Stock List - 90 Gal - New to the Hobby

[hly2004]

Hi All,

I am brand new to this hobby but quickly getting hooked. I have my first tank on order and wanted to get some feedback of my desired stock of fish. I plan to go slow and research everything fully before committing to these fish. Would love feedback on when I should introduce each species. Some comments from anyone who has kept any combination of these species together would be great.

90 Gal Elos System 120
25 Gal Sump with Refugium
Will primarily be a SPS dominated tank.

4x Ventralis Anthias (1 male / 3 female)
2x Borbonius Anthias (1 male / 1 female)
2x Hooded Fairy Wrasse (1 male / 1 female)
1x Girdled Fairy Wrasse
1x Naoko's Fairy Wrasse

1x Powder Blue or Powder Brown Tang (if bio-load permits)

And then perhaps a couple sand sifters or nano sized fish here and there.

Thanks,

Hout

 

[jbannick18]

To lazy to look up the comman names for the ones you listed....

Anthias - high feeding requirements, turn off for some but fine for others

Fairy wrasses get along fine

The tangs should be added last for aggression which looks like you have decided. I've read the PBT are ich magets much like the regal tangs. I would recommend you get a QT set up asap. Other then that looks good

 

[Reefnub]

Those Anthias's aren't for beginners so I would do some research before buying them. I believe they're also best in established reef tanks. Everything seems fine except for the tang imo. Might look or is overstocked with the tang included. Depends on your aquascape and dimensions of the tank too.

 

[snorvich]

Those Anthias's aren't for beginners so I would do some research before buying them. I believe they're also best in established reef tanks. Everything seems fine except for the tang imo. Might look or is overstocked with the tang included. Depends on your aquascape and dimensions of the tank too.

Good advice here and I would definitely skip the tang.

 

[fixx198]

Maybe skip the powder blue and brown and go with a bristle tooth tang such as a Kole or Chevron. They do not require as much swim space.

 

[hly2004]

Those Anthias's aren't for beginners so I would do some research before buying them. I believe they're also best in established reef tanks. Everything seems fine except for the tang imo. Might look or is overstocked with the tang included. Depends on your aquascape and dimensions of the tank too.

Thanks for the advice Reefnub. My goal was to get the Ventralis introduced as my first species so there's no stress from other fish. Of course it would be once the water parameters, etc. are as perfect as possible.

That being said, do you feel they are better fit for a mature tank?

Hout

 

[MrTuskfish]

Hi All,

I am brand new to this hobby but quickly getting hooked. I have my first tank on order and wanted to get some feedback of my desired stock of fish. I plan to go slow and research everything fully before committing to these fish. Would love feedback on when I should introduce each species. Some comments from anyone who has kept any combination of these species together would be great.

90 Gal Elos System 120
25 Gal Sump with Refugium
Will primarily be a SPS dominated tank.

4x Ventralis Anthias (1 male / 3 female)
2x Borbonius Anthias (1 male / 1 female)
2x Hooded Fairy Wrasse (1 male / 1 female)
1x Girdled Fairy Wrasse
1x Naoko's Fairy Wrasse

1x Powder Blue or Powder Brown Tang (if bio-load permits)

And then perhaps a couple sand sifters or nano sized fish here and there.

Thanks,

Hout

Please follow the good advice that you gave yourself in your 1st paragraph:" I plan to go slow and research everything fully before committing to these fish. '. if you do this, you'll come to the conclusion that "Ventralis Anthias ' and "I am brand new to this hobby' really don't belong on the same page. These are very difficult, demanding fish. usually considered ''expert only''. They are deep water fish, almost impossible to acclimate, don't do well in bright light, are difficult to feed, and a 90 (IMO) is way too small for a group four of any anthias. they would b near the top of just about any list of fish for any new hobbyist to avoid. Even very experienced reefers have given up trying to keep them. Borbonius Anthias are far from beginners fish too. I also agree with the tang comments, a 90 is simply too small (lengthwise, especially) for any but the smallest tangs. BTW, I noticed that your equipment list doesn't include a quarantine tank; its vital, IMO & IME.

