Stocking question for 280 Gallon

[carri10]

Hello

I am creating my stocking list for my ~1000l (~280gal) peninsula, 180cm (6ft) long , 90cm (3ft) wide.

It is/will be a mixed reef – with LPS, SPS, shrimp, snails, stars, cucumber, porites (Christmas tree rock), rock flowers, tube worms, POD hotel…..

I have tried to create a ‘scape with plenty of variety, holes, nooks, crannies, bridges and line of sight breaks. There is a more rocky zone and a more open zone – see photo. There is a good 2½ inches / 6 cm of sand bed

So far I have

- Pterapogon kauderni (Banggai Cardinal) x 2

- Amblyeleotris guttata (Spotted Prawn Goby)

-lawnmower blenny

-midas blenny

-Bristletooth tang

- Nemateleotris magnifica (firefish)



I would like to have a mix of fish that have a job (algae, pests) and ones that are just there to look nice . I would like a mix of large/small, active/hiding, to give depth of interest in the tank. Quite happy to have a fish that hides and only see once a month.

Will gradually introduce, with more timid fish first etc.

Here is what I am considering to add, all comments/swap outs/cautions/etc welcome:

Geometric hawk

purple tile fish (Opistognathus rosenblatti)

Copperband (Chelmon rostratus)

orchid dottyback (5) (Pseudochromis fridmani)

A grade Di vinci, storm cloud (black) x2 (Amphiprion ocellaris)

Flame hawk (Neocirrhites armatus)

Anthias don’t know which type yet will have an autofeeder for frequent feedings. Would like best chance of schooling behaviour

Mandarin (Synchiropus splendidus)





Tangs:

Naso Blond (Naso lituratus)

white tail Kole (Ctenochaetus strigosus)

Purple tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) – would prefer Yellows, but, you know – 400$ a pop !

Pacific tang (Zebrasoma veliferum)

Powder Blue (Acanthurus leucosternon) or brown?

Would love an Achilles, but maybe too hard.

This might be 1 or 2 too many, so which to drop?



Wrasses – so many to choose from!

wrasse leopard peacock (Macropharyngodon meleagris ) male and female together? Is this possible?

silver belly wrasse (Halichoeres leucoxanthus)

yellow coris wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)

possum wrasse (Wetmorella nigropinnata)

melenarus wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)



Blennys/Gobies

Yasha goby (x2) (Stonogobiops Yasha)

Yellow watchman (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

Starry blenny (Salarias ramosus)

orange spot blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos)

molly miller blenny (Scartella cristata)

blue neon cleaner goby (Elacatinus oceanops)



What are the ‘must haves’ I’ve missed and those that can be moved off the list? There are likely too many so I probably need to reduce!

thanks

 

[carri10]

Any advice or comment from anyone?

 

[carri10]

What would the advice be to get more response to my posts? Should I make shorter, be more direct with questions, post at a different time? Genuinely interested and not at all asking out of frustration. I see I often have some difficulties in general to get replies. If I can change something to get more responses I will.
Thanks.

 

[nereefpat]

Those dimensions will make an awesome tank. You list looks mostly good to me. I won't go through every line, but a couple things to get started.

I will almost never recommend and Achilles. A powder brown might slightly scratch that itch. I probably would skip the Naso for size reasons too.

A possum wrasse will probably get lost in that size of tank, and probably won't compete well for food.

 

[carri10]

Thanks a lot, appreciate it. The Achilles is a problem. They are fantastic, but also just too hard - flow, ich, aggression. It's a real shame.
Between Powder Blue and Brown, I'm on the fence.

Appreciate the comment on the possum wrasse.

 

[nereefpat]

Another interaction would be the starry blenny with the lawnmower. Also Ctenocheatus genus (bristle tooth and white tail) tangs with each other and those 2 blennies. The tank is probably big enough though.

 

[carri10]

Thanks. I was a bit worried about the starry and lawnmower, but thought the tank and habitat would be big enough. Is it too risky?