue tang" is but regardless of hippo or Atlantic a 135g is too small

 

[jayjay5531]

Thanks so much everyone for the help! So it sounds like I should omit the tang and the six-line wrasse. (Unless, does anyone know if it makes a difference if I introduce the wrasse last? If not, maybe I'll get the filamented flasher wrasse - thanks for the suggestion!)

Also, will any of these eat ornamental shrimp? I heard hawkfish do but I don't know for sure?

 

[farfromsea]

Thanks so much everyone for the help! So it sounds like I should omit the tang and the six-line wrasse. (Unless, does anyone know if it makes a difference if I introduce the wrasse last? If not, maybe I'll get the filamented flasher wrasse - thanks for the suggestion!)

Also, will any of these eat ornamental shrimp? I heard hawkfish do but I don't know for sure?

Every personal anecdote I've read on the six line describes it as "hell fish" basically that they regret introducing in an otherwise peaceful community tank. I think with your stock list (cardinals, firefish etc) that I would just forget the six line. You could probably find a bunch of topics on this forum about people trying to remove them lol

The filamented flasher wrasse will be fine with ornamental shrimp (e.g. cleaner shrimp).

I would add the yellow tang last due to potential for aggression/territorial behavior per my understanding.

 

[tjm9331]

Hawkfish have a risk of eating ornamental shrimp but the longnose hawk is usually not one of them.

Most times if you have the shrimp in the tank first the hawk will leave it alone. I had a coral banded shrimp with a flame hawkfish and nothing ever happened but the CBS was added to the tank first.