Re-stocking fish selection helpet up and ready to go

[Mini Coop]

Hello! After being fallow since September from ich, I am finally back up and running. We have 2 new clowns (those were first for my 2 & 3 year old boys who kept asking where Marlin and Nemo were). We were also able to save our Foxface, Nick and our Sailfin, Judy. Everyone has been in and doing really well for a while.
While fallow I acquired some equipment.
120 gal
Reef Octopus 152 classic skimmer
Tunze ATO

I have some corals doing great including a hammer, elegance, some zoas, and an Acan.

Thinking of a school of ignites anthias (probably 3)
Bangai cardinal
Sand sifting goby of some sort
Splendid pseudo
Cleaner wrasse

My 2 real wants:
Green dragon goby
Pair of blue throat triggers

Help on which to get when ... what order? And any other advice you have for me to have a variety of colors, way fish act., etc. or share your favorites and any cautions with ones I have listed.

QT is set and ready. Just waiting to decide what's next. 20 gal QT got a crack in it, so I just have a 10 gal QT set up right now.

@Humblefish @melypr1985 - thought I would tag to get your opinions since you know my whole story.

 

[Humblefish]

I personally wouldn't put any trigger in a 4-foot 120 gal. Just not enough horizontal swimming space for them IMO.

I also don't like dottybacks (mean little fish); I'm not familiar with a "Green Dragon Goby" - do you happen to know the scientific name of that species? Or a different common name?

 

[Diesel]

Thinking of a school of ignites anthias (probably 3) (If QT and acclimated correctly these will a nice fish to have.)
Bangai cardinal
Sand sifting goby of some sort (any goby is a awesome fish)
Splendid pseudo (can be mean as it holds a large territory)
Cleaner wrasse (has a short life span in captivity)

My 2 real wants:
Green dragon goby (make sure you have plenty/large pod population)
Pair of blue throat triggers ( IMO stay away of the triggers, if you have a 120G tank maybe a tang is a option)

 

[Mini Coop]

I personally wouldn't put any trigger in a 4-foot 120 gal. Just not enough horizontal swimming space for them IMO.

I also don't like dottybacks (mean little fish); I'm not familiar with a "Green Dragon Goby" - do you happen to know the scientific name of that species? Or a different common name?

Sorry - green mandarin goby

Boo - my heart was really set on the triggers.

 

[Diesel]

Boo - my heart was really set on the triggers.

Maybe if you upgrade again................240 gallon isn't that much bigger you know

 

[Mini Coop]

tang

Didn't know that about the splendid pseudo!!!

 

[Mini Coop]

Maybe if you upgrade again................240 gallon isn't that much bigger you know

Well, I JUST got my 120 functioning correctly. Trust me, I already have the itch to go bigger. My husband would KILLme! LOL.

 

[Diesel]

Didn't know that about the splendid pseudo!!!

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+38+178&pcatid=178

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcs3/index.htm

Quote( In most cases dottybacks need to be in a tank with mildly aggressive tank mates. Gobies, blennies, small wrasses and other non-aggressive fish will be in danger of harassment, while surgeonfish and triggers will create a more reclusive dottyback. Good tank mates include Cirrhilabrus sp. wrasses, Centropyge sp. angels, clownfish, damsels, and hawkfish. Be sure to add the dottyback last in all occasions. In some cases, a dedicated species tank might be needed to house them in captivity. Dottybacks have a tendency to be intolerable of tank mates. In addition, most dottybacks originate from 60 feet or deeper, thus they prefer dimmer lit tanks. Today's S.P.S. tanks are undesirable aquariums for dottybacks due to the bright lights that the corals dictate.)

 

[Mini Coop]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+38+178&pcatid=178

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-02/hcs3/index.htm

Quote( In most cases dottybacks need to be in a tank with mildly aggressive tank mates. Gobies, blennies, small wrasses and other non-aggressive fish will be in danger of harassment, while surgeonfish and triggers will create a more reclusive dottyback. Good tank mates include Cirrhilabrus sp. wrasses, Centropyge sp. angels, clownfish, damsels, and hawkfish. Be sure to add the dottyback last in all occasions. In some cases, a dedicated species tank might be needed to house them in captivity. Dottybacks have a tendency to be intolerable of tank mates. In addition, most dottybacks originate from 60 feet or deeper, thus they prefer dimmer lit tanks. Today's S.P.S. tanks are undesirable aquariums for dottybacks due to the bright lights that the corals dictate.)

Interesting. Makes me see more and more that my "expert" friend that originally helped me really had no clue - that's why I come here!

@Diesel do you have any favorites for me to consider??
Also - 10-12 fish in my tank, correct?

 

[Diesel]

The ammont of fish really depends on the size of the fish and the equipment you run.
With 10 to 12 you will be on the save side.

Flame hawk
Small wrasses as the Paracheilinus kind (McCosker's, Carpenter's, Filamented Flasher wrasses are a nice to have.
Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish can be nice but no clams in the tank.

Really if you do a nice crew of Anthias 5 or so and start out with all females as one will turn male.
Your two clown fish.
Two or three flasher wrasses.
The Bangia maybe two.
Two goby's.
You will have a great colorful tank.
Later on you make a next step to maybe a Tang or Dwarf Angel.
Realize that corals are growing too over time and they will fill your tank with color as well.

 

[Mini Coop]

The ammont of fish really depends on the size of the fish and the equipment you run.
With 10 to 12 you will be on the save side.

