New FOWLR tank-stocking?

[pangaea6]

I am doing a little research on stocking a FOWLR tank, either 125 or 150. My preliminary list is:

Volitans Lion
Humahuma
Eel (any rec?)
Regal or Bluering Angel
Tang (any rec?)
Niger Trigger (How do these do in a reef also?)

Any input is appreciated as to how these guys would get along and also any other neat fish (not SUPER expensive) that could go in there? Also if there were any type of invert. or coral that would survive such a grouping, just something to add to the rock you know. Thanks.

[capt. insano]

mixing lions and triggers can be hit or miss. Some triggers like to nip at the lion's spines.

Regal angels are pretty sensitive. I think this has more to do with the fact that they are harder to get as juveniles......so they come into the trade as near adults, and have a harder time acclimating. I would urge you to choose something in the pomacanthus family (french, Queen, Passer)

Hepatus tang would be my reccomendation.

All said, that is a lot of fish, full grown, for a 150 gallon tank. A few grown volitan lion and blue ring angel are huge!!

[rpoint16]

Don't forget your Q tank..

Good Luck!!

[KJMiller]

My Favriot thing about the FOWLR tank is how it isent a reef all the fish in your ideas are really cool. The lion fish is good with anything that will not fit in his mouth. The Humahuma is agressive to triggers so if you decide to get a niger to add at the same time to prevent killing but save them to lastr because they are aggressive. The regal is a hard to keep angle with many needs I would never buy one because of the sensitivity. Every tank that dosent have small fish or shrimp needs an eel the snowflake is a good one it stays small and is just really fun to watch. The tang my favriot is the clown tang it is a little more pricy but it is really cool and kinda agressive. And finally the fish of choice for me is allways the Lunar wrass it is mean but cool and swimms allthe time. Be carful with the snowflake he will try to jump out thats how mine died. Every one allways asks about the niger in reefs and it a risky fish to add but if it is a docile one it should be fin as long as there are not any tiny inverts.

[Emo]

The blue ring is much easier to feed and hardier than the regal, and the lion may have its filaments chewed on by angels and triggers.
I would agree that it would be a heavily stocked tank with everything grown. The niger seems to me to be the odd man out.
As for a tang I would suggest a yellow or purple or even a scopas...all of the genus zebramosa. From personal experience aand word of mouth these guys do great with bullys and are hard as nails if fed right.

Good luck

[majestic sea life]

i was thinking about just like a 125lionfish tank how many can i put or im going to do a 150 stingray and tang tank what u think

[pangaea6]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll use this as a reference for later after my reef is going strong. Any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks

[pangaea6]

Almost a year later and I have a 180g tank. Have a new list of possible fish for FOWLR

Volitans Lion
Emperor Angel
Snowflake or Banana Eel
Picasso trigger
Niger trigger
Maroon clown
Lunar wrasse
Achilles Tang
Damsels (just to have something zipping about)

I know its a lot of fish so who are the odd fish out on this list?Also how much LR would anyone rec.?

[zemuron114]

i would pick one trigger (the niger would be my choice.. as he is less aggressive) the huma will most likely kill the lion eventually. The emperor angel will nip the lion almost certainly.

So you have a few choices. Ex the lion and get both triggers. Or keep the lion and Ex the huma and angel and replace the emperor angel with another angel.. maybe a flame?

I have heard the lunar wrasses are very very mean as they grow.

and the achilles tang is very hard to acclimate and keep alive as they are EXTREMEMLY sensitive. Again i would go with maybe a yellow/purple/scopas.. or you could get a clown or even a powder brown...

my fish list would be..

eel(either or)
volitan lion.. (i looove lions)
pink tail or buethroat trigger
powder brown tang
damsels (blue would be nice)
and maybe a majestic angel

That would max you out. Keep into consideration the lion is a target for many fish that nip.. good luck!

[pangaea6]

After reading up some more I think I'm gonna have to lose the lion :( b/c then I can get more of the other fish I want. Think I'll go with

Picasso
Niger
Emperor
Tang of some description
Snowflake eel
5 damsels


Any thoughts on Maroon clown, Flame angel, Butterfly fish, small banded shark or any smaller fish (now that the lion is gone from the mix)

Any ideas on substrate now that Southdown is hard to come by.
And still no ideas about LR amounts:confused:

[stef82]

Damsels would probably look like lunch to everyone else on that list, if you add them... I wouldn't get attached!

Personally Im a huge fan of the Sail-fin Tang!!

[pangaea6]

"Damsels would probably look like lunch to everyone else on that list, if you add them... I wouldn't get attached "

I was reading on here that some big aggressive type fish like small targets so they won't bother the other big expensive fish. One person suggested school of chromis and the like for distractions.

[zemuron114]

if you want the damsels to live a while then get blue devil damsels. They get a pretty good size and are aggressive as heck! Green chromis would get eaten definitely, they are to passive! the rest looks good though..

