Picking up new tank in a month looking for stocking suggestions

[Dmorty217]

As the title states I'm picking up a 7x6x2ft 625g tank that I will be setting up by the end of summer and am looking for suggestions to add to the tank. It will be a BB tank and the livestock I currently have goes as follows

Orange shoulder 8"
One spot foxface 8"
Quoyi parrotfish 7"
Sargassum trigger 5"
Coral beauty 4"
Emperor changing 6.5"
Bellus female 2.5"
Tomini tang 4"
Lubbock 3.5"
Melenarus 4"
Zebra moray 11"

The tank will be mixed reef with softies and LPS mostly. I'm looking for active fish with personality. I love tangs and angels and plan on adding a purple and black tang along with a bandit angel and a juv harlequin tusk. I am a huge fan of Sohal tangs but I'm not sure how one would do in a tank that size? The big open swimming area helps things but I'm still not sure. The tank will be minimally aquascaped to allow for plenty of open swimming area and high flow 150xs+ DT turnover within
Help me figure this out

 

[ttam]

The melenarus will not like the BB bottom as the like other halichoeres species Like to sleep in the sand for protection

 

[RayL]

That is an awesome sized tank, look forward to all the pictures.
I will just list a few of my favourite fish that I will hopefully one day have in a large tank

2 x bandit angels
Regal angel (emperor would probably kill it)
Majestic angel
Queen angel
Achilles tang
Gem tang
Purple tang
3 x yellow tang
2 x cross hatch trigger
Porcupine puffer
Blue striped tamarin wrasse
No tank is complete with out a pair of regular perculas

 

[Ambition]

Multibar angels, while they won't be out like the larger angels, they are very personable. One example is the juvenile I got today was spitting water at me in the bag it arrived in.

Other than that you couldn't go wrong with a harem of flame or flameback angels. Either would add a splash of color, especially the flames.

 

[Rea17]

Awesome that you are getting that tank! I'd pass on the sohal personally. Mine did great during a full qt period in a 90 with a powder blue and purple, but once in the 520 he was living up to the sohal reputation I think it was rivalry with my achilles.

You should get an achilles for sure, plus an assortment of dwarf angels. I'm looking at doing pairs in my tank, really love venustus, Hawaiian flame, multicolor, and potter's.

 

[Dmorty217]

I know the Melenarus needs sand and honestly he has been a little PITA more so than enjoyable in my tank between having a attitude toward my Quoyi and constantly flashing at his reflection. Needless to say he could easily be rehomed. I didn't mention it above but a Achilles is for sure on the list for the tank. I like the idea of pairs of dwarf angels, that will just take a little trial and error. I really like Moorish Idols too but everyone seems to have a story about one. What I am lacking is some smaller wrasse and some bottom dwelling fish. Rea17, a pair of multicolors would be a awesome sight

 

[Dmorty217]

Ray, the emperor may end up being rehomed anyway I have a few people that want him. I worry about a regal with my clam.Occasional picking at corals is ok in my book. My wife would kill me if I bought a Gem tang!:blown:

Ambition, I like the multibar idea and I love a fish that spits at you in the bag! I have only seen triggers and puffers do this before.

Rea17, I couldn't stop thinking about the dimensions with all the open swimming area for tangs and other active swimmers. So I measured and taped the floor and set some mock rock and that was a wrap! I would like to do a mimic or two and another bristle tooth, I would love to find a hybrid bristle tooth.

One a side note the tank is acrylic and with the Quoyi and tusk which I have seen (coral lagoons 240) and read about with tusks scratching the tank. The backup plan for them if they cause problems will be my current DT which will be hooked to the overall system

 

[Rea17]

Blennies are fun - endless personality and perching behavior.

Can't believe I forgot, a pair of Navarchus angels! Or just one, they are amazing fish. IMO ditch the clam if that's a concern, Navarchus and regal > clam.

 

[Dmorty217]

Ditching the clam has been a topic of discussion more than once recently

 

[Eville]

So many options with a tank that size. If you're up for the challenge, I would totally try two Moorish Idols. Maybe try two more Bellus Angels and set up a trio? My starry blennies have great personalities - DD does those is pairs occasionally. Good luck!

 

[Dmorty217]

So many options with a tank that size. If you're up for the challenge, I would totally try two Moorish Idols. Maybe try two more Bellus Angels and set up a trio? My starry blennies have great personalities - DD does those is pairs occasionally. Good luck!

I have thought about getting two more Bellus females and I'm on the fence about the MI, they are beautiful fish but I want fish that I pick to thrive and be as long lived as possible. Issue I will run into with trying to pair fish and do multiples is inevitably some won't work out and I will have extra fish that need to either A be rehomed or put into another tank. The new setup will be enough work so adding in multiple holding tanks if you will isn't high on my list. Especially after I QT and treat the fish. For instance, A Moorish Idol that I have had for 3 months and has been thru QT is suddenly worth more than the standard 60-90$ you find them for

 

[Fish Biscuit]

Gem tangs fall off of trucks all the time, the same way Louis Vuitton bags & Prada shoes do.

I saw a hybrid a few days ago that looks gem ish & was very pretty & way cheaper. I like blonde naso tangs too.

 

[Dmorty217]

Gem tangs fall off of trucks all the time, the same way Louis Vuitton bags & Prada shoes do.

I saw a hybrid a few days ago that looks gem ish & was very pretty & way cheaper. I like blonde naso tangs too.

Sounds like you need to tell me where I'm more likely to find one of these fish that fall off of trucks... I would like to be standing there as one drives by and a Gem tang box comes flying off the truck I can catch it and assure it doesn't "hit the ground" and get stressed:dance:

 

[Triggerfish]

tank that size i would want a group or couple of groups that will hang together. bunch of purple tangs or heniochus come to mind.

 

[Dmorty217]

tank that size i would want a group or couple of groups that will hang together. bunch of purple tangs or heniochus come to mind.

I had 2 purple tangs 12 yrs ago in a 180g together and loved them. I could see a group of 5 purples in that tank, I like that idea the more I think about it. Heniochus are nice but only one of the two is reef safe and they are pale in comparison to a Moorish Idol

 

[jaa1456]

You gotta go with a black tang, when I broke down my tank, my BT went to a 600 gallon tank.

 

[Triggerfish]

saw a group of them in a circular tank on an episode of fish tank kings. looked amazing.
you could grow some algea on some large rocks and occassionly put them in there and just watch them forage on it.

 

[Fish Biscuit]

Sounds like you need to tell me where I'm more likely to find one of these fish that fall off of trucks... I would like to be standing there as one drives by and a Gem tang box comes flying off the truck I can catch it and assure it doesn't "hit the ground" and get stressed

I had some come in for a client earlier this year & jokingly asked if I could keep one shortly & grow it out for them Seeing as how I take care of all the clearances & documents & am the closest to the airport, one day I might just fishnap one.

 

[Dmorty217]

I had some come in for a client earlier this year & jokingly asked if I could keep one shortly & grow it out for them Seeing as how I take care of all the clearances & documents & am the closest to the airport, one day I might just fishnap one.

Well Michele it sounds as though we need to become friends:love1: I also enjoy vodka too much to share it with my tank!

 

[Dmorty217]

saw a group of them in a circular tank on an episode of fish tank kings. looked amazing.
you could grow some algea on some large rocks and occassionly put them in there and just watch them forage on it.

I like this and with a black tang, AT,my orange shoulder and Tomini that will make for quite the group of fish following me around the tank like my one spot,OS, and parrot do now. Group buy on purple tangs anyone?:lmao: