First reef tank, 5ft 130 gallon stocking questions

[MarsReefer]

Posted this up on the fish sticky but it’s been a while and nothing there so reposting it in a separate thread here:


First reef tank after a decade of keeping freshwater tanks. My tank is a 130g 5x2x2 with a 40G Sump which includes a 12x12x12 refugium, and will be mostly softies and a few LPS corals. A little unsure on appropriate amount of fish, so here is what I am thinking so far (in stocking order):

2x Clowns
5x Zebra Barred Dartfish
1x Fairy Wrasse (not sure if one variety is better than another)
1x firefish
1x flame angel
2x Mandarin's (if I can get a male/female, otherwise just 1, captive bred)
1x yellow tang
1x whitetail tang (added at the same time as the yellow)

Is that too much? just right? Any incompatibilities I missed?

 

[fishski13]

Seems like a good variety and selection of stocking. Not sure about have 5 zebra barred dartfish at once and than mixing them with a single firefish cause they are the same type of goby.

Also with the mandarin you need to wait until you have a heavy stocking of pods before you introduce into the system.

The two tangs you chose I think would be perfect for the tank size.

For the flame angel, they are most likely reef safe but might run into one that isnt.

 

[MarsReefer]

Seems like a good variety and selection of stocking. Not sure about have 5 zebra barred dartfish at once and than mixing them with a single firefish cause they are the same type of goby.

Also with the mandarin you need to wait until you have a heavy stocking of pods before you introduce into the system.

The two tangs you chose I think would be perfect for the tank size.

For the flame angel, they are most likely reef safe but might run into one that isnt.

Yeah I wasn’t sure about the zebras. Is there another smallish “filler” fish that can be kept in a small group? The tangs are really the stars of the top tank show with the mandarins the stars of the bottom. I wanted other movement and color that would be nice movement but not take away from the tangs.

 

[fishski13]

Yeah I wasn’t sure about the zebras. Is there another smallish “filler” fish that can be kept in a small group? The tangs are really the stars of the top tank show with the mandarins the stars of the bottom. I wanted other movement and color that would be nice movement but not take away from the tangs.

For me I really like chromis, never had them but once I get a bigger tank I will. I hear mixed things about them, but I feel they add lots of color and movement to all portions of the tank.

There is also anthias and cardinals but dont have experience with them either

 

[Doctorgori]

For me I really like chromis, never had them but once I get a bigger tank I will. I hear mixed things about them, but I feel they add lots of color and movement to all portions of the tank.

There is also anthias and cardinals but dont have experience with them either

I’m looking at chromis also…anyway, get the dark blue carribean type, I’m told they are less prone to killing each other

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Also with the mandarin you need to wait until you have a heavy stocking of pods before you introduce into the system.

He said he's getting captive bred mandarins - these are usually already eating other food. Pods will be good for a supplement but are not crucial like they are for wild caught mandarins.

 

[MarsReefer]

I’m looking at chromis also…anyway, get the dark blue carribean type, I’m told they are less prone to killing each other

Yeah I’m worried about fish who seem to snap and kill each other with no warning.

the banggai cardinals seem to be my runner up. They seem to get along, stay out of the way, and add a little different color than all the bright flashes.

 

[Doctorgori]

Yeah I’m worried about fish who seem to snap and kill each other with no warning.

the banggai cardinals seem to be my runner up. They seem to get along, stay out of the way, and add a little different color than all the bright flashes.

bangai…I’ve had a group of those in a 210, it wasn’t smooth. things sorta settled in at 2 pair. They can be fussy

 

[MarsReefer]

bangai…I’ve had a group of those in a 210, it wasn’t smooth. things sorta settled in at 2 pair. They can be fussy

Yeah I’ve read a bunch of horror stories, starting to rethink that.

might just ditch the firefish and go back with a group of the barred zebras. Then find something else instead of the firefish.