Stocking a 175 gallon. Starting with a few fish, adding from there.

Discussion in 'General Reef Discussion' started by Fishbait, Mar 4, 2017.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    mLooking for comments, suggestions, critiques.

    Bioload: Too much for 175g bowfront: 72x26x24?
    Compatability: The sailfin may or may not be in play, but will certainly be held separately until the last addition
    Creativity: My last tank was a 90, so a good number of fish were off my radar. Is there an addition that I am missing that will make this tank totally POP in your opinion?

    Starting livestock

    Pair of mated Oscellaris Clowns
    ORA Filefish
    Sailfin Tang

    Three sets of additions planned

    1- Lawnmower Blenny
    Pseudochromis, most likely an Orchid Dottyback
    Basslet of some nature
    2x Banggai Cardinals, mated pair, I hope

    2. 5 or 6 Squamiis Anthias Male and his harem

    3. Yellow Tang
    Blue Hippo Tang
    (Before you laugh, my wife, God help me, wants fish from the Nemo movies. We all do what we must for our family)
    Kole Tang

    Will also add a Mandarin once the tank is ready.

    thanks in advance
     
    Fishbait, Mar 4, 2017
    #1
    Botheboss likes this.
  2. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    I don't think the bioload will be a problem at all. I really like the Orchid Dottyback, the least aggressive of all the dotties.

    4 tangs is a lot for a 6 foot tank. They will be fine when they are small but Hippos and Sailfins get huge and Sailfins usually are among the most aggressive of tangs. Sure it could work but be prepared to intervene. Yellow and Kole should be fine. Message Roco on here and I'm sure he will share his experience with Hippos.

    Don't add any pod hunters since you want to have a Mandarin (the most beautiful fish in the hobbby IMO). That means no wrasses in the Halichoeres, Anampses, Macropharygodon genus. Fairy and flasher wrasses would be fine as they eat from the water column and aren't big consumers of pods.

    Start a build thread if you get a chance! We love to watch new tanks take shape!
     
    huntindoc, Mar 4, 2017
    #2
    Botheboss likes this.
  3. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    huntindoc, you are confirming my fear. I am inheriting the sailfin and he's already a big boy. Gorgeous specimen. He may become shop credit. Different question. I am concerned that I have reached the bioload max on this tank. The idea that keeping the load low was beaten into me when I started my 90. Am I being paranoid? Was considering a fairy wrasse. Any recommendations on species?

    Once I get the tank home, I will start the thread. I've done a lot of research and had a tank for a couple of years, but experience is better than books and you guys have more of that than I.
     
    Fishbait, Mar 4, 2017
    #3
    LJC6780 and huntindoc like this.
  4. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    oh, and I think the Mandarins are not only the most beautiful, but also the most intringuing fish in the trade.
     
    Fishbait, Mar 4, 2017
    #4
    huntindoc likes this.
  5. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    Nice! Can't wait to see pictures!
     
    Botheboss, Mar 4, 2017
    #5
  6. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    I don't think your bioload is really that bad at all. Even SPS tanks would be fine I think. If you're concerned one new thing to consider is to add one or two of the new ceramic media blocks to your sump. The two most popular are Marine Pure and Brightwell's version. I actually have one of each in my sump.

    If you're only going to add one Fairy wrasse you can pretty much choose anyone you like. They are only aggressive with other fairy wrasses and most of them not even that. Some really pretty ones to consider are lineatus, solarensis, rubrimarginatus, isoscoles, laboutei, jordani, exquisitus, rhomboidalis.

    You're way ahead with your previous experience and your willingness to research and ask questions! There are lots of guys here with more experience than me so keep on asking!

    I understand the temptation on the Sailfin, just an absolutely stunning fish. You're right to add him as the last fish if possible. Just be prepared to trap him if he becomes a problem.
     
    huntindoc, Mar 4, 2017
    #6
  7. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    The more you learn, the less you know. Doing research for a basslet, other than the Royal Gramma, only to find that they have the possibility of going after shrimp, in that I hope to have peppermint shrimp, a blood, and a cleaner, this behavior will not do. Exit the basslet. Thinking a Midas Blenny would add some difference to the tank.

