Stock list advice

[forestsofkelp]

I am looking to stock a 180g (60Lx30wx20h) tank. Its not even ordered, so this is pure planning. Here is my dream stock list...any advice appreciated. Scape will be 2 large islands. I wouldn't mind paring it down.
1x Ranford goby
1x mandarin goby
1x starry blenny
3x sunburst anthias
6x yellowstripe cardinal fish
2x ocellaris clown
2x naked clown
1x scott fairy wrasse
1x mystery wrasse
2x helfrichi firefish
possible leopard wrasse.

When I do the math it seems like too much. When I use my "reef experience" brain (albeit formed on smaller tanks), it seems like it should be fine..most of the fish are pretty small in terms of space needs. I imagine the Ranford, Mandarin, helfrichi, and starry blenny would keep to the rockwork. the clowns would pick out a small region, the sunburst anthias and cardinals would need space (but not all of it) and the 2 wrasses would have plenty of space. At the same time, its a lot of fish. But Ive never had a tank this big.

Thanks for any input

 

[Chef Mateo]

I am looking to stock a 180g (60Lx30wx20h) tank. Its not even ordered, so this is pure planning. Here is my dream stock list...any advice appreciated. Scape will be 2 large islands. I wouldn't mind paring it down.
1x Ranford goby
1x mandarin goby
1x starry blenny
3x sunburst anthias
6x yellowstripe cardinal fish
2x ocellaris clown
2x naked clown
1x scott fairy wrasse
1x mystery wrasse
2x helfrichi firefish
possible leopard wrasse.

When I do the math it seems like too much. When I use my "reef experience" brain (albeit formed on smaller tanks), it seems like it should be fine..most of the fish are pretty small in terms of space needs. I imagine the Ranford, Mandarin, helfrichi, and starry blenny would keep to the rockwork. the clowns would pick out a small region, the sunburst anthias and cardinals would need space (but not all of it) and the 2 wrasses would have plenty of space. At the same time, its a lot of fish. But Ive never had a tank this big.

Thanks for any input

I don't think it's too much fish considering they are all on the smaller size.

The only problems I see with your tank is that the clowns may fight until there are only 2 left.

Also the mystery wrasse and scott's fairy wrasse will likely fight as they are both fairly aggressive.

I would maybe suggest a Pink Streaked Wrasse instead of the mystery wrasse.

An Exquisite Fairy Wrasse would also be a good substitute for the Scott's Fairy Wrasse, both have similar coloration but the exquisite is far less aggro.

Also you will have to have a big pod population as the wrasses will compete with mandarin, which could potentially starve the mandarin because they are very slow eaters.

Other then that looks like a solid list!

You do have your swimming columns filled out very nicely and evenly!

 

[Zionas]

You could totally add a couple of larger fish with a 180. Tangs, Genicanthus Angels, Yellow Pyramid Butterflies, Foxface, Marine Betta, all great choices.

 

[DSEKULA]

Looks pretty good to me, I know others might criticize the four clowns but I have an occy pair and clarkie pair in my 155.. I did this by getting all fish through quarantine first separated. Then adding the occys to their bubble tip in a small holding tank ensuring they bonded with the host while adding the clarkies to their carpet in another again ensuring they took to the host. The occys and bta were then added on one end of the tank. Once the bta didn't move for over a week the carpet was added to the opposite end in a special dsb area made just for it. It took to the area and the clarkies were added near their nem and swam right in... They never see each other as there is a large rock structure between the pairs.
That's how I did it, it took work but were going on two years of cohabitation with both pairs spawning in one tank.

 

[forestsofkelp]

I don't think it's too much fish considering they are all on the smaller size.

The only problems I see with your tank is that the clowns may fight until there are only 2 left.

Also the mystery wrasse and scott's fairy wrasse will likely fight as they are both fairly aggressive.

I would maybe suggest a Pink Streaked Wrasse instead of the mystery wrasse.

An Exquisite Fairy Wrasse would also be a good substitute for the Scott's Fairy Wrasse, both have similar coloration but the exquisite is far less aggro.

Also you will have to have a big pod population as the wrasses will compete with mandarin, which could potentially starve the mandarin because they are very slow eaters.

Other then that looks like a solid list!

You do have your swimming columns filled out very nicely and evenly!

