Starting a 125 Gallon FOWLR - Need advice on stocking

[jreinhold]

Im starting a 125 gallon saltwater FOWLR tank 72 x 24 x 18.

I plan on using:
- Fluval 406 Filter
- Reef Octopus BH300 HOB Protein Skimmer
- 2 Maxi Jet 1200 Power Heads
- 3 inch deep live sand
- 100 LBS Live Rock
- 4 Large fake rock decorations with fake corals for more hiding places (Give the appearance of another 50 LBS or so of live rock and coral)
- 2 Large Heaters (I think ones 250watt and the other is 200watt)

The tank has been cycling with just the sand and the Fluvial 406 for a month now and the water tests perfect in all the categories in the master API test kit. I plan on adding the live rock from a friends tank tomorrow.

My question is about stocking the fish? I haven't purchased any yet but I plan on buying these for my final stock list:

- 1 Powder Blue Tang approx 3"
- 1 Hippo Tang approx 3"
- 1 Male Blue Jaw Trigger approx 3-4"
- 1 Dog Face Puffer approx 3-4"
- 1 Fox Face approx 3-4"
- 1 Copperband Butterfly approx 3"
- 1 Red Stripped Angelfish approx 3"
- 1 Valentini Puffer approx 3"
- 1 Clownfish approx 3"
- 1 Fire Fly Fish approx 3"
- 1 Chocolate Chip Starfish
- 25 Snails
- 25 Hermit Crabs

I have a 55 gallon quarantine tank set up with just a Fluvial U4 and a maxi jet 1200 and a heater. Which fish in order would you introduce to the display tank after quarantine? I plan on only getting one fish at a time for quarantine except the blue powder tang, the the blue jaw trigger and the hippo tang. I will be ordering those 3 at once online to save about $150 so will those 3 be ok in the quarantine tank together before going into the display? Also should i put some of the live rock in the quarantine tank or leave it completely empty? I could also lose the Copperband butterfly, the red stripped angelfish, the clown fish, and the fire fly fish if you think the tank would be over stocked. I plan on eventually moving these fish into my 200 gallon tank that currently has cichlids in a year or two. Any suggestions on how i should go about introducing these fish and preparing my tank would be appreciated.

 

[Dmorty217]

No LR in QT just PVC pieces for the fish to hide. Hippo tangs really need bigger than a 125g. I think the bio load is good since the only messy eater/big waste maker will be the dog face. Add the Powder Blue last otherwise you won't be able to put any fish in the tank after you add him. Not sure I'm familiar with a red stripped angel or a fire fly fish.... I will google those and get back with you

 

[jreinhold]

No LR in QT just PVC pieces for the fish to hide. Hippo tangs really need bigger than a 125g. I think the bio load is good since the only messy eater/big waste maker will be the dog face. Add the Powder Blue last otherwise you won't be able to put any fish in the tank after you add him. Not sure I'm familiar with a red stripped angel or a fire fly fish.... I will google those and get back with you

Sorry i ment to type Firefish. I don't know why i said Fire Fly Fish lol

 

[Dmorty217]

The red stripe is know as Eibl Pygmy angel. The fire fish will become a meal for the dog face puffer when it becomes large enough

 

[jreinhold]

The red stripe is know as Eibl Pygmy angel. The fire fish will become a meal for the dog face puffer when it becomes large enough

Ok I will take there firefish off of the list. I will add the powder blue tang last to the tank. Any suggestions on which fish should be added first?

 

[Dmorty217]

butterfly, valentini,blue jaw, foxface, clownfish, eibli, hippo, dogface, PBT in that order

 

[jreinhold]

butterfly, valentini,blue jaw, foxface, clownfish, eibli, hippo, dogface, PBT in that order

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Lion-o]

Personal opinions...

I have a powder blue in my 300g, and he acts like the boss. That is with over 6' of length for him to swim. I think he might be too cramped in yours. I would recommend some smaller / friendlier tangs. Something like kole/bristletooth will also double up as algae scrubbers for you (to a degree).

As Dmorty also pointed out, a puffer/trigger with small fish could definitely end up in a meal. So, no firefish with that, and rather than a 3" clown (I'm guessing perc/oci) I would opt for a larger clown like a maroon or a tomato.

I'm also a big fan of fish that have more than just a pretty face, like the Sleeper Gold Head Goby (Valenciennea strigata). Watching him go around and gulp up mouthfuls of sand and then sift through them is really cool. Max size 5" might be too small (cause of how skinny he is) but maybe someone else can comment on them. Similar things would be a goatfish, certain wrasse, etc.

Good luck!

 

[jreinhold]

Personal opinions...

I have a powder blue in my 300g, and he acts like the boss. That is with over 6' of length for him to swim. I think he might be too cramped in yours. I would recommend some smaller / friendlier tangs. Something like kole/bristletooth will also double up as algae scrubbers for you (to a degree).

As Dmorty also pointed out, a puffer/trigger with small fish could definitely end up in a meal. So, no firefish with that, and rather than a 3" clown (I'm guessing perc/oci) I would opt for a larger clown like a maroon or a tomato.

I'm also a big fan of fish that have more than just a pretty face, like the Sleeper Gold Head Goby (Valenciennea strigata). Watching him go around and gulp up mouthfuls of sand and then sift through them is really cool. Max size 5" might be too small (cause of how skinny he is) but maybe someone else can comment on them. Similar things would be a goatfish, certain wrasse, etc.

Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the sleeper gold head goby. I think I will get one of those instead of the firefish and the clownfish. I know the 125 gallon tank will be too small for the powder blue and the hippo blue tang but I will be moving them to a 200 gallon tank in a year or two and then a 300 gallon or larger down the road.