Sticking to the Fish Plan...

[azreefkeeper]

Hi all,

So the reef tank has been up for about 5.5 months now and I am progressing along the passive-to-aggresive stocking plan. I've noted the fish colors because I'm aiming for color diversity and contrast across the group. The tank is ~110g (5ft long x 23 " high x 18" deep) with a 20g sump. Here's the details...

Current Inhabitants:
1. Kaudner's Cardinalfish (pair) [silver/white]
2. Firefish (mated pair) [creamy/dusky red]
3. Royal gramma [bright purple/yellow]

+8 hermits, 5 trochus snails, 5 nassarius snails, Skunk cleanershrimp, emerald crab in the sump fuge. System has no skimmer...filter pads and water changes only at the moment. Very good water from BRS 4-stage.

Planned inhabitants:

4. Disbar anthias [bright red]
5. Ocellaris clowns (mated pair) [classic orange /white]
6. Bristletooth tang (thinking Kole or Two spot) [multi]
7. Coral beauty [multi]

Here's the tank:

I don't plan on adding much more rock. I want to give room for coral growth and swimming room.

Questions - How many Disbar anthias would you recommend? Three? Four? Five? None?

Should I stop at one tang or consider adding 2 tangs at the same time? If so which would you suggest or...

Foxface? I've heard FF can take a liking to zoas or other softies though so red flags there.

I realize the CB is a risk in a reef tank but I'm really stuck on rolling the dice with one of the dwarf angels - just can't resist their beauty. Most of my corals will be LPS and soft. I won't consider SPS for at least another year of tank maturity. Even then it would be minimal.


Thanks in advance!

​

 

[MelReefer]

Hi all,

So the reef tank has been up for about 5.5 months now and I am progressing along the passive-to-aggresive stocking plan. I've noted the fish colors because I'm aiming for color diversity and contrast across the group. The tank is ~110g (5ft long x 23 high x 18 deep) with a 20g sump. Here's the details...

Current Inhabitants:
1. Kaudner's Cardinalfish (pair) [black/white]
2. Firefish (mated pair) [creamy/dusky red]
3. Royal gramma [bright purple/yellow]

+8 hermits, 5 trochus snails, 5 nassarius snails, Skunk cleanershrimp, emerald crab in the sump fuge. System has no skimmer...filter pads and water changes only at the moment. Very good water from BRS 4-stage.

Planned inhabitants:

4. Disbar anthias [bright red]
5. Ocellaris clowns (mated pair) [classic orange /white]
6. Bristletooth tang (thinking Kole or Two spot) [multi]
7. Coral beauty [multi]

Here's the tank:

I don't plan on adding much more rock. I want to give room for coral growth and swimming room.

Questions - How many Disbar anthias would you recommend? Three? Four? Five? None?

Should I stop at one tang or consider adding 2 tangs at the same time? If so which would you suggest or...

Foxface? I've heard FF can take a liking to zoas or other softies though so red flags there.

I realize the CB is a risk in a reef tank but I'm really stuck on rolling the dice with one of the dwarf angels - just can't resist their beauty. Most of my corals will be LPS and soft. I won't consider SPS for at least another year of tank maturity. Even then it would be minimal.


Thanks in advance!

​

When I first got my tank I was hell bent on getting a coral beauty too. Finally got one and it immediately started nipping my lps. Yours might not though so don’t go taking my word for it. Anyways to combat the problem I started feeding nori ever other day. Sooo if you do get a coral beauty and it starts chomping away try nori.
Edit: what I said was probably really obvious since you have tangs and you will be feeding nori anyways. I’m dumb

 

[azreefkeeper]

When I first got my tank I was hell bent on getting a coral beauty too. Finally got one and it immediately started nipping my lps. Yours might not though so don’t go taking my word for it. Anyways to combat the problem I started feeding nori ever other day. Sooo if you do get a coral beauty and it starts chomping away try nori.
Edit: what I said was probably really obvious since you have tangs and you will be feeding nori anyways. I’m dumb

Thanks Mel! Just out of curiosity, what types of LPS did your CB take a liking to...or was it indiscriminate?

 

[mattzang]

that list looks disconcertingly light on wrasse

if you're worried about coral picking genicanthus angels are safer than the other angels and your tank is big enough for them

 

[MelReefer]

Thanks Mel! Just out of curiosity, what types of LPS did your CB take a liking to...or was it indiscriminate?

Goniopora and hammers