125G FOWLR Stock List

keephowlin · Sep 27, 2020

Hi all,

I wanted to get some educated opinions about the proposed stock list for a new 125G FOWLR. We have several reefs going already but really wanted to get some fish that we couldn't otherwise keep, so we are booting up an old acrylic 125G. If successful, I'm expecting to upgrade to 240-300G within the next year or so, but this equipment was otherwise gathering dust in the garage, so off we go on another aquarium adventure. I'm listing them in the order of "gotta have" in order to satisfy the various family members.

1) Miniatus Grouper
2) Humu Rectangle Trigger
3) Raccoon Butterfly
4) Porcupine Puffer
5) Snowflake Eel
6) Bird Wrasse (smaller male)
7) Freckled Hawkfish
8) Kole Tang

Assuming they are all similarly sized 4-5" fish (except the eel), are these reasonably likely to get along? Is there an order we should follow in adding them?

Thanks in advance,

Rob

Mastiffsrule · Sep 28, 2020

How are things this evening

A few things. I would not put the hawk with the eel or grouper. I would actually skip the grouper, puffer , and wrasse until you have the bigger tank. It is not just size, it will be the competition for food, aggression for space, and bioload that all need to be dealt with in the 125. I could see the hawk, tang and butterfly to start. Then the trigger and maybe the puffer. Maybe some angels?

Just some thoughts.

keephowlin · Sep 29, 2020

Mastiffsrule said:
How are things this evening

A few things. I would not put the hawk with the eel or grouper. I would actually skip the grouper, puffer , and wrasse until you have the bigger tank. It is not just size, it will be the competition for food, aggression for space, and bioload that all need to be dealt with in the 125. I could see the hawk, tang and butterfly to start. Then the trigger and maybe the puffer. Maybe some angels?

Just some thoughts.

Thanks so much for the input. Before receiving your reply, we have since adjusted our wish list a little (changing the Kole tang to a Naso and the Hawk for a Dragon Wrasse). So if the hawk is out of the picture, does that change eel/grouper descision a little? Understanding that some of these are not suitable as adults in a 125, but also understanding that even as smaller specimens, the size of the tank may still present some territorial issues. Are there individual specimen size considerations that could make this scenario work better in the short term? The order of the list is the order of our desires, for what it is worth. So completely dropping a #7 or #8 would be more palatable than scratching a #1 or #2. All of that said, we still want to do the right thing and give this tank and these fish the best chance for success. Thanks again for any and all thoughts and input!

1) Miniatus Grouper
2) Humu Rectangle Trigger
3) Raccoon Butterfly
4) Porcupine Puffer
5) Snowflake Eel
6) Naso Tang
7) Bird Wrasse (smaller male)
8) Dragon (Rockmover) Wrasse

keephowlin · Oct 2, 2020

Any thoughts please. All my recent experience is with my reefs that most of these fish can't go in. We really want to do this right.

lion king · Oct 3, 2020

I would not put all of these in a 125g; the humu, racoon, snowflake, and bird wrasse could live comfortably in a 125g forever or at the least a very long time. The humu triggers grow slowly and usually get along well with most so would be fine for years. I would not do the the porc puffer, they get nippy and aggressive in a smaller crowded tank. I would be a little apprehensive about the naso tang; they seem to be challenging, grow rather fast and large. I would hold off on the dragon because of tank capacity restraints. I know the miniatus is your #1 and I like them too, they do grow fast and large so there's a concern not to wait too long for the bigger tank. I am a bit biased toward lightly stocked tanks, so if it were me. I would do the miniatus, humu, racoon, snowflake, and bird wrasse. If your larger tank gets into a more definite time frame and the tank wasn't too crowded, I would consider the naso. I would leave the porc and dragon until the bigger tank.

DaddyFish · Oct 3, 2020

Any chance you would consider a small dogface puffer instead of the porc? My experience with dogface/eel combos has been they make excellent tank mates. They even tend to "hang out together".

keephowlin · Oct 3, 2020

lion king said:
I would not put all of these in a 125g; the humu, racoon, snowflake, and bird wrasse could live comfortably in a 125g forever or at the least a very long time. The humu triggers grow slowly and usually get along well with most so would be fine for years. I would not do the the porc puffer, they get nippy and aggressive in a smaller crowded tank. I would be a little apprehensive about the naso tang; they seem to be challenging, grow rather fast and large. I would hold off on the dragon because of tank capacity restraints. I know the miniatus is your #1 and I like them too, they do grow fast and large so there's a concern not to wait too long for the bigger tank. I am a bit biased toward lightly stocked tanks, so if it were me. I would do the miniatus, humu, racoon, snowflake, and bird wrasse. If your larger tank gets into a more definite time frame and the tank wasn't too crowded, I would consider the naso. I would leave the porc and dragon until the bigger tank.

Thanks LionKing. That is very helpful and makes a lot of sense. Is there an order that these should be added?

lion king · Oct 3, 2020

As long as everyone is size compatible I don't see any red flags that would dictate order of untroduction. Providing you do wait for the puffer, he would be my only concern

keephowlin · Oct 3, 2020

DaddyFish said:
Any chance you would consider a small dogface puffer instead of the porc? My experience with dogface/eel combos has been they make excellent tank mates. They even tend to "hang out together".

Thanks DaddyFish. I like dogface puffers, too, but... There is a strong theme to this tank that makes it special for the family. All these fish (except the Miniatus) are fish we see regularly when we vacation in Hawaii and are our favorites when we dive. This brings a little piece of that home to us. The Miniatus is just my "I'm-not-doing-another-tank-unless-I-can-finally-have-a-Miniatus" fish. We have three reefs already. There are certainly other puffers in Hawaii, but everyone is sweet on the Porkie. If ultimately it isn't a good fit, then we won't do it, or at least wait until we upgrade that tank to a bigger one.

nereefpat · Oct 5, 2020

C. urodeta (V-tail grouper) looks pretty similar and would stay under a foot, so it could live forever in a 125. Not twisting your arm, just trying to help.