240 Stocking List

ReeferDoc13 · Jan 13, 2019

Hello Fellow Reefers,
I'm Looking for some feedback regarding my fish list for my 240 gallon tank.
Tank Measurements: 8'x2'x2'
Sump: ~90 gallons total will be kept at around 50-60% full.
~300lbs live rock, 2 bioxsport bricks in sump
Skimmer Rated for 300 heavy load to 420 light load
Carbon/Phosphate/biopellets Reactor, Large Refugium in sump
Plan on Weekly 10% water changes for the 1st year or so till tank matures.
This list is still in the works and will most likely not get all of the tangs on the list.
All fish will be run through QT before entering the DT. Fish will be run through in groups of 3-5. So if you think certain ones should be added at the same time you can state it.
Curious about if this is a good stocking order as well. List is in order of stocking.
Tank is Fully covered, no need to worry about jumpers.
Tank will be a mixed reef with about a 2" sand bed.
I look forward to hearing from the experts!!
Thanks in advance.

List is a little OCD.

User1 · Jan 13, 2019

Is 300 lbs of rock a typo? Only reason why I ask is that I have a 210 gallon (54" W x 30" H x 30" D) with 150 lbs and it is a bit much. I'm sure you know this already but leave some room for corals to grow. Some get branchy and you will end up with your reef tank singing "Trees" by Rush...

I can't really comment on the list other than it is pretty impressive. Oh - nice touch on the size. I have a Lt. Tang and it grew fast. I don't know the age of it when I purchased it but I'd say it was maybe 3" (bought from LA). Anyway I bought it last May and seven months in and it is pushing almost 7 1/2".

bhuyett · Jan 13, 2019

I see a couple issues with your list, based on how you have your current stocking order. Your Clowns, since you have two, more than likely may not be a good ending with adding a third. You should add 2, to take any aggression off of the single one. Plus knowing how clowns become very territorial when mated they can kill anything that comes around. So my suggestion would be to add them towards the middle or end of your tank stocking.

Your Copperband is very delicate, and even though they are peaceful. When first introduced they are very finicky and startled easily. My suggestion would be to add him towards the beginning after adding your smaller fish. This way he can get acclimated before adding those fish that are very active during feeding time. The same way with the angels as well.

Since your Stary Blenny is on the large side, they are known to be territorial and anything that has the same shape he will attack it. Just be aware of this, and be prepared for what could possibly happen.

The sixline Wrasse, my suggestion would be to take this completely off your stocking list. They are very mean once they get larger and will chase your other fish, and stress them out and potentially kill them.

Great stocking list of Tangs and nice size tank for them. My question to you will be are you planning on buying them all at once or will this be over a 6-8 month period? The risk you will run into, if you are stocking them 1 at a time is they will start to build territories. Once this happens, it can be more difficult to acclimate and may need to put a divider in your tank until they get used to one another.

ReeferDoc13 · Jan 14, 2019

saf1 said:
Is 300 lbs of rock a typo? Only reason why I ask is that I have a 210 gallon (54" W x 30" H x 30" D) with 150 lbs and it is a bit much. I'm sure you know this already but leave some room for corals to grow. Some get branchy and you will end up with your reef tank singing "Trees" by Rush...

I can't really comment on the list other than it is pretty impressive. Oh - nice touch on the size. I have a Lt. Tang and it grew fast. I don't know the age of it when I purchased it but I'd say it was maybe 3" (bought from LA). Anyway I bought it last May and seven months in and it is pushing almost 7 1/2".

The rock is roughly 250-300 lbs. The guy I bought the tank from had a rock wall along the back top to bottom from side to side and it extended out about halfway from back to front through the tank. I have the rock cycling in my QT tanks and haven't built the aquascape yet. Probably wont introduce it all into the DT. I'll have to wait and see. Might have to some of it to the sump area. Don't plan on going any higher than 12-14 inches high.

nereefpat · Jan 14, 2019

Well, aren't you organized

Over all, I don't see too many problems.

I would move the flasher and fairy wrasses toward the top of the list.
I would for sure pick the possum over the sixline, and move it up on the list. It sounds crazy, but even in a 240, I would't try to keep a sixline with other wrasses.
The neon dotty would be totally fine in a big tang/angel tank, but with so many smaller fishes, I would switch it out for an orchid (fridmani)

That's a lot of tangs. There aren't any that will outgrow the 240, but it does seem like a lot to me. It will be action packed, for sure. You probably already know, but the sailfin does get huge, and the Achilles will be a challenge.

ReeferDoc13 · Jan 14, 2019

bhuyett said:
I see a couple issues with your list, based on how you have your current stocking order. Your Clowns, since you have two, more than likely may not be a good ending with adding a third. You should add 2, to take any aggression off of the single one. Plus knowing how clowns become very territorial when mated they can kill anything that comes around. So my suggestion would be to add them towards the middle or end of your tank stocking.

