Help me stock this Peninsula

[3mm3]

Hello everyone I am deciding what fish to purchase for my RedSea Peninsula 650.
The only fish I currently have is my hippo tang. My goal is a nice active tank. Feedings will remain at 3 to 5 times a day. All fish purchased will go through quarantine. I am looking for thoughts and feedback on experiences. Also feedback on species group sizes.

Here are some that I am strongly looking at. Some I have had in past setups and some are new to me.
I'm using live aquaria pics because I may purchase from them.

 

[Caseyoidae]

Great choices! Just keep the carpet surfing wrasses in and confuse the Hippo so he plays nice.

 

[3mm3]

Great choices! Just keep the carpet surfing wrasses in and confuse the Hippo so he plays nice.

No worries about jumpers. Mesh top will be in place. Any experience with this combo of fish?

 

[Caseyoidae]

Just airborne wrasse lol they are to funny together. A friend has a few and they are non stop jumpers who constantly bump into his screen top.

 

[Thomashtom]

I would stay away from damsels. they can be very aggressive. Tom

 

[eatbreakfast]

The dusky wrasse and melanurus wrasses can be feisty with each other. Try and add them simultaneously.

I have found yellowtail damsels to be fairly well behaved, though for a similar color, kupang/azure damsels are even more peaceful.

 

[3mm3]

Looking to go shopping tomorrow. What should I begin with and what quantities?
I would like to hit 5 dartfish and 5 anthias end goal. Also if room permits I would like more that 1 potters angel and more than one wrasse. The wrasses I would like to add last if possible.
Thoughts?

 

[Greybeard]

I'm in the process of stocking my 150g peninsula :)

Anthias, great choice.
Wrasses, great choice, but _might_ want to wait until the tank is a fairly mature, they can be tough to get eating at first.
I'd skip the yellow tail devilfish. They're real tough to catch when they start picking on your more peaceful fishes!
Firefish: Excellent, I'll have several. Known jumpers, make sure you've got a good cover.
Potter's angel: Hit or miss. Some are coral/clam munchers. I'm going with one of the Genicanthus family of angels, likely a pair of Bellus or Lamarick's angels. Much less likely to eat your corals and clams. Sure don't have the color and pattern of some of the others, though.

Look into the blenny family, hard to miss with those.
Cardinal family as well, I'm planning a school of cardinals, likely something from the Fowleria or Apogon families.

 

[3mm3]

I'm in the process of stocking my 150g peninsula :)

Anthias, great choice.
Wrasses, great choice, but _might_ want to wait until the tank is a fairly mature, they can be tough to get eating at first.
I'd skip the yellow tail devilfish. They're real tough to catch when they start picking on your more peaceful fishes!
Firefish: Excellent, I'll have several. Known jumpers, make sure you've got a good cover.
Potter's angel: Hit or miss. Some are coral/clam munchers. I'm going with one of the Genicanthus family of angels, likely a pair of Bellus or Lamarick's angels. Much less likely to eat your corals and clams. Sure don't have the color and pattern of some of the others, though.

Look into the blenny family, hard to miss with those.
Cardinal family as well, I'm planning a school of cardinals, likely something from the Fowleria or Apogon families.

That's the exact reason I want to push the wrasse collection until the end!
I have a diy screen but I'm looking to order a pro built screen.
The blenny idea is excellent, I would like to add one but I want a crazy color pop from it. Just not sure ill ever find the right one. Example would be a flashy male ember blenny.

 

[Greybeard]

I've got a Smith's blenny. No, the color isn't great... he's white, with black eyebrows :) Personality means more to me than flash, and he's got it, in spades.

If you haven't yet, go look at Artfully Acrylic http://artfullyacrylic.3dcartstores.com/ Drool-worthy screen tops, they look even better in person than in the photos. Unfortunately, they are real proud of them... far from cheap. Eventually, I'll buy myself one as a Christmas gift, or something.

 

[3mm3]

Okay I do want a blenny.
I would like to add a leopard blenny to the list or possibly male ember blenny.

