200 Gallon Stocking Thoughts

[Beef33]

Finally after much longer then I was hoping, my tank is in and started to cycle so really looking at what Fish and inverts I am going to add so wanted to post here. This is the current list broken up in groups over the next few months if all goes well.

The tank is a room divider that is 48" x 34" x 31" so not as wide as most but that's all the space I had where its at. The goal long term is a mixed reef but leaning more towards SPS over time. Once the cycle is fully complete and ready, this is my current thoughts on fish and how to group / order for adding them.

Step 1: Post Cycle complete​

• Diamond Goby (1)
• Lawnmower Blenny (1)
• Royal Gramma (1)
• Lyretail Anthias
  • Total: 5-7 individuals (from what I have read would try to get 1 male to 4-6 females

Step 2:​

• Paired Clownfish or just 2 non paired (2)
• Orange Back Fairy Wrasse (1)
• Exquisite Fairy Wrasse (1)
• Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse (1)
• Pink-Streaked Wrasse (1)
• Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse (1)

Step 3:​

• Flame Angel (1)
• Magnificent Foxface (1)
• Melanurus Wrasse (1)
• Flame Hawkfish (1)

Step 4:​

• Yellow Tang (1)
• White Tail Tang (1)
• Convict Tang (1)
• Swallowtail Angelfish (1)

Step 5... or whenever ready

• Psychedelic Mandarin Goby

Long term if things seem happy may add more but overall this seemed like a good starting list of what would work well and provide lots of motion and color as its very prominent in the house.


Will also be adding cleanup crew and will also do these slowly as the tank needs but if anyone here has thoughts on this as well let me know. This is the rough idea for total count but over months.

• Trochus Snails: 30-40
• Nassarius Snails: 20-30
• Cerith Snails: 30-40
• Astrea Snails: 20-30
• Scarlet Reef Hermit Crabs: 15-20
• Blue Leg Hermit Crabs: 15-20
• Cleaner Shrimp: 2-3Peppermint Shrimp: 3-5
• Emerald Crabs: 5-7
• Sand Sifting Starfish: 1-2
• Tiger Tail Sea Cucumber: 1
• Tuxedo Urchin: 1 - must have enough food (gha)

 

[Beef33]

Bump to see if anyone has thought on this or thing they would add / remove.

 

[littlefoxx]

I think with the dimensions you should skip the blue hippo. They get massive and are extremely active and a cube style tank like that wouldnt be good. But otherwise it looks good!

 

[BiggF!sh]

Honestly i dont think you need paired clowns in a tank that big. I may be wrong tho. In my 190 display, i added 2 small clowns and they get along just fine, there were not paired. Again i may have just gotten lucky.

 

[Beef33]

I think with the dimensions you should skip the blue hippo. They get massive and are extremely active and a cube style tank like that wouldnt be good. But otherwise it looks good!

Yeah that makes sense. I knew being closer to a cube would possibly limit a few fish that would quickly outgrow the tank. Possibly as a smaller option might look at adding a White Tail Bristletooth Tang.

 

[Beef33]

Honestly i dont think you need paired clowns in a tank that big. I may be wrong tho. In my 190 display, i added 2 small clowns and they get along just fine, there were not paired. Again i may have just gotten lucky.

I think you are right based on a couple quick searches that a lot of times as long as one is not already fully developed, you can get 2 smaller ones and they may bond or just leave each other alone.

 

[WVReefJunkie]

You going to have sand or bare bottom?

 

[Beef33]

You going to have sand or bare bottom?

Went with about 1-1/5" sand.

 

[WVReefJunkie]

This is a preference thing, get the kole tang with the white tail. I would also opt out on the blue tang, they wont help with algae and they are a very active swimmer, lots of personality though. Alot of the wrasses need sand to hide, or not they would perish over time, thats my experience. You could also get a common cleaner wrasse, good utility fish.

 

[WVReefJunkie]

Urchin should be added later when the gha starts to form

 

[WVReefJunkie]

I went back up.and looked at your wrasse list again, the Melanurus will need sand. I think the others listed dont require it

 

[littlefoxx]

Yeah that makes sense. I knew being closer to a cube would possibly limit a few fish that would quickly outgrow the tank. Possibly as a smaller option might look at adding a White Tail Bristletooth Tang.

So the “kole” tang is the same species as bristletooth tangs (lots of variations) so if you already want the kole tang dont get the white tail too, my experience those can be nasty but even more so to the same kind of fish

 

[WVReefJunkie]

The white tail is a yellow eye bristle tooth. I just think they are prettier

 

[littlefoxx]

What about one of the bristletooth tangs, yellow and look into a foxface? Great algae eaters, good temperament and are a large pretty fish

 

[WVReefJunkie]

The white tail is a yellow eye bristle tooth. I just think they are prettier

 

[littlefoxx]

Lavender tang or convict tang could also be a good option

 

[WVReefJunkie]

Just the one

 

[littlefoxx]

Isnt the difference that the “yellow eye kole” is Hawaiian and doesnt have the white tail? Confusing cause all the bristletooths really just have different colors based on where they are from. But I agree, I do love the white tails.

 

[Beef33]

Urchin should be added later when the gha starts to form

Thanks will make sure to hold off till they will have enough to munch on.

 

[WVReefJunkie]

I have a yellow foxface in a 315 gallon system, but if you are set on getting one, get a Magnificent foxface. More money but prettier, in my opinion.