What Would You Do?

[Ambition]

I like having a plan set in place before getting too far into a project. My issue is choosing the fish I want for my tank, mainly because of the vast variety of fish to choose from, yet so little room (relatively speaking) to get most of them.

All I have in place thus far for a SPS (acros mostly) dominated 120 gallon reef with euphyllia and zoanthids is flame angel and green mandarin.

These are set in place no matter what as I am trying to get the family into the tank. Those two species are my mom's (flame angel) and brother's (green mandarin) favorite fish. Ideally I would like to get a pair or trio of flames angels and a pair of mandarins (depending if I decide to get any other huge pod competitors).

List so far:
2-3x Flame Angelfish
1-2x Green Mandarins

I would like to get some help on building a stock list around these fish. Flame wrasse would be on the list, but I feel that would be too much red/orange in the tank (not knowing how many more fish I could get). Thinking of maybe doing a Potter's angel, but haven't been able to read up on them much yet. Also not sure if I could keep one with the flame angels.

I would like if the fish suggested stayed 5" or smaller, and no clownfish (may set up a special tank for a pair of tomato or maroon clowns later on). Just looking to build a list from other's opinions and likes, because I keep going back and forth on what I want. So what fish do you guys think would make the tank look good around those two-three species? TIA!

 

[EllieSuz]

You'll have to explain to your brother that it will be at least six months before a Mandarin could survive in your tank, let alone two. I have a Flame and a Mandarin, plus a Tomini Tang, Starry Blenny, and a Randall's Goby and everybody gets along great, but my tank is half the size of yours. Dwarf angels seldom get along in twos and threes. Mandarins must be a breeding pair. They will not tolerate any of the same sex and often pairs will fight too.

 

[Ambition]

You'll have to explain to your brother that it will be at least six months before a Mandarin could survive in your tank, let alone two. It has been explained to him. He also understands that the fish will only be added one species at a time slowly over a course of time.

I have a Flame and a Mandarin, plus a Tomini Tang, Starry Blenny, and a Randall's Goby and everybody gets along great, but my tank is half the size of yours. Dwarf angels seldom get along in twos and threes. The 2-3 flames would mean a pair or trio (1M with 1-2F)

Mandarins must be a breeding pair. They will not tolerate any of the same sex and often pairs will fight too. The plan was to get a breeding pair if I could handle two in this system.

 

[Arkayology]

With x3 flame angels in an SPS tank, there are good odds that at least once of them will pics on your SPS. I'm sure you are aware of the risks, though. I had a single flame angel in my SPS 60 cube and it only bothered the clams a little- never the sps. Luck of the draw as they say.

 

[Ambition]

I am aware that flames aren't reef safe, and willing to take that risk. Thanks for reminding me though. IMO, I think a spawning pair or trio in this tank would be better than a lone flame. Trying to make a unique tank and keeping some of these fish in non-traditional ways (ie. most don't keep their angels in a pair or trio, most keep singly) that work.

 

[MattyO]

Look into smaller fish like wrasses, cardinals, and pseudo's, and if u want a tang I would pick one of the smallers, maybe a yellow. Try to get fish for the bottom, middle, and top zones to fill out the tank. Plus a pair of gobies or bennies is always nice!

 

[Ambition]

MattyO, part of my problem is picking the fish. Almost like I am overwhelmed with all of the choices that I have come by through looking at LA,DD, Quality Marine, etc.

For example, part of my original plan was to attempt a harem of flame wrasses. I went to thinking, "Maybe linespot flashers would be better". Now here I am not wanting either because of the flame angels making a big impact on that color front.

I can cover the bottom portion of the tank with a Randalli or YWG pair w/pistol shrimp. Something I have always had in the back of my mind. The mandarin will also cover the bottom and rock work with pod hunting. The flame angels (possibly potter's) would take up the middle area I am thinking.

Not sure what to get for the top portion (not a chromis fan) of the tank...

 

[Ambition]

Thought it would be easier for people to make suggestions if I listed some fish that I have thought or thinking of...

