Reverse engineering a tank stocking

alexkharden · May 22, 2016

So, I'll be honest. I did hundred of hours of research on tanks, lighting, filtration, sumps, fuges, skimmers, etc...

Several more hundred on construction of the room, and doing the tank build.

And like zero on actual stocking. And now I'm paying for it.

I had this grand vision of a mixed reef with lots of fish, corals, inverts, etc.... (I'm sure lots of people have had this same vision) And now that all the building is done and I have this beautiful tank sitting here, I don't know what to put in it. The same 4 fish that came with the rock are the only ones in there. Two gorgonians that also came with the rock. I have a devils hand, a zoa, and a candy cane that were given to me by a friend, and a plate coral I bought. I have two Extreme Picacco clowns and a blue sided fairy wrasse in qt.

Everyone keeps asking me, "When you going to fill it up with fish?" I play it off because I have NO FREAKING CLUE.

I want fish, but not a FOWLR, and that's what's screwing me up. It's a 200 gallon tank, so I want a few larger, colorful fish.

I'd still like to have corals though. But everything I read says this fish nips at corals, this fish eats inverts, this fish eats smaller fish, this fish is an butt and picks at everything.

So am I giving up too easily? Can I have it all? Fish/corals/inverts? Or does something have to give?

Any and all guidance and/or recommendations is welcome! I'm hoping this turns into a mega thread!

P.S. I've tried to introduce bristle worms into my tank, twice. Both times the two blennies have mercilessly hunted them down and killed them. Are blennies normally jerks, lol?

Duke4Life · May 22, 2016

Fairy and flasher wrasses. But no your not the only 1, I get asked the same thing, I sometimes think I'm 2 picky but I know what I want. I was the opposite and have spent tons of time on fish lol. It can be a headache for sure.

You can have it all, patience is key. Try 2 find 1 fish that is a must have. Place this in the center and use the brainstorm cluster method to help fill out.

Tahoe61 · May 22, 2016

There are so many wonderful reef safe fishes you could put in this system with corals. Frankly I am jealous of the system you have thus far built.

Look at other members big tank builds and tanks for live stock items. You could have some awesome Anthias and such.

Go slow, do not be pressured into stocking the tank any faster then you feel comfortable with. QT every fish that goes in that tank though, that will make all the difference in the tanks success.

michellejy · May 22, 2016

Foxface! They get big, but they are peaceful with everything.

4FordFamily · May 22, 2016

Tangs are a good addition, some Angels may work I've had luck with regal Angels in reefs and typically I've had luck with flame, potters, and flameback. Sometimes they do pick at some corals, other times they don't.

I don't really keep expensive or desirable to eat coral by most fish standards I get my color with "cheap coral" and rose bubble tip anemones.

Besides, I'm not very good at keeping difficult coral. Keeping ich and velvet out of my tank with proper qt and preventative methods has been the biggest struggle but I have a system down now. Worth the struggle!

4FordFamily · May 22, 2016

Halichoeres wrasse are another great addition, my favorites of this genus are greyhead (hard to find), yellow "coris", melanarus, vroliks, and red lined.

They're reef safe but inverts may be taken out. I've always had bristle worms with them though.

Losing a few hermits and snails is totally worth it to have these beauties with their unique personalities

alexkharden · May 22, 2016

4FordFamily said:
Tangs are a good addition, some Angels may work I've had luck with regal Angels in reefs and typically I've had luck with flame, potters, and flameback. Sometimes they do pick at some corals, other times they don't.

I don't really keep expensive or desirable to eat coral by most fish standards I get my color with "cheap coral" and rose bubble tip anemones.

Besides, I'm not very good at keeping difficult coral. Keeping ich and velvet out of my tank with proper qt and preventative methods has been the biggest struggle but I have a system down now. Worth the struggle!

Any specific tangs? I've read a lot of tangs like to graze and pick at everything, including corals. I've looked at angels as well, but read the same thing. I was actually wondering the same exact thing you said, about corals that no fish wants. Are there any? I don't particularly care about sps or anything difficult. Mushrooms, softies, zoas, easy lps, etc... they're all fine by me, just as long as everything lives together in harmony, lol.

alexkharden · May 22, 2016

4FordFamily said:
Halichoeres wrasse are another great addition, my favorites of this genus are greyhead (hard to find), yellow "coris", melanarus, vroliks, and red lined.

