Help me pick all my fish!

[Heelfiend]

I am setting up a new 120g reef at the moment with a 38g sump (will sit around 28-30 gallons I think), 4' x 2' x 2'. I know it's a few months off while I wait for it to cycle, but want to go ahead and plan out my stocking strategy.

I know I want an Ocellaris Clown. I have heard tale of being able to keep certain butterflies with reef, but I am a relative beginner (I did have a 29g a few years back for a few years). I want to have a tang if possible in a 4' tank. I also want to go for some unique looking fish that are reef safe. I plan on having inverts as well.

Just looking for some direction in choosing fish so that I put them in the tank in the correct order to aid against aggressive behavior!

 

[RayL]

For a tang, in a tank your size, I would recommend a Tomini tang.

When it comes to the clown fish, from my experience, perculas are friendlier than the occelaris. As well, clowns are a great fish to have a pair of, go with two not one.

Look at some anthias, bartletts are a very nice and a trio would add some great colour.

Personally I could not imagine a tank with out some sort of firefish, their are a few different ones to chose from.

 

[arnoldrew]

I would recommend a fox face (one-spot or regular, also called lo). Interesting, peaceful fish with goofy personalities.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

I wouldn't put a foxface in a 4x2x2 they all get pretty large.

+1 on the Tomini tang. I have one in my 120 and my only advice would be add last as once its established they can be a bit of a dick with new fish . at least mine was/is.

Again +1 on anthias. I have a trio of dispar hitting the tank soon.

Look into some blennies or gobies. Maybe a single dwarf angel assuming you add enough rock maybe 2 but be ready for fighting.

 

[Heelfiend]

Are the Barlett anthias a schooling fish (thus the trio)? I am not sure how many fish I will be able to put in, but am thinking 8-10 or so.

 

[Heelfiend]

Also was looking at tangs on live aquaria... how are the Powder Brown Tangs in a reef? I like the look of those....

I like the idea of an eel, but am wary of it with a reef and other fish/inverts although I have heard some working okay with the other inhabitants. I think you have to spot feed them, right?

 

[DopeCantWin]

I wouldn't put a foxface in a 4x2x2 they all get pretty large.

+1 on the Tomini tang. I have one in my 120 and my only advice would be add last as once its established they can be a bit of a dick with new fish . at least mine was/is.

Again +1 on anthias. I have a trio of dispar hitting the tank soon.

Look into some blennies or gobies. Maybe a single dwarf angel assuming you add enough rock maybe 2 but be ready for fighting.

A One Spot Foxface grows to 7", so that should be okay. All others are a no.

A Tomini and a Blenny might not mix well, depending on the type of Blenny.

 

[Marshall O]

Also was looking at tangs on live aquaria... how are the Powder Brown Tangs in a reef? I like the look of those....

I like the idea of an eel, but am wary of it with a reef and other fish/inverts although I have heard some working okay with the other inhabitants. I think you have to spot feed them, right?

Powder Brown Tangs are fine for reef tanks (though they are on the more aggressive side), however they need a 6' tank minimum. So I would say no.

And one of the only eels commonly kept in larger reef tanks that do well long term are Zebra Eels. They are not a threat to most, if not all, fish. However they get big, and are messy eaters. So maintaining water quality can be an issue. Being newer to reefing, I would hold off until you have more experience.

I forgot to add that I also think a One Spot Foxface would be fine in a 120.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

A One Spot Foxface grows to 7", so that should be okay. All others are a no.

A Tomini and a Blenny might not mix well, depending on the type of Blenny.

Ideally that foxface should have 6'. Do you have a 4x2x2? I do and my barley 5" Tomini looks huge in my tank. It doesn't make any sense to try and cram any fish that gets 7-8" into his tank.

Also provided enough rock work to graze and its well fed the tomini should be fine. Mine gets along with a few dwarf angels (also algae eaters) and a blenny so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[DopeCantWin]

Ideally that foxface should have 6'. Do you have a 4x2x2? I do and my barley 5" Tomini looks huge in my tank. It doesn't make any sense to try and cram any fish that gets 7-8" into his tank.

Also provided enough rock work to graze and its well fed the tomini should be fine. Mine gets along with a few dwarf angels (also algae eaters) and a blenny so I wouldn't worry too much.

A Tomini can grow to be 6". A One Spot Foxface grows to be just an inch longer than that. They swim a little less and the requirements for the two fish are identical on Live Aquaria. Do they look really big in that tank, you bet.

There are a lot horror storries between Ctenochaetus and Lawnmowers, simple google will come up with them.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

I do agree blenny species does probably make a huge difference. Personally I have a tailspot. And not to continue to argue because we clearly have different opinions. But people should stop posting fish advice based of live aquaria. I'm posting based on the fact I have the same tank and 1 of the fish that I recommended and another user suggested as well and have personal experience with. Tomini don't really exceed 5" and the difference in body style in my opinion makes a 7-8" foxface not suited for this tank footprint. Maybe a 6' 125

 

[arnoldrew]

I wouldn't put a foxface in a 4x2x2 they all get pretty large.

You're right. I failed to notice his tank was only 4 feet.

 

[rssjsb]

A One Spot Foxface grows to 7", so that should be okay. All others are a no.

I have to agree with h.reidi here. This fish will outgrow a 120 in fairly short order and make the whole tank look cramped. I think they're more skittish in smaller tanks too. Just better avoided.

 

[Heelfiend]

Thanks for all the help! Will think about the foxface...

 

[RadReefer]

Convict tangs are highly underrated, that's my suggestion and will be fine in a 120.

 

[Dmorty217]

Like mentioned before a Tomini tang or other small bristle tooth tang would work well. I would look at a dwarf angel or two for the tank, or a pair of Bellus angels would be a sight. Also a wrasse or two wouldn't hurt. Basically any fish that will only get to a max of 6" should be fine. Obviously small fish are better for a 120g. If you get a clownfish you should be fine, if you get two they will become very territorial over whatever spot they choose as "theirs"