Thoughts on my Fish Stock Plan

[thewalkingdad]

Hi all,

I'm about 3 months from beginning the cycle of my new 160-gallon (60"x21"x29") mixed reef tank. I've put together a draft stock plan for my fish and would appreciate some opinions on it. The goals are to ethically have as many of as many different kinds of as many different colors of fish that play nice with each other. I'm trying to set up a model citizen tank that will be friendly for all fish, inverts, and coral.

I imagine the stocking would ostensibly take a year or so to complete. The order of addition is left to right and top to bottom. The philosophy was smallest and most timid get added first and most aggressive and larger fish get added later, with exceptions being the lawnmower blenny and mandarin who both need certain environmental factors to be suitable for them, like a stable pod population and enough nutrients in the sandbed to thrive, etc. I did try to include some functional fish for things like keeping the peace (goby), eating algae (tang), cleaning sandbed (blenny), etc. Also, fish that thrive in groups, I tried to keep in groups and vice versa.

Are there any issues with this draft stock plan? I would LOVE to add a bluejaw trigger, but the opinions are too mixed on if it would be coral/invert safe, so I'll probably leave him out. But what is another bigger colorful fish could I add to be the centerpiece of the fish stock while still being a model citizen? How many more of what types of fish would you add that could be ethically kept in a 160?

EDIT: Also want to highlight that I prefer fish that are more hardy and appropriate for a new reefer (not new aquarist, but new to salt)

 

[Katrina71]

Avoid the 6 line imo. Your coral beauty may end up a coral eater. Also your yellow tang may view the lawnmower as competition for food.

 

[NotFishyFishGuy]

Avoid the 6 line imo. Your coral beauty may end up a coral eater. Also your yellow tang may view the lawnmower as competition for food.

Yeah the coral beauty isnt fully reef compatible.

 

[thewalkingdad]

Avoid the 6 line imo. Your coral beauty may end up a coral eater. Also your yellow tang may view the lawnmower as competition for food.

I've heard that about the beauty. Anything you would add to replace it?

Good to know about the tang-blenny dynamic!

 

[thewalkingdad]

Yeah the coral beauty isnt fully reef compatible.

Thanks. What would you put in its place or otherwise just add (or take away) in general?

 

[Katrina71]

I've heard that about the beauty. Anything you would add to replace it?

Good to know about the tang-blenny dynamic!

I was actually shocked about it. It never crossed my mind until I started researching tangs.

 

[Katrina71]

@fabutahoun is the Angel guy. He can suggest something I'm sure.

 

[jp_75]

in 160 you have many options: bellus ,swallowtail angels come mind.
also., bartlets don’t play nice with each other... maybe different anthias? ignitus,dispar or even lyretail better.

 

[thewalkingdad]

I was actually shocked about it. It never crossed my mind until I started researching tangs.

Thanks. I'd also like to hear more about your thoughts on the 6-line. I thought it would be OK as long as I only kept one. It did seem to have some aggressive tendencies, but not necessarily an aggressive fish.

 

[Katrina71]

There are many gorgeous wrasse! @Scurvy your thoughts?

 

[Katrina71]

Gotta warn ya, Scurvy is a bad influence! Lol

 

[thewalkingdad]

Gotta warn ya, Scurvy is a bad influence! Lol

Can't be worse than 10 years in the military. I need people to tell it to me straight!

 

[jp_75]

also, tons of wrasses to choose from. it all
depends what you into. there are fee threads in sticky about them

 

[jp_75]

start here:

All About Reef Safe Wrasses in Aquaria

Introduction My name is Hunter and I am a wrasse addict. Admitting such is the first step to buying another wrasse, I think. Wrasses are not only my passion, but my niche in this hobby since 2010. My tank is full of them, and unfortunately “regular” species are no longer exciting enough for...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Scurvy]

Wow so many choices for a 160! Id steer clear of the 6-Line personally if you hope to keep other wrasses down the road. Its a great pest control fish but I wouldn't put it into the peaceful category. They've been known to attack more than just other wrasse.

