2,600 to 3,800 gallon display, how would you stock it? (Or what single fish do you have to have in your DT?)

[BackToTheReef]

The idea of my dream tank is dying, help keep it alive with a little inspiration. (so let's have a little fun with a thought experiment)

How would you stock a reef with a 2,600 to 3,800 gallon display tank?

A shoal of captive bred yellow tangs (maybe CB purples)? Handful of larger tangs (Vlamingi, Chevron, etc.)? Some Pomacanthus angels? Genicanthus? Butterflies, eels, shark? Let's hear your ideas and put a limit of $500 on an individual fish as a ceiling (give or take a little).

What is the fish you couldn't live without in your DT? (not a dream fish but a fish you HAVE to have in every tank)

 

[reefingBeAmazin22]

Clownfish

 

[jayoman]

i added a Ranfordi Gobi to my tank 4 months ago and now all my future tanks will have one.

 

[EagleEye121]

A pair of brownbanded bamboo sharks, a blue-spotted ray, and big schools of tangs/anthias, etc

 

[WIReefer]

Since you said not a dream fish I would have to say a yellow tang I really enjoy mine!

 

[Roosterjack]

+1 to schooling fish, and a fat and colorful moray eel.

 

[BackToTheReef]

Since you said not a dream fish I would have to say a yellow tang I really enjoy mine!

Maybe it could be a dream fish but not a $1,000+ type of dream fish!

 

[Lovefish77]

I would get every tang in the hobby and those that are not even in the hobby lol.

 

[CanuckReefer]

Wow.... my top three would be a really nice shoal of Convict Tangs, A whole bunch of Anthias (pick your species, mine would be square spot), flitting about the reef, and several LARGE carpet Anemones.... Fish I could not do without in this system would be Red Sea Sohol....it is too big for mine so please get one lol.... I just love the their colourations and markings.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

Wow, you could have some really big fish in a tank that size, like Groupers !

 

[BackToTheReef]

Wow, you could have some really big fish in a tank that size, like Groupers !

It would be cool but I'd like some fish other than the groupers!

 

[Noob_Sam]

The idea of my dream tank is dying, help keep it alive with a little inspiration. (so let's have a little fun with a thought experiment)

How would you stock a reef with a 2,600 to 3,800 gallon display tank?

A shoal of captive bred yellow tangs (maybe CB purples)? Handful of larger tangs (Vlamingi, Chevron, etc.)? Some Pomacanthus angels? Genicanthus? Butterflies, eels, shark? Let's hear your ideas and put a limit of $500 on an individual fish as a ceiling (give or take a little).

What is the fish you couldn't live without in your DT? (not a dream fish but a fish you HAVE to have in every tank)

1000 baby clowns

 

[BackToTheReef]

Wow.... my top three would be a really nice shoal of Convict Tangs, A whole bunch of Anthias (pick your species, mine would be square spot), flitting about the reef, and several LARGE carpet Anemones.... Fish I could not do without in this system would be Red Sea Sohol....it is too big for mine so please get one lol.... I just love the their colourations and markings.

Can I trade your carpets for some long tentacles w/ clowns? Also hadn't thought of a shoal of convicts!

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

It would be cool but I'd like some fish other than the groupers!

And they all would have to be too large to fit in the Groupers' mouths !

 

[CanuckReefer]

Can I trade your carpets for some long tentacles w/ clowns? Also hadn't thought of a shoal of convicts!

100% lol....I have an Ocellaris showing no interest in my Long Tent....he is one fussy f'r it seems! Also, saw several shoals of convicts in Tahiti years back while diving....they were beautiful to watch..

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

I think I would have to have a yellow tang and a pair of regal angels in there!

 

[sagedrake690]

At that size what does it matter? I want it to mimic an ecosystem with as many creatures from the great Barrier as possible. Let it ballance itself out and enjoy wildlife. I wouldnt try to control it much more than feeding and maintaining but it would be a chunk of nature and i could watch things do what they do in nature!

 

[ca1ore]

My current tank, an eight foot 450 is the largest I can reasonably keep in my current house. I have mused about a much larger tank once I retire. Still a few years off, and who knows what the future will bring, but I’ve thought about something in the range of 16’x5’x3’ ..... nominally 1,800 gallons.

I’d aquascape it in such a way that there would be a lot of open sand and a lot of swimming room. I have always wanted to have a group of Naso tangs across a few of the available species. Vlamingi and unicornis certainly.

 

[CanuckReefer]

Can I trade your carpets for some long tentacles w/ clowns? Also hadn't thought of a shoal of convicts!

Also here is one my buddy took of me on that trip, with your Long Tentacles and what looks like a Clarkii to my eyes?

 

[BackToTheReef]

I think I would have to have a yellow tang and a pair of regal angels in there!

Pairs and trios rather than a bunch of singles is something I'm mulling over.

At that size what does it matter? I want it to mimic an ecosystem with as many creatures from the great Barrier as possible. Let it ballance itself out and enjoy wildlife. I wouldnt try to control it much more than feeding and maintaining but it would be a chunk of nature and i could watch things do what they do in nature!

Exactly

My current tank, an eight foot 450 is the largest I can reasonably keep in my current house. I have mused about a much larger tank once I retire. Still a few years off, and who knows what the future will bring, but I’ve thought about something in the range of 16’x5’x3’ ..... nominally 1,800 gallons.

I’d aquascape it in such a way that there would be a lot of open sand and a lot of swimming room. I have always wanted to have a group of Naso tangs across a few of the available species. Vlamingi and unicornis certainly.

It might end up drastically smaller once I get the basement stripped and figure out what I have to work with as far as mechaincals, chimney, and plumbing chases. I'm going to/hoping to go with either an 'L' shape or have kicked around the idea of a 'U' to squeeze as much space as possible in a relatively "small" space. The house isn't big but there might be just enough space if I am creative enough!

The idea I have for the aquascape keeps evolving but I think I am finally honing in on a general final concept.