Final Stocking List (I hope)

[GoBigGuy]

So after doing a lot of research I believe I got the final stocking list and just want to run it by all of you. My tank is a 180 gallon, (72x24x24), with a 60 gallon sump running a reef octopus skimmer rated for 400 gallons.

Let me know what you think of the below list. Do I have too many fish or do I have some more room?

1 - Pakistan Butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare)
1 - Pearlscale Butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus)
1 - Blue Spotted Puffer (Canthigaster solandri)
1 - Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)
1 - Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
1 - Yellow Belly Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)
1 - Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
1 - Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
1 - Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
1 - Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
1 - Pinkface Wrasse (Thalassoma quinquevittatum)
1 - Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) - Already Have
1 - Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) - Already Have
2 - Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) - Already Have
2 - Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) - Already Have
3 - Blue Damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea) - Already Have

Thanks!

 

[4FordFamily]

So after doing a lot of research I believe I got the final stocking list and just want to run it by all of you. My tank is a 180 gallon, (72x24x24), with a 60 gallon sump running a reef octopus skimmer rated for 400 gallons.

Let me know what you think of the below list. Do I have too many fish or do I have some more room?

1 - Pakistan Butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare)
1 - Pearlscale Butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus)
1 - Blue Spotted Puffer (Canthigaster solandri)
1 - Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)
1 - Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
1 - Yellow Belly Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)
1 - Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
1 - Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
1 - Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
1 - Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
1 - Pinkface Wrasse (Thalassoma quinquevittatum)
1 - Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) - Already Have
1 - Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) - Already Have
2 - Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) - Already Have
2 - Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) - Already Have
3 - Blue Damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea) - Already Have

Thanks!

The first thing that jumps out at me is the yellow belly regal angel with an emperor angel. I break lots of rules for angels but I cannot see that working out. There's always a possibility, but regal angels are often bullied by fish half their size. Emperor are one of the more pushy and aggressive angelfish. I would say choose one or the other.

Keeping flame with coral beauty is possible but may be troublesome. Add at the same time and be sure you can catch and remove one of it goes bad. I've not successfully kept the two. I've kept multiple flame, mixed with potters and other centropyge but that mix often doesn't work out.

Also you have some other aggressors on there such as powder blue tangs. The pearlscale butterfly in particular is quite shy and peaceful. Emperor Angels and PBT are often somewhat aggressive. PBT tend not to like butterflies in my experience. You'll want to add him (PBT) last if you're set on doing this. The emperor may not tolerate the butterflies at all, depends on temperament.

People sometimes try juvenile emperor and claim they're was aggressive. While this has been my experience to some degree, they're still more aggressive than other angels. As they mature, especially when they change to adult coloration, it seems like overnight they decide to be aggressive and have "something to prove". In my experience, juvenile emperor angels that have transitioned to adults are actually more aggressive than emperor angels that are purchased as adults. I don't know why, but this is what I have seen, read, experienced myself, and heard from others that have kept them.

I keep so many angels together and mix with fish they shouldn't be with because I have such high numbers of Angels to spread the aggression. I'm also willing to split them up if need be. The most questionable was my addition of a moorish idol in my angel tank. He has done remarkably well but that's because the angels are busy dominating each other and largely leave him alone.

That stock list MAY work but there is a lot of room for disaster.

If you want the centropyge mix to work, I would get at least one more centropyge angel in with them. Still may have trouble with coral beauty and flame in my experience and I've tried many times.

The regal and emperor I don't see working unless you have several large Angels to keep the emperor preoccupied and with the fragile nature of the regal angel, I don't know that it would survive and eat in a stressful environment like that even with many angels. My first Red Sea regal angel didn't eat at all while my first Achilles tang was with him. He never bullied the angel but bullied other fish which stressed him out immensely. Very, very difficult and fragile fish.

 

[GoBigGuy]

The first thing that jumps out at me is the yellow belly regal angel with an emperor angel. I break lots of rules for angels but I cannot see that working out. There's always a possibility, but regal angels are often bullied by fish half their size. Emperor are one of the more pushy and aggressive angelfish. I would say choose one or the other.

Keeping flame with coral beauty is possible but may be troublesome. Add at the same time and be sure you can catch and remove one of it goes bad. I've not successfully kept the two. I've kept multiple flame, mixed with potters and other centropyge but that mix often doesn't work out.

Also you have some other aggressors on there such as powder blue tangs. The pearlscale butterfly in particular is quite shy and peaceful. Emperor Angels and PBT are often somewhat aggressive. PBT tend not to like butterflies in my experience. You'll want to add him (PBT) last if you're set on doing this. The emperor may not tolerate the butterflies at all, depends on temperament.

People sometimes try juvenile emperor and claim they're was aggressive. While this has been my experience to some degree, they're still more aggressive than other angels. As they mature, especially when they change to adult coloration, it seems like overnight they decide to be aggressive and have "something to prove". In my experience, juvenile emperor angels that have transitioned to adults are actually more aggressive than emperor angels that are purchased as adults. I don't know why, but this is what I have seen, read, experienced myself, and heard from others that have kept them.

I keep so many angels together and mix with fish they shouldn't be with because I have such high numbers of Angels to spread the aggression. I'm also willing to split them up if need be. The most questionable was my addition of a moorish idol in my angel tank. He has done remarkably well but that's because the angels are busy dominating each other and largely leave him alone.

That stock list MAY work but there is a lot of room for disaster.

If you want the centropyge mix to work, I would get at least one more centropyge angel in with them. Still may have trouble with coral beauty and flame in my experience and I've tried many times.

