Helping a friend come up with a stocking list.

[Zionas]

Hi all, so there is a friend of mine and a fellow Chinese reefer who is looking to upgrade from an 80 cube to a 4x2x2 120. He would like to add more fish and has come up with some ideas so I want to try and help him. His tank will be smaller than mine (180) so I am not sure how to help him. Currently in his tank (well, he’s made some mistakes) he has a pair of Ocellaris Clowns, a Yellow Tang, a Blue Hippo Tang, a Powder Brown Tang and a Clown Tang. Yikes! I have warned him about getting Acanthurus Tangs (or any Tangs at all for either of his tank sizes except a Bristletooth for his 120) but he doesn’t listen. Plus, as you can expect, he’s dealt with several ich outbreaks already and I am surprised his Tangs are still alive.

Should I really urge him to return the Tangs to the LFS? I don’t want to make him sad but I really hate seeing what some of my local reefers do with smaller tanks with no intention to upgrade.


He wants:

x1 East African Golden Scissor (I looked it up and it’s the Chinese name for the Midas Blenny) / Bicolor Goby (actually the Blenny but some Chinese sellers don’t distinguish between blennies and gobies)

x2 Ocellaris Clownfish- Captive Bred (Already have)

x2-3 Jet Pumps (I looked it up and it’s the Scissortail Dartfish)

x1 Yellow Dragon (Yellow Wrasse)

x1 Green and Red Line Wrasse (Melanurus Wrasse)

x1 Golden Velvet Christmas Wrasse (Red Lined Wrasse)

x1 American Ghost King (I looked it up it’s the Royal Gramma) / Black Cap Ghost King (I looked it up and it’s the Blackcap Basslet)

x1 Orange Swiss Fox (I looked it up and it’s the Swales Basslet)

x4 Red Eyed Rose (looked it up and it’s the Pajama Cardinalfish)

x1 Golden Goby (Looked it up and it’s the Yellow Watchman)

x1 Red Banded Goby (looked it up and it’s the Wheeler’s)

x1 “little angel” (dwarf angel of some kind)


How does this list look for him? And how should I urge him to return the Tangs to the LFS?


Thanks.

 

[Zionas]

This guy even wants to try a small school of Moorish Idols. He told me “if I can keep one alive for 6 months I’ll be happy.” I don’t want to hurt his feelings but man I don’t think he really knows what he’s doing. I was pretty frank with him and I told him I’d be happy if I can get one to live for 2 months.

I’m not sure if he’d be happy with a Tomini if he really wants a Tang, I told him for a 4’ tank it’s pretty much the only Tang I’d put in as I want a Tang to be able to swim at least 8 body lengths.

He keeps GSPs and some LPS so far, maybe Elegance but I’m not sure.

 

[HeyJay]

If he won't listen, there might not be much you can do. Maybe try to convince him to keep the yellow tang if he has to have one and trade in the others.

Other than that, the stocking list seems fine

 

[Zionas]

Okay I’ll try that. The three other Tangs have to go until he gets a large tank someday and then my tank won’t be an option as they’re not Tangs I plan to own for the next few years. TBH he’s in a real predicament if he wants to give away those Tangs as the hobby where I am is relatively new and very few people have tanks longer than 7’ which IMO is not enough for the Blue Hippo and Clown, the Powder Brown should be OK but they’re an ich magnet.