    Upon trying to find a bonded pair of banggai, I am discovering that to be no easy feat. Now, I need a replacement. I am not looking to breed fish per se. I am hoping to get some action going to populate the water column with some fry aka anthias food.

    Ideas?
     
    Fishbait, Mar 8, 2017
    #7
    LJC6780 and huntindoc like this.
  8. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    You could just feed them ;p would be a lot easier
     
    Botheboss, Mar 8, 2017
    #8
  9. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    That actually was the plan, Bo. I am a native born Arkansan male which means if I can find a way to complicate a simple task with some sort of crazy scheme, I am there.
     
    Fishbait, Mar 8, 2017
    #9
    LJC6780, DCHarrington, NatalieMadison and 1 other person like this.
  10. huntindoc

    huntindoc RRMAS BOD Membership Director Staff Member

    Another basslet that will not bother the shrimp would be a Black Cap basslet. They come from the same areas as Royal Grammas but a little bit deeper. You find grammas down to about 60 feet, both from about 60-80 feet and only Black Caps below about 80 feet.

    My Royal was pretty large and never bothered my shrimp (blood and skunk cleaner). Both of these are really colorful. The only shrimp at risk from either of these would be Sexy shrimp and they are at risk from just about all fish. LOL
     
    huntindoc, Mar 8, 2017
    #10
  11. Deton8it

    Deton8it President Staff Member

    Doc is spot on with the tang aggression. I have 3 in my 125 SPS dominated tank. The Yellow and Tomini are fine most of the time but the Hippo gets aggressive. When they get to chasing each other around, they make new SPS frags for me to sell. I suggest all of your tangs go in at the same time but if that isn't feasible, the Hippo needs to go in last.
     
    Deton8it, Mar 8, 2017
    #11
  12. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    It's interesting to hear all the opinions. I have foregone the idea of dropping 4 in a 6'. I am half-tempted to sell the sailfin, buy a small kole, hippo, and yellow and be done. Sadly, I would love to pop a gold rim, but my experience tells me it will not tolerate other vegetarians of any size. Regardless of who makes the cut, all will drop on the same night. If I keep the sailfin, all the others will be of comparable size.
     
    Fishbait, Mar 8, 2017
    #12
  13. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    New question: how many emerald crabs in a 175?
     
    Fishbait, Mar 9, 2017
    #13
  14. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    I personally wouldn't get emerald crabs. I had one actually catch and eat one of my fish.
     
    Botheboss, Mar 9, 2017
    #14
    LJC6780 likes this.
  15. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    How big was the fish? Better still, how big was the freakin' crab?!?!?!
     
    Fishbait, Mar 9, 2017
    #15
    Deton8it likes this.
  16. Botheboss

    Botheboss Director-At Large

    Crabs was about an inch-1 1/2 fox face was 2"1/2
     
    Botheboss, Mar 10, 2017
    #16
  17. LJC6780

    LJC6780 Grouper

    Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read that peppermint shrimp don't tolerate other shrimp well ...

    The tank I'm getting has a skunk and blood (I think, it's bright red) and I already have a peppermint ... is that a recipe for disaster or are they usually ok?
     
    LJC6780, Mar 11, 2017
    #17
  18. Fishbait

    Fishbait Blenny

    DAAAAYUUUMMMMM
     
    Fishbait, Mar 11, 2017
    #18
    Botheboss likes this.
  19. Deton8it

    Deton8it President Staff Member

    I have never heard of that. I know that Coral Banded Shrimp can be testy with other Shrimp but I have never heard of Peppermints acting that way. I have had Peppermint Shrimp kill coral on more than one occasion.
     
    Deton8it, Mar 11, 2017
    #19
    LJC6780 likes this.
  20. LJC6780

    LJC6780 Grouper

    What coral did they go after? I was thinking they were reef safe!
     
    LJC6780, Mar 12, 2017
    #20
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page