Pre-Planning Stage - Need help with stock list

[lifeoffaith]

I am planning WAY ahead here, so no tank build yet, but wanted to get your opinions on my current stock list. I plan on having two tanks in my next home, one that is a full out reef (mixed reef) and another that will be FOWLR. I'm still working on sizes for the reef (probably at least 90 gallons, preferably larger), but both tanks will most likely be in-wall, with the FOWLR being in the basement. The FOWLR will most likely be a plywood build with a lot of depth. I'd like to possibly even go with a cube shape because I like the idea of an in wall that has some dimension to it. The idea is to put mostly larger fish in the tank and focus on fish that are not reef safe. I'm looking to go 250-300 gallons on this one, so what I'm asking of you all is if I can fit all/most of these fish without major issues and also if they will all get along. I'm thinking the couple of small fish on my list may become an issue with some of the larger ones, but looking for personal experience with them kept together. This list is completely preliminary and is constantly changing. The top of the list are must haves, to the less important at the bottom.

Zebra Moray Eel
Moorish Idol
Copperband Butterfly
Marine Betta
Emporer Angelfish
Regal Angelfish
Starry or Lawn Mower Blenny (I know that I can keep this in my reef if it won't work in this tank)
Australian Harlequin Tusk
Blue Line Grouper
Coral Banded Shark
Dragon Wrasse

 

[ilikefish34]

I'll just give some thoughts on the species.

I had a Zebra Moray in my 180 gallon fowler that would bite my Emperor Angel from time to time--hunger shouldn't have been an issue for the crustacean eater. There are going to be others that did not have that problem but, for me that was the reason I moved him into another tank with just a single Volitan and Coral Banded Shark... we have similar taste.

With your next two top choices, and the Regal Angel, I'd advise you to search the Moorish Idol, CBB and Regal Angel threads. I've never kept the Idols being that they are touchy and I've always housed fish that I thought would keep their dorsal trimmed too short. I do like the CBB for your reef, and had one for mine, (getting an Australian specimen could help the survival rate) but they do not compete well for food and the thread will give you good information about that. I've never kept the Regal but do plan on getting a Red Sea one down the road. The 90 gallon will be too small and the fowler may not have the right tank mates.

The Marine Betta (had one about 15 years ago and really liked it) goes well with the CBB and the Blenny (I like the Starry but they are interchangeable based on preference) but not with the others... probably OK with the Regal Angel. It is a fish that I've seen shredded by a Queen Angel. They appreciate lots of rock work and hiding places. They will show themselves well in a quiet tank and hide constantly, to the point of starvation, in one with aggressive fish.

The Emperor was my favorite in my fowler. He was the boss of a smaller Majestic Angel and several tangs (Hippo, Powder Blue, Yellow, Purple and Kole) along with a Flame Angel, Flameback Angel, Flame Hawk, Percula pr., Bicolor Blenny and a Blackcap Basslet--feel free to take any from that list and put it on yours. It can become aggressive but you have plenty of room.

Love the Aussie Tusk--goes great with the Emperor and the Blenny but not too much else on the list... probably too aggressive of an eater for the CBB and Idol.

I'd take a pass on all groupers.

I wouldn't mix any large angels with sharks since they tend to pick on them.

Dragon Wrasses are cool when young and small but grow dull... and I've never seen one live long enough to grow dull.

Good Luck
Mike

 

[lifeoffaith]

Thanks Mike!

Boy that makes it tough to narrow it down. Maybe I'll just stick with Angels and Butterflies as I love them. I was hoping to get away with the Zebra, but not in a tank by itself or at the expense of some of the others on my list. I'm ok with crossing the shark off of my list. I'd rather have angels. I was really hoping to get a Marine Betta, but if it's going to be picked on by my angels, then I'll have to cross that one off of the list too.

Are the groupers too aggressive or just too hard to keep?

The Aussie Tusk might be the hardest one to take a pass on as it is one of my favorites. It sounds like it might not play well with a lot of other fish that I might want though, so I may have to.

 

[ilikefish34]

Groupers just get very aggressive and get large--even the small ones.

I wouldn't pass on the Tusk. They aren't a very aggressive fish and tend to only mess with small fish that are added after it. I'd throw him in there with Emperor (depending on what else you decide, it could be the last one added) and I would look at substituting some Tangs for the Butterflies--easier to keep and still give you the color and openly active like the Butterflies. You could still get the CBB in the reef. And either Blenny can go with all.

With the projects you have going on with the 90 and the fowlr, it would be beneficial to check out the QT threads--look for Snorvich's stickies. A proper quarantine process will save you big $$$.

Until you're ready for the fowler build, keep looking at what other's have done for ideas and modify your list in the mean time... btw, we all constantly modify what we want!

Happy New Year!
Mike