Order to stock tank

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Newreefer125

New member
Hello. I have finally completed the list of fish that I will be getting. I now am wondering which order I should put the fish in. Here is what I think. Plz help fix any mistakes I may have made.
2 oc clownfish
Flasher wrasse
Royal gramma and orchid dottyback
Diamond goby
Zebra eel
Coral beauty angel
Yellow tang and sailfin tang
Any suggestions are welcome
 
What size tank is this? I suggest that a Yellow Tang be in a 90 gallon or bigger and the Sailfin requires a 8ft tank or bigger. Also I would worry about some of those smaller fish with a zebra eel, may become a snack.
 
scooter31707 said:
What size tank is this? I suggest that a Yellow Tang be in a 90 gallon or bigger and the Sailfin requires a 8ft tank or bigger. Also I would worry about some of those smaller fish with a zebra eel, may become a snack.
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I have a 125 and okay is there I different tang you would recommend rather than the sailfin?
 
Thumps down on the Dottybacks. Very aggressive towards other fish. Although many have had good luck with the Orchid
 
Get rid of the eel. The Sailfin will be fine. You might want to rethink the angel, but just my opinion. replacing the angel with a different tang might be a more peaceful tank. Powder Blue's are nice. Smart fish, that Powder Blue...They provide a good boss-man in the tank without being over-aggressive and you might need one with that yellow tang. The angel would just shred him once he gets big enough. :dance:
 
powderblue1 said:
Get rid of the eel. The Sailfin will be fine. You might want to rethink the angel, but just my opinion. replacing the angel with a different tang might be a more peaceful tank. Powder Blue's are nice. Smart fish, that Powder Blue...They provide a good boss-man in the tank without being over-aggressive and you might need one with that yellow tang. The angel would just shred him once he gets big enough. :dance:
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I've never heard of an angel being aggressive to other species. And I've have heard that the powder blue is very hard to care for.
 
powderblue1 said:
... Powder Blue's are nice. Smart fish, that Powder Blue...They provide a good boss-man in the tank without being over-aggressive and you might need one with that yellow tang. The angel would just shred him once he gets big enough.
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IMO, Powder Blues can be very aggressive, and I haven't heard of any Coral Beauties 'shredding' any tangs
 
Powder blues are a bit touchy sometimes if you don't keep good parameters, but that usually isn't a problem for me. One of them is a great fish to keep everyone in line without attacking, especially that yellow tang. Thought you mentioned a queen angelfish, sorry. Some angels can be VERY aggressive. The coral beauty should be fine...:bounce3:
 
powderblue1 said:
Powder blues are a bit touchy sometimes if you don't keep good parameters, but that usually isn't a problem for me. One of them is a great fish to keep everyone in line without attacking, especially that yellow tang. Thought you mentioned a queen angelfish, sorry. Some angels can be VERY aggressive. The coral beauty should be fine...:bounce3:
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Okay thank you for the advice. So you would recommend replacing the sailfin tang with a powder blue? As long as I can keep the water stable do you think I will be okay?
 
Newreefer125 said:
Okay thank you for the advice. So you would recommend replacing the sailfin tang with a powder blue? As long as I can keep the water stable do you think I will be okay?
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you wont have a problem with the Sailfin. I love the way the Red Sea ones look, but I don't have as much experience with those. A regular one will be fine in your tank.
Instead of the eel, maybe a powder blue tang.
 
I would not put a sailfish or a powder blue in your tank. In a 125, you should only have one tang. The powder blue will be a bully and the sailfin needs a 8 foot tank
 
Scratch one of the Tangs - they'll fight in a tank your size. Keep only ONE in your tank. Have you considered a nice SCOPAS Tang or a Yellow Eyed Kole Tang?
If you want something different - Just as pretty but would fit the size of your tank better and would get along better with the rest of your livestock, IMHO. Both have nice personalities!
I have a Scopas Tang and he's a sweetie - and has a nice purplish brown smokey color!
Powder Blues ans Sailfins can get persnickety. They need ROOM. Watch out. If you insist on a Powder Tang, get a Powder Brown. FAR less aggressive.

