125g stocking opinions

[CRABDADDY]

Hello all, my first large reef tank has just finished cycling. I'm looking for some opinions on this stocking list to make sure I'm on the right track. My tank is 4*2*2. Will be sps dominant. I do have a sand bed. One of my main concerns is the number of tangs I can keep.

Tomini tang - may be too full on tangs for this
Purple tang
Powder blue tang
Foxface
Yellow coris wrasse/melanarus wrasse
2x clowns
3x dispar anthias
5x springer damsels
Diamond goby
Lawnmower blenny
Clown goby
Royal gramma

 

[Rmckoy]

Keep in mind
It might be a 120 gal tank but it’s still only 4’ length .
Some tangs such as the powder blue will benefit from more length and swimming room

 

[Rmckoy]

120 gal .


48x24x24
Divide by 231 = 119.69 gal

 

[CRABDADDY]

True, I approximated. Bought a used tank, so I wasn't as familiar with the exact dimensions. Do you think the powder blue will still be alright? I didn't think the 5 gallon difference would be too big a deal, but I understand the 6ft tank is more ideal for swimming space for larger fish/wrasses.

 

[Rmckoy]

True, I approximated. Bought a used tank, so I wasn't as familiar with the exact dimensions. Do you think the powder blue will still be alright? I didn't think the 5 gallon difference would be too big a deal, but I understand the 6ft tank is more ideal for swimming space for larger fish/wrasses.

I don’t think the 5 gal would matter as much as the extra 24” length .
But …. I’m sure it’s possible to keep one in that tank .

Many years ago I had a powder blue , yellow and purple in a 90 gal which was a 4’ tank .

 

[CRABDADDY]

I don’t think the 5 gal would matter as much as the extra 24” length .
But …. I’m sure it’s possible to keep one in that tank .

Many years ago I had a powder blue , yellow and purple in a 90 gal which was a 4’ tank .

Thanks for the input. I was also looking at a yellow tang. I wasn't really sure how many tangs are acceptable in a tank my size.

 

[Pickle_soup]

I had this discussion yesterday with someone, I think extra 2 feet of swimming, especially for a large fish like Yellow or Powder, makes a huge difference. I had a 220, 30in tall and I had rockwork on the back wall. I downgraded to 125 and it added 6 more inches of length to the tank. I moved everything out of the back wall, tangs can now swim in a complete circle around the rocks. It made such a huge difference for them. Everyone is commenting on how happy they look. Additionally, so many tangs on a small aquarium, it's like asking for a blood bath. I have two fish in my 125 right now, just now, and they are still competing for space. They are not overly aggressive, but spikes are always pointing at each other.

 

[CRABDADDY]

I had this discussion yesterday with someone, I think extra 2 feet of swimming, especially for a large fish like Yellow or Powder, makes a huge difference. I had a 220, 30in tall and I had rockwork on the back wall. I downgraded to 125 and it added 6 more inches of length to the tank. I moved everything out of the back wall, tangs can now swim in a complete circle around the rocks. It made such a huge difference for them. Everyone is commenting on how happy they look. Additionally, so many tangs on a small aquarium, it's like asking for a blood bath. I have two fish in my 125 right now, just now, and they are still competing for space. They are not overly aggressive, but spikes are always pointing at each other.

Thanks for your input. I have never kept tangs before so all the opinions I can get are appreciated.

 

[littlefoxx]

True, I approximated. Bought a used tank, so I wasn't as familiar with the exact dimensions. Do you think the powder blue will still be alright? I didn't think the 5 gallon difference would be too big a deal, but I understand the 6ft tank is more ideal for swimming space for larger fish/wrasses.

My powder blue is small and boy does she zip around that tank all day. Mines a 125 six foot.

 

[CRABDADDY]

My powder blue is small and boy does she zip around that tank all day. Mines a 125 six foot.

I had the option to get a 6 ft tank, but I liked the 4ft length better. I was worried about lack of depth. I'm more of a coral guy than fish traditionally, but now that I'm upgrading from a nano, I'm finding myself more interested in fish than ever.

I am reconsidering the powder blue, but I may just try to get a juvenile. I definitely want the purple tang, worst case I could just pair it with another smaller tang, I suppose. Between 2 tangs and my foxface, I'm thinking I'll be in fairly good shape on algae control from fish.

 

[Lavey29]

So basically everyone told you that a 6 foot tank is required for some of those fish on your list. A tomini or bristletooth would be suitable in a 4 foot tank but not the others.

 

[CRABDADDY]

So basically everyone told you that a 6 foot tank is required for some of those fish on your list. A tomini or bristletooth would be suitable in a 4 foot tank but not the others.

I'm fine passing on the powder blue, I see people are against that. A single purple tang would be fine though, no? I know people keep these fish in tanks my size and they do fine.

 

[blaxsun]

I'm fine passing on the powder blue, I see people are against that. A single purple tang would be fine though, no? I know people keep these fish in tanks my size and they do fine.

Purple tangs can apparently be absolute jerks (I've steered clear of them based on their reputation).

 

[CRABDADDY]

Doing some more research I found this thread. Which says my tank is large enough for a purple.

Just to be clear, I don't want to force any fish into a tank that's too small for it. I aim to take good care of my animals.

 

[littlefoxx]

I'm fine passing on the powder blue, I see people are against that. A single purple tang would be fine though, no? I know people keep these fish in tanks my size and they do fine.

I had to keep a purple in my 4 foot tank for a few weeks, he was CRANKY and cramped. I would never put another one in a 4 footer, length is more important for tangs than depth, I would stick to a single bristletooth

 

[littlefoxx]

Doing some more research I found this thread. Which says my tank is large enough for a purple.

Just to be clear, I don't want to force any fish into a tank that's too small for it. I aim to take good care of my animals.

Good, pass on the purple and powder blue then, trust me that purple will be cranky and cramped. My guy was way better after moving him to my six foot tank and he was only in the 4 foot tank for 2 weeks and he was a terror. But in the six foot he was one happy tang crusin all over

 

[CRABDADDY]

I will say that I am a little disappointed not to be able to keep the fish I have been excited about while building this tank.

Is a yellow tang different in disposition to a purple? I know they are similar in size, but a biota yellow tang starts off quite small.

Otherwise I'll probably look for a yellow eye kole tang.

 

[Pickle_soup]

I will say that I am a little disappointed not to be able to keep the fish I have been excited about while building this tank.

Is a yellow tang different in disposition to a purple? I know they are similar in size, but a biota yellow tang starts off quite small.

Otherwise I'll probably look for a yellow eye kole tang.

That's the nature of the hobby, you get 1 fish, and that eliminates 25 other that you cant.

 

[littlefoxx]

I will say that I am a little disappointed not to be able to keep the fish I have been excited about while building this tank.

Is a yellow tang different in disposition to a purple? I know they are similar in size, but a biota yellow tang starts off quite small.

Otherwise I'll probably look for a yellow eye kole tang.

Yellow is similar to purple. Ive got a baby biota now and he holds his own against my PBT if that tells you anything

 

[alpacaman]

I’ll second keeping rockwork off your back wall- not only does it give all fish a full loop for swimming, it helps with maintenance and keeping detritus from building up in the back.