Help me with my planned bioload and tankmates

[ballroomdude]

Ok.....so I'm gathering the bits necessary for building a 600 gallon custom aquarium bar with another 150 -200 gallons of sump.

It will be L shaped with one side being 96x36x30" deep and the other side will be 60x36x30 deep. This will most likely be a fowlr tank.

I'm considering the following fish but I'm not totally locked down.

I'd like to not totally overload this thing as I won't be going larger after this tank.

3x volitans lionfish
1x queen angelfish
1x mac angelfish
1x porcupine puffer
1x purple tang
1x blonde naso tang
1x Black banded bamboo shark

I know about the potentials of large angels and puffers with regards to sharks.

I've also considered dropping the mac angel and naso tang and adding 3 or 4 non reef wrasses as I love the incessant swimming.

I know that they are all big messy fish.

I'll be turning the display over around 10x into the sump and will also have a couple more closed loop pumps for a total of around 25x - 30x total turnover.

I also plan on running a huge lifereef 72" tall dual mazzei venturi recirculating skimmer on a separate pump, 6x filter socks with lots of floss, an algae scrubber, 3x carbon reactors, UV sterilization and using ozone injection as well.

What are the thoughts on this bioload and possible husbandry for this size tank?

 

[eatbreakfast]

The bioload should be fine, though a porcupine puffer can be quite nippy to slow and sedentary fish such as lions and bamboo sharks.

 

[ballroomdude]

I would add a juvenile puffer in with lions and a shark that were established in the tank. I figured with growing up around larger fish and having a big tank it would help to quell some of that.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I would add a juvenile puffer in with lions and a shark that were established in the tank. I figured with growing up around larger fish and having a big tank it would help to quell some of that.

That doesn't really matter. Puffers are curious and explore their surroundings whether young or old. The main way they investigate is to bite things. They have sharp, beaklike teeth and powerful jaws, that can do damage as a small fish, but even more damage as they grow.

 

[ballroomdude]

Then maybe I'll nix the puffer and add a few wrasses.

 

[ballroomdude]

new list......potentially......round 2....

1x queen angelfish
1x grey angelfish
1x maculosus angelfish
1x purple tang
1x black tang
1x achilles tang
1x klunzingers wrasse
1x lyretail wrasse
2x volitans lionfish
1x Black banded bamboo shark

Overstocked? what would you drop? I'm concerned about 3 angels as an idea, even at 600 gallons. I know that usually they are recommended as a singular fish but was wondering about people's thoughts with me going with such a large tank.

 

[eatbreakfast]

new list......potentially......round 2....

1x queen angelfish
1x grey angelfish
1x maculosus angelfish
1x purple tang
1x black tang
1x achilles tang
1x klunzingers wrasse
1x lyretail wrasse
2x volitans lionfish
1x Black banded bamboo shark

Overstocked? what would you drop? I'm concerned about 3 angels as an idea, even at 600 gallons. I know that usually they are recommended as a singular fish but was wondering about people's thoughts with me going with such a large tank.

Still not overstocked.

The angels should be fine, just invest in a large social acclimation box when introducting a new angel to an established one.

 

[ballroomdude]

I was going to run a 75gallon QT separately and try to get all 3 together as juvenilles or small sub adults in the 4-6" range. I figured I'd add them last as a group to the tank but will do lots more research between now and then. I even thought about running dividers in the QT to help things out for acclimation.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I was going to run a 75gallon QT separately and try to get all 3 together as juvenilles or small sub adults in the 4-6" range. I figured I'd add them last as a group to the tank but will do lots more research between now and then. I even thought about running dividers in the QT to help things out for acclimation.

This plan will work.

 

[ballroomdude]

I'm figuring the 2 lions to help finish the cycling process. Once it is established I add the shark. After that, the tangs as a group like the angels. Then the wrasses and after that the angelfish.

I figured it would take a good 2 months to get everything through the quarantine process and in the tank while monitoring everything if I'm smart about it.

 

[Ppoeschl]

The shark will likely get picked on.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Bamboo sharks are easily outcompeted for food by more active fish. If you make sure it gets enough to eat it should be fine. I haven't had an issue with tangs and angels picking on a shark.

 

[Ppoeschl]

Benthic sharks often get picked on by grazing fish especially the eyes and tail. It is a well known fact.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Benthic sharks often get picked on by grazing fish especially the eyes and tail. It is a well known fact.

Well known by whom? IME benthic sharks are ignored, and from what I have seen from others on various forums those that have actually kept them together have had the same experiences of them being fine together.

 

[Ppoeschl]

Well known by the public aquarium community as well as all the authors in shark care

 

[eatbreakfast]

References? There are some authors that have written things that are grossly inaccurate just make assumptions based off of what they "think" they know and inferring reactions. There have also been contradictory info on whether or not they can be kept together, some authors say yes, others no. Observations of grazing fish picking on sedentary is often in regards to fish that have filamentous appendages that mimic algae, as in the cases of stonefish, rhinopias, and some gobies, etc. Bamboo and cat sharks don't have that, so grazing isn't an issue.

Tang and angel aggression is often limited to fish that compete for territory and food sources. Sharks do not compete in either of those catagories.

Were I contemplating to keep sharks and grazers I would much more readily listen to those with first hand experience, rather than those that are just regurgitating something they have heard that is believed to be true.

 

[Ppoeschl]

I don't need references... I've seen it happen first hand many times.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I don't need references... I've seen it happen first hand many times.

Which species? Which sized tanks? IME they have been fine. As has the case of many others. Google search sharks and tangs and you will find many other accounts of others that have kept them together without issue as well.

 

[Ppoeschl]

More speaking toward angels... But I've seen tangs do it too ... You actually have experience? Because you are referring to Google a lot... It is even more likely the smaller the system.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Yes, I have kept them together in a 150, 180, and custom 200. I refer to google because I understand that different peoples experiences may vary. Using google to see if my experiences are typical or an outlier is a valuable tool. In the instances from google searches directs to various forums and shows that others have had experiences similar to mine and not having nipping be an issue.

You referenced common knowledge of public aquariums. Is that from you working there?