120 G Stocking

[Chef Mateo]

Hi, I'm looking to have my first reef tank and I've done plenty of research but, would like to know your guys opinions on having certain fish in my tank. It will be a 120 with the possibility of me getting a 125 or 180 depending on the fish. This tank will be more of a minimalist approach with few corals for this big of a tank although, I will have enough live rock for a dragonet. I added the length in inches to the end of each fish.

No matter what getting:
2 Designer Clowns (most likely frostbite or snowflake) - 3"
1 Dragonet/Mandarin Goby (I understand the feeding challenges will try to purchase one already eating flake or frozen but, will get pods if not) - 4"
1 Green Clown Goby (could be cut from this list but, would love him) - 1.75"
1 Fairy Wrasse (most likely orange-back fairy wrasse, substitutes could be velvet multicolor, ruby head or bluehead) - 3.5", 5.5", 5", 5"

Inverts (I am getting):
Banded Coral Shrimp (would probably be this or flame hawkfish sadly)
Blood Red Fire Shrimp (same as above)
Tuxedo Urchin
Turban Snail
Nassarius Snail
Hermit Crabs (possibly depending on fish)

Corals/Anemones (I am getting):
Zoanthids (3 Types)
Spotted Mushroom (2)
Green Toadstool Mushroom Leather
Green Star Polyp
Long Tentacle Anemone (2)

Interested in:
Flame Hawkfish (was on my first stocking list but removed him because of my inverts but, would love 1) -4"
Flame Angelfish (again was on my stocking list just worried about reef compatibility) -4"
Dwarf Fuzzy Lion (not really sure bout this one just like the look but, there are a lot of risks) -7"
Other Reef Safe Wrasses (love the look of many of them just wouldn't want them to eat my inverts) -3"-7"
I do specifically like the Dusky Wrasse (but, am unsure of inverts and coral with that one)
Latticed Butterfly (really love it but probably will eat my corals) - 6"
Any type of Firefish (more of a filler fish would get if my preferred options couldn't work) - 3"
Would love a tang such as (Blonde)Naso Tang, Powder Blue or Achilles (but understand they need a 125 minimum, 180 preferably would possibly upgrade size for 1 )
Chalk Bass (same conditions as firefish) - 3"

Any more suggestions would be awesome Thank You!

 

[mcarroll]

Only to build that population slowly.

Start small with 1-2 fish and build slowly....1-2 fish at a time. Lots of time between each addition. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank., right?

No corals should mean fish-only type lighting unless you want the algae that will come with reef lighting.

 

[Chef Mateo]

Only to build that population slowly.

Start small with 1-2 fish and build slowly....1-2 fish at a time. Lots of time between each addition. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank., right?

No corals should mean fish-only type lighting unless you want the algae that will come with reef lighting.

REPLY: I know I would add 1 fish at a time I'm just looking for answers to the final stock list and I will have a couple corals

 

[Dilan Patel]

If you can swing it I would go with a 6ft long tank such as the 180. i believe most 120s or 4ft long.

 

[Chef Mateo]

If you can swing it I would go with a 6ft long tank such as the 180. i believe most 120s or 4ft long.

REPLY: Okay I think I'll switch to a 180 gal. Also yes, 120s are 4ft, 125s are 6ft(less depth), 180s are 6ft

 

[mcarroll]

REPLY: I know I would add 1 fish at a time I'm just looking for answers to the final stock list and I will have a couple corals

Basically, if you go 1-2 at a time, there's nothing wrong with your whole stock list.

You'll be making decisions and changes to it as the tank population grows and as you learn more, so it's a little pointless to be hyper-critical at this stage.

Just order the list by preference, so you get the fish you want most, first. Which is up to you, but your "no matter what I'm getting" list is fine – work through that.

If you're also adding some corals or CUC along the way and spacing them out too (not optional) then that little fish list will take you the better part of a year or even longer to finish – which is GREAT!!

You'll learn so much in the meantime that you might have some VERY different ideas about the tank and your lists. Let it happen.

 

[Chef Mateo]

Basically, if you go 1-2 at a time, there's nothing wrong with your whole stock list.

You'll be making decisions and changes to it as the tank population grows and as you learn more, so it's a little pointless to be hyper-critical at this stage.

Just order the list by preference, so you get the fish you want most, first. Which is up to you, but your "no matter what I'm getting" list is fine – work through that.

If you're also adding some corals or CUC along the way and spacing them out too (not optional) then that little fish list will take you the better part of a year or even longer to finish – which is GREAT!!

You'll learn so much in the meantime that you might have some VERY different ideas about the tank and your lists. Let it happen.

Okay thank you

 

[Dilan Patel]

I just upgraded this year from my 55 to a 135 and got an extra 2ft in length!!! i did this for tangs as I saw my 180 was a nice size for my tangs / other fish to be happy and fat. Just wanted to let you know that the longer the tank the more happier you may be