Setting up my list of fish.

[BoydJ]

Goodafternoon everyone,

I'm new on the forum and new to the hobby. I'm from Antwerp, Belgium and also active on a Belgian forum where I've asked several questions aswell concerning my future fish for my tank. I've had some help there from a few people but I wanted you guys to give me your thoughts aswell if possible?

My tank is in the set-up phase atm. It's about 200 US gallons, +/- 750 liters. Measurements are 1,50m x 0,70m x 0,70m, I guess that's about 5 ft wide, 2,5 ft deep/high. I've got a sump under there of 1,10m x 0,45m x 0,35m with a deltec sc2560 skimmer. It has about 75 kilo's of live rock atm and it's running for 3 weeks now. 2 tunze streamers of 13000l/h on a multicontroller, eco-runner 6000l/h pump and a filter with carbon and superphos. Lighting is an ATI sunpower with 8 x 80 watts, 5 white and 3 blue.

The plan is to set-up a mixed reef in the coming months with mainly LPS corals. Apart from a few SPS (monti, stylo, caliendrum,...), some softies (sarco and lobophytum), buttons and mushrooms.

Fish I intend to keep is a list based on specimens that fullfill a purpose in the tank + a few that can't be left out imo. So let me know what you guys think :

Ctenochaetus strigosus
Salarias ramosus
Acanthurus pyroferus / naso elegans
Centropyge bispinosa
Valencienna puellaris
Amblyeleotris latifasciata with pistol shrimp
Harem of 4 paracheilinus cyaneus/mccoskeri, 1 male and 3 females
Pair of amphiprion ocellaris/percula
Pair of gramma loreto
Pair of halichoeres melanurus
Pair of elacatinus oceanops

Perhaps later a pair of genicanthus melanospilos if possible. That would mean I'd have about 20ish fish in the future...

Is that 2 many for my size tank and can all of those be kept with the corals I have in mind and with lysmata, stenopus shrimp and with archaster typicus?

Thanks!
Kind regards, Jamie.

 

[thegrun]

Welcome to Reef Central! Do you plan on keeping both the acanthurus pyroferus and the naso elegans? They may fight, although I have seen that mix work in a large tank like yours. The centropyge bispinosa may nip at your corals, they seem to run 50/50 as being reef (coral) safe. Other than that with a tank as large as yours the rest of the fish listed should be fine. Good luck, keep us posted with your progress.

 

[BoydJ]

Here's a link to the Belgian forum for pics if you can see them :
http://belgischzeewaterforum.eu/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2114&start=75

Other fish I also like are :
Pseudanthias squammipinnis/bartlettorum
Macropharyngodon kuiteri/geoffroy
Acanthurus nigrofuscus/nigricans
Anampses twistii/meleagrides

 

[BoydJ]

Welcome to Reef Central! Do you plan on keeping both the acanthurus pyroferus and the naso elegans? They may fight, although I have seen that mix work in a large tank like yours. The centropyge bispinosa may nip at your corals, they seem to run 50/50 as being reef (coral) safe. Other than that with a tank as large as yours the rest of the fish listed should be fine. Good luck, keep us posted with your progress.

Thanks! I will pop up on a regular bases probably now that I registered myself.

It would be either the mimic tang or the naso tang, but I'm concerned the naso will get to big for my tank. Maybe it's best to play safe and get the mimic?

The coral beauty could be a hazard for the LPS I've heard/learned so far, but I would really like a pygmy angel in my tank and this one is supposed to be the safest choice when it comes to being reefsafe or not I was told...

Is it too much fish for my tank or should I be ok?

Grtz Jamie

 

[thegrun]

I would go with the Mimic if the Naso isn't one of those "must have" fish for you. Coral Beautys and Flame Angels are both a gamble. I had a wonderful coral safe Flame Angel for 5 years until it jumped out of the tank one night. If you could find a reef safe Coral Beauty from a trusted friend or fellow reefer they are beautiful fish. Your tank will be fine as far as supporting that many fish.

 

[BoydJ]

I would go with the Mimic if the Naso isn't one of those "must have" fish for you. Coral Beautys and Flame Angels are both a gamble. I had a wonderful coral safe Flame Angel for 5 years until it jumped out of the tank one night. If you could find a reef safe Coral Beauty from a trusted friend or fellow reefer they are beautiful fish. Your tank will be fine as far as supporting that many fish.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'll have to make up my mind, either leave out the coral beauty or risk it...

The naso isn't really a must have for me, very few fish on my list are! But in comparison to the mimic I like the naso more. It's just a matter of what's possible and what not! Any specific reason for your choice?

Regards.

 

[thegrun]

Your tank is just big enough for the Naso Tang. When they feel cramped for space they tend to get more aggressive. Every fish is unique as far as personality traits go, but I would worry about the Naso becoming a tank bully. Capturing one after it is in the tank is difficult but not impossible so you can always try it out and remove it later if it starts to harass the other fish.

 

[BoydJ]

Ok I haven't thought of that. Most databases say that they are very peacefull!

Thanks

 

[BoydJ]

Is it also possible to combine different wrasses in my size tank?

Yellowtail tamarin (pair?)
Leopard (geoffroy/kuiteri - pair?)
Flashers (harem 1 male/3 female?)
Melanurus (pair?)

Or will they be competing for the same food/fight?