New tank stocking suggestions?

[cdalmost]

Hi all, I've got my new tank set up and it's time to think about fish to put in it. The tank is 2'x2'x2' (a little less than 60 gallons) and the total system volume (with sump and 'fuge) is about 75 gallons. It will be a reef tank (i.e. coral focused) so it has bright lights and a big skimmer. I have the following in mind:

3 Lyretail Anthias
Kole tang
Flame angel
Orchid dottyback
several Stonogobiops sp. gobies with pistol shrimp

I'm especially interested in hearing from anyone who has kept the Anthias. I am planning to purchase three small females and hope that one turns into a male. Thanks in advance!

 

[hybridazn]

I would say no dice on the kole tang. Although they are the smallest of the surgeonfish, your tank dimensions don't give it enough room to swim. All tangs love high flow and ample swim room. I'm no expert on anthias but I would think that a trio wouldn't work either. Tank just doesn't supply enough swim space, but hopefully someone else chimes in with experience with them.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

I would say no dice on the kole tang. Although they are the smallest of the surgeonfish, your tank dimensions don't give it enough room to swim. All tangs love high flow and ample swim room. I'm no expert on anthias but I would think that a trio wouldn't work either. Tank just doesn't supply enough swim space, but hopefully someone else chimes in with experience with them.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

I agree on the tang. I'm no member of the 'Tang Police" so, although it would survive in that tank, I don't think it would thrive. I had a 75 gallon and started to feel guilty watching my purple tang swim from side to side across the front when it got bigger(I had it for almost 6 years when I sold it). You will get a lot of varying opinions on tangs and size of tank. I don't have much experience on the anthias. I had one and my purple tang harassed it to death. He was a mean bastard.

 

[hybridazn]

Yea purple tangs can be brutal, actually any tang can be lol. But they sure are purrrrty

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[cdalmost]

Hmm, that's disappointing about the tang.

Will the flame angelfish get along with another dwarf angel?

 

[cloakerpoked]

The flame angel probably will not. I have a Scopas tang (probably about 4-5") and he has no problems in my 60 cube. He's been thriving for a while.

I want to say TJ kept a few anthias in his 45 gallon tank. I think the key for them or the tang would be to have a lot of flow so they feel like they are swimming in more "open water." That's obviously not very scientific of me though...so don't quote me.

 

[hybridazn]

Some ppl have had some success with two dwarf angels if added together at the same time but it's hit or miss. I had very bad results when i had a flame angel and then added a coral beauty. But then at least the wife started to listen to me about the tank afterwards. She didn't think they would fight

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[cdalmost]

Some ppl have had some success with two dwarf angels if added together at the same time but it's hit or miss. I had very bad results when i had a flame angel and then added a coral beauty.

What other fish were in the tank at the time? If I don't get the Anthias then I'm going to put together a shoal of green reef Chromis, and I'm wondering if these could act as targets for the dwarf angel's aggression. (Some (freshwater) cichlid keepers will put "dither fish" like tetras or danios in with mated pairs of cichlids to divert the male's attention.)

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

What other fish were in the tank at the time? If I don't get the Anthias then I'm going to put together a shoal of green reef Chromis, and I'm wondering if these could act as targets for the dwarf angel's aggression. (Some (freshwater) cichlid keepers will put "dither fish" like tetras or danios in with mated pairs of cichlids to divert the male's attention.)

The green chromis will weed the weakest one out until there are only 1 or two. I started with 5 and then one by one they would harass the weakest until it would not come out to eat. At the end I had two and the bigger one would chase the weaker and then go swim with the anthias I had...lol.

 

[raynist]

I have 4 dwarf angels in my 180 added them at different times and they are fine now. The potters and the coral beauty went at it for a few hours.

In my 120 I have a flame and a eibli, added at different times. I think it is hit or miss.

I would say no to having two in a 60 cube though.