Review my stock list

[BlueDevil]

I'm currently upgrading from a 40 breeder to a 125 gal tank and am getting a fish list together. I would appreciate it if you could review it and let me know if you see any potential red flags in terms of compatibility, and in what order I should move/add these. The tank will be an SPS-dominant mixed reef.

Here are the current inhabitants from my existing tank that will be moved over.

2 ocellaris clown fish
1 yellow watchman goby
1 pygmy cherub angel

Now here are the potential additions that I am interested in:

1 powder blue tang
1 royal gramma basslet
1 male McCosker’s or Carpenter’s flasher wrasse
1 leopard wrasse
1 pink streaked wrasse
1 male lyretail anthia
1 female lyretail anthia
1 female dispar anthia
1 sailfin blenny

Thank you!

 

[Dempsey941]

125 might be pushing it for a powder blue, and pick 1 species of anthias. Otherwise looks good imo.

 

[BlueDevil]

125 might be pushing it for a powder blue, and pick 1 species of anthias. Otherwise looks good imo.

Thank you! Guess I’ll skip the PB. Would a yellow tang work instead?

 

[Dempsey941]

Thank you! Guess I’ll skip the PB. Would a yellow tang work instead?

Oh yea! Any of the zebrasoma tangs (except the sailfin) would be fine, shoot you could do a yellow tang and a kole tang if you wanted, just make sure you introduce them at the same time.

 

[BlueDevil]

Oh yea! Any of the zebrasoma tangs (except the sailfin) would be fine, shoot you could do a yellow tang and a kole tang if you wanted, just make sure you introduce them at the same time.

Thanks again! Would a purple tang work since it is also in the Zebrasoma genus? I love the coloration on it!

 

[Dempsey941]

Thanks again! Would a purple tang work since it is also in the Zebrasoma genus? I love the coloration on it!

Should be good, I would probably make him the only tang in that situation.

 

[Arthacker87]

Powder browns are beautiful as well little more hardy then a powder blue (imo) careful w wrasse they can jump outta tanks also but good choice in fish. My sailfin gets picked on by my tomini tang and powder brown tang. He's is resilient though. Great for algae

 

[BlueDevil]

Should be good, I would probably make him the only tang in that situation.

I’d be quite happy with just that one tang as much as I love its coloration. From what I’ve read he should be the last one to go in the tank right? How about the others? Any particular order? Can I add the new fish first and then move the existing ones in? I would prefer this route cos I would like to wait at least a couple of months before transferring any corals from the old tank. And y til I can remove the corals and the rock they’re on, I won’t be able to get to the existing fish. This way I’m not starting at an empty (new) tank during those couple of months.

 

[BlueDevil]

Powder browns are beautiful as well little more hardy then a powder blue (imo) careful w wrasse they can jump outta tanks also but good choice in fish. My sailfin gets picked on by my tomini tang and powder brown tang. He's is resilient though. Great for algae

Won’t powder brown fall in the same category as the PB though? I certainly don’t want to make life uneasy for the fish if it needs the space. Might not need it as a juvenile but probably will as an adult?

I do plan on having a top for the tank to prevent the wrasses from going carpet surfing.

 

[Arthacker87]

I think it's a you can but not optimal. I plan on switching my pb to my 265. Tomini are gentle and pretty. Blue eyed and yellow eye kole tangs also

 

[Arthacker87]

But personal opinion a 125 seems like it would do well for a pb. Naso or bigger tangs prolly not. Everyone has an opinion and will tell ya both ways.

 

[Dempsey941]

The best order is probably

1. Flasher Wrasse and pInk streak wrasse
2. Gramma and blenny
3. By this point it’s probably been a couple of months so merge the old tank with the new.
4. Couple of months add either the anthias or the leopard wrasse.
5. Add what you did not add in #4
6. Tang

The real wild card is that Pygmy Angel, they have been known to be aggressive to new tank mates. I also put the leopard and anthias later in the list because they need a more aged system with some microfauna to munch on between feedings, so you will want to start seeding your tank and/or refugium with copepods and such for a few months prior to their introduction to build up a semi self sustaining colony. Obviously the tang goes last for obvious reasons. As I am sure you are aware this a marathon hobby and not sprint so I wouldn’t be surprised if this didn’t take a year+ to get to the end.

 

[BlueDevil]

The best order is probably

1. Flasher Wrasse and pInk streak wrasse
2. Gramma and blenny
3. By this point it’s probably been a couple of months so merge the old tank with the new.
4. Couple of months add either the anthias or the leopard wrasse.
5. Add what you did not add in #4
6. Tang

The real wild card is that Pygmy Angel, they have been known to be aggressive to new tank mates. I also put the leopard and anthias later in the list because they need a more aged system with some microfauna to munch on between feedings, so you will want to start seeding your tank and/or refugium with copepods and such for a few months prior to their introduction to build up a semi self sustaining colony. Obviously the tang goes last for obvious reasons. As I am sure you are aware this a marathon hobby and not sprint so I wouldn’t be surprised if this didn’t take a year+ to get to the end.

Thanks for the breakdown! The Pygmy Angel has been a model citizen so far and have never seen him go after any of the current tank mates so I'm hoping I lucked out with a mild mannered one there

After doing a little more reading, I think I'm going to revisit the purple tang idea. I've read some horror stories of extreme aggression towards all fish, not just other tangs. What is your opinion on it? I don't want to add a fish just because it is pretty. I'd much rather have a peaceful tank.

One other option in place of the purple tang would be a one spot foxface. How do you think that would do along with the other fish?

 

[Dempsey941]

Thanks for the breakdown! The Pygmy Angel has been a model citizen so far and have never seen him go after any of the current tank mates so I'm hoping I lucked out with a mild mannered one there

After doing a little more reading, I think I'm going to revisit the purple tang idea. I've read some horror stories of extreme aggression towards all fish, not just other tangs. What is your opinion on it? I don't want to add a fish just because it is pretty. I'd much rather have a peaceful tank.

One other option in place of the purple tang would be a one spot foxface. How do you think that would do along with the other fish?

Yea purple tangs can be aggressive, but I would think if hes the last one added and is smaller than the other fish then he might mellow out. A fox face would be fine as well.