Thanks! I can cut 2 clowns no problems. I'll look into an exquisite and a mystery..if thats not compatible, it might just be a mystery wrasse only. That'd probably help the pods out too.

there will be definitely be lots of pods....I plan on having 2-3 "pod hotels" in the refugium, and waiting until the tank is well established

 

[Chef Mateo]

Thanks! I can cut 2 clowns no problems. I'll look into an exquisite and a mystery..if thats not compatible, it might just be a mystery wrasse only. That'd probably help the pods out too.

there will be definitely be lots of pods....I plan on having 2-3 "pod hotels" in the refugium, and waiting until the tank is well established

Sounds good as @TJDSEKULA said you may have better luck with clowns from different genus such as clarkii or skunks. The one problem with mystery's is that they are from the Pseudocheilinus genus which are generally aggressive wrasses. But other then that sounds good!

 

[Zionas]

A helpful way to classify fish would be:

1. Large and Active- Large Angels, larger Butterflyfish, Tangs, Triggers, Rabbitfish, Tuskfish etc. (6” and larger) *Most space required

2. Large and Slow / Sedentary- Marine Betta, Lionfish, Eels, Convict Blennies, Soapfish etc. (6” and larger) *Moderate space required

3. Small and Active- Halichoeres Wrasses, dwarf angels, Dottybacks, smaller butterflyfish etc. (5” and smaller)

4. Perching / Bottom Dwelling- Hawkfish, Gobies, Blennies, Scorpionfish, Anglers etc.

5. Hovering- Cardinalfish

6. Weak Swimmers (Middle Tank)- Clownfish, Basslets, Assessors etc.

 

[forestsofkelp]

A helpful way to classify fish would be:

1. Large and Active- Large Angels, larger Butterflyfish, Tangs, Triggers, Rabbitfish, Tuskfish etc. (6” and larger) *Most space required

2. Large and Slow / Sedentary- Marine Betta, Lionfish, Eels, Convict Blennies, Soapfish etc. (6” and larger) *Moderate space required

3. Small and Active- Halichoeres Wrasses, dwarf angels, Dottybacks, smaller butterflyfish etc. (5” and smaller)

4. Perching / Bottom Dwelling- Hawkfish, Gobies, Blennies, Scorpionfish, Anglers etc.

5. Hovering- Cardinalfish

6. Weak Swimmers (Middle Tank)- Clownfish, Basslets, Assessors etc.

thats usually how I think of it, but I've written it our or done it in practice with more than 3 -4 fish. I am a big believer in "small fish big tank" so I like them to have lots of room if I can..and I wasn't sure if I was putting in too many in a 150

thanks for all the advice,I am excited to get this thing built up at the end of the year.

 

[evolved]

I would maybe suggest a Pink Streaked Wrasse instead of the mystery wrasse.

An Exquisite Fairy Wrasse would also be a good substitute for the Scott's Fairy Wrasse, both have similar coloration but the exquisite is far less aggro.

+1 to these comments.
Also, scottorum gets pretty dull in captivity - does not keep the saturated coloration.

 

[Chibils]

Only problem I see is how many benthic feeders and pod feeders you have. The Rainford goby will sift sand and pick at pods all day; it and the mandarin will be competing with much more active wrasses for food.

 

[forestsofkelp]

+1 to these comments.
Also, scottorum gets pretty dull in captivity - does not keep the saturated coloration.

thank you for the advice. I've never had a Scotts. I'll probably skip it (and likely a second wrasse) entirely. I am a big fan of the mystery wrasses...I'd rather have him than the mandarin. I've kept a mystery with a single sunburst anthias in a 60g for about a year before and they did fine together.

Chiblis, thats a good point, although the Ranford I have had before dont really seem to eat much. I will probably introduce the mandarin last, if at all, as its one of my "low priority" fish. I am working on the order to introduce them.

Having had smaller tanks, I usually introduce on what works best for the fish *and* how bad I want the fish (ie introduce what I really want first, then wait and see if there is room/food/aggressive behavior before adding another). But on a larger tank with a bigger stock list its little trickier because I actually have a real stock list . My last 2-3 stock lists (over 10 years) have been things like 2 clowns, 1 six line wrasse, 1 goby (25g), or 1 mystery wrasse, 1 clown, 1 anthias (60g)

I am going to adjust the stock list to what is below and introduce in the same order over the course of a year
1. 2 Clowns (since I have them)
2. 1-2 Ranford goby
3. 1 watchman goby
4. 1 starry blenny
5. 3 sunburst anthias (wait 1-2 months until they are fully comfortable)
6. 6 Yellow stripe cardinal fish
7. 1 mystery wrasse
8. 1-2 firefish