too many fish for 125?

[crsaz]

I am currently setting up a 125 semi aggressive reef, filtration specs, 200 lbs of LR, DSB, 60 gal sump/fuge, algea turf scrubber,G3 skimmer

future stocking list:
Hippo tang-small 1-2 inches
tomini tang small 1-2 inches
niger trigger small 1-2 inches
six line wrasse
pair of occelaris clowns(not sure if I want these or not)
2 x mandarin goby
plus other various small fish (blennies gobies ect)
inverts;
50+ nassarius
50+ hermits
plus varius shrimp cleaners ect. (nothing exspensive as the trigger may try to eat some of the inverts)
is this too many fish for a 125 reef???

 

[nikon187]

Not too many fish but the trigger will outgrow the tank eventually ( max out 16-18") Other than that it should go allright,

 

[crsaz]

I know the trigger will out grow this tank as will the hippo, I plan on upgrading before it reaches adult size, I designed my filtration setup to be able to basically re-plumb to a 240 when the time is right hense the G3(tho a G4 would be better, but budget doesn't allow atm) and if I dont upgrade by the time the trigger and hippo need some more room, I know a guy with a 300 who will gladly take them

 

[SMOOTHIE]

Well if you plan to upgrade in the next 2/3yrs sounds good. The mandarins I would hold up on until you are beating the pods off of the glass in about 8/9mo from now. If you may want other wrasses get them before the 6line. They love to be king

 

[crsaz]

do you have any tips for getting the pod population up faster??? the actual refugium area of my sump measures about 30"x15"x18"(with 15-16 inches of water in it)

 

[crsaz]

and are clams a no-go with the the trigger?

 

[snorvich]

You should stock the tank you have not the tank you MAY get in the future. The six line wrasse will compete with the mandarins for food and the mandarins will starve. Without the sixline wrasse, having two mandarins is problematical from a good perspective.

 

[swegyptian]

I think it's OK, but I would stop the list at the clowns. Skip the mandarins, and other small fish. I would also scale back the hermits and snails. I started with that many, but have lost every snail except my giant turbo snail, and about 10 various small hermit crabs.

 

[crvz]

I do agree with the idea to buy fish for the tank you have, not the one you want. There are much better choices for surgeonfish in a 120 (and many of them, too, including the smaller acanthurus species, any ctenochaetus species, and a number of the zebrasoma). And there are a few better triggers for reefs, most from the Xanthichthys genus. Try to reconsider those which you've got listed for now.

Regarding the sixline, I personally think there are better wrasse choices. Most any from the Halichoeres genus make excellent reef additions, particularly the canary wrasse, radiant, christmas, hovens, etc. Much less aggressive and you can even have more than one in the same setup.

If the trigger you pick is reef safe, then the clam is safe as well, but again I'd stick to the Xanthichthys genus for reef triggers.

I'd also loose the mandarins, too, but I think most have covered the reasoning for that.

 

[hawkfishman]

do you want a reef tank or a fish tank? fish can handle poor water conditions much better than most corals

 

[crsaz]

I will be going with a G4 instead of the G3(will be cheaper to go with the G4)

so heres my new plan:
Fish/ livestock to be added first:
1-2" tomini tang
1-2" hippo (heard they can be nippers so maybe no hippo)
10+/- varius blenny's gobies
watchman goby pistol shrimp pair
all shrimp, crabs and snails
4" dersa
2-3" maxima
fish to be added last:
1-2" niger trigger
or 1-2" pinktail trigger(not sure which one I want yet)
8" snowflake(if bioload becomes too high he will be the first to go)

and does any body have any tips on food to feed the trigger to keep his teeth "trimmed" so he wont start to pick at corals

 

[LisaD]

If the trigger decided to chew on corals, there is nothing else that would stop him. I had a small niger trigger in a reef for over a year, and he never touched any of the hard or soft corals - unfortunately, I lost him to carpet surfing. Not sure what would happen as it got older. You have to decide what's more important to you, fish or corals, and make your choices accordingly. There is also a chance the trigger would nip at your clam's mantle.

I'd reassess what you want most, and revisit the stock list.

The snowflake eel and trigger(s) will almost certainly eat the shrimp. I also think the small fish will be at risk. Consider either eliminating the gobies and shrimp or