125 gallon aquarium stocking

Gordon Marvin

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Now that my basement is finished I am doing a 125 gallon saltwater aquarium (72”-18”-21”) and I would like feedback on my stocking plan.

2 ocellaris Clownfish (bonded pair)
1 orchid dottyback
1 Yellow watchman goby

1 purple tang
1 pacific blue tang
1 whitecheek tang
1 bristletooth tomini tang

1 bicolor angelfish
2 firefish (bonded pair)
1 carpenters flasher wrasse
1 biota Captive bred (only) blue mandarin fish
 
Now that my basement is finished I am doing a 125 gallon saltwater aquarium (72”-18”-21”) and I would like feedback on my stocking plan.

2 ocellaris Clownfish (bonded pair)
1 orchid dottyback
1 Yellow watchman goby

1 purple tang
1 pacific blue tang
1 whitecheek tang
1 bristletooth tomini tang

1 bicolor angelfish
2 firefish (bonded pair)
1 carpenters flasher wrasse
1 biota Captive bred (only) blue mandarin fish
I really like the stock you're getting currently. Have you put any thought into a clean up crew or inverts? For example, getting a pistol shrimp for the watchman goby would be really cool.
 
Invert wise I’ll probably get a pistol shrimp (which will be added with the goby). one or two scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp, and about 50-60 snails and hermit crabs.
 
Invert wise I’ll probably get a pistol shrimp (which will be added with the goby). one or two scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp, and about 50-60 snails and hermit crabs.
Awesome, maybe some cardinal fish? I enjoy getting a small group of 3-5 cardinals. Not sure if you like those?
 
UPDATE: The stocking plan has changed dramatically due to fish in stock at my local shop.

here is what is in that tank now
2x ocellaris clownfish
1x Midas blenny
1x orchid dottyback
1x convict tang

any suggestions for other tangs, and other fish in general?
 
a good centerpiece fish i think could be nice atm. depends on if this is a reef or fowlr.

for either, a bluethroat trigger is a large but peaceful and reef friendly fish that introduces an element of personality and intelligence. other reef safe centerpieces could be genicanthus angelfish. also perhaps a wrasse such as a melanurus or fairy wrasse?
 
a good centerpiece fish i think could be nice atm. depends on if this is a reef or fowlr.

for either, a bluethroat trigger is a large but peaceful and reef friendly fish that introduces an element of personality and intelligence. other reef safe centerpieces could be genicanthus angelfish. also perhaps a wrasse such as a melanurus or fairy wrasse?
The tank is a FOWLR although I may add some NPS sun corals in the future
 
UPDATE: The stocking plan has changed dramatically due to fish in stock at my local shop.

here is what is in that tank now
2x ocellaris clownfish
1x Midas blenny
1x orchid dottyback
1x convict tang

any suggestions for other tangs, and other fish in general?
I think a little harem of chalk bass would look cool.

If it were me id add a zebrasoma tang, regal angel, and 1 more acanthurus or zebrasoma

but what matters most is what you like
 
I think a little harem of chalk bass would look cool.

If it were me id add a zebrasoma tang, regal angel, and 1 more acanthurus or zebrasoma

but what matters most is what you like
Tangs are extremely high bioload so I am going to limit it to two max, I have been eyeing scopas, purple, and pacific blue that are locally avalible
 
I have a 125g and currently have:
1 x clown
1 x bicolor blenny
2 x bangai cardinals
1 x coral beauty
1 x sailfin tang
1 x tomini tang

I used to have a watchman goby and an orchid dottyback, but both fish spend most of their time in their cave so I now lean toward getting open water swimmers. Thinking about adding maybe a midas blenny and fairy wrasse.
 
If you are going FOWLR, I would recommend looking into an angelfish, while you may want to avoid the large angels, the dwarves are some of my favorite fish. Personally, in my FOWLR 125, I have a majestic and asfur angel who get along great, fully acknowledging that I may have to rehome them as they grow.
 
Ooh a FOWLR means you have a lot more options for centerpiece fish. An arothron dogface puffer for starters would add a lot of personality and I think the tank size is good enough for one. Also the wrasses you can get are much prettier, particularly the Moon Wrasse which I would totally own if I had a FOWLR. Other than that, regal angelfish are tricky but very worth the effort.
A quick rundown...
Dogface Puffer
Regal Angelfish
Moon Wrasse
Bird Wrasse
Lavender Tang
Harlequin Tusk
Or most dwarf angelfish
You said you disliked butterflyfish but there's also Copperbands and Yellow Longnose Butterflies.
The tank is a FOWLR although I may add some NPS sun corals in the future
 
Ooh a FOWLR means you have a lot more options for centerpiece fish. An arothron dogface puffer for starters would add a lot of personality and I think the tank size is good enough for one. Also the wrasses you can get are much prettier, particularly the Moon Wrasse which I would totally own if I had a FOWLR. Other than that, regal angelfish are tricky but very worth the effort.
A quick rundown...
Dogface Puffer
Regal Angelfish
Moon Wrasse
Bird Wrasse
Lavender Tang
Harlequin Tusk
Or most dwarf angelfish
You said you disliked butterflyfish but there's also Copperbands and Yellow Longnose Butterflies.
There are certain butterfly fish I have become fond of mainly the Pakistan butterfly fish, and yellow longnose butterfly fish
 
Question, do any of you have a list ranking tangs from least to most aggressive? I am going to purchase a pacific blue tang for this tank, however for my third and final tang I want one that is not terribly aggressive
 
I have recently aquired three fish
1x lamarcks angelfish, female
1x Firefish
1x yellowtail damselfish

my intention is to get a pistol shrimp and yellow watchman goby pair, and a scopas tang, I may get a pacific or powder blue tang later on
 
Blue tangs are prone for ich. I would go powder brown or blue. But I prefer purple tangs.
I like purple tangs too, however I cannot stand their high price tags, pacific blue tend to be hardier than powder blue from what I hear, the convict that I have has been very good.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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