They're reef safe but inverts may be taken out. I've always had bristle worms with them though.

Losing a few hermits and snails is totally worth it to have these beauties with their unique personalities

Do any of those get larger? I don't need a bunch of large fish, but I would at least like 3-4 larger pretty ones. In the 8-12" range.

alexkharden · May 22, 2016

michellejy said:
Foxface! They get big, but they are peaceful with everything.

Live Aquaria lists them as reef compatible "with caution". What specifically are worries in regard to them?

michellejy · May 22, 2016

alexkharden said:
Live Aquaria lists them as reef compatible "with caution". What specifically are worries in regard to them?

I can't think of any issue I have ever heard about them in a reef setting. They have venomous spines, but they are not aggressive at all.

alexkharden · May 22, 2016

Tahoe61 said:
There are so many wonderful reef safe fishes you could put in this system with corals. Frankly I am jealous of the system you have thus far built.

Look at other members big tank builds and tanks for live stock items. You could have some awesome Anthias and such.

Go slow, do not be pressured into stocking the tank any faster then you feel comfortable with. QT every fish that goes in that tank though, that will make all the difference in the tanks success.

Lol, thank you very much. It's been a lot of work, but worth it

I'm definitely going slow, so slow it's driving me crazy! lol. I'd be ok with only adding one or two at a time, but I'd at least like to be moving forward. That's a good idea with looking at the other tank builds. I've done that, but then I find a fish that looks nice and as I read more on it I find something that scares me away.

I haven't looked at anthias, going to check them out now!

alexkharden · May 22, 2016

Duke4Life said:
Fairy and flasher wrasses. But no your not the only 1, I get asked the same thing, I sometimes think I'm 2 picky but I know what I want. I was the opposite and have spent tons of time on fish lol. It can be a headache for sure.

You can have it all, patience is key. Try 2 find 1 fish that is a must have. Place this in the center and use the brainstorm cluster method to help fill out.

We've already gotten the one must have. It resulted in building a completely separate tank for carnivores, lol. Past that little fuzzy dwarf lionfish, there are no other must haves. I guess I should pick one!

alexkharden · May 22, 2016

michellejy said:
I can't think of any issue I have ever heard about them in a reef setting. They have venomous spines, but they are not aggressive at all.

I'm ok with venemous, lol. I'll have to look more closely at them

alexkharden · May 23, 2016

Jeez. Now I think I went overboard.

Emperor Angelfish -Juvenile
Desjardini Sailfin Tang
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Orange Spot Rabbitfish
Lawnmower Blenny

Some pretty large fish there. The order is supposed to arrive Thursday. Now I'm nervous.

4FordFamily · May 23, 2016

alexkharden said:
Any specific tangs? I've read a lot of tangs like to graze and pick at everything, including corals. I've looked at angels as well, but read the same thing. I was actually wondering the same exact thing you said, about corals that no fish wants. Are there any? I don't particularly care about sps or anything difficult. Mushrooms, softies, zoas, easy lps, etc... they're all fine by me, just as long as everything lives together in harmony, lol.

99.9% of tangs are model reef inhabitants.

4FordFamily · May 23, 2016

alexkharden said:
Do any of those get larger? I don't need a bunch of large fish, but I would at least like 3-4 larger pretty ones. In the 8-12" range.

My greyhead is 5", I've seen 5-6" melanarus I've owned one at 5"

4FordFamily · May 23, 2016

alexkharden said:
Jeez. Now I think I went overboard.

Emperor Angelfish -Juvenile
Desjardini Sailfin Tang
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Orange Spot Rabbitfish
Lawnmower Blenny

Some pretty large fish there. The order is supposed to arrive Thursday. Now I'm nervous.

Raccoon are risky, juvenile emp are too. I've seen it done but IMO 1/4 chance of success regarding coral.