PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

Hi!
I am open to all ideas. I am currently upgrading my 63 gallon to a 320. I've never had a big tank, and have no idea where to start. I want to add three big fish (tang size) and focus on the small stuff. What would you stock with?
Currently have 2x percs, 3x chromis that get along nicely (!!!) An African flame back angel, a bluespotted shrimp goby, and two hitchhiker tidepool gobies (Max size 1.5 inches) - never had aggression, disease, or any issues. All young.
My husband wants colours other than blue and yellow. We are more into corals and inverts than fish, so the more reef safe the better, though I'd attempt certain borderline safe things - my pygmy angel is a model citizen, and I kept a copper band for years with zero issues.
I can catch stock locally is I'm lucky and patient - anthias, angels, tangs - I've seen wild gem tangs, doubt I can catch one tho.

What would you suggest?

As those who follow this thread know, I do not provide recommendations for a variety of reasons. However I am always happy to evaluate stocking lists provided tank size is provided. Gem tangs (I have had one) are nice but probably not worth the effort. They are reasonably common where you live, however. If you are primarily interested in corals, I would look at the wrasse group: leopards, possum, flashers, and some fairy.

 

[Vilas]

OK! Thanks! I'd never catch one anyways.

 

[snorvich]

OK! Thanks! I'd never catch one anyways.

Amazingly enough, one of the folks on here caught one in a tide pool. As a long time diver, I would say that catching tangs would be tough.

 

[Vilas]

You sometimes see tangs and angels in tide pools here. More common are The World's Angriest Damsels and sweet grey tidepool gobies. I stick with the latter. I'll run my list by you when I come up with one! Thanks again.

 

[jmowbray]

It is heavy. The size of the yellow tang is not the issue, it is the territorial imperative and feeding required. Tangs eat constantly because they process food rather poorly, so RC's recommended tank size is based on that. Also, be aware that an established yellow tang is very aggressive towards new additions.

Steve,

Thank you for looking over my list I really appreciate it. With you recommendation in mind can you suggest a larger active swimmer that is brightly colored like a yellow tank?I was thinking a Flame Angel but I don't like even the possibility that they may nip clams and possible corals as I have both.

 

[snorvich]

Steve,

Thank you for looking over my list I really appreciate it. With you recommendation in mind can you suggest a larger active swimmer that is brightly colored like a yellow tank?I was thinking a Flame Angel but I don't like even the possibility that they may nip clams and possible corals as I have both.

Any angel, dwarf or large, is not really reef safe. You might look at the wrasse family, specifically Halichoeres wrasses.

 

[jmowbray]

Should I be worried about adding two wrasses in the tank together? I'm assuming to add them both at the same time and to get both males so they can establish territories and also make the McCosker's flash. Am I wrong?

 

[snorvich]

Should I be worried about adding two wrasses in the tank together? I'm assuming to add them both at the same time and to get both males so they can establish territories and also make the McCosker's flash. Am I wrong?

You can have two different species of male flasher. Or two different males concurrently but I always recommend using an acclimation box.

 

[mpderksen]

20gal main tank with 5gal sump. 60" x 8" x 12"
Tunze 9001 skimmer

Livestock, in order of addition:

CUC mix of snails only (no hermits)
Cleaner shrimp
Emerald crab
Neon goby
Yellow clown goby
2 snowflake clown

Thanks in advance

Michael

 

[shark2]

I am upgrading my 40 gallons to a 75 gallon tank.

I currently have
2 mandarins
2 clownfish
4 spotted cardinal fish
1 yellow tang (small)
1 hippo tang (small)

What I want to add
2 dwarf lionfish
1 marine betta
6 firefish
6 blue green chromis
4 seahorses
1 flame angel
1 coral beauty
2 yellow goatfish
2 bicolor goatfish
1 dragon sea moth

Thanks for your advice. This is a great thread.

 

[nofear31]

Hi snorvi h would appreciate your advice

Hi snorvi h would appreciate your advice

Hi
I have a standard 75 gallon. Two large rock structures with lots of swimming space. 40 gallon sump, 40 gallon refugium. Skimmer for 4-5x rated tank volume. Been up and running for about 10 months or so. Currently have stocked:

2 occelaris clowns
1 six line wrasse
1 royal gramma
2 peppermint shrimp

All are 2" or less in size so still quite young

Wish list includes:
Carpenters flasher wrasse
Black combtooth blenny or bicolor blenny
Green clown goby
Possibly a orange spotted diamond goby or other sand dweller
One of either yellow tang, tomini bristle tooth tang, or kole tang
Flame Angel or coral beauty

We had a purple dottyback and had to remove him due to him harassing the wrasse to no end. I've read that the six lines can be devils. It gets along well with everything else so far and a feed quite regularly. Wondering if adding other peaceful fish sooner than later would be better and also wondering if the larger angel or tang would also help dampen the temperment of the six line.

