upgrading tank and need more info

We are upgrading from a 75 gallon tank to a 200 gallon tank with refugium. We are looking at different creatures for a centerpiece fish. I've been researching for weeks and not finding tons of info. We are looking at one of these coral catsharks, stingrays, puffers, pistol shrimp and goby pair, and giant hermit crab as the centerpiece. Any info on what goes well with each other or other fish too pair with these. I know some of these can't be housed with inverts. we love having anemones. We like a busy tank. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Update leaning more towards reef lobsters with lots of fish, inverts, and plants.
 
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What are your overall plans for the tank?

Corals? If so, what kind? Soft corals, LPS, SPS?

You mention you love having anemones, what kind do you plan to keep?

Besides the Giant Hermit and pistol shrimp, do you plan to have any other inverts?
 
What are your overall plans for the tank?

Corals? If so, what kind? Soft corals, LPS, SPS?

You mention you love having anemones, what kind do you plan to keep?

Besides the Giant Hermit and pistol shrimp, do you plan to have any other inverts?
we like soft corals and corals that look like there moving in the flow. We like bubble tips, and carpets. I'd like to have cleaner shrimp and starfish
 
we like soft corals and corals that look like there moving in the flow. We like bubble tips, and carpets. I'd like to have cleaner shrimp and starfish
The cleaner shrimp will limit you when it comes to more aggressive/larger fish as they may eat them. I'm more of a coral/invert person and tend to add smaller fish to my tank. So, let's see if @Dr. Reef @wvned @JCOLE @Reefing102 have any suggestions.
 
The cleaner shrimp will limit you when it comes to more aggressive/larger fish as they may eat them. I'm more of a coral/invert person and tend to add smaller fish to my tank. So, let's see if @Dr. Reef @wvned @JCOLE @Reefing102 have any suggestions.
Thank you. I know there are few fish that you can get that do the same job as a cleaner shrimp. Just not sure if any of them would work. Never had any of them. My husband and i like different fish and I'm trying to make a tank that we both love.
 
I am no expert. I dropped emerald crabs in my tank and discovered dwarf lions eat them like popcorn.

A 200 gallon tank sounds big but it isn't. I have a 240 and it isnt a big tank at all. It is ruled by a single large angel. I have 2 fully grown snowflake eels in a 180 but they don't swim like fish do. For an active 200 I would look at a few butterflies, 2 dwarf angels and some tangs. I have not kept puffers but I think some stay smaller and would be fine. Sharks and rays I know nothing about because I have never had a tank close to large enough for them.
 
I am no expert. I dropped emerald crabs in my tank and discovered dwarf lions eat them like popcorn.

A 200 gallon tank sounds big but it isn't. I have a 240 and it isnt a big tank at all. It is ruled by a single large angel. I have 2 fully grown snowflake eels in a 180 but they don't swim like fish do. For an active 200 I would look at a few butterflies, 2 dwarf angels and some tangs. I have not kept puffers but I think some stay smaller and would be fine. Sharks and rays I know nothing about because I have never had a tank close to large enough for them.
We've never had angels but have been looking into them. I love butterflies but have never owned one. Tangs are beautiful haven't had one in years. We had a humu humu triggerfish he was so full of personality but killed everything. Puffers seem to have that same personality I just don't want the same results as the triggerfish.
 
some of the list is not compatible with each other and some maybe too big for a 200 gal tank. But when ever your tank is up and ready let me know I will ship you the starfish and cleaner shrimp as a new tank gift.
Happy Reefing
Thats why I've been researching. I 've been getting mixed researched on what can go with what. Not everything on that list is gonna go in the tank together just trying to get all the information I can on each of them. So I no how to move forward with stocking the tank. Thank you I will.
 
