Semi reef stocking levels for 700g custom tank

flamehawk2 · 08/17/2018, 08:17 AM

Yes I am taking a deep dive back into the hobby! custom making a 700g tank measurement 7’ Long’s 3’ deep and 4 1/2 feet high. It will have a 120g sump with wet/dry and protein skimmers, A+ lighting.

I want to focus on the fish so it w/b semi reef in that it will have live sand and rock as well as mushrooms, polyps, bubble anemones (for the clowns of course!), lots of clean up crews.

Here's the question....fish stocking level: Keeping in mind adult sizes for these fish, I’m thinking about the following stocking level: 1 of each- Emperor, Scribble and majestic and flame angel’s, 1 each Yellow, Naso, hippo and powder blue tangs, 3 pairs of clown fish, 8 chromis damsels, 1flamehawk, &1 royal gramma. (Some have suggested adding 2 yellow tangs for a group of 3 total and do Same with flame angels and royal gramma.) Let me know what you think. SO exciting! Thanks! Flamehawk

mcgyvr · 08/17/2018, 10:41 AM

Sounds like totally acceptable stocking levels IMO for that size tank..
Enjoy..
That is certainly taking a deep dive back with a tank that big..
Thats way too much water/work for me..

Vinny Kreyling · 08/17/2018, 11:48 AM

Tangs could be trouble, especially with a Powder Blue.
I started with 5 Purple Tangs & slowly went downward after someone getting picked on would have to be removed. 7 ft. is not that long for tangs.
Majestics can be finicky too, they are a shy fish that would have to go in 1st. I think the Emp. should be last of the angels.
Any Angel questions should be directed to Copps on the forum.

sfdan · 08/17/2018, 01:15 PM

I don't mean to derail the thread in terms of stocking, but I'd strongly consider a larger sump size. The equipment for a 700 gallon tank is all going to be very large... large pumps, large skimmer, large media reactors, large everything. You'll run out of room really quickly in a 120 gallon. In addition to the fact that you are dealing with lots of water volume in terms of tank turnover and/or back-siphoning in case of power outage. Nobody ever regrets having a sump too big, but lots of people regret having one too small. You'll have a ton of space underneath that huge tank and I really recommend a larger sump, maybe something in the 200-300 gallon range.

scottwhitson · 08/17/2018, 03:36 PM

I tried to have 2 sets of clowns in a 600 gallon and was not successful. They would travel the whole length of the tank to fight and wouldn't stop until the smaller set would get under the rocks and hide for hours. Ended up pulling one pair out and putting them in a tank by themselves.

flamehawk2 · 08/18/2018, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottwhitson

I tried to have 2 sets of clowns in a 600 gallon and was not successful. They would travel the whole length of the tank to fight and wouldn't stop until the smaller set would get under the rocks and hide for hours. Ended up pulling one pair out and putting them in a tank by themselves.

Wow...need to rethink then. Thx.

flamehawk2 · 08/18/2018, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfdan

I don't mean to derail the thread in terms of stocking, but I'd strongly consider a larger sump size. The equipment for a 700 gallon tank is all going to be very large... large pumps, large skimmer, large media reactors, large everything. You'll run out of room really quickly in a 120 gallon. In addition to the fact that you are dealing with lots of water volume in terms of tank turnover and/or back-siphoning in case of power outage. Nobody ever regrets having a sump too big, but lots of people regret having one too small. You'll have a ton of space underneath that huge tank and I really recommend a larger sump, maybe something in the 200-300 gallon range.

Great suggestion. Thx

flamehawk2 · 08/18/2018, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

Tangs could be trouble, especially with a Powder Blue.
I started with 5 Purple Tangs & slowly went downward after someone getting picked on would have to be removed. 7 ft. is not that long for tangs.
Majestics can be finicky too, they are a shy fish that would have to go in 1st. I think the Emp. should be last of the angels.
Any Angel questions should be directed to Copps on the forum.

I have also found purples to be aggressive and very bold so left off list. They are beautiful though. Have had yellow, hippo, and powder in a 150g in past. Besides occasional jousting, they did ok for long time until I went overseas and had to sell them along with my set up and 5 other 55g saltwater tanks. As they say....”I’m back!”....

08/17/2018, 08:17 AM	#1
flamehawk2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 252	Semi reef stocking levels for 700g custom tank Yes I am taking a deep dive back into the hobby! custom making a 700g tank measurement 7’ Long’s 3’ deep and 4 1/2 feet high. It will have a 120g sump with wet/dry and protein skimmers, A+ lighting. I want to focus on the fish so it w/b semi reef in that it will have live sand and rock as well as mushrooms, polyps, bubble anemones (for the clowns of course!), lots of clean up crews. Here's the question....fish stocking level: Keeping in mind adult sizes for these fish, I’m thinking about the following stocking level: 1 of each- Emperor, Scribble and majestic and flame angel’s, 1 each Yellow, Naso, hippo and powder blue tangs, 3 pairs of clown fish, 8 chromis damsels, 1flamehawk, &1 royal gramma. (Some have suggested adding 2 yellow tangs for a group of 3 total and do Same with flame angels and royal gramma.) Let me know what you think. SO exciting! Thanks! Flamehawk __________________ JP Remember the three f's -family,friends and fish! Current Tank Info: 625g (water volume) custom semi reef w/166g refugium/sump.

08/17/2018, 10:41 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Sounds like totally acceptable stocking levels IMO for that size tank.. Enjoy.. That is certainly taking a deep dive back with a tank that big.. Thats way too much water/work for me.. __________________ Who me?

08/17/2018, 11:48 AM	#3
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Tangs could be trouble, especially with a Powder Blue. I started with 5 Purple Tangs & slowly went downward after someone getting picked on would have to be removed. 7 ft. is not that long for tangs. Majestics can be finicky too, they are a shy fish that would have to go in 1st. I think the Emp. should be last of the angels. Any Angel questions should be directed to Copps on the forum. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

08/17/2018, 01:15 PM	#4
sfdan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: San Francisco Posts: 451	I don't mean to derail the thread in terms of stocking, but I'd strongly consider a larger sump size. The equipment for a 700 gallon tank is all going to be very large... large pumps, large skimmer, large media reactors, large everything. You'll run out of room really quickly in a 120 gallon. In addition to the fact that you are dealing with lots of water volume in terms of tank turnover and/or back-siphoning in case of power outage. Nobody ever regrets having a sump too big, but lots of people regret having one too small. You'll have a ton of space underneath that huge tank and I really recommend a larger sump, maybe something in the 200-300 gallon range.

08/17/2018, 03:36 PM	#5
scottwhitson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 1,395	I tried to have 2 sets of clowns in a 600 gallon and was not successful. They would travel the whole length of the tank to fight and wouldn't stop until the smaller set would get under the rocks and hide for hours. Ended up pulling one pair out and putting them in a tank by themselves.