Stocking List

[ca1ore]

Just upgraded to a 265, and I have glorious space ..... so what to do!

Current fish:

Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Purple Tang
3 Pajama Cardinals
3 Bartlett Anthias
2 Ocellaris Clowns
2 Green Chromis
Splendid Dottyback
Manadarin
Watchman Goby
Flame Angel
Potters Angel
Dusky Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse (though getting bullied big time, so not optimistic)
Yellow-Tail Damsel

So, 21 fish. I am not averse to running a higher fish load, so am thinking about potentially adding:

Achilles Tang
A school of Chalk Bass (maybe 10)
Swales Basslet
Yellow Assessor
Some more Bartletts, perhaps another 5 females
Maybe a Naso Tang.

Thoughts? Reactions?

 

[ilikefish34]

I based my opinions on an 96 x 24 x 30 tank.

The Achilles would be my top pick out of that list as you have plenty of room and no other Tang from that genus.

I've never seen a school of Chalk Bass and didn't know they would get along. How tightly do they school? If they spread out, I think the Splendid Dottyback would have issues with individuals.

I'm not very familiar with the Swales Basslet.

Even with the size of that tank, I would have reservations about mixing the Yellow Assessor and Splendid Dottyback.

I would make sure that the Anthias are small to avoid getting a female that would change and rival your current male... Your tank may be large enough for two males but I would let others chime in on this testy species.

The Naso, Blonde or otherwise, would be my second pick out of this list. I would get one around 4-5 inches. IME adolescent fish are hardier than the juveniles and adapt to captivity better than adults.

 

[Dmorty217]

Do the tangs and add some other angels.... I'm not much for anthias.

 

[ca1ore]

The Achilles would be my top pick out of that list as you have plenty of room and no other Tang from that genus.

Indeed, mine too!

I've never seen a school of Chalk Bass and didn't know they would get along. How tightly do they school? If they spread out, I think the Splendid Dottyback would have issues with individuals.

I had 6 in my old tank and they sort-of schooled.

I'm not very familiar with the Swales Basslet.

Sensible man's deep water candy basslet!

Even with the size of that tank, I would have reservations about mixing the Yellow Assessor and Splendid Dottyback.

Good point, had not thought about that!

I would make sure that the Anthias are small to avoid getting a female that would change and rival your current male... Your tank may be large enough for two males but I would let others chime in on this testy species.

No, I'm with you. Fortunately my LFS regularly gets in smaller females

The Naso, Blonde or otherwise, would be my second pick out of this list. I would get one around 4-5 inches. IME adolescent fish are hardier than the juveniles and adapt to captivity better than adults.

Just wondering if a Naso will get too big even for a 265. Was thinking about a Desjardini sailfin, but I think they just get too large.

 

[RayL]

Naso will outgrow a sailfin but if you add one of them, I think you should be okay with either.
I use to have 4 chalk bass, they never fought with each other, but they never schooled, they kind of split into one pair and two singles.

 

[tylersarah]

who's picking on the leopard? ...I'll take him

 

[ca1ore]

who's picking on the leopard? ...I'll take him

Dusky wrasse is picking on the Leopard, which I haven't now seen in two days. In the fuge she was out and about constantly. Hoping things will settle down - Dusky's are not supposed to be aggressive, though mine is quite large.

Funny, I was expecting trouble with the Flame/Potters or Yellow/Purple combinations, not with the two wrasses. Oh well!

 

[Ambition]

I'd say pick one of the basslet species you listed, not all of them as I think they would be aggressive with each other. Yellow assessors are great in groups, I did have a group of three in a 40B and they swam out in the open with each other most of the day, often swimming upside down. Very personable little fish, IMO. I'm also in agreement that a splendid dottyback may be problematic with these fish.

For the tangs I would personally get just one and call it good. If I had the time to dedicate to it, I would go for the Achilles tang. They need lots of water flow, very stable parameters within the "normal" range, and may prove a challenge to get acclimated to captivity. I'm not sure how experienced you are, but if you have the time and energy to dedicate to keeping one, I would say go for it. One of my all time favorite tangs.

If it were my tank, I would keep the addition of more anthias high on my list. Larger groups of anthias are just breathtaking IMO.

I wish you luck on however you choose to stock this tank!

