Multiple Large Tank Stocking Choices

[CONSPICILLUM]

I'm a long-time aquarist returning to the hobsession after nearly a twenty year hiatus. I've settled on getting four 720g tanks (8Lx4Wx3H) instead of two 920g units (8Lx4Wx4H) because the smaller volume tanks offer the same surface area at nearly a two-for-one price point (tanks only, of course).

Per my signature, I'll be doing two FOWLR tanks (Triggers & Puffers & More, and Angels & Butterflies & more) and two Reef tanks. All reef-safe species (including Melichthys triggers, etc.) will be in the reef tanks.

I have a few questions about the remaining eclectic mix of other species to add to either FOWLR or Reef tank. Which would the following best be combined with (of the four tanks' "anchor" tenants)? All fish will be 4"-5" when introduced.

Trigger/Puffer tank ... or ... Angel/Butterfly tank ... or ... One of the Reef tanks?
Dwarf Angels
Tangs/Surgeonfish
Damselfish
Rabbitfish
Wrasses (FOWLR)
Wrasses (Reef)
Tuskfish
Parrotfish
Groupers
Hawkfish
Cowfish
Hogfish
Squirrelfish
Sweetlips
Grunts
Batfish
Lionfish
Anglers
Stingrays
Eels

I will NOT overstock, so this isn't about quantities. I will adhere to 75% of total capacity, at 3" of fish per square foot of tank surface area, with half of sump surface area added. So... 32 sq ft of surface area, @ 3" per square foot of surface area.

96" of fish per FOWLR, plus the same calculation and addition for 50% of the Sump surface area.

Please help me determine which fish go with which main tankmate groups.

 

[jdm1114]

What!?

 

[MonsterFishBook]

This is insane. If it were me, I would do:

-1 FOWLR, big aggressive fish like you said ie large angels, triggers, etc
-1 shark/ray/eel tank with squirrelfish and maybe a smaller grouper
-1 reef, mostly smaller fish with some of the smaller tangs like yellows schooling in it
-1 lagoon, caulerpa in the bottom with minimal rockwork - there are infinite possibilities for this, a massive native caribbean/FL keys lagoon would be cool; yellow stingrays, grunts, etc

Just what I would do.

 

[BlueMac92]

Lol way to live by "go big or go home". I second the lagoon for one of these. We were snorkeling at Bahia Honda in September and it's almost as satisfying as the reef. Rays are a must in that tank though....

 

[CONSPICILLUM]

What!?

Of the list above, I'm wanting input on which to combine with Triggers/Puffers or Angels/Butterflies or in one of the Reef tanks.

The remainder was my assurance that I'm adhering to a conservative formula to avoid overstocking: 3" of fish per square foot of total tank and sump surface area.

 

[CONSPICILLUM]

This is insane. If it were me, I would do:

-1 FOWLR, big aggressive fish like you said ie large angels, triggers, etc
-1 shark/ray/eel tank with squirrelfish and maybe a smaller grouper
-1 reef, mostly smaller fish with some of the smaller tangs like yellows schooling in it
-1 lagoon, caulerpa in the bottom with minimal rockwork - there are infinite possibilities for this, a massive native caribbean/FL keys lagoon would be cool; yellow stingrays, grunts, etc

Just what I would do.

Wow. Interesting options. I had not thought to even consider a lagoon tank.

I suppose it might have been better for me to ask how everyone would configure four 720g tanks. LOL.

 

[CONSPICILLUM]

Lol way to live by "go big or go home".

Well, it just kind of "happened" when narrowing down cost versus size. Four 720g tanks are only a bit more than the two 920g I had originally planned (though other equipment cost doubles, but I can deal with that).

I second the lagoon for one of these. We were snorkeling at Bahia Honda in September and it's almost as satisfying as the reef. Rays are a must in that tank though....

Yes, I'm now trying to get a mental grid for what a lagoon would look like.

 

[MonsterFishBook]

I know what you need to do for one - a big moray. A nice dragon moray tank would be pretty sweet, you could do duncans, macros, and gorgs. Or go with a rocky native tank with a bunch of damsels swimming around, and keep a green moray. You could keep a big eel in that tank.

 

[bat21]

4 720 gallon tanks!?!?!

Just get everything. Get all of the fish. Every one of them. No need to choose. Get them all.

But in all seriousness, if you're looking for unique ideas, you could give one of them a 12" sand bed and get a few dozen garden eels.

 

[Martini5788]

Multiple Large Tank Stocking Choices

I would add some non reef safe wrasses with the triggers and puffers. Lionfish in with Angels and butterfly's, triggers and puffers can nip lionfish fins. Past that, I don't even know where to begin hahaha. But I would try to limit all snails and cuc eating species to one tank to cut down on how much time you will spend on maintenance. If you
Can keep snails in the other tanks, it will help a lot. Triggers, puffers, and wrasses are cuc destroying masterminds and relentless in their pursuit.

 

[JaySchulz]

Are these 4 tanks all being set up in your residence? Next to each other? Different rooms? I'm definitely following this.

 

[CONSPICILLUM]

I know what you need to do for one - a big moray. A nice dragon moray tank would be pretty sweet, you could do duncans, macros, and gorgs. Or go with a rocky native tank with a bunch of damsels swimming around, and keep a green moray. You could keep a big eel in that tank.

Agreed. I'm just trying to finalize what goes with what. I'd like to include multiple morays, buy I need to determine WHICH morays, and which other fish to be included with them versus those which are distributed in the other tanks.

