Advice of Stocking list.

So after finally selling my parents old 180 they are interested in setting up a new 6 footer. Me, only happy to help. We have sort of decided on a stocking list and was wondering if there are any problems with it.

I'm aware of a few issues with the list. I was just wondering how serious they may turn out to be. Furthermore, I think i may be a tad overstocked, if so how much should I look at reducing it by. Also, the order of the fish is most likely the order of addition.

The tank will be a reef tank, mostly beginner style corals, due to both my lack of experience and that we as a family can have a busy few weeks which can lead to a bit of neglect. Furthermore its only really possible to run t5's as MH get far to hot in our part of the woods

Fish and Issues:
-Damsel, Will have him left over from the previous tank so its only fair that he comes across after surviving the crash of may 2010.
-Freckled Hawkfish aka Falco Hawkfish
-Pair of Fire Gobies
-Sailfin Tang, potential issues with the yellow, added before as they tend to be less aggressive ?
-Bi-colour Angel - may nip corals, possibly fight with the flame
-Flame Angel - As above, Ideally i'll try and add these together
-Saddleback or vagabond butterfly fish, both can be finicky eaters and may nip, but as far as butterflies goes they tend to be easier to keep than others
-Regal Angelfish - May nip and could it grow too big for a 6 footer
-Yellow Tang - Aggressive and probably would fight with the sailfin
-Koran Angelfish - Similar issues to the regal
-Mandarin - Won't be added until about 18mths after the tank is set up, can be a finicky eater
-six line wrasse - Will it bully the crap out of the gobies ? I wasn't planning on adding this fish untill i had weened my mandarin onto prepared foods (mysis etc)

Please i welcome constructive criticism and opinions on my list and will happily dish back Karma for useful posts

 

Add the tangs together for best chance of success.
The six line probably will bully the gobies. If you want a wrasse go for a yellow wrasse or any others from its genus.
Agree it would be overstocked as the angels and tangs grow large.
If you are going reef I would stay away from the large angels or at least be ready to yank them out quickly.
A 12x39w T5HO would let you have most corals, a 16x39w would let you have any coral you wanted.

 

i had a funny feeling the 6line wouldn't work :/. I think my parents are more likely to prefer the angels over corals, also they are likely to be happy enough to go hit and miss with them and fill up the tank with corals they refuse to eat.

If i added the tangs together, when would you suggest that i add them ?

How hot would a 16x39w get, will it produce similar heat to MH units ? I only ask because its expensive enough already to cool the house in summer.

 

Probably before the large angels,

No where near, the bulbs only heat up to 60C max, less if you fan cool them. MH can give you instant 3rd degree burns.

 

dont put any damsels in trust me i had 12 when i started my tank and they picked on all my fish

 

no real choice, we already have us and given he went through the tank crash he has history

 

Well, up to you but I would never again add a damsel. Just way too aggressive!

 

I wouldn't worry too much about the pigmy angels; I've had three- a bi-color, flame, and coral beauty in a 55gal (4-foot) tank with no issues. Also, given an omnivore mix diet, they also never bothered the corals.

As for the mandarin, sadly mine refused prepared foods, and died after my pod population was depleted.

You may be fine with the damsel, as long as you only have one. The number of larger fish in the same tank should keep his attitude in check.

Cheers, and good luck.

 

The larger angels will definitely eat your coral. Also, butterflies tend to be very docile, so I would add the butterfly before any other fish that might be aggressive like the tangs.

 

the damsel has been with other fish and didn't show any real aggression, if worst comes to worse he can be a play mate for my lion fish...
Golden Rhino you give me hope with having more than one dwarf, I just hope I can replicate your luck.
I've been tossing up when to do the butterfly, and am tending to lean to putting it in after the regal tang and bi-colour but before both the tangs and other angels. My main concern is having the tank 'mature' enough for him to survive before i ween him onto prepared foods.
The nipping is something that is just going to have to be delt with I'm afraid, my parents want the fish more than the coral