[pangaea6]

Thanks for the info on blue devil damsels. I also heard that some damsels could possibly pester some bigger fish to death. These guys wouldn't do that would they?
Also thanks for the confirmation of the fish list.

[Triggerfish]

Originally posted by pangaea6
Think I'll go with
Picasso
Niger
Emperor
Tang of some description
Snowflake eel
5 damsels
Any thoughts on Maroon clown, Flame angel, Butterfly fish, small banded shark or any smaller fish
Any ideas on substrate now that Southdown is hard to come by.
And still no ideas about LR amounts

decent size tank to start off with here.. i suggest stock slowly for the 1st 6 months at least.

i like the list you have there, with the exception of the damsels.i have lost them all on every attempt to my Picasso. if the picasso is very small and you add them together then it may work..but keep in mind that damsels can grow pretty large and can be some of the most aggressive fish you can keep.

i do not particulary care for the marroon clown species.mine has just sat around for 4 years..that's what they do..they hover in one spot and defend it at all costs.
dwarf angel would be cool with lots of LR.
i avoid BF altogether, just become too finicky after time.

substrate will be expensive now that cheaper alternatives are very hard to come by. check to see if you have a local reef club and see if anyone has some stocked away.

regarding LR, i would add as much as you can afford up to probably 200 lbs,,you want a decent amount of swimming room.

in addition to what you have listed, i would also add the following over the years.
Pinktail trigger
blue throat trigger
asfur angel

[pangaea6]

Triggerfish, thanks for all the advice.:thumbsup:
I will definately keep it all in mind. It' a shame about BF though. Oh well can't put everything together, that's why Lionfish got scrapped.

[capt. insano]

Damsels are hit and miss, as well as other small fish.

I have a mean a$$ blue damsel, a LMB, and a arc-eye hawk (as well as 2 cleaner shrimp!) in with my triggers. No probs whatsoever! I keep them well fed (3 times per day, with a very varied diet), and lots of hidey holes for the smaller guys

[pangaea6]

Been awhile but now the tank is ready for fish, I was wondering if I can get some more excellant advice on the stocking order of these fish

Picasso
Emperor Angel
Powder Brown Tang or Naso
Snowflake or Goldentail Eel
5 damsels
Flame Angel
Maroon Clown

Thanks for the help.

[spamin76]

Originally posted by pangaea6
I am doing a little research on stocking a FOWLR tank, either 125 or 150. My preliminary list is:

Humahuma
Niger Trigger (How do these do in a reef also?)

Any input is appreciated as to how these guys would get along and also any other neat fish (not SUPER expensive) that could go in there? Also if there were any type of invert. or coral that would survive such a grouping, just something to add to the rock you know. Thanks.

Humuhumus are not overly aggressive but they do get more aggressive with age. I don't think there are any incompatibility issues though - they may pick on small unaggressive fish - mine ate a chromis once but that is the only thing he ever did, and it was only one out of about 6 chromes.

Nigers are also relatively unaggressive though sometimes some specimen will be extremely aggressive. Again no incompatibility issues.

Sometimes nigers work perfectly in reefs, sometimes they do not - they tend to go after inverts like shrimp and snails but not so much coral - really it is more of a question will they eat inverts than will they eat coral. It's about a 50/50(actually they tend to work with just coral but may eat other inverts)

I think this list would be ok in a150 - though I would recommend losing one of the bigger fish because it will get cramped.

[pangaea6]

Thanks Spamin but my last post had the final list of fish I was considering and I needed some rec. on the order of introduction into the 180. I think I've decided to nix the Niger so I can comfortably have the angel, tang and humahuma.

[Triggerfish]

Originally posted by pangaea6
stocking order of these fish

Picasso
Emperor Angel
Powder Brown Tang or Naso
Snowflake or Goldentail Eel
5 damsels
Flame Angel
Maroon Clown


you got a 180g.
the stocking order would be relevant for a new system.. more easier species first,,,although not in the order of aggressiveness.
i.e,, i would add the maroon last,,but they are pretty darn hardy.

i would probably add some yellow tailed damsels 1st.
but, if the picasso you get is anything like the 3 i had they will be eaten.
i would just add the damsels in there for a couple of months and let things stabalize for a bit..then see what else to toss in.

[pangaea6]

I'm as tired of asking these stocking questions as you guys are of answering them but one last one. Thoughts on a Harly. Tusk added to this bunch? Still looking for more rec. on stocking order also. Thanks Trigger for advice.

[Triggerfish]

ya,,you could add a tusk in there.

here's your stocking order over a year.

damsels
picasso - very small or if larger add last
maroon
snowflake
flame
tusk
emperator
powder brown

[spamin76]

You could probably pull it off... but I dunno - it's always hard to make a judgment since you have several fish in there that could be problem causers. Just take it slowly. Depending on the size of the trigger at purchase... I would add him last if he is larger than a juvenile, but if he is a juvi you would probably be fine adding him first. Australian or Indian tusk fish?