Here are some good places to learn things
Educational Articles On Saltwater Fish, Saltwater Coral, Saltwater Invertebrates
Liveaquaria has a bit about keeping fish it sells. Most including me would not advise buying anything from them now.
Saltwater Fish for Marine Aquariums | Vibrant Marine Aquarium Fish Selection
an example

The Rusty Angelfish is aptly named for its predominate red or amber coloration punctuated with black dots that decrease in size from dorsal to anal and pelvic fins. The anal fin is dark and both the dorsal and anal fins are rimmed in bright, sapphire-blue.
The Rusty Angelfish requires at least a 70 gallon tank with large amounts of live rock for hiding and grazing. Not a good reef dweller, the Rusty Angelfish is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles. It is best kept as the only Dwarf Angelfish in the tank.

The diet of the Rusty Angelfish should include Spirulina, marine algae, high-quality angelfish preparations, mysis shrimp, and other meaty items.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 1-3/4"; Medium: 1-3/4" To 2-1/2"; Large: 2-1/2" to 3-1/2"
 
My opinion, sharks and rays are all too large for a 200. Many hobbyist say minimum size being 500+ and preferably rounded (though some rays “may” be able to be kept in a smaller size) consider the adult size when it comes to a tank. A coral cat gets to be about 27” adult size so consider tank width too. (Another option is also freshwater stingrays as they don’t grow huge and bala and/or iridescent “sharks” get good size as adults).

Getting back to saltwater, with butterflies, just be sure to know the diet (some are strict corallivores and can be hard to keep in captivity). Large angels would make a great centerpiece. Large angels can be complicated sometimes with inverts and certain corals though. Or even something like a Harlequin Tusk.

Puffers can be a fun addition, however again can be complicated with many inverts. Also many can get quite large and “may” eat smaller fish if given the opportunity.

If you want color and activity, it would take some research but a variety of fairy wrasses may be an option and you have pretty much the rainbow to select from (some types of wrasses don’t get along with others though).

Could also do a couple tangs, they’re active and come in a variety of colors (yellow, convict, powder blue, naso, etc.) Again consider adult size as some adults get too large for a 200 too.

Just some thoughts.
 
Here are some good places to learn things
Educational Articles On Saltwater Fish, Saltwater Coral, Saltwater Invertebrates
Liveaquaria has a bit about keeping fish it sells. Most including me would not advise buying anything from them now.
Saltwater Fish for Marine Aquariums | Vibrant Marine Aquarium Fish Selection
an example

The Rusty Angelfish is aptly named for its predominate red or amber coloration punctuated with black dots that decrease in size from dorsal to anal and pelvic fins. The anal fin is dark and both the dorsal and anal fins are rimmed in bright, sapphire-blue.
The Rusty Angelfish requires at least a 70 gallon tank with large amounts of live rock for hiding and grazing. Not a good reef dweller, the Rusty Angelfish is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles. It is best kept as the only Dwarf Angelfish in the tank.

The diet of the Rusty Angelfish should include Spirulina, marine algae, high-quality angelfish preparations, mysis shrimp, and other meaty items.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1" to 1-3/4"; Medium: 1-3/4" To 2-1/2"; Large: 2-1/2" to 3-1/2"
thank you I will check those out
 
My opinion, sharks and rays are all too large for a 200. Many hobbyist say minimum size being 500+ and preferably rounded (though some rays “may” be able to be kept in a smaller size) consider the adult size when it comes to a tank. A coral cat gets to be about 27” adult size so consider tank width too. (Another option is also freshwater stingrays as they don’t grow huge and bala and/or iridescent “sharks” get good size as adults).

Getting back to saltwater, with butterflies, just be sure to know the diet (some are strict corallivores and can be hard to keep in captivity). Large angels would make a great centerpiece. Large angels can be complicated sometimes with inverts and certain corals though. Or even something like a Harlequin Tusk.

Puffers can be a fun addition, however again can be complicated with many inverts. Also many can get quite large and “may” eat smaller fish if given the opportunity.

If you want color and activity, it would take some research but a variety of fairy wrasses may be an option and you have pretty much the rainbow to select from (some types of wrasses don’t get along with others though).

Could also do a couple tangs, they’re active and come in a variety of colors (yellow, convict, powder blue, naso, etc.) Again consider adult size as some adults get too large for a 200 too.

