Waterbox 50.3 AIO Stocking Suggestions?

One Reefing Boi · Oct 16, 2020

I am getting a WaterboX AIO (you can check out the build thread) that has roughly a 40gal display and wanted hey with some stocking suggestions.

Corals will be mixed. Zoas, GSP, LPS, and some SPS. Will also get an anemone for the clowns, not sure what kind yet.

Fish stocking I was thinking:
- 2 Clowns
- YMG/Pistol
- Long Nose Hawk
- Mandarin
- Tailspot Bleny (maybe) or a few Pajama Cardinals
- Six Line Wrasse (if not the tail spot or Cardinals but not sure how friendly he is/will outcompete the mandarin for pods)
- Sand Sifting Goby
- Skunk Cleaner Shrimp and a Fire Red Shrimp
- Long Spine Urchin (maybe-- always always loved these guys but knowing my luck I will accidentally stab myself)
- Snails/blue legged hermits

Would love some feedback on the stocking. Looking to add a bit of 'movement' to the tank other than the 2 clowns. The YMG hides, the mandarin kind of hides and is elusive, the hawk just sits and chills so I am looking for stuff that is active. Figured the carindals look nice schooled in the mid-water area or the 6 line would look good going in and out of the rock work.

Ron Reefman · Oct 18, 2020

Stocking is such a personal preference... except for serious conflicts.

One Reefing Boi · Oct 18, 2020

Ron Reefman said:
Stocking is such a personal preference... except for serious conflicts.

yeah true -- do you see any notable issues with this list?

sas226 · Oct 18, 2020

The six line is asking for trouble and the mandarin's feeding issues come to mind.

One Reefing Boi · Oct 18, 2020

sas226 said:
The six line is asking for trouble and the mandarin's feeding issues come to mind.

yeah one of my thoughts was about the six line being an butt.. but had one for a bit before learning tanks need lids (oops)

the mandarin I am aware of the feeding stuff and prepared to cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks!

Ron Reefman · Oct 19, 2020

One Reefing Boi said:
yeah one of my thoughts was about the six line being an butt.. but had one for a bit before learning tanks need lids (oops)

the mandarin I am aware of the feeding stuff and prepared to cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks!

A friend of a friend who is a bungee jumper has a twist on your old take of, "prepared to cross that bridge when I get there."

He says," I jump off that bridge when I get to it!"

Good luck. I'm not concerned with the six line. But mandarin is another story.

One Reefing Boi · Oct 19, 2020

Ron Reefman said:
A friend of a friend who is a bungee jumper has a twist on your old take of, "prepared to cross that bridge when I get there."

He says," I jump off that bridge when I get to it!"

Good luck. I'm not concerned with the six line. But mandarin is another story.

well the Mandarin was one of the reasons I got into fish keeping. I plan to heavily stock the tank with pods. Also, my LFS sells the Biota ones and won't sell them until they train them on prepared foods for at least 2 weeks of eating so I think it will be fine.

Ron Reefman · Oct 20, 2020

One Reefing Boi said:
well the Mandarin was one of the reasons I got into fish keeping. I plan to heavily stock the tank with pods. Also, my LFS sells the Biota ones and won't sell them until they train them on prepared foods for at least 2 weeks of eating so I think it will be fine.

That's a good move by your LFS!