[pangaea6]

Thanks guys for the info, very helpful.

B]Australian or Indian tusk fish?[/B]

It would be Aussie hopefully, Scott Michael's book says they are more colorful.

[Triggerfish]

do you plan on quarantining your livestock, and if so, what will be your method?

[pangaea6]

I'm sure I'll be beat with a wet noodle,:eek: but no, I'm not Q'ing them. I haven't had any problems so far plus I just don't have anywhere else to set that up. I also figured that if I had a problem since it's FO then I could medicate the tank w/o risk to inverts and corals.

[Triggerfish]

Originally posted by pangaea6
I haven't had any problems so far

good luck..

[pangaea6]

One more fish to check on from you guys, a Saddled Toby. How would this guy fit in if I left out the HT? Just wanna say thanks again for helping. I have been able to rule out certain fish so as not to harm them with the wrong tankmates and such.

[Triggerfish]

it stays small,,very nice fish..why would you need to leave out the HT?

[pangaea6]

Oh I just feel like I'm crowding them in with this list, not in any particular order mind you

Goldstripe maroon clown
Huma
5 Damsels
Powder Brown
Emporer
SFE or GoldenTail eel
Flame Angel

Then if I add the puffer, Blonde Naso, AND an HT or perhaps an Auriga Butterfly I would feel that's a little much, no? I'm assuming the damsels will become a snack at sometime in the future. You can tell I was just at LFS and they had almost all these guys and they looked so nice:rollface:

[Triggerfish]

i wouldn't add a naso..they just get too damn large..i would get a 240-300 for one.
i wouldn't bother with the BF either. too finicky IMO.

[spamin76]

You need to have self control and add fish slowly.... :D... I know what it's like I've been there before... patience leads to success in this hobby

[spamin76]

Originally posted by Triggerfish
i wouldn't add a naso..they just get too damn large..i would get a 240-300 for one.
i wouldn't bother with the BF either. too finicky IMO.

Yeah nasos -> 1'4"

I personally do not like butterflies much either.

[pangaea6]

Thanks for the tip on the Naso, as he is off the list. I may instead do a Kole. They are cute little fish and are constantly swimming through rocks. The Purple tangs that I have seen are all too dark to realy get a feel for the purple. I've also talked myself out of the HT. Are there any Anemones that could survive under fish only lighting that my Maroon could host?

[pangaea6]

I think:crazy1: this will be the last fish question. I hope all of this is helping others with there stocking questions. Here's the almost final list

Gold maroon clown
5 damsels
Huma
Puffer
Emporer Angel
Powder Brown Tang
SF Eel
Flame Angel
Kole Tang

Any problems adding another large angel or two. Thinking Annularis and Blueface or will that :blown: my tank? I'm trying to keep from wanting to add a Niger b/c I don't want to have trade him out when he gets bigger.

[pangaea6]

Oh yeah any stars I could keep in there? serpant, brittle, red general. linkia?

[pangaea6]

bump

[pangaea6]

A one yr update in case anyone searching cares. I started out with maroon clown, humu humu, sf eel, kole, bluespotted puffer and several yellowtail damsels. About a month later I added an auriga butterfle and racoon and small juv emp. angel. All died in the next few weeks. the damsels quickly died off for whatever reason. In Sept. the Kole died for unknown reasons. The maroon lasted several months then succumbed to disease. In mid fall I added a blue ring angel and lawnmower blenny. In early winter I added an adult emporer angle and a month later a miniatas grouper (coral hind). After a couple of months my sf eel was dead. Him and the grouper always fought for food so I think grouper took him out. Satisfied with that set up til mid spring then I added a yellow tang from my reef tank that was nipping at corals. A couple weeks ago tried to add another kole but the grouper mercilessly attacked him. I was able to rescue him to the reef tank were he healed and is doing fine, although a little skittish around my regal tang. and then last week added a niger trigger. He was slightly larger than the humu and I left niger in the bag all day in tank and then added him at night after all the fish were sleeping.
No problem with him and the humu or the grouper, isn't that neat. The niger and humu have been swimming together and doing fine. the emporer still chases the smaller blue ring a bit but nothing serious and they have doen fine together for 7 months. The original humu, puffer are doing great and never had problems with them. blenny is left alone and nobody messes with the grouper although him and the puffer got locked up the other day when the grouper tried to steal food out of puffer's mouth and ended up locking onto his nose! But he let go and all was fine. So here's my current and hopefully final setup and list

Adult Emperor
Almost adult blue ring
lawnmower blenny
Miniatis Grouper
Niger trigger
Humu HUmu Trigger
Yellow Tang
Blue spotted puffer (toby)

Hope this info helps others

[bluerug]

Lets see some pics, if you have any. That sums the year up in a nutshell.

[pangaea6]

I'm fixin to go out o'town for a few days and the lights are off now, so I'll try to post some next week.