Help with Stocking Plan - 105G

[Patrick Cox]

I'm working on a stocking plan for my new 105g Reef and could use some advise. Dimensions are 48 x 24 x 21 with external overflow. Minimalist aquascape with SPS and LPS corals.

Please advise on compatability and order of addition to tank and any other suggestions...

Pretty sure about these...

Yellow Tang
2x Ocellaris Clowns
3x Anthias (not sure of variety.)

Others I am considering... (Selecting from this list, not all)

Potters Angel
Fox face
Kole Tang or Bristletooth Tang
Mystery Wrasse
Blue Green Chromis


Thanks for your thoughts!

[Patrick Cox]

Try again

[slugmore]

Wholly endorse the Koke tang. Not the flashiest of colors but nice looking fish and entertaining to watch. Also serves utility role as a detrivore. Also a good sized tang for your tank size. Yellow tang probably needs bigger sized tank, at least as an adult.

Mystery wrasse is a beautiful and awesome fish. But if you plan on keeping shrimp, they will eventually end up mystery wrasse food. They can eat a surprisingly big cleaner shrimp. Happened to me.

I also really like the foxface - could get away with one in your sized tank. They are pigs though. Underrated fish, IMO.

[slugmore]

*Kole tang, rather.

[Patrick Cox]

Wholly endorse the Koke tang. Not the flashiest of colors but nice looking fish and entertaining to watch. Also serves utility role as a detrivore. Also a good sized tang for your tank size. Yellow tang probably needs bigger sized tank, at least as an adult.

Mystery wrasse is a beautiful and awesome fish. But if you plan on keeping shrimp, they will eventually end up mystery wrasse food. They can eat a surprisingly big cleaner shrimp. Happened to me.

I also really like the foxface - could get away with one in your sized tank. They are pigs though. Underrated fish, IMO.


Thanks for your reply. What about order of addition? Does the tang go last?

[slugmore]

I'd suggest putting in the clowns, chromis, and foxface first since they are very hardy and peaceful. Foxface could help with algae initially too.

My experience with chromis is you will likely eventually only have one after they kill each other off. I had 5 and after 2 months I had one and he's been with me ever since.

After that don't know if order matters too much. If you do a yellow tang I'd put that in last and mystery wrasse second to last. With inverts you have a better chance to put them in before the wrasse but no guarantees there. Otherwise the fish you selected should be pretty compatible and peaceful.

I'm not familiar with potters angelfish so no advice there.

[scooter31707]

IMO, if you are set on the Yellow Tang, in that size tank, that needs to be the only Tang. That size tank will not support 2 Tangs, Foxface, and an Angel. Foxface can become jerks as they mature. Out of the 2 Tangs and the Foxface, I would choose one to be your centerpiece of the tank. Potters Angel is a great fish if you can find one that is already eating, they can also be nippers with coral. IMO, I would not do the Anthias and Chromis, one or the other.

[scooter31707]

Almost forgot, yes the tang will go in last and the dwarf angel before him.

[Patrick Cox]

I'd suggest putting in the clowns, chromis, and foxface first since they are very hardy and peaceful. Foxface could help with algae initially too.

My experience with chromis is you will likely eventually only have one after they kill each other off. I had 5 and after 2 months I had one and he's been with me ever since.

After that don't know if order matters too much. If you do a yellow tang I'd put that in last and mystery wrasse second to last. With inverts you have a better chance to put them in before the wrasse but no guarantees there. Otherwise the fish you selected should be pretty compatible and peaceful.

I'm not familiar with potters angelfish so no advice there.

IMO, if you are set on the Yellow Tang, in that size tank, that needs to be the only Tang. That size tank will not support 2 Tangs, Foxface, and an Angel. Foxface can become jerks as they mature. Out of the 2 Tangs and the Foxface, I would choose one to be your centerpiece of the tank. Potters Angel is a great fish if you can find one that is already eating, they can also be nippers with coral. IMO, I would not do the Anthias and Chromis, one or the other.

Thanks for your replies. I am now thinking I will go with the following in order...

Clownfish Pair
3-4 Anthias
Potter's Angel
Mystery Wrasse
Yellow or Kole Tang (Would one be better or does it really matter?)

Thanks!

[slugmore]

Sounds good. Kole tang would work better for this sized tank, imo. Yellows do better in 6 foot tanks.

[slugmore]

Difference if a opinion, but I think you could do a one spot foxface as well. I happen to really like them and they are fine with tangs.

[Patrick Cox]

Difference if a opinion, but I think you could do a one spot foxface as well. I happen to really like them and they are fine with tangs.

Great, thanks for your suggestions! I will seriously consider that one as well.

[scooter31707]

Tangs can be hit or miss. If you have read a lot on this forum, you will see that some hobbyists say Yellow and Kole Tangs are aggressive and jerks to other tankmates. There are some that say they have no problems with them. On that note, I had a Yellow Tang that did not get along with a One-Spot Foxface, I don't know if it was the color or not, got along with all the other tankmates.

[slugmore]

Yeah, I think that's more true with yellow tangs and other zebrasomas than kole tangs but each fish can vary.

[Deinonych]

IMO, if you are set on the Yellow Tang, in that size tank, that needs to be the only Tang. That size tank will not support 2 Tangs, Foxface, and an Angel. Foxface can become jerks as they mature. Out of the 2 Tangs and the Foxface, I would choose one to be your centerpiece of the tank. Potters Angel is a great fish if you can find one that is already eating, they can also be nippers with coral. IMO, I would not do the Anthias and Chromis, one or the other.

+1

The YT will likely bully the Kole in that size tank and could possibly pick on the Foxface. The "regular" foxface (Siganus vulpinus) is really too big for your tank. A one-spot (Siganus unimaculatus) has a max size of 7" and is better suited.

For what it's worth, I have a 5.5" one-spot foxface and a 4" Kole and they get along great. They are always swimming together and I've never seen them spat. I have the same tank dimensions as you (with the exception of an internal overflow). It should be noted that Koles are detrivores, not true herbivores. They occupy a different ecological niche than the foxface, which I suspect is the reason they don't bug each other.


I'd add the Kole last, though. They can be buttheads to new additions. Mine is the boss of the tank. The only fish that stands up to him is my mated female Ocellaris clownfish. Also, the Mystery Wrasse is great if you don't plan to add any more wrasses.

[Patrick Cox]

+1

The YT will likely bully the Kole in that size tank and could possibly pick on the Foxface. The "regular" foxface (Siganus vulpinus) is really too big for your tank. A one-spot (Siganus unimaculatus) has a max size of 7" and is better suited.

For what it's worth, I have a 5.5" one-spot foxface and a 4" Kole and they get along great. They are always swimming together and I've never seen them spat. I have the same tank dimensions as you (with the exception of an internal overflow). It should be noted that Koles are detrivores, not true herbivores. They occupy a different ecological niche than the foxface, which I suspect is the reason they don't bug each other.


I'd add the Kole last, though. They can be buttheads to new additions. Mine is the boss of the tank. The only fish that stands up to him is my mated female Ocellaris clownfish. Also, the Mystery Wrasse is great if you don't plan to add any more wrasses.


Thanks for your comments. Very helpful. I will go with the Kole Tang and pass on the Yellow.