The regal and emperor I don't see working unless you have several large Angels to keep the emperor preoccupied and with the fragile nature of the regal angel, I don't know that it would survive and eat in a stressful environment like that even with many angels. My first Red Sea regal angel didn't eat at all while my first Achilles tang was with him. He never bullied the angel but bullied other fish which stressed him out immensely. Very, very difficult and fragile fish.

Thank you for your feedback and I get what you are saying. My wife loves the Emperor Angelfish, wants me to get a young one as she like all the changing it does.

Based on that I think you are right and I should remove the Regal Angelfish. Now what are your thoughts on a Blue Girdled Angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus)?

The main goal is to get colorful fish and as many fish as possible. I have been running a reef tank for about a year now but just don't have the time to continue it so going fish only.

My stocking plan was keep some of the smaller fish I already have and only add young fish over time:

1 - Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) - Already Have
1 - Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) - Already Have
2 - Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) - Already Have
2 - Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) - Already Have
3 - Blue Damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea) - Already Have

and the first batch of new fish would be the more peaceful fish so they can get comfy:

1 - Pakistan Butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare)
1 - Pearlscale Butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus)
1 - Blue Spotted Puffer (Canthigaster solandri)
1 - Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)

Second batch would be, (again all on the smaller size):

1 - Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
1 - Blue Girdled Angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus)
1 - Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
1 - Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)

And the last batch being the more bully of the fish:

1 - Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon) - Maybe switch out for a blue tang
1 - Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
1 - Pinkface Wrasse (Thalassoma quinquevittatum)

Think this will work or still asking for trouble?

 

[4FordFamily]

Thank you for your feedback and I get what you are saying. My wife loves the Emperor Angelfish, wants me to get a young one as she like all the changing it does.

Based on that I think you are right and I should remove the Regal Angelfish. Now what are your thoughts on a Blue Girdled Angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus)?

The main goal is to get colorful fish and as many fish as possible. I have been running a reef tank for about a year now but just don't have the time to continue it so going fish only.

My stocking plan was keep some of the smaller fish I already have and only add young fish over time:

1 - Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) - Already Have
1 - Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) - Already Have
2 - Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) - Already Have
2 - Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) - Already Have
3 - Blue Damselfish (Chrysiptera cyanea) - Already Have

and the first batch of new fish would be the more peaceful fish so they can get comfy:

1 - Pakistan Butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare)
1 - Pearlscale Butterflyfish (Chaetodon xanthurus)
1 - Blue Spotted Puffer (Canthigaster solandri)
1 - Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)

Second batch would be, (again all on the smaller size):

1 - Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
1 - Blue Girdled Angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus)
1 - Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
1 - Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)

And the last batch being the more bully of the fish:

1 - Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon) - Maybe switch out for a blue tang
1 - Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
1 - Pinkface Wrasse (Thalassoma quinquevittatum)

Think this will work or still asking for trouble?

Better, but if I were you I would add at least one more centropyge. Consider another flame angel. If you get one large and one small I've had success mixing them almost 100% of the time. Similar in size it's a toss up.

The blue girdled are one of the more fragile large Angels as well. That said, once established they can hold their own. Emperor is still likely to bully it though. If you get a large enough blue girdled angel you may be OK.

I've tried them twice with no success. That said the first time I was a newbie to the hobby, and the second time come to find out I had velvet that was hiding and killing my angels. So those may not be fair experiences. I've heard that they are tougher but if you buy a healthy specimen that eats up front you may well be OK. Try divers den.

I have a queen, passer, emperor, blue face, rock beauty, potters, and flame in a 180 that get along fine. The passer and emperor are in charge. They're the biggest at 5". They aren't too aggressive, just expect other fish to move out of their way. Minimal chasing or aggression due to high volume of angels.

My potters is giant (3" or more) and was established for a few months before adding the flame. The flame is quite aggressive so he fit in fine. He got kicked out of my 180 reef for not playing nice with other centropyge but because the potters is so much bigger there is never trouble.

Potters aren't particularly aggressive. I've even kept two together for some time (different size and different sex) and I've kept trios for a year or so at a time before a heater crapped out on vacation.

They're difficult Angels though you'll want a larger one (so it's better able to hold its own or be left alone) from divers den should you choose to try. They get them eating and used to captivity prior to purchase.

 

[4FordFamily]

If interested in sexing potters, females are 2/3 orange and males are 2/3 purple. Males also have more "electric" purple markings on fins than females generally. This isn't an exact science but those that are clearly dominated by one color are correctly sexable most of the time.

Also my wife insisted on the emperor as well :D. Happy wife, less complaining about this hobby...

 

[GoBigGuy]

If interested in sexing potters, females are 2/3 orange and males are 2/3 purple. Males also have more "electric" purple markings on fins than females generally. This isn't an exact science but those that are clearly dominated by one color are correctly sexable most of the time.

Also my wife insisted on the emperor as well :D. Happy wife, less complaining about this hobby...

Happy Wife = Happy Life

I know the emperor will be the boss of the tank but it is a cool fish and if that's what she wants that's what she'll get :)

 

[4FordFamily]

Happy Wife = Happy Life

I know the emperor will be the boss of the tank but it is a cool fish and if that's what she wants that's what she'll get :)

Understand completely!

 

[eatbreakfast]

The Thalassoma will not work with the yellow wrasse, nor the purple firefish. They get far too aggressive toward more docile fish.

 

[4FordFamily]

The Thalassoma will not work with the yellow wrasse, nor the purple firefish. They get far too aggressive toward more docile fish.

That's a good point I spaced that.

Fire fish can get along with yellow wrasse, I have three in my wrasse tank but it's not exactly best practice.

That said, there's no way the pink face or any aggressive wrasse would get along with fire fish. I would opt for more wrasse in their place ;)