Stocking... reef VS fish only

Devaji · Jan 30, 2019

thoughts on stocking...

not new to reefing...just thinking about switching gears and going with a more of a simple system a fish only or simple soft corals.

so my understanding and experience from being around is that FOWLRs tend to be more heavily stocked than reef tanks.

wondering how to find what is med. stocked and heavily stocked on a FOWLR system.

I know this is one of those subjective questions with so many factors. kinds thinking out loud here as I make my fish list.

cheers

James M · Jan 30, 2019

What size is your tank

Devaji · Jan 30, 2019

200 gal- RS reefer 750XXL

Devaji · Jan 30, 2019

Anyone wanna talk stocking on fish only tanks?
I feel we have a better understanding of stocking reefs but not much info on fish only tanks.

PDR · Jan 30, 2019

When it comes to stocking there are so many different schools of thought it can be difficult to determine what is best for your situation.

I personally like a heavily stocked tank. By “heavy” I mean as many fish as the tank can reasonably accommodate from a territory/aggression standpoint. So how many fish really depends more on the nature of the fish and not a certain number or “bioload” for me. I’ll change my maintenance routine to match my stocking level so I don’t really worrry about excess nutrients.

I realize my current tank is pushing it with several of the fish and not something I would really recommend, but so far so good, and if things start to get out of hand I’m not at all opposed to rehoming a problem fish.

Devaji · Jan 30, 2019

PDR said:
When it comes to stocking there are so many different schools of thought it can be difficult to determine what is best for your situation.

I personally like a heavily stocked tank. By “heavy” I mean as many fish as the tank can reasonably accommodate from a territory/aggression standpoint. So how many fish really depends more on the nature of the fish and not a certain number or “bioload” for me. I’ll change my maintenance routine to match my stocking level so I don’t really worrry about excess nutrients.

I realize my current tank is pushing it with several of the fish and not something I would really recommend, but so far so good, and if things start to get out of hand I’m not at all opposed to rehoming a problem fish.

I agree there are so many schools of though on stocking. for this tank as it will be a fish only or easy softies. I would like to do a fuller or more heavily stocked tank as the fish are the focus not the corals. so just trying to find my way to a beautiful tank with happy fish that I can share with out getting to much flack..

PDR · Jan 30, 2019

Devaji said:
I agree there are so many schools of though on stocking. for this tank as it will be a fish only or easy softies. I would like to do a fuller or more heavily stocked tank as the fish are the focus not the corals. so just trying to find my way to a beautiful tank with happy fish that I can share with out getting to much flack..

Generally speaking, I find most of the stocking advice given tends to fall on the conservative side and is geared more toward beginners. There are many well-known members who push the recommended stocking levels with great success. That being said, as long as you follow decent guidelines and keep aggression in check, you shouldn't get much flak

If I were in your shoes, I would focus on some of the non reef safe fish that most of us can't have.

Devaji · Jan 30, 2019

yup that is what I am going to do, focus on butterflies!
I agree we tend to stock on the lighter side which normally I like very much that siad with this tank I will push that a bit.