 

[SDguy]

As mentioned, ventralis are tough to keep. Borbs get really big, IMO. Have you checked out dispar/ignitus anthias? Less difficult, and better, socially, with each other, IME.

 

[hly2004]

Please follow the good advice that you gave yourself in your 1st paragraph:" I plan to go slow and research everything fully before committing to these fish. '. if you do this, you'll come to the conclusion that "Ventralis Anthias ' and "I am brand new to this hobby' really don't belong on the same page. These are very difficult, demanding fish. usually considered ''expert only''. They are deep water fish, almost impossible to acclimate, don't do well in bright light, are difficult to feed, and a 90 (IMO) is way too small for a group four of any anthias. they would b near the top of just about any list of fish for any new hobbyist to avoid. Even very experienced reefers have given up trying to keep them. Borbonius Anthias are far from beginners fish too. I also agree with the tang comments, a 90 is simply too small (lengthwise, especially) for any but the smallest tangs. BTW, I noticed that your equipment list doesn't include a quarantine tank; its vital, IMO & IME.

Thank you for the advice MrTuskfish. I will give it much thought.

That being said, I will still attempt to successfully care for the Ventralis Anthias. I feel if everyone acquiesced to every comment of "you can't do this, you can't do that," then we wouldn't be able to share in the great success stories of so many reef keepers.

I was hoping to receive some comments on what to look out for or tips for successfully keeping/introducing these fish.

Once the tank is setup and cycled properly, I plan to introduce the Ventralis to the display tank before any other fish. Will use the display tank as the QT tank since it will be the first species introduced. I fear a smaller QT tank for these fish may stress them out if the water quality fluctuates. The water will be kept at a cooler 72ish degrees and slightly increase every week until they can acclimate to a more normal temp of 77ish. Lighting will also be slowly adjusted. Feedings can happen 3 times per day since my wife will be home to help keep an eye on the tank.

The question is "is my thought process correct" or are there flaws to my logic?

I hope this great community at RC will help me achieve my goals, even if they are a little ambitious .

Hout

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thank you for the advice MrTuskfish. I will give it much thought.

That being said, I will still attempt to successfully care for the Ventralis Anthias. I feel if everyone acquiesced to every comment of "you can't do this, you can't do that," then we wouldn't be able to share in the great success stories of so many reef keepers.

I was hoping to receive some comments on what to look out for or tips for successfully keeping/introducing these fish.

Once the tank is setup and cycled properly, I plan to introduce the Ventralis to the display tank before any other fish. Will use the display tank as the QT tank since it will be the first species introduced. I fear a smaller QT tank for these fish may stress them out if the water quality fluctuates. The water will be kept at a cooler 72ish degrees and slightly increase every week until they can acclimate to a more normal temp of 77ish. Lighting will also be slowly adjusted. Feedings can happen 3 times per day since my wife will be home to help keep an eye on the tank.

The question is "is my thought process correct" or are there flaws to my logic?

I hope this great community at RC will help me achieve my goals, even if they are a little ambitious .

Hout

I don't believe I've ever said ""you can't do this, you can't do that" in response to any post on this forum. Once again, from your post; "I was hoping to receive some comments on what to look out for or tips for successfully keeping/introducing these fish." Here is some info on keeping Pseudanthias ventralis, easily found on reputable sites and from reputable reading material. 1.) A 90 gal tank is way too small for a group of these fish, even if you do get them acclimated. Even though small, the males are extremely aggressive toward females and will torment them to death if they don't have enough room. Blue zoo Aquatics (an excellent source of info, IMO)
suggests a minimum of 70 gals for a SINGLE fish, and 180 minimum for a group. They also suggest that a minimum of 8 females be kept with a male, to distribute the aggression. 2.) Anthias, especially difficult species, don't often do well in newly set-up, "sterile" tanks. 3.) IMO & IME, your plan to acclimate them to "normal" reef lighting and temps is very "iffy", at best. Deep water fish have spent countless years acclimating to conditions in their home environment; expecting to reverse that evolution in a few weeks is (IMO) very unrealistic. I know this approach has worked once in a while for some; but most deep water fish, if kept successfully (long-term) are kept under subdued lighting and with chillers. 3.) Re: Using the DT as an initial QT. IMO, anyone who has ever had to treat new fish for parasites/ disease in their DT, would probably agree that this is a bad idea. You then have the option of treating in the DT or trying to get the fish out. Either option is a nightmare, IMO & IME. 4.) Mentioning the combination of these ''expert only" fish and their well-known difficulties and a new tank & hobbyist may be redundant; but (IMO) is relevant to to your question of "logic".