The dragon moray is a favorite, but requires some extra attention compared to other morays. I'm unsure which moray combo would be ideal as far as compatibility.

Tessellata, Dragon, Zebra, Chainlink, and Jeweled Morays would all be good individual choices; but size and care varies, as well as which eels will or won't go after fish (or each other).

I think I'd prefer to do a dedicated eel / ray tank, with intricate rock structures and assorted other fish. A 720g should be able to house 2-5 eels and 2-5 rays, with a nice infusion of other fish for movement and a specific selection of a few corals, etc.

(And I've decided to consider a lagoon tank, but I want to research that as a separate project for a fifth tank of whatever size and shape. So thanks.)

 

[CONSPICILLUM]

4 720 gallon tanks!?!?!

Just get everything. Get all of the fish. Every one of them. No need to choose. Get them all.

LOL, that's obviously kinda the idea. Without overstocking, I intend to include as many trigger, puffer, angel, butterfly, tang, wrasse, and other varieties as possible distributed between the tanks. :beachbum:

But in all seriousness, if you're looking for unique ideas, you could give one of them a 12" sand bed and get a few dozen garden eels.

Interesting. :artist:

 

[CONSPICILLUM]

I would add some non reef safe wrasses with the triggers and puffers. Lionfish in with Angels and butterfly's, triggers and puffers can nip lionfish fins.

Yes, we're on the same page so far. And tangs mostly in the reef setup, with a few in other tanks for algae control.

I'm unsure where to best place several other groups, like batfish, cowfish, anglers, etc. Groupers can be an issue for placement as well.:fun5:

Past that, I don't even know where to begin hahaha.

Exactly my initial dilemna on a project this size. :spin1:

But I would try to limit all snails and cuc eating species to one tank to cut down on how much time you will spend on maintenance. If you can keep snails in the other tanks, it will help a lot.

Yes, this is a helpful reminder. Thanks.

Triggers, puffers, and wrasses are cuc destroying masterminds and relentless in their pursuit.

Yes, relentless is exactly correct. :lmao:

 

[CONSPICILLUM]

Are these 4 tanks all being set up in your residence?

Yes. Though I'm also considering doing an aquatic-themed eatery of some kind with a multi-thousand gallon community or mixed reef tank and several octopus cylinder tanks.

Next to each other?

Probably peninsula tanks, so not adjacent.

Different rooms?

Two peninsulas in one room and two peninsulas in another room, if I can arrange everything else.

It's a bit of a scramble since I was originally going to do two 920g tanks with only a height difference in "footprint" from the 720s. So I've doubled the floorspace needed for tanks (plus a lagoon tank, if I do that).

I'm definitely following this.

I'm anticipating it to be a fun ride, even if it moves a bit slowly at first in the planning stages.

I want to keep too many predatory fish to feasibly do a single multi-thousand gallon tank at home.

 

[CONSPICILLUM]

So far...

FOWLR ONE is to be:
Triggers - Clown, Goldenheart, Queen, Blueline, Undulate, Redtooth, several Rhinecanthus/Sufflamen.
Puffers - Reticulated, Scribbled, Stars & Stripes, several Meleagris, several Nigropunctatus, others.
Wrasses (non-reef) - Clown, Queen, several others.
Maybe Tuskfish and some large Hawkfish? Garibaldi Damselfish?

FOWLR TWO is to be:
Angels - Asfur, Maculosus, Bandit, Goldflake, Scribbled, Personifer (False and True), Bluering, others.
Dwarf Angels (larger variants/individuals) - Purplemask, Flame, others.
Butterflies - Reticulated, Scrawled, Ornate, Yellownose, Yellowhead, Whiteface, Burgess, others.
Lionfish - Volitans, Radiata, Antennata, Miles.

FOWLR THREE probably needs to be an eel/ray tank with whatever community of fish will work best with them.

REEF ONE is to be SPS, LPS, Zoas, Shrooms, and a bazillion Tangs, with Wrasses (reef-safers) and Damsels and mellow Triggers (Melichthys variants) and small Hawkfish and Dwarf Angels.

(REEF TWO is now me considering a lagoon tank as another project from the four 720s.)


The remaining questions are where to place other groups in the above tank environments.

Cowfish? Batfish? Anglers?

Groupers, Grunts, Sweetlips, Hamlets, Hogfish, Rabbitfish, Squirrelfish?

Should I even consider Parrotfish in any of the FOWLRs?

Some of the cross-combatibility concerns are initially baffling. And the angel/butterfly tank will fill up quickly with marginal room for other groups.

 

[humaguy]

lol, your list will fluctuate by the minute, get the tanks going first...
Go as big as possible!
I wish I had gone much wider and much deeper, lol, I wish my room was longer, then I would have went much longer!
Looking forward to seeing pictures....soon!

 

[CONSPICILLUM]

lol, your list will fluctuate by the minute, get the tanks going first...

Fair enough. I just want to have the blueprint to minimize regrets later.:lolspin:

Go as big as possible!
I wish I had gone much wider and much deeper, lol, I wish my room was longer, then I would have went much longer!
Looking forward to seeing pictures....soon!

Well... I can do a 12'L x 6'W x 6'H (3000+ gallons) or 18' x 6' x 6' (4500+ gallons). I just don't know how to resolve all the cross-incompatibility issues between the ecclectic wide variety of fish (and corals) I plan to stock.

 

[humaguy]

marco dry rock is the way to go...

 

[humaguy]

get the tank...with a tank that size you will probably have 2-3 sumps/fuges of hundreds of gallons each, can always keep sensitive things there...needs a qt system, lol, those always become dt....