Your Copperband is very delicate, and even though they are peaceful. When first introduced they are very finicky and startled easily. My suggestion would be to add him towards the beginning after adding your smaller fish. This way he can get acclimated before adding those fish that are very active during feeding time. The same way with the angels as well.

Since your Stary Blenny is on the large side, they are known to be territorial and anything that has the same shape he will attack it. Just be aware of this, and be prepared for what could possibly happen.

The sixline Wrasse, my suggestion would be to take this completely off your stocking list. They are very mean once they get larger and will chase your other fish, and stress them out and potentially kill them.

Great stocking list of Tangs and nice size tank for them. My question to you will be are you planning on buying them all at once or will this be over a 6-8 month period? The risk you will run into, if you are stocking them 1 at a time is they will start to build territories. Once this happens, it can be more difficult to acclimate and may need to put a divider in your tank until they get used to one another.

Thank you for your feedback.
I don't plan on adding a 3rd clownfish, the adult size has 3, as in 3 inches. The 2 I have are already little ******s. Don't need anymore of that.

Good Call on the Copperband. Do you think running the Copperband and angels through QT together would be best? Then start with the anthias then wrasses?

I don't have the starry blenny yet. I just put what it's max adult size on their would be. I'll be trying to get everything as small as possible when adding. Do you think the hawkfish should go in with the blenny since they occupy the same area in the tank ie stay on rock surfaces? Do you think these should go in before the Copperband and angelfish?

I have heard multiple horror stories about how mean the sixline wrasse can become. That's why I was thinking either a possum wrasse or just drop it all together. Still haven't decided yet.

As far as the tangs go, I would try and put them through in 2 groups. 5 of the smaller breads together and then the other 4. I plan on running a 6 week QT. Fish will move from the first tank to another after 17-18 days. So ideally, when the first group has 2 weeks left in the second tank I will be starting the second group in the first tank. This would mean that all the tangs should be added into the DT within 4-5 weeks of each other. The Achilles is on the more expensive side so I might wait on adding it for a few months. I know this might cause an issue between it and the powder blue. Still not sure if I want to pull that trigger. But I should just do them all at once to be safe.

I'm more worried about the bio-load on the system. This is a lot of fish, and a lot of big fish. Ideally they would all be added as juveniles.

All of the fish would probably be added over a 8-12 month period.

Good Idea about the divider. Might have to do that if they can't be added within 4-6 weeks of each other.

ReeferDoc13 · Jan 14, 2019

nereefpat said:
Well, aren't you organized

Over all, I don't see too many problems.

I would move the flasher and fairy wrasses toward the top of the list.
I would for sure pick the possum over the sixline, and move it up on the list. It sounds crazy, but even in a 240, I would't try to keep a sixline with other wrasses.
The neon dotty would be totally fine in a big tang/angel tank, but with so many smaller fishes, I would switch it out for an orchid (fridmani)

That's a lot of tangs. There aren't any that will outgrow the 240, but it does seem like a lot to me. It will be action packed, for sure. You probably already know, but the sailfin does get huge, and the Achilles will be a challenge.

Thanks for your input.
From what I've read it's best to make your list and get it in the right order.

In regards to the the fairy/flasher wrasses, I was concerned that they can be a little more aggressive and didn't want to have them picking on any of the other wrasses added after them. Do you feel they would be better suited before the other species of wrasses? How high up the list would you go? @bhuyett brought up a good point about the Copperband being a bit of a finicky eater and not as aggressive as some as the other species and should be added sooner. I know they are smaller than the other wrasses.

I think I will just drop the sixline. Just not sure if I want to keep the possum or not. Still on the fence about it.

I already have the neon dottyback so probably won't be getting rid of him. I do like the orchids and was thinking about adding one. The neon dotty I have is actually really peaceful. We're you worried it would bully the others?

I'm leaning towards dropping the convict tang. But yea that is a lot of fish. Pretty sure I'm dropping pajama cardinals.
I am a little concerned about the amount of fish going into the tank. I got a little carried away with my list. ;Shamefullyembarrased
As far as the sailfin is concerned I most likely won't keep it once it gets beyond 10-12 inches. Depends on how fast it grows and how long I have it for.
I do plan on upgrading the tank in 7-10 years to something in the 500-600 gallon range. So if it makes it that long then he gets to stay.

I am worried about the Achilles. Mostly because I never see them as juveniles and don't want it being a giant bully. They always seem to be in that 4-6 inch range. would prefer all the tangs to come in, in the 2-3 inch range.

nereefpat · Jan 14, 2019

Lubbock's is among the smaller and least aggressive fairies, and flashers are peaceful. I don't think they'll notice the other wrasses. I actually would recommend them before the melanurus.

Neon dottys can be pretty aggressive. That's good if you have a peaceful one, and it may be fine in a 240.

I don't think you need to drop the cardinals. The little, peaceful fish won't make much of a difference in terms of bioload. It sounds like you have a good plan to me.