Just some thought
My opinion, sharks and rays are all too large for a 200. Many hobbyist say minimum size being 500+ and preferably rounded (though some rays “may” be able to be kept in a smaller size) consider the adult size when it comes to a tank. A coral cat gets to be about 27” adult size so consider tank width too. (Another option is also freshwater stingrays as they don’t grow huge and bala and/or iridescent “sharks” get good size as adults).

Getting back to saltwater, with butterflies, just be sure to know the diet (some are strict corallivores and can be hard to keep in captivity). Large angels would make a great centerpiece. Large angels can be complicated sometimes with inverts and certain corals though. Or even something like a Harlequin Tusk.

Puffers can be a fun addition, however again can be complicated with many inverts. Also many can get quite large and “may” eat smaller fish if given the opportunity.

If you want color and activity, it would take some research but a variety of fairy wrasses may be an option and you have pretty much the rainbow to select from (some types of wrasses don’t get along with others though).

Could also do a couple tangs, they’re active and come in a variety of colors (yellow, convict, powder blue, naso, etc.) Again consider adult size as some adults get too large for a 200 too.

Just some thoughts.
Thank you. We decided were probably not gonna go with a shark or stingray. Were leaning more towards reef lobster with lots of fish, inverts, and corals. I kept reading and re-researching over and over about sharks and rays one site would 150 gallons for them and another would 180 minimum. Others would say 300 minimum. Thats why I came to get real people with more experience. What about the brown heniocus butterfly? I've seen the harlequin tusk mentioned on different sites I have not looked it up yet but I will. Might not get a puffer love there personality. We love the relationship that clowns have with anemones and the relationship a pistol shrimp has with a goby. We want a tank that can have that. In my 75 gallon I have a carpenter's flasher wrasse he has a lot of personality.
 
Way back in the 1980s, my parents had a 200 gallon fish only tank (that I maintained :rolleyes: for them). They had a Porcupine Puffer, Clown Trigger, Snowflake Eel and a bunch of Damsels. It was a pretty active tank. The puffer was definitely the star of the tank. If we didn't feed her fast enough, she'd spit water at us.

The shrimp/goby combo is something I've always loved. And almost all my tanks have had a clown/anemone combo.
 
The brown heniochus is known to nip at corals and tube worms and similar. Usually not considered reef safe. Not sure on the comparability with anemones (whether they nip at them or not).

Clowns can definitely add character, just be aware, it is not uncommon for clowns to not host anemones (especially captive raised).
 
Way back in the 1980s, my parents had a 200 gallon fish only tank (that I maintained :rolleyes: for them). They had a Porcupine Puffer, Clown Trigger, Snowflake Eel and a bunch of Damsels. It was a pretty active tank. The puffer was definitely the star of the tank. If we didn't feed her fast enough, she'd spit water at us.

The shrimp/goby combo is something I've always loved. And almost all my tanks have had a clown/anemone combo.
That sounds a pretty cool tank. We got to play with a puffer at the aquarium and it kept spitting water at us it was so cool. Been looking at the tiger shrimp with a watchman goby. All of our tanks have had clowns and anemones.
 
The brown heniochus is known to nip at corals and tube worms and similar. Usually not considered reef safe. Not sure on the comparability with anemones (whether they nip at them or not).

Clowns can definitely add character, just be aware, it is not uncommon for clowns to not host anemones (especially captive raised).
Good to know on the brown heniochus. Yes in our first tank we had that problem until we got Clarkii clowns.
 
I collect reef tank transfer jobs from around the web (where we plan a custom skip cycle transfer with no losses and no recycling needed for the new tank)

I don't do fish planning but I do full system skip cycling which is helpful here/ let me know if you want to plan the skip cycle move to the new tank it's easy to pull off.

It doesn't involve adding bacteria or protections or testing for cycling params, there's a certain order of ops transfer that precludes all that and just makes the transfer happen instantly ready.
 
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