Go with a Halichores of some kind.... Radiant, Melanarus or Yellow for pest control. They’ll all be better suited in a community tank than a 6’er. Leopard wrasse are another option Id consider before the 6-Line. They’re Peaceful hunters that move much like a 6-line.

 

[Jesterrace]

Thanks. I'd also like to hear more about your thoughts on the 6-line. I thought it would be OK as long as I only kept one. It did seem to have some aggressive tendencies, but not necessarily an aggressive fish.

6 lines can turn into pescacidal maniacs when they mature and it doesn't matter if they are the only wrasse in the tank. There are no shortage of really bad experiences with them killing off other fish. Given the size of the tank and the number of Wrasses that would be every bit as gorgeous and much better community tank mates to boot, I would definitely look else where. If you want pest removal services and bright colors look at the Halichoeres Wrasses (ie Melanurus, Yellow, Red Lined, Christmas, Richmond's) and there are also some wonderful Fairy Wrasses out there (ie Exquisite, Lubbock's).

Bartlet's Anthias are probably the worst option for anthias since they can be pretty aggressive. I agree with the Lyretail option (I am actually getting ready to add some in the next week or two).

The Yellow Tang will probably be okay given the size of the tank but I do have concerns about it being by far the largest fish in the tank. Yellow Tangs tend to bully as they mature if they don't have another fish in there to keep their attitude in check (saw this first hand in my own tank).

 

[thewalkingdad]

Wow so many choices for a 160! Id steer clear of the 6-Line personally if you hope to keep other wrasses down the road. Its a great pest control fish but I wouldn't put it into the peaceful category. They've been known to attack more than just other wrasse.

Go with a Halichores of some kind.... Radiant, Melanarus or Yellow for pest control. They’ll all be better suited in a community tank than a 6’er. Leopard wrasse are another option Id consider before the 6-Line. They’re Peaceful hunters that move much like a 6-line.

Thanks, Scurvy. I think I'm leaning Melanarus or Exquisite Fairy after doing some more reading. It doesn't sound like the Fairy is as prolific a hunter as the Melanarus though.

6 lines can turn into pescacidal maniacs when they mature and it doesn't matter if they are the only wrasse in the tank. There are no shortage of really bad experiences with them killing off other fish. Given the size of the tank and the number of Wrasses that would be every bit as gorgeous and much better community tank mates to boot, I would definitely look else where. If you want pest removal services and bright colors look at the Halichoeres Wrasses (ie Melanurus, Yellow, Red Lined, Christmas, Richmond's) and there are also some wonderful Fairy Wrasses out there (ie Exquisite, Lubbock's).

Bartlet's Anthias are probably the worst option for anthias since they can be pretty aggressive. I agree with the Lyretail option (I am actually getting ready to add some in the next week or two).

The Yellow Tang will probably be okay given the size of the tank but I do have concerns about it being by far the largest fish in the tank. Yellow Tangs tend to bully as they mature if they don't have another fish in there to keep their attitude in check (saw this first hand in my own tank).

Good call on the Bartlet's. I'm now leaning more towards Lyretail, but would like to do some more research. How many Lyretails are you planning to keep?

I was hoping to avoid some Yellow Tang aggression by adding that one closer to the end, but is there another Tang you think would be a better citizen? I'd like to keep one (and one only) tang for a number of reasons, but I'm not married to the idea of a Yellow.

 

[thewalkingdad]

start here:

All About Reef Safe Wrasses in Aquaria

Introduction My name is Hunter and I am a wrasse addict. Admitting such is the first step to buying another wrasse, I think. Wrasses are not only my passion, but my niche in this hobby since 2010. My tank is full of them, and unfortunately “regular” species are no longer exciting enough for...

www.reef2reef.com

This was very helpful. Thank you!

 

[fabutahoun]

@fabutahoun is the Angel guy. He can suggest something I'm sure.

I would keep the coral beauty , its one of the safest dwarf angels, or you can house a pair of genicanthus angels these are reef safe

 

[Katrina71]

@sfin52 just got a baby leopard. Maybe he could share a pic? Hint hint.