stocking my new reef tank

C

Carabelli

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wow, sounds like a really promising system!! i would take a look at an online fish site and find what fish you like - generally, on a tank that size you can't do many tangs - they will get pretty crowded fast!

one thing to remember is that you will want to add the more aggressive fish last and the more timid ones first - that way, the timid ones have time to acclimate and get comfortable b/f the bullies show up :)

hth
 
your best bet is to look for a book by scott michaels - we might have it in the club library.

generally, most sites are going to say you can do more than what you should do - what kind of fish do you like specifically? also, what kind of tank are you hoping for - sps, lps, zoas ect?
 
you could do a tang or two (depending on the type), dwarf angel (the large angels won't do well in that size tank), anthias are cool, but are hard to feed and keep alive initially.

you can generally plan on something like this safely -

tang
clown fish (2)
dwarf angel (run the risk of nipping at your corals)
wrasse (they can be jumpers - might have to provide some safety there)

something like that
 
looking at your list, this is what i know

The fish I like are:
Flame Angelfish (awesome fish, are known to nip corals)
Ocellaris Clownfish (winners)
Hawaiian Fancy Bicolor Anthias (hard to feed at times)
Green Mandarin (really need an established tank with tons of pods - wait 12-18 months for best shot, and, if you get lucky, they will eat frozen foods)
Sohal Tang (way too agressive and territorial for that size tank)
Unicorn Tang (hard to keep healthy)
Naso Tang (bit big for that tank)
Powder Blue Tang (going to be a little tight in a 115, but, if you can get a healthy specimen, you might be okay - no other tangs though)
Blue Tang (i am a big fan of these - but, i would not do another tang unless it is added last - again, get a healthy one or you will have an ich fest)
Vlamingi tang (??)
Kole Yellow Eye Tang (??)
Achilles Tang (??)


Fish I have heard are beneficial but know nothing about:
Blennies (usually nice and small - can be cool fish - i like the bicolor)
Dartfish
Gobies
Pseudochromis (
Wrasse (the 6 line wrasse are really beautiful and are sometimes known to eat pests)

If it were me, i would do the fish i have put in bold - again, this is my personal preference and experience, but, it is a starting point
 
the 6 line will jump occasionally, heck, any fish will, but, you are usually okay. You will definitely want to wait on the mandarin to build up your pod population.

On the angel, several people have kept flame angels with no problems, it is a case by case deal - your best bet is to buy one from a member who is breaking down their tank - you will know their history that way.
 
Dont put a six line wrasse in if you think you might like to keep some of the beautiful and docile fairy wrasses. He will pester them until they hide and probably refuse to eat and of course that means they will eventually die.
 
more on some of the tangs

the yellow eye or Kole is a good tank mate and candidate to go with a regal (or blue)
the Achilles are very very difficult to keep
the vlamingi - get very large like the Naso

Blue Tang (i am a big fan of these - but, i would not do another tang unless it is added last - again, get a healthy one or you will have an ich fest)

I agree with the blue tang comments - you can go with a very small one to start and if you add other tangs just make sure they are larger - my opininon is they like to be in charge but are not nearly as aggressive as the Powder Blue or Purple

the Naso's, Vlamingi and other large tangs like lots of open water so it is prefered that they go in very large/long tanks

the kole, and regal like rock work to be able to hide in and swim around
 
do you think the angel would be a problem in that setup? said:
Well I have a coral beauty angel in my 55 and he is a model citizen. He eats mysis and rotifers and makes sure the gracillaria that shows up on the rocks is mowed down. But even the dwarf angels can develop an appetite for some tasty coral polyps, usually on your most favorite coral! Your advise was good, anyone putting any kind of angel fish into a reef tank is taking a calculated risk that may require relocation of the corals, the angel or living with corals that dont extend their polyps.
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generally speaking, the ocellaris will be fine without an anemone - most clowns will find something to host in - whether it be an anemone, frogspawn or leather. As long as the water quality is fine and you feed them well, they will be fine (same goes for all reef inhabitants :))
 
Careful with the Hippo tangs, as they mature, their diets change and they can/will munch on palys and zoos.

As far as Nasos other tangs, with the exception of the hard to keep (achilles, sohals etc) buy what you want for your tank but buy small. These fish do not grow fast so by the time they get to a size where you want to move them, either trade them or upgrade your tank. A 2-3 inch naso will take years to get up to 6 or 7 inches.

However, in a tank that size, I would limit to 2 small or one medium sized fish of that nature.
 
I think i read somewhere that if you plan on having a manderin you should'nt have a six line wrasse?? Please correct me if im wrong, im still kinda new at this. :)
 
No, you're correct.. unless you have a large refugium with lots of pods, you want to limit the fish that eat pods.
 
If you get out a jeweler's loupe or a strong magnifying glass, you can see pods on your refugium walls. In and among the macro, you'll see lots of little skittering critters. As far as 'how many is enough?' though, I think it's all about time. You want a refugium to be up and producing pods for at least 8 months before you consider a mandarin, unless you get a mandarin that you know is eating prepared foods.
 
yeah, i would really consider doing a display refugium if you can - you see some really neat "critters" in a healthy refugium. the copepods almost look like small shrimp to me- really cool looking!
 
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