This isn't intended as an attack, but it sounds like you've already made up your mind as to what you're going to do----you may already have ordered the fish. This info certainly isn't what you want to hear, or even seem to be looking for. But, I wish you luck and think I did honestly respond to your question: "The question is "is my thought process correct" or are there flaws to my logic?"

 

[jscarlata]

Sounds like you are setting yourself up for an unpleasant and expensive experience. Why not stock the 90 with more suitable fish to your tank and your skill level? Think about the animals first, not your preferences for a nice tank...if you consider the animals needs first, you would realize that your plans may not be the best.
I tried to keep a lyretail anthias when i was starting my first tank, and while i was successful at getting it to eat, it was a royal pain in the neck to keep it fed and happy and not harrasing the other fish. They are beautiful fish for sure, and lyretails are nowhere near as difficult as others, but for someone starting out, you are going to have a lot of things going on, having extremely difficult fish to care fo in the mix of startign your first reef tank is really not a great idea. As said above, you may not want to hear this, but you did ASK for opinions...

 

[hly2004]

It's a catch 22.

Should you buy the safe stuff? A few chromis or a blenny, perhaps. What do you do with them when 6 months down the road you're dying to get rid of them? Do you flush them? Donate them? Either way you're still abandoning your purchase.

Or, do you buy livestock that excites you? That motivates you to give extra care and attention? There's a reason why one chooses to enter this hobby, right?

Then there's the question on the value of an animal's life. This is of utmost importance but no one can guarantee a fish's life. You just have to give your fish the best chance of a healthy existence while making its owner happy and excited.

At this point, I am undecided on what to do.

 

[snorvich]

Thank you for the advice MrTuskfish. I will give it much thought.

That being said, I will still attempt to successfully care for the Ventralis Anthias. I feel if everyone acquiesced to every comment of "you can't do this, you can't do that," then we wouldn't be able to share in the great success stories of so many reef keepers.

Generally speaking, asking for advice and then going ahead despite it makes folks less than eager to help. If you are going to ask the RC community to make you able to keep expert level fish, it just is not going to happen.

 

[snorvich]

It's a catch 22.

Should you buy the safe stuff? A few chromis or a blenny, perhaps. What do you do with them when 6 months down the road you're dying to get rid of them? Do you flush them? Donate them? Either way you're still abandoning your purchase.

Or, do you buy livestock that excites you? That motivates you to give extra care and attention? There's a reason why one chooses to enter this hobby, right?

At this point you do not know how to keep any salt water fish. If you try difficult/expert level fish initially, the odds are very high that they will die. Not because you did not do the best that you can do, but because the best you can do now is not what you will be able to do when you have experience in the hobby.

Then there's the question on the value of an animal's life. This is of utmost importance but no one can guarantee a fish's life. You just have to give your fish the best chance of a healthy existence while making its owner happy and excited.

Exactly. Since you have no experience, how will you feel fish dead fish from your aquarium?

At this point, I am undecided on what to do.

And we are not telling you what to do, just what the consequences will be.

 

[hly2004]

And we are not telling you what to do, just what the consequences will be.

Maybe I should have mentioned that I had Freshwater experience but not Saltwater experience.

