Re-Stocking Tank

Adam S

New member
Well one of my favorite fishes died today so i am going to restart the tank with all new fish. My tank is a 120g 5ftx18inx24in with a 55 gallon sump. I am looking possibly at a tank with some lionfish or a stocking list that would create alot of movement and color. Any suggestions would be great.
 
Harlequin Tusk
Clown Trigger
Flagfin Angel (may get a little on the big side)
Some sort of puffer?
Eel? Maybe a zebra moray or snowflake
That would make for an interesting tank, but a lion won't fit in with that stocking list...
That might be a bit of a overstock but I just thought I would throw out sme interesting, colorful fish :)
 
Yea from what ive read before a clown trigger would be too big. Before ive had the whole trigger and puffer thing and im kinda looking to get into something different. Im looking for more unusuall fish that are colorfull, active or both. Also the hardier the better. Thanks
 
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A couple of medium-bodied lions (radiata, mombassae, antennata), a Rhinopias frondosa, an Inimicus sp., and a Scorpaena brasiliensis would make an colorful, interesting display. ;)
 
I like the idea of the multiple medium lions but im not so keen on the bottom dwelling predatory fish. What would be some other options to put with the lions? Maybe i can do one bottom dweller just so i can get some movement in different parts of the tank?
 
would i be able to get several of lionfish like if i want a dwarf and then a radiata and mombassae. Then would adding any other fish be out of the question? If not what would be some colorfull fish that are fairly active. Also with the lions do they need to be certain sex because i know with one species it has to be a m-f-f trio but am unsure about multiple species.
 
Any input on my ideas? Would it be ok to add each lion one at a time or would that cause too much fighting?
 
You should be able to keep those three lions together with little trouble. Just keep "size differential" in mind when choosing specimens.

The only two lionfish species you can sex with any degree of certainty are D. brachypterus (fuzzy dwarf) and D. barberi (green/Hawai'ian lionfish).

The radiata will be the touchiest of the three species you've mentioned, as they often show up in rough condition (they aren't great shippers), and altho our specimen is a real chow hound, they are reportedly a bit slow to take to the stick. I do, however, feel that this may be due to them needing some "conditioning time" to get over their shipping "shock".

The mombasaae is pretty easy and a gorgeous fish IME, but they can sometimes be affected by poor water quality (they large eyes may go cloudy).

Fuzzies are about as bulletproof as lions come. Easily weaned, and very spunky fish, and they come in many color morphs (brown, red, yellow, or any combo thereof). Assuming all fish are of similar size, add the fuzzy last.

I would however, wean each fish before adding it to the DT. If you can't have a QT for weaning, you can use Frank Marini's "weaning basket" technique (as described in Figure 17 of his Lionfish Care Article ).

HTH
 
Wow, Thanks for all that info. Ive seen either a radiata or antennata at my lfs before but im not sure because they only label them lionfish. Will i need them weaned in the basket or qt even if they will be the first fish to be in the tank?

Also i know you said that scorpion fish are good tank mates but my lfs never has them and they arent really to my liking anyway so any idea what would be some other good tank mates?
Thanks again
 
You could wean the first fish in the DT, altho it's easier in a smaller tank unless the fish comes to you or is curious about the food.

Anything peaceful and large enuff to not be eaten are the first qualifications as a tankmate. Lions do better with slower swimmers, and they will be out and about more if they don't have a fast or aggressive fish racing around the tank.

Squirrel/soldierfish, some of the filefish, and mid-sized wrasses (not Thalassoma sp. as IME, they get nasty), foxface/rabbitfish (not good for demersal scorp sp.), maybe a wolf "eel" (actually a dottyback), hardy BF's such as a Heniochus all would be good lion tankmates.

If you aren't sure, give a shout.
 
So i have a purple tang in my sump right now and hes about 2-3 inches would he work with my plans or would he be too rowdy?

Also since i probably cannot get all these guys at once...which should i be adding first or last or does it really matter.
 
I'd add the tang last, for sure. If you get any demersal scorps, I'd reconsider the tang, as it will likely try to pick the "algae" of the "rock" and stress it out.
 
i would like to get some scorps but my lfs has never carried them and i dont want to order them offline so im going to skip those. Should maybe the fuzzy be added last because it seems the easiest to wean?
 
Yes, the fuzzy will most likely be the "beast" of the lions in terms of feeding.

We have a couple of red juvies, and one of them decided I wasn't giving it food fast enuff (I generally alternate between fish), so it decided to start spitting water at me...
 
what a bully haha. I talked to my lfs and they said the fuzzys should be easier to get because the are somewhat common but the antenna and the radiata have poor survival rate. Maybe i should look to divers den?
 
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