Stocking advice

[Crazyabouttanks]

Hi all I'm very new to saltwater. Matter of fact this is my first salt water tank... and I am going all in. I am currently setting up a 210 gallon with a 100 gallon sump. I have a stocking list but not sure about compatibility. I am setting up this tank as a mixed reef. The following is what I am thinking

1 Dotty back
1 Fairy wrasse or six line
1 Basslet
4 lyretail Anthias 1 male 3 females
4 cardinal fish
5 blue chromis or damsels
1 Fox face
1 blue hippo tang
2 clown fish
1 or 2 red mandarin

Ultra maxima clam

 

[krs1102]

Be careful on the type of dottyback. Most people say they are monsters- springers and orchid seem to be the least aggressive of the bunch.

The same seems to be true with six line's- there are many posts about people saying "never again"

Also be careful with the chromis and/or damsels. Damsels are just mean, again from what I have read- and chromis typically will whittle their way down to one or two from a group of 5.

I am pretty new to this though so definitely let others weigh in.

 

[nereefpat]

1 Dotty back Make it an orchid (fridmani). Otherwise they are quite nasty. You can even do a pair.
1 Fairy wrasse or six line Fairy wrasses are amazing, and many can be mixed. Any specific ones you are looking at? Switch out the six-line for a melanurus.
1 Basslet Assuming royal gramm, chalk bass, or black cap, or similar. Great fish, and they can be kept in groups too.
4 lyretail Anthias 1 male 3 females Fine. Get them all as small females, and let them sort our the sex/hierarchy.
4 cardinal fish Fine
5 blue chromis or damsels Chromis will be fine in that size tank. Just don't expect them to school/schoal. If you get damsels, stick to the Chrysiptera genus (yellow tail, sapphire, etc). I would actually recommend those over chromis
1 Fox face fine
1 blue hippo tang fine
2 clown fishfine, although I would stick with occ or perc, and stay away from clark's, maroon, etc.
1 or 2 red mandarinFine. Give the tank a good 6-12 months to mature

Ultra maxima clam Doesn't affect your stock list really. Needs really strong lights and management of Ca and alk.

All in all, it looks fine to me.

 

[mattgumaer]

It looks like a reasonable list to me. Personally, I'd probably pick a tang that stays a little smaller. Also, if you get 5 damsels, you may end up with 2 or 3. I think about 1 for every 2 feet of tank space. But, your planned clowns likely won't tolerate them in 'their space'.

Whatever list you end up with, particularly for similar types of fish, try to add from least to most aggressive. For example, I would add the fox face prior to the tang or add them at the same time. If you let a big tang get established, it likely won't tolerate the addition of a fox face.

Good luck with the new set up. That's a heck of a way to start. It took my about a year to go from 8 gallons to 90 gallons to 180 gallons......

Matt

 

[rvareef]

stock list looks great, I would also consider another option for the blue hippo if you dont plan on upgrading in the future, it will most likely outgrow the 200

 

[Crazyabouttanks]

Thankyou you guys for all you in input ..
These forums are great.

 

[Crazyabouttanks]

Nere- I was looking at the filament flasher wrasse

 

[nereefpat]

Flasher wrasses are even more peaceful than fairy wrasses.

You could basically add any fairy or flasher to a flasher.

 

[FortyFour]

[MENTION=351001]nereefpat[/MENTION] can you elaborate on why you’re suggesting the yellow tale/ sapphire damsels over green chromis? I’ve always thought them to be very aggressive. Im also considering these fish in my other thread, in case you have some thoughts there too.

Thank you.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2683547

 

[nereefpat]

[MENTION=351001]nereefpat[/MENTION] can you elaborate on why you're suggesting the yellow tale/ sapphire damsels over green chromis? I've always thought them to be very aggressive.

Damsels, including chromis and clowns, are a big group.

Some of them are really nasty, like dominos and the striped damsels or marroon clowns.

Those in the Chrysiptera genus are the least aggressive of those called damsels.

People are usually disappointed in chromis. They don't really school, and they pick each other off, starting with the weakest.