In what order should I add these livestock?

[jnc914]

I am in the process of stocking my 180 gallon. I am going to be getting my livestock on line and don't know what should be added first. I am looking at putting a medium sized adult emperor angel, med. dejardinis sailfin, and a med. Blonde Naso as my three main "show" fish. I know they should be added at the same time to alleviate aggression. However I would also like to keep a mated pair of False Percs., a Potter's angel, and a small Harlequin Tusk, and a flame hawk. Before I hear about the tank being overstocked, I have 300 gallons of water throughout the system with a 50 gallon fuge, 100 gallon sump, EuroReef ES8-3+, and alot of live rock. i do 20 gallon water changes weekly so I am not worried about the bioload. What should I put in the tank first, the three larger show fish or the smaller livestock, will it make a difference?

 

[afishyonados]

I would work on the Potter's angel and the Tusk first. Once you have established them well, it would behoove you to quarentine any new additions thereafter. They all have attitude problems, but the two mentioned here are the more sensitive to disease problems. I would add the flame hawk last, for he could become beligerant to later additions.

 

[jnc914]

So its better to establish the smaller, more docile fish before putting in the big boys. Will the Tusk become aggressive with later additions to the tank, even though the trio I will be adding will be larger than him?

 

[afishyonados]

Agressive is such a broad term. Will it destroy anything resembling mollusks or crustaceans? Yes.
Will it mercilessly hunt down new inhabitants? Not often. They are mostly concerned with stuff that is crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Fish are chewy on the outside and crunchy in the middle. That's just too much work. The tusk will definatly bully new additions that send out scared signals. Most fish will send these electric/nuero chemical signals for the first few hours/days of being in a new tank. If you fatten him up real good before adding the new fish, he will usually be too lazy to do more than posture to demonstrate his rank.

 

[jnc914]

That sounds like an awesome fish, I plan on going with the Austrailian Tusk. Thanks for the assistance.

 

[Jaffo_botz]

It's not the total amount of water in the system, but the room in the main tank...that's a lot of fish in just a 180G if you plan on keeping them throughout their lives...all can live 10-15 yrs btw if you do things right (get them established, and leave the tank alone)....Emp, Naso, Tusk all grow to 8-12+ inches in a few years. Naso needs tons of room to swim, especially after it reaches 5in or so....

start with them all small juvs. ...most docile first, like species introduced at same time...take it slow.

sm Tusk, percs first..... sm juv emperor and potters next (make sure they are put in same time...and get them eating...both can be challanges). Tangs thereafter.

I recommend the Angels first before the tangs (angels are to be juveniles)...as they will be challanging to feed initially. Tangs you mentioned are normally fast to eat....

no idea on the hawk....maybe add the hawk with the D.Tang...leave the Naso in the ocean. fwiw.

 

[afishyonados]

Anytime! The tusk is my personal favorie too!
FAIR WARNING: The slime coat on this fish is toxic. I believe they derive the toxin from the animals they eat, who obtain the toxin from Cyanobacterium and the like. If you have a mortality, do not simply put it in the trash or bury it. If a dog/cat gets a hold of it, it may just do them in! A customer bought a handi-capped one (one eye) in Columbia, he dove out of the tank, (I still say he was pushed!), and her cat got a hold of him. Picture the split pea soup from the Exorcist coming from both ends for almost a week. Poor kitty's lucky to be alive! I guess he's only got 8 left now!

 

[jnc914]

Jaffo_botz- So you would modify the fish list. Would you go with only 2 out of the three larger fish I had mentioned? Out of the three fish you are stating that I should stay away from the naso? You make a really good point. I love the naso but will be willing to "leave it in the ocean" as I do realize that it would be detrimental to keep an adult in a six foot tank.

 

[jnc914]

Jaffo_botz-- How was the color change of your Juve Emperor to adulthood? I am a bit nervous getting a juvenile because I have heard that the color is not as brilliant in those kept in the aquarium as those adults captured in the wild.

 

[Jaffo_botz]

Hi...I had a Naso for close to 6 years..started as a 1 1/2" juv..quickly grew to 8". He was definitely cramped in a 6ft long 225G...actually died from a puncture wound swiming into a vert.snail (had a major 'breakout'). This fish needs a lot of room...too bad, because they are mild mannered, hardy feeders...just grow big and aren't to happy when they can't cruise.

My emp started as a 2"-3" juv and and the best part was watching the transition of colors from juvie to Adult...one of the more gratifying aspects of keeping this fish. Got him in '97...I'll try to attach a pic from 4yrs ago, so I would have had him for around 5 years at the time of this pic and he had almost full colors, except a few lines along his top that still were going to straighten out...and his 'mask' on his face wasn't quite done yet.... don't have any recent pics....but he's a full adult now...about 11".

Good diet, (selcon and vitachem on everything)...stable tank and stability of the fish's environment (ie. stop adding stuff) and your Angel will get it's full colors, no problem.

The other fish you are considering: Tusk grows large once/if it gets to feeding properly.....the D.Tang: I'd have to look up...no idea/no experience with it.

Potters can be one of the tougher pygmys to get to eat, hit or miss with them...clowns need a home to be happy (My mated percs live in an empty conch shell...didn't want to try and keep anemones), but are easy to feed/keep...the hawk I know nothing about.

I'll try and add the pic here: btw: kudos to you for making a plan ahead of time, researching the fish, and getting folks opinions on the plan. A majority of the problems folks are having with their tanks that you read about on these boards could be avoided with any fish/livestock if they had done what your doing before buying something....make a plan, stick to it, take your time (nothing happens fast in this hobby)...and then leave it alone and enjoy. good luck!

 

[li-mike]

Least Agressive to most agressive that has been my motto and it has worked well for me.

 

[jnc914]

Jaffo_botz- That is a gorgeous Emp. I am leaning more towards a large juvenile just to watch the color change. I am still gathering others experience with the Juveniles. Thanks for all the input.