Stock list for 220g

[forddna]

I'm getting a 220 and want opinions on a stock list. Some possible fish that I would want are:

Gold Flake Angel
Emperor Angel
Majestic Angel
Flame Angel

Yellow Tang
Powder Blue Tang
Regal/Blue Hippo Tang

3-4 Yellow Tail Blue Damsel (alredy have one)

Sargassum Trigger
Niger Trigger
Humu Humu

a Butterfly or two (haven't researched them much yet)


I know I can't keep ALL of those. What are your thoughts on how many of those can be kept together? Are any of them raising a red flag?

[kirkaz]

I see no red flags there....Sargassum and Niger make a nice combo, like the Goldflake as well. Just thin your list down a little bit (IMO, seven or eight fish...count the 4 damsels as 1 total) and add the least aggressive first and finish with the most aggressive.

[marcrunner]

IME, having fish with different swimming habits/personalities has been the best combo. You seem to have all "swimmers" on your list. You could break this up with say a hawkfish of some type? I have a dragon wrasse that is kind of an A-hole, but he does have a great personality and is constantly either building his rock castle or hunting for the next meal.

[LisaD]

You have some really nice fish listed.

Here are my comments:

If you love angels, keep these four, but pare down the list to no more than four other fish.

Gold Flake Angel - gorgeous angel, expensive
Emperor Angel - gets big, but one of the best
Majestic Angel - very pretty, mellow
Flame Angel - should be fine

Yellow Tang - I don't care for these, personally. I'd substitute a foxface lo or mimic tang.

Powder Blue Tang - I'd avoid due to hardiness issues

Regal/Blue Hippo Tang - great tang, but gets big

3-4 Yellow Tail Blue Damsel (already have one) - I'd stick with the one you have, to save bioload for other fish

Sargassum Trigger - nice trigger
Niger Trigger - I like these, but they do get big, start with a little one
Humu Humu - I'd leave this off, stay with the mellower triggers

a Butterfly or two (haven't researched them much yet) - I'd skip the butterflies and stay with the angels you chose

So my recommendation, summarized:

Gold Flake Angel
Emperor Angel
Majestic Angel
Flame Angel
Mimic (chocolate) tang or Foxface
Sargassum trigger
Niger trigger
1 damsel (the one you have)

this is a pretty reasonable list. damsel plus flame angel = 1 fish, IMO, so that leaves you with room for one more fish. maybe a tang or a butterfly - I'd be sure to choose a moderate sized, hardy species that is assertive enough to fit in the mix. I recommend that you not pick any really large fish, since the emperor and niger get large.

[forddna]

Thanks, folks! Lisa, part of your post is missing. :D

I will look into hawkfish. What about a banana/checkerboard wrasse? Would that fill that niche or no?

[LisaD]

Hi Amanda,

Sorry, I was editing. What are the 3 or 4 fish you really love, that justify the expense and work of this tank? I'd build an environment and tankmates around them.

The wrasse I always recommend because it's one of my favorite fish is the Australian harlequin tuskfish. I don't think you have a problem NOT having a bottom fish. The fish you have chosen have different enough swimming styles that I think you will be fine.

If it helps give you any ideas, I'll give you the list for my 210. Some of the fish aren't necessarily my favorites, but I've had them a long time and can't give them up due to sentimental value. :) My mix is a little more aggressive than yours.

emperor angelfish - cool personality, mine does tricks
Ausralian harlequin tuskfish - thes fish are the best
niger triggerfish - got it small, so far, a slow grower
Hawaiian pinktail triggerfish - outgoing, not too aggressive so far
blue spotted rabbitfish - I'd rather have a foxface or a mimic tang
dogface puffer - great personality
Brazilian dragon moray - very pretty, out more than most
zebra moray - never bothers fish, hides a lot, gets big (3.5 ft +)

[kirkaz]

Sorry to hijack....Where did you get the Brazilian Dragon from Lisa?

Amanda I have a Banana Wrasse aka Sunset Wrasse with a Harlequin Tusk, wonderful fish both.<a href="http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/ksrobey/?action=view&current=IMG_0335.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/ksrobey/IMG_0335.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[LisaD]

kirkaz,

I got the BDM from liveaquaria Diver's Den. I have seen them there several times, now and then. prices have ranged from ~$120-199.

Another nice genus Thalassoma wrasse is the Jansen's saddle wrasse. It's peaceful and hardy for a Thalassoma, doesn't need to bury itself in sand, and I think it's pretty, though it's not the most colorful.

Limiting a fish list is really hard. There are so many fish I'd like to have, and I have too many tanks already. :)

[forddna]

kirkaz, I must have used the wrong common name. The one I was thinking of looks like this:

http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/fishfacts/images/hhortulanus.jpg


Lisa, thank you for your input!! The Yellow Tang has already been bought. I also got a Purple Tang. These were fish still needing homes from the tank I am picking up (the 220g). I plan to setup a mixed reef tank, 75-90g, in a few months (or however long it takes the husband to approve...lol), so I will move the Yellow and Purple into that.

That said, I am stocking this very slowly. So I may only have 1-2 of the other fish on my rough draft of a stock list by the time I move those two. :)

I do REALLY like the Angels, and since I do plan to have a reef tank as well, I really want to stock the 220 with fish I *cannot* keep in a reef setup. kwim? So I think I'll do something like this:

Majestic Angel
Emperor Angel
Goldflake Angel

Sargassum Trigger
*or*
Pink Tail Trigger
*or*
Hawaiian Black Trigger

So, just one trigger, probably.

And Daniel the Damsel. :D

I would like an Eel. What is an Eel that won't eat my Damsel?

[forddna]

Oh, and what about a Bannerfish? The guy that looks like a Moorish Idol??

Edit - Two more fish I was curious about:

Spanish Hogfish
Sohal Tang

??

[forddna]

I should also mention that I have a total of three weeks of actual experience with saltwater fish. LOL So please keep that in mind. I currently have a 37g running. I seeded it with live rock from someone's running tank and didn't have a cycle. (maybe a mini cycle?)

I have a couple of years experience in freshwater. I have had planted tanks (sort of high maintenance) for about 9 months now. :)

[reefman8471]

I would go with the following from your list:

1. Emperor Angel
2. Flame Angel
3. Regal Tang
4. Yellow tail Damels
5. Sargassum Trigger
6. Raccoon Butterfly

James

[forddna]

Thanks. I'm scratching the Goldflake off the list, for sure. I also don't think I want a small angel, so I'd like to take the Flame off.

:)