But this is the type of comment that is an empty statement. Rather than explain, you comment as if you're on a pedestal.

"You want to buy this fish, sorry, it'll die."

Please share with us what the exact reasons are why these fish will die? Is it equipment? Water? Lighting? Food? Ability to make adjustments on the fly? Ability to identify problems early on? The condition of the fish when they arrive from deep water collection?

Please share with us what it means to be "an expert." Do you have to post 19,365 comments on RC to become an expert?

At least MrTuskfish attempted to make some quality suggestions, such as lowering the number of Ventralis to keep. So, I thank you MrTuskfish for taking the time to make a thoughtful suggestion.

 

[crobattt]

It honestly sounds like you're not going to listen to any suggestions, but just have the mentality that you can do whatever you like as a beginner. You may be able to purchase the fish great, but do you have a mature system in which the fish can go through an easier acclimation. We're not saying that the fish you want will die, but just saying you should try to keep something not as difficult before you jump in waste thousands and end up with dead fish. Now that being said you may end up getting the fish and everything being grand, but the odds are against you. Oh and by the way Saltwater is more time consuming, in depth in difficult overall then freshwater. Just some things to think about.

 

[snorvich]

Maybe I should have mentioned that I had Freshwater experience but not Saltwater experience.

'
Well, gee, so do I since 1957. Oh and by the way more than 25 yuears in salt water.

But this is the type of comment that is an empty statement. Rather than explain, you comment as if you're on a pedestal.

No pedestal, just realistic. You have no experience and you clearly know more than those giving you advice. So why ask for it and why become argumentative when you don't hear what you want.

"You want to buy this fish, sorry, it'll die."

Please share with us what the exact reasons are why these fish will die? Is it equipment? Water? Lighting? Food? Ability to make adjustments on the fly? Ability to identify problems early on? The condition of the fish when they arrive from deep water collection?

Aquarist experience.

Please share with us what it means to be "an expert." Do you have to post 19,365 comments on RC to become an expert?

Hardly. On the other hand I suggest you lose the attitude if you want a long term experience on RC

At least MrTuskfish attempted to make some quality suggestions, such as lowering the number of Ventralis to keep. So, I thank you MrTuskfish for taking the time to make a thoughtful suggestion.

Yes, he and SDguy know a lot about saltwater fish.

 

[crobattt]

Please share with us what it means to be "an expert." Do you have to post 19,365 comments on RC to become an expert?

Well this would probably start by getting a tank and fish, since you don't have one he has that on you plus like 20 years of experience. I'd suggest learning from their experiences then learning the hard way.

 

[MrTuskfish]

At least MrTuskfish attempted to make some quality suggestions, such as lowering the number of Ventralis to keep. So, I thank you MrTuskfish for taking the time to make a thoughtful suggestion.

Please re-read my post. I did not suggest you keep fewer Ventralis, I didn't suggest anything even close to that. I referred to a person whom I consider a great source of info on anthias. He suggests a minimum of 180 gals for a group of these delicate fish. (1M + at least 8F). The large number of females to males is to spread the aggression of the males. A smaller group, in a tank that is way too small (or any tank), is almost certainly going to have the lone male constantly bullying the small number of females; probably resulting in their death I believe your are reading what you'd like to hear into your research.

As to your question; "what is an expert": I know several "expert pilots, attorneys, and small business owners; as well as a few SW hobbyists that I consider "experts". After some thought, I've concluded that they all have one thing in common. They know their limitations, seek out advice when necessary, and make decisions based on a combination of their own experience and the new information they have received and evaluated.

 

[snorvich]

As to your question; "what is an expert": I know several "expert pilots, attorneys, and small business owners; as well as a few SW hobbyists that I consider "experts". After some thought, I've concluded that they all have one thing in common. They know their limitations, seek out advice when necessary, and make decisions based on a combination of their own experience and the new information they have received and evaluated.

Exactly. For example I know that SDguy knows way more about anthias than I do (although I keep easy ones). There is always someone who knows more than I do, and I make every effort to find those people.