Also, a nice Black Cap Basslet would be mellower than an Orchid Dottyback and give you the same nice bright fuchsia color.

+10 on the Coral Beauty. I have one in my tank and I love her! Great fish!

A Zebra Eel is nice- NO other species of eels - unless, of course - you're prepared to accept a loss or two...or three.....
Wouldn't trust it with ANY inverts like clams, sea urchins, or cleaner shrimp however.
 
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Take a look at one of my tanks in the picture. It is a 55 gallon. It housed a sailfin (a sailfish would not fit in the room;), a powderblue, a yellow and a hippo. They don't fight and it is because of how peaceful the tank is, and the size and order in which I added them. Been doing this for over 30 years...
Yes, the powderblue was a bit much with all of those once he got over 4", but I moved him to my 120 after he grew a bit. Now the hippo is boss and they still don't fight. Hippos are dumber and bossier, but as long as it is obvious who runs the tank you wont have a problem. The boss won't let anyone fight if he is truly the boss.
 
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monkeysee1 said:
Scratch one of the Tangs - they'll fight in a tank your size. Keep only ONE in your tank. Have you considered a nice SCOPAS Tang or a Yellow Eyed Kole Tang?
If you want something different - Just as pretty but would fit the size of your tank better and would get along better with the rest of your livestock, IMHO. Both have nice personalities!
Powder Blues ans Sailfins can get persnickety. They need ROOM. Watch out. If you insist on a Powder Tang, get a Powder Brown. FAR less aggressive.

Also, a nice Black Cap Basslet would be mellower than an Orchid Dottyback and give you the same nice bright fuchsia color.

+10 on the Coral Beauty. I have one in my tank and I love her! Great fish!

A Zebra Eel is nice- NO other species of eels - unless, of course - you're prepared to accept a loss or two...or three.....
Wouldn't trust it with ANY inverts like clams, sea urchins, or cleaner shrimp however.
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Yea the guy at my LFS recommended the zebra eel and said they were the only fish safe one.
 
Sailfins rarely get over 8" in captivity unless you have a tank of thousands of gallons. The largest they get in the wild is 15-18" and this is not common. The most wary of experts recommend a minimum tank size of 180-240 gallons for a regular Sailfin. I would say that in a 125 you can have a small 2-3" one and be just fine for many years. The key is to have everyone checking each other. The yellow should be a bit larger and go in before him and the powder blue or regal/hippo tang should be the largest and go in first. You will be fine. People have raised multiple tangs of different species in 125s forever. You cannot put more than one of the same species in of the powder blue or Sailfins though. That would be a high stress mess. If you keep them fed with a correct diet and keep your tank with multiple liverock hiding spots and within the correct water parameters you will be just fine. You should not be required to buy a 240 gallon tank to have this. I have multiple tangs in my 120 and they get along just fine. In fact, they swim in a school as they did in my 55. It all depends on how set up your tank, you place them in and feed them. Now, I am not say you can't get unlucky and get a hot fish. If this happens though make sure you have the option of returning the fish. You have to add at night and watch like a hawk for the first week. I have seen the promise land. It does exist. In fact, I am looking at it right now. Be strong my friend and remember: believe only half of everything you read on here because first hand experience is always the best way to know the truth. I abide by this wholeheartedly, and am just letting you know what my 30-years plus in this hobby has shown me. Be well and happy reefing!:fish2:
 
powderblue1 said:
The yellow should be a bit larger and go in before him and the powder blue or regal/hippo tang should be the largest and go in first...

I abide by this wholeheartedly, and am just letting you know what my 30-years plus in this hobby has shown me...
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Your 30yrs experience has shown you that the powder blue should be the largest and go in first?
 
When I say largest, I mean 3-4" max. You also should get a male. VERY smart fish. Sometimes more than their owners and that can turn into a problem. Yes, I am familiar with saltwater fish... And yes a powder blue can go in first, be docile enough not to hurt the other fish, but instead keep them in line. This is my experience and I apologize if you feel it does not match with your understanding of saltwater tank communities...:hmm6:
 
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