 

[ca1ore]

For the tangs I would personally get just one and call it good. If I had the time to dedicate to it, I would go for the Achilles tang. They need lots of water flow, very stable parameters within the "normal" range, and may prove a challenge to get acclimated to captivity. I'm not sure how experienced you are, but if you have the time and energy to dedicate to keeping one, I would say go for it. One of my all time favorite tangs.

Been around the block longer than most (first reef tank in 1988, or thereabouts). I think the Achilles is a definite. Had one for years the last time I had a big tank, so now I have the size I'm going to try another one.

Hadn't really thought that much about the Dottyback being problematic - amongst my current fish population he (or she) is right near the bottom of the pecking order - but is a good point.

 

[ca1ore]

Probably will bag the yellow assessor. Thinking perhaps a purple pseudo? I wonder if 265 gallons is enough space for that and my splendid?

Local reefer has a LemonPeel angel for sale - probably a REALLY BAD IDEA in a reef though.

 

[albano]

What, no fairy or flasher wrasses! Where did I fail you?

 

[ca1ore]

What, no fairy or flasher wrasses! Where did I fail you?

I know, I'm sorry, I just figured you just end up buying all the good local specimens so why bother ...... BTW, having seen your tank, I'm also thinking about trying a multibar (sensible man's peppermint).

PS - sand worked out great, thx again!

 

[ca1ore]

who's picking on the leopard? ...I'll take him

Leopard is apparently good ... though Dusky lurking in the background!

 

[albano]

BTW, having seen your tank, I'm also thinking about trying a multibar (sensible man's peppermint).

Nice! I'm actually looking for a tattoo artist to change the multibar's brown stripes to red! ... Worth a try !!!

 

[ca1ore]

Revised thinking of fish to eventually add:

Achilles Tang is a definite!
Chalk Bass, 5 to 10
Swales Basslet
Purple Pseudo
Bartletts Anthias, another 5 females
Flasher Wrasse
Vermiculated (Bipartitus) Wrasse, one male, two females
Red Sea Regal, maybe
Multibar Angel, maybe

 

[ilikefish34]

Revised thinking of fish to eventually add:

Achilles Tang is a definite!
Chalk Bass, 5 to 10
Swales Basslet
Purple Pseudo
Bartletts Anthias, another 5 females
Flasher Wrasse
Vermiculated (Bipartitus) Wrasse, one male, two females
Red Sea Regal, maybe
Multibar Angel, maybe

Does this include keeping the Splendid Dottyback? I'm not terribly confident in so many basslets, psuedos and the Chalk Bass. Even if the Purple, Splendid and Swales pick equal and furthest parts of the tank from each other, they are still pretty close. If it is the case, I would strongly urge you to use an acclimation box and position it as close to the Splendid's area of the DT as possible. From there, you have plenty of experience to determine the threat level that is displayed.

++++1 on the Red Sea Regal and would be my new first pic... you could do a pair.

I also really like a couple Male Flashers (added at the same time and with acclimation box) to mix in there.

Best of Luck and wouldn't mind seeing some more shots of you DT and fish!

 

[ca1ore]

I'm a big fan, and dedicated user of acclimation boxes. I've kept Dottybacks and Chalk Bass together before without significant issues, though you may be right that a pseudo and swales might be problematic. These lists are nothing more than thinking out loud I suppose ....

 

[ilikefish34]

I'm a big fan, and dedicated user of acclimation boxes. I've kept Dottybacks and Chalk Bass together before without significant issues, though you may be right that a pseudo and swales might be problematic. These lists are nothing more than thinking out loud I suppose ....

That's good to know about the Dottybacks and Chalk Bass and the box use. As for the others, it still may turn out well with enough rock work and corals along with good feedings. After all, plenty of aquarists get away with matching fish whereas plenty others do not with the same mix.

The "thinking out loud" is synonymous with "doing your homework" so it's good stuff regardless of experience. And I've been doing the same thing with fish and equipment while gearing up for my 210. Sounds like you have an impressive tank going there that is only going to get better.

 

[ca1ore]

I really have absolutely NO self-control when it comes top buying fish .... went to my LFS yesterday, and despite my carefully considered list of future fish (none of which they had ), I came home with a 2 1/2 inch Desjardini Sailfin, which was not on the list. Back to the old drawing board I guess. Cute little guy though. Will spend the next 3 month in QT though.

 

[SDguy]

Ever considered pyramid butterflies?