Thanks for the help in advance appreciate it

 

[nofear31]

As a side note: THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS THREAD

As a side note: THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS THREAD

Just google searched for a thread like this and this came up. I posted and then noticed how many pages and posts there are!!!!! Amazing job snorvich and thank you so much for providing such an amazing service. I find it so daunting to research stuff and then grunt decipher the compatibility list that is on sites like live aquaria! I'm a nurse and we have a similar chart for medications and med errors are made due to accidently moving over a line. Has to be a better system (which you provide) but ya. Thanks for the tremendous effort!
Ben

 

[snorvich]

20gal main tank with 5gal sump. 60" x 8" x 12"
Tunze 9001 skimmer

Livestock, in order of addition:

CUC mix of snails only (no hermits)
Cleaner shrimp
Emerald crab careful, they can be aggressive towards fish
Neon goby
Yellow clown goby
2 snowflake clown

Thanks in advance

Michael

fine but note annotation

 

[snorvich]

I am upgrading my 40 gallons to a 75 gallon tank.

I currently have
2 mandarins will not work long term
2 clownfish
4 spotted cardinal fish
1 yellow tang (small) needs a larger tank
1 hippo tang (small) needs a much larger tank

What I want to add I do not evaluate aggressive fish community tanks; note that your lionfish will have some expensive lunches. Also you would be way overloaded
2 dwarf lionfish
1 marine betta
6 firefish
6 blue green chromis
4 seahorses
1 flame angel
1 coral beauty
2 yellow goatfish
2 bicolor goatfish
1 dragon sea moth

Thanks for your advice. This is a great thread.

 

[snorvich]

Hi
I have a standard 75 gallon. Two large rock structures with lots of swimming space. 40 gallon sump, 40 gallon refugium. Skimmer for 4-5x rated tank volume. Been up and running for about 10 months or so. Currently have stocked:

2 occelaris clowns
1 six line wrasse this fish will be a problem long term
1 royal gramma
2 peppermint shrimp

All are 2" or less in size so still quite young

Wish list includes:
Carpenters flasher wrasse not with a sixline wrasse
Black combtooth blenny or bicolor blenny
Green clown goby
Possibly a orange spotted diamond goby or other sand dweller
One of either yellow tang, tomini bristle tooth tang, or kole tang
Flame Angel or coral beauty

We had a purple dottyback and had to remove him due to him harassing the wrasse to no end. I've read that the six lines can be devils. It gets along well with everything else so far and a feed quite regularly. Wondering if adding other peaceful fish sooner than later would be better and also wondering if the larger angel or tang would also help dampen the temperment of the six line. larger fish would have not a dampening effect on the six line wrasse

Thanks for the help in advance appreciate it

 

[snorvich]

Just google searched for a thread like this and this came up. I posted and then noticed how many pages and posts there are!!!!! Amazing job snorvich and thank you so much for providing such an amazing service. I find it so daunting to research stuff and then grunt decipher the compatibility list that is on sites like live aquaria! I'm a nurse and we have a similar chart for medications and med errors are made due to accidently moving over a line. Has to be a better system (which you provide) but ya. Thanks for the tremendous effort!
Ben

Always a pleasure. At least with medications it is pretty clear cut, but with fish there are a lot of variables such as tank size, fish size, and order of addition

 

[nofear31]

Thanks snorvich

Thanks snorvich

Thanks a lot! Ya I figured that would be the answer with the six line. I live in Canada Saskatchewan so the whole reef thing is kinda outta left field out here just one reef store in almost 300km radius so it's hard to get what ya like/want to make everything hospitable for the fish etc. will try and find a new home for the wrasse. Maybe live in fuge, at least I know hoe I can get him outta there without dismantling or chasing him around the tank for hours lol

Appreciate it

 

[TripleJ21]

Hey snorvich!

75 Gallon mixed reef

Current inhabitants:
2 Black. Occ Clowns
1 Flame Hawkfish
1 Blue Reef Chromis
1 Kole Tang
1 Barletts Anthias

What I would like:
1 Lyretail Anthias (would this work with the Barrett's?)
1 Pink Margin Fairy Wrasse
1 Coral Beauty Angelfish (added last)

Thank you!

 

[snorvich]

Hey snorvich!

75 Gallon mixed reef

Current inhabitants:
2 Black. Occ Clowns
1 Flame Hawkfish not shrimp safe
1 Blue Reef Chromis
1 Kole Tang
1 Barletts Anthias

What I would like:
1 Lyretail Anthias (would this work with the Barrett's?) I would be happier if the tank were longer
1 Pink Margin Fairy Wrasse
1 Coral Beauty Angelfish (added last) not coral safe; the kole tang may not allow it as they are in the same ecological niche

Thank you!

 

[Zer0.]

In your sized tank, I would suggest that you introduce two flashers of different species. They would flash competitively and would also do well if you could find a female of the same species. C. solorensis will lose some coloration longer term without a female. Flasher wrasses will not lose coloration but will not show the mating behavior or competitive behavior without a male of different species or a female. Since neither C. solorensis nor a flasher wrasse will eat from rock (they are planktivores), they should have minimal problems with your existing mandarin. They may exhibit behavior that could intimidate your firefish.

Ok, thanks Steve, thinking McCoskers and Blue flasher introduced at the same time. So do i have this right, only being kept with a same species female fairy wrasse helps male fairys keep their color? My LFS just got in a blue sided fairy wrasse I really like, but i may just go with the two flashers instead of all 3.