Potential Stocking List

[CarrieB]

Thinking about potential fish while getting my 120 together. These are the ones I keep coming back to. Would love to get an experienced opinion or five.

Lawnmower Blenny
Firefish
Kaudern's Cardinalfish (1-3)
Ocellaris Clownfish (2)
Coral Beauty Angel
Tracey's Damselfish

I currently have mushrooms, gorgonian, sea urchin, sea cuke, snails and hermit crabs. Probably going to end up with some sort of mixed reef.

Potential problems besides the possibility of the CB nipping at coral? How's this for capacity in a 120?

I've put them in the order that I think they need to be added, any changes? There is the possibility of a locally owned coral beauty becoming available soon. Should I even consider putting her in first?

Thanks!

 

[jml1149]

I'm building a 120 at the moment, tagging along!

 

[Deleted member 336650]

The firefish might do better if added first.

Some members here suggest only adding multiple Kaudern's as a mated pair.

Not sure about in your location, but a coral beauty is not normally a hard to locate species. Future additions of a more timid species may not go well.

I'd say that is a low bioload for your tank.

 

[CarrieB]

Thanks! The reason the local CB is attractive is that it's got a record for being reef safe.


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[Deleted member 336650]

Thanks! The reason the local CB is attractive is that it's got a record for being reef safe.


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Well a reef safe CB could qualify as hard to locate. Tough call. It is a large tank. You could always try to rearrange the tank or use an acclimation box for new additions if you go with the angel.

 

[thegrun]

Your fish load is fine, I keep 12 fish in my 120 mixed reef without an issue. I would consider swapping the Lawnmower Blenny for a Starry Blenny, they are much less likely to nip at corals and are easier to keep long term. The CB as you know may nip or even devour corals, every one is different, some are completely reef safe, some take an occasional nip and some will tear corals apart. Here is my 120 stock list:
Yellow Eyed Kole Tang
Purple Tang
Flame Angel (currently reef safe but I've only had him in the tank for a year)
Flame Wrasses (1-male, 2-female)
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Starry Blenny
Purple Firefish
Royal Gramma
Mated pair of Black and White Clowns
Cleaner Shrimp
Orange and Black Urchin

 

[CarrieB]

Thanks. Sounds like a great mix in your tank. Is your starry blenny as good at eating algae as the lawnmower?


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[CarrieB]

How big a tank would I need to keep the CB for a couple of months? Wondering if I could just treat this as a really long QT while I get the shyer folks in. The clownfish maybe could hold their own?


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[NS Mike D]

I got my coral beauty from a box store and it was the last addition to my tank, but only by a week or so. No acclamation issues. It will bully the other fish out of it's path but other than that it isn't aggressive.

The only time it nipped at a coral, it turn out it was nipping at some slime that was killing my trumpet coral. I don't have enough algae growing in my rocks for it and it ignored the nori, so I include SF Bay Emerald Entree frozen food in the feedings since in addition to mysis brine, etc it includes vegetative matter so I can be sure the CB is getting its veggies and the rest of the tank mates appear to enjoy it.

They are active swimmers which is enjoyable to watch (as opposed to timid fish that like to play hide and seek).

 

[NS Mike D]

How big a tank would I need to keep the CB for a couple of months? Wondering if I could just treat this as a really long QT while I get the shyer folks in. The clownfish maybe could hold their own?


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no issues at all between my O Clowns and the CB. A little tail flapping to express territorial rights, but never any direct confrontations.

 

[SecretiveFish]

Thanks. Sounds like a great mix in your tank. Is your starry blenny as good at eating algae as the lawnmower?


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My starry blenny is a far better algae eater than the lawnmower blenny I had. The lawnmower blenny far preferred the meaty food I put in for dinner to picking the algae off the rocks.

I would agree that is a low stocking level for your tank (not a bad thing!).

 

[madweazl]

I got my coral beauty from a box store and it was the last addition to my tank, but only by a week or so. No acclamation issues. It will bully the other fish out of it's path but other than that it isn't aggressive.

The only time it nipped at a coral, it turn out it was nipping at some slime that was killing my trumpet coral. I don't have enough algae growing in my rocks for it and it ignored the nori, so I include SF Bay Emerald Entree frozen food in the feedings since in addition to mysis brine, etc it includes vegetative matter so I can be sure the CB is getting its veggies and the rest of the tank mates appear to enjoy it.

They are active swimmers which is enjoyable to watch (as opposed to timid fish that like to play hide and seek).

I've never actually seen mine eat (feed Hikari S, live brine, PE mysis, and Rod's Reef) but it's healthy and active. The female lyretail and CB spend a lot of time together (almost always together actually) but have always been civil (they will literally lean on one another). My wife says they have something going on LOL. Now, the male lyretail and the CB I think went a few rounds as there were wounds on both of them (never witnessed aggression between them); the male lost and died about a week ago (stopped eating after the wounds appeared and died roughly five days later).

 

[CarrieB]

My starry blenny is a far better algae eater than the lawnmower blenny I had. The lawnmower blenny far preferred the meaty food I put in for dinner to picking the algae off the rocks.



I would agree that is a low stocking level for your tank (not a bad thing!).

Good to know about the starry blenny. That sounds good.

I agree, a low stocking level is one of my goals. I have another time sync hobby so I want a robust tank. Hopefully a list will keep me from impulse buying.


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[CarrieB]

Now, the male lyretail and the CB I think went a few rounds as there were wounds on both of them (never witnessed aggression between them); the male lost and died about a week ago (stopped eating after the wounds appeared and died roughly five days later).

That's a little scary. What should my takeaway from that be?


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[NS Mike D]

I've never actually seen mine eat (feed Hikari S, live brine, PE mysis, and Rod's Reef) but it's healthy and active. The female lyretail and CB spend a lot of time together (almost always together actually) but have always been civil (they will literally lean on one another). My wife says they have something going on LOL. Now, the male lyretail and the CB I think went a few rounds as there were wounds on both of them (never witnessed aggression between them); the male lost and died about a week ago (stopped eating after the wounds appeared and died roughly five days later).

my female ocelaris clown turned on the male after a year of being inseparable over the weekend. He didn't make it. Might be sometime in the moon, but I suspect it's just nature and things go wrong at times.

On a funny note, my CB is addicted to having its belly rubbed by my cleaner shrimp. No signs of pests or disease - I think it just likes it and can be seen stopping over for a scratch a few times a day. go figure