Stocking 135 gallons

[Avengerx77]

Hi everyone,

So I am going to return to the hobby with a 135 gallon display (50 gallon sump). I for sure want a yellow tang and probably a pair of clownfish. But other than that not sure how many fishes I will be able to keep without overstocking. The tank will be a reef, so they will have to be reef safe. Was thinking on adding a Purple Tang, but probably won't be a good idea.

Any other fish suggestions or ideas/quantities?

Thanks.

 

[breederforlife]

In a tank that size you could also add a dwarf angel in there, a couple of fairy wrasses, another tang ( add them at the same time so there is no aggression ), a pair of cleaner shrimp but really it depends on what fish you like.

 

[Avengerx77]

I like dwarf angels a lot, specially Flame Angel and Bicolor, but I've heard they are a hit or miss in terms of picking at corals, so I'm still on the fence on that one. Still debating on having a Yellow Tang and a Purple Tang.
On fairy wrasses I don't have any experience at all, are they easy to keep? How many can I add, a pair? What species of wrasses are best to have?
I was thinking also on a Royal Gramma, problem is that they are very shy so it's difficult to feed if there are more aggresive eaters in the tank. Maybe a Mandarin after a year or so. What about chromis?
On shrimp, might add a cleaner and fire blood.

 

[supervdl]

Fairy wrasses are usually easy to keep (Cirrhilabrus or Paracheilinus species). Not sure if two would work, but I would give it a try. Royal Gramma would still be OK I think. Chromis are nice fish get a group of them. I have them (group of 7) in my large tank and they are nice and have been in there for years. Some people seem to loose them to aggression within the group, but I can' say the same. In my new 135 gal DSA tank I will be having a group of Anthias instead. Something else to consider, but even the easier species are not as hardy as a group of Chromis.

 

[supervdl]

Oh, and on shrimp - if you get a fire shrimp you might not see them much. They look great in the LFS but once they are in your tank you see them at most during feeding time. Otherwise the hide in the rocks. At least that's how it was with mine.

Still think about what to put in my 135 gal myself after I have the Anthias in. The first batch is in QT tank now.

 

[Avengerx77]

Thanks supervdl. On the fire shrimp I know what I am getting into it, I had them in the past and yes, they tend to pass most of their time in the rocks, but still I love them much even if it means I get to see them mainly at feeding time.

For a 135g display tank, how many chromis would be the ideal quantity? 5 maybe? In terms of wrasse I was thinking on a Melanurus (Halichoeres Melanurus). My only oncern on wrasses is how deep of a sand bed I would need to have, as I prefer to keep it at 1" or less.

Anthias is another fish I would like to have, but like you said I've heard they are not as hardy.

 

[supervdl]

They are some Anthias which are OK like the Ignitus. I think the shallow water species tend to be easier and should get more comfortable with the brightly lit reef tank. If you sand bed is this shallow, I would stay away from sand burying wrasses. On Chromis question - stick with an uneven number 5 is definitely OK.