Flame hawk
Small wrasses as the Paracheilinus kind (McCosker's, Carpenter's, Filamented Flasher wrasses are a nice to have.
Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish can be nice but no clams in the tank.

Really if you do a nice crew of Anthias 5 or so and start out with all females as one will turn male.
Your two clown fish.
Two or three flasher wrasses.
The Bangia maybe two.
Two goby's.
You will have a great colorful tank.
Later on you make a next step to maybe a Tang or Dwarf Angel.
Realize that corals are growing too over time and they will fill your tank with color as well.

Good start on advice. I plan on adding slowly this time. I think I'll start with the anthias.
What kind of tangs can I have with my sailfin? I thought tangs fought. Could I do a blue hippo tang?

 

[Mini Coop]

Good start on advice. I plan on adding slowly this time. I think I'll start with the anthias.
What kind of tangs can I have with my sailfin? I thought tangs fought. Could I do a blue hippo tang?

Forgot to ask - opinion on the long nose hawkish?

 

[Diesel]

Good start on advice. I plan on adding slowly this time. I think I'll start with the anthias.
What kind of tangs can I have with my sailfin? I thought tangs fought. Could I do a blue hippo tang?

Oh no......... totally forgot you had a sailfin
That would be tough to get another tang in there but not impossible, have to tag @4FordFamily in here as he can help you better than me on Tangs.
Have to use after QT a acclimation box for a week or so in the tank.

 

[Diesel]

Forgot to ask - opinion on the long nose hawkish?

Longnose hawk is a great fish as well but will get about 6" as the flame hawk stay around 2" maybe 2.5".
Besides the Flame is nice red in color and their eyes are kinda funny IMO the flame has a interesting personality than any hawk fish out there.

Take your time on a decision your take and read about them on more than one site as there is so much info out there.
Once the fish is in your display you have to make it work IMO as you put so much work in it due to QT and acclimation to your other fish.
If you stick with that process one day ppl will say "That 120 Jena tank is amazing" no kidding here girl.
It's your tank and Meredith and Bobby did a great job on guiding you where you are now.
Nobody and I mean nobody can tell you a different story about how to set up a reef tank and how to QT the livestock, you made it your own and that is the true nature of this hobby.

 

[4FordFamily]

Good start on advice. I plan on adding slowly this time. I think I'll start with the anthias.
What kind of tangs can I have with my sailfin? I thought tangs fought. Could I do a blue hippo tang?

Hi Jena,

With a very large (or will quickly be very large) tang like a sailfin in your 120, you might be better off with any bristletooth tang or zebrasoma pair of tangs. If you added say a yellow and a purple you might actually be able to make that work, it would split aggression.

If you went the hippo route, although they also get very large relatively quickly, you should buy a very small, unthreatening hippo.

Some sailfin are not aggressive at all but since he's used to his own digs I would venture to assume he's king and won't be so tolerant. If you did a very small hippo and say a small bristleooth tang of some sort (kole, chevron, etc)

If you only add one tang (which for bioload purposes is probably not a bad idea either), I recommend you also invest in a social acclimation box just in case.

Mixing tangs is always a risk, read my article on tang aggression as I suspect it might help you with your decision . I would avoid any acanthurus tang as IMO they need a minimum size of 150 gallons.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.76/

 

[Mini Coop]

Hi Jena,

With a very large (or will quickly be very large) tang like a sailfin in your 120, you might be better off with any bristletooth tang or zebrasoma pair of tangs. If you added say a yellow and a purple you might actually be able to make that work, it would split aggression.

If you went the hippo route, although they also get very large relatively quickly, you should buy a very small, unthreatening hippo.

Some sailfin are not aggressive at all but since he's used to his own digs I would venture to assume he's king and won't be so tolerant. If you did a very small hippo and say a small bristleooth tang of some sort (kole, chevron, etc)

If you only add one tang (which for bioload purposes is probably not a bad idea either), I recommend you also invest in a social acclimation box just in case.

Mixing tangs is always a risk, read my article on tang aggression as I suspect it might help you with your decision . I would avoid any acanthurus tang as IMO they need a minimum size of 150 gallons.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.76/

Thank you so much! Lots to read up on! I will research this more. My kids, of course, want a "Dori", but I am very cautious. I am pretty sure that is the one that brought ich into the tank in the first place, so now I am leery.
My sailfin is pretty nice. She and the foxface are besties. I did see her get a bit aggressive with him when they were in a 20g QT for 3 months - lol. She was picking on him. I put him into the DT 2-3 weeks before I moved her back in. Now that they are in DT, they are besties again. However, I don't want to invest so much into this and then have fighters

Thanks for the advice. I think I will start with the safe anthias and go from there!

 

[melypr1985]

Hi Jena! I love the anthias and Bangaii Cardinals. So much fun. Wrasses offer bright colors and lots of movement to the tank. I love my black cap basslet just for the record.

 

[Humblefish]

There is one dottyback species which is supposedly not so aggressive.

@eatbreakfast will know which one; I can't remember.

 

[jp_75]

how are black cap basslets btw?

 

[Mini Coop]

@melypr1985 - thanks! I think I'd like to have a pair of bangai's for sure. I'm not sure why, but I really haven't seen any wrasses that I like. Just not a fish that strikes my fancy. Maybe I haven't met the right one! LOL. At @Diesel suggestion, I looked at the flame hawk...to look at a pic, they are ok, but I was just watching some videos - and they are so funny! Certainly have to have one of those. Still would love to have a green mandarin as well.
Thinking about a different fish than the anthias for a schooling fish...any schooling fish you love?