-Gold Assessor
-Royal Gramma
-Azure Damselfish
-Yellowtail Damselfish
-Orchid Dottyback (P. fridmani)
-Hooded Fairy
-Flame Wrasse
-Linespot Flasher
-McCosker's Flasher
-Bangaii Cardinal (pair)
-Potter's Angelfish
-Flameback Angelfish
-Cherub Angelfish
-Yellow Coris Wrasse (H. chrysus)
-Blue Star Leopard Wrasse (M. bipartus)
-Orange Spot Filefish
-Carberryi Anthias
-Resplendent Anthias

There are several more, but those are fish that cross my mind frequently... Keeping in mind that the list is already:

2-3x Flame Angelfish
1x Green Mandarin
2x Randalli or YWG

 

[reefjunkie42]

i would reccomend you researching each and every species you want t keep. the decide. Id skip leopards, very hard wrasse to keep. and only 1 centropgye species in that size tank. they WILL fight, regardless of pairing or not. it is in their nature to bicker

 

[Ambition]

Thanks for chiming in reefjunkie. I am trying to narrow my list down to make research a bit easier, and I am aware of the challenges of all of the fish on the list (not trying to sound like I know everything because I don't). I have the basic info on each down through LAs descriptions.

I have done some searching on Google and here, and it looks as if keeping more than one centropyge species in one tank is possible. Toddrtrex for example has 2-3 species in a 75 gallon tank. I know it is risky and am prepared for the worst when the time comes (acclimation box intro first, release at night, on hand in the morning after intro to watch interaction and for aggression, etc.).

The idea is to see what people would suggest getting to fill in the tank. I am all about doing my own research before any purchase, and don't like impulse buys.

 

[humaguy]

any plans for a bigger tank?

 

[Ambition]

Sadly, this is as big as I can go for awhile. Well a long while, I should say. Wish there was plans for a bigger tank.

 

[rssjsb]

You can keep more than one type of angel in a tank together, but it's risky. I've got a 185 with five different angels. With the exception of a pair (potters), they're all from different genuses, which I think is helpful. They posture a little, but once they worked out the hierarchy, they get along fine.

Having said that, I would skip the cherub and flameback angels. They are very territorial for such small fish.

 

[Ambition]

Robin, thanks for you input. I have read into dwarf angels a bit more and they do say that the argi complex are quite aggressive/territorial fish. Since that is the case I am going to take them off the list.

 

[CAPSLOK]

I've had a royal gramma with a dwarf angel, gobies, and a fairy wrasse before - it was a good combo. I enjoy that little fish - great colors, very hardy, different swimming habits than the others on your list. And gets to a nice size.

My understanding is that you can't have pseudochromis with fairy / flasher wrasses (the wrasses will be bullied).

If the tank is for a family, they may find cardinals on the boring side.

I personally really like neon blue gobies - they add a nice bright streak of blue. They are tank bred nowadays so they are very interactive with you (mine would sit on my finger) and don't bother anyone else except other neon gobies. Tiny little things so they don't really affect bioload too much. Also hardy and good eaters. They do not spend as much time at the bottom as a lot of gobies; they tend to swim about the water column and perch on rocks.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

same tank and dimensions as yours.

My stocklist:
-atlantic blue tang
-M. bipartitus pair
-black cap basslet
-yellow watchman goby with pistol shrimp
-borbonious anthia
-bangaii cardinal pair
-starry blenny

In the works:
lineatus
mccoskers
christmas wrasse
maybe another small tang last

 

[Ambition]

Thanks for the ideas aanddsoccr04. I will keep them in mind.

With some more thought this is what I have in mind.

2x Flame Angels
2x Green Mandarins
3x Royal Grammas
2x Randalli Watchman Goby
2x Neon Gobies (will have a breeding pair)

Stocked? Some wiggle room to add some more?

I feel as though I may need some more top and middle dwelling fish... Thoughts or suggestions to make use of the space?

 

[Shoryureppa]

Get a pair of rhomboids blue to offset the red in the flame angels. assessors are nice but my experience, i had to remove a coral beauty as it harassed it to hell.