Tank mates question

[fender4string]

I'm planning on starting a FOWLR tank sometime in the near future. Right now I'm just trying to research everything that needs to be done to create a successful tank. The one fish that I absolutely want is a picasso trigger. I understand that they can be aggressive and need to be housed with other fish that can hold their own. I've also read that blue tangs (or regal or hippo tangs, whichever you call them) can be OK tanks mates so long as they are introduced first and are bigger than the picasso trigger-is this true?

So.......what other kinds of fish can I put into the tank (I've been told a 120g is the size I should get)? Can I add a pair of blue tangs (I've read they can fight unless introduced at the same time and if they are in cramped quarters)?

 

[Stuart60611]

Well, we are on the same page because I am now in the cycling process of my new FOWLR. If you plan on housing tangs or other aggressive swimmers, I strongly suggest you go with a tank that is at least 6 feet long. As such, do not buy a 120 but purchase a standard 125 or 180. Both are 6 feet in length, but the 180 is 24 inches deep whereas the 125 is 18 inches deep.

My FOWLR is a 125. This is my anticipated stock list:

1) Picasso Trigger
2) Australian Harlequin Tusk
3) Kole or Yellow Eye Tang
4) One Spot Foxface
5) Pinkface or Five Stripe Wrasse
6) Flame Hawkfish
7) Honey Comb Toby Puffer
8) Yellow Tail Damsel

Also, I strongly recommend that you also purchase a good skimmer which is rated significantly above your tank's water volume, a sump/refugium of at least 50 gallons, and run two fluidized reactors (1 for carbon and 1 for GFO). My refugium is loaded with extra rock that I did not want to keep in my display, along with Chateo macro algae. Finally, when you get to the point of thinking about purchasing rock, I have had an excellent experience with Bulk Reef Supply's (sponsor of this site) Eco Rox. This is dead rock. It looks absolutely amazing and is extremely pourous which makes it excellent for biological filtration. One key advantage of using dead rock is you avoid introducing any pests or unwanted algae into your system which can create a major problem. What I did is purchased 75 lbs of the Pukani and 35 lbs of the Shelf. This combination works very well for creating archways and caves which work well in a FOWLR. All you need to do is add a few pounds of live rock and the dead rock will be seeded and become live rock. Also, you should call Bulk Reef Supply when you want to place an order and describe exactly what kind of structures you want to build for your aquascaping. They did a great job of selecting pieces which perfectly met my desires.

 

[fender4string]

Ok thanks for the info and recommended stock-I really like the one spot foxface and is now a fish I'll have to consider adding to the list

 

[Stuart60611]

The one spot foxface is a great fish and extremely hardy and able to hold its own with aggressive tankmates. The reason I chose it over the foxface lo is they look nearly identical, but the one spot reaches a much smaller adult size than the lo which leaves room for more fish. Foxfaces are great algae eaters. In this regard, make sure you pick at least two good herbivores in your list because one the biggest problems with FOWLRS is you often cannot house inverts as a clean up crew. You will depend on your herbivore fish to keep algae at bay.

 

[LisaD]

Good advice from Stuart60611. I'd add that you most likely will not be able to pair the tangs. Just keep one.

If you can afford a 180, get it. 125s are nice tanks too, but I'd get as much as you can. My 210 is looking awfully small lately, and it's only been set up a little while.

The trigger will be a nice centerpiece for your tank. Since you are just starting out, I'd recommend you stock your tank, in the near term, with hardier fish. You can get the blue hippo tang, and keep it with a picasso trigger, but IMO, it is one of the more challenging tangs, being quite susceptible to ich. I would hold off on the hippo tang, and add a hardier one, such as a kole tang.

The one-spot foxface is a great choice. I am a big fan of dogface puffers. Zebra and snowflake morays are very hardy and stay reasonable sized. You might consider a dwarf angel, like a coral beauty. I'd avoid big angels until you get some more experience with the tank.

Good luck!

 

[fender4string]

thanks for the advice-based on some other fish i;ve seen I'm probably going to add an Aus Harlequin tusk and probably some species of other wrasse as well. Thanks for telling me about adding herbivorous fish bc I was kind of worried about having to constantly replace inverts

 

[fender4string]

oh and also a singapore angel unless you think there is a species better suited to the kind of tank that I'm trying to start