Liveaquaria seems to be short on what I'm looking for. What online stores are your goto for fish shopping?

 

[Greybeard]

Personally, I buy fish at Ozark Reefs... my LFS (if an hour drive can be called local). It's worth it to me to order what I want through him, even if it's a bit more expensive... let him deal with the shipping, make sure they're eating, put them in copper for a while, whatever seems appropriate. I don't have a quarantine tank (gasp!), and I won't be setting one up. That's why I buy local. I can inspect the critter _before_ he gets to my tank. I could probably save a few bucks by ordering from LiveAquaria, but it's just not worth it to me. The LFS is providing a service, and I'm willing to pay for that service.

 

[3mm3]

Personally, I buy fish at Ozark Reefs... my LFS (if an hour drive can be called local). It's worth it to me to order what I want through him, even if it's a bit more expensive... let him deal with the shipping, make sure they're eating, put them in copper for a while, whatever seems appropriate. I don't have a quarantine tank (gasp!), and I won't be setting one up. That's why I buy local. I can inspect the critter _before_ he gets to my tank. I could probably save a few bucks by ordering from LiveAquaria, but it's just not worth it to me. The LFS is providing a service, and I'm willing to pay for that service.

Man I wish I had those options. Fish stores within a 2 hour drive one way are seriously lacking. This northeast coast is nothing compared to other places I have lived lol. Last store I checked told me to check in with them next week... Its really looking like I will be making most fish purchases online unfortunately.

 

[Greybeard]

Your LFS choices are Worse? Than in Buffalo, Missouri? Really?

I guess we're lucky on one shop... the best LFS around here is an hour away, open only a few hours a week... it's really just a very serious hobby for the owner. He cares about what he's doing, and that makes all the difference.

If Ozark Reefs closed their doors (they did, actually, but it was re-opened by another local enthusiast)... I'd probably be ordering online too.

TLReefs is only a few hours drive. I'll be making a trip down there when my tank is a bit more mature. Excellent selection. Kansas City has a few decent shops, I'd guess St. Louis does too. I'm about 3 hours away from either one. I guess maybe it's not so bad here.

 

[ksfulk]

Shopping around online for fish selection is one of those necessities if you are looking for a specific fish. Ive ordered from LA/DD without much issue. UniqueCorals has a limited selection, but good prices on the critters they offer (also have a guarantee). VividAquariums has a nice selection of fish and a guarantee as well (I shop for fish there, but almost always just end up buying corals!). Cherryfish has a new site and Ive been in house and the fish are QTed and shipped fat and healthy (bit of a premium for the QT, but Austin is doing it right!).

Other popular sites are NYAquatic, PacificIslandAquatics, BlueZoo and Reefwise. Ive seen fish that come shipped from these vendors and they do really well and look like good specimen out of the box. Reefwise and PIA usually have wrasses and anthias for sale round the clock. NYA has a little bit of everything, but generally has some larger angels and really fancy wrasses. BlueZoo has a bit of everything and the prices can be quite different than other sites (some higher, some lower), but their customer service is quite good.

 

[3mm3]

Your LFS choices are Worse? Than in Buffalo, Missouri? Really?

I guess we're lucky on one shop... the best LFS around here is an hour away, open only a few hours a week... it's really just a very serious hobby for the owner. He cares about what he's doing, and that makes all the difference.

If Ozark Reefs closed their doors (they did, actually, but it was re-opened by another local enthusiast)... I'd probably be ordering online too.

TLReefs is only a few hours drive. I'll be making a trip down there when my tank is a bit more mature. Excellent selection. Kansas City has a few decent shops, I'd guess St. Louis does too. I'm about 3 hours away from either one. I guess maybe it's not so bad here.

We seem to have the same situation going.

 

[3mm3]

Shopping around online for fish selection is one of those necessities if you are looking for a specific fish. Ive ordered from LA/DD without much issue. UniqueCorals has a limited selection, but good prices on the critters they offer (also have a guarantee). VividAquariums has a nice selection of fish and a guarantee as well (I shop for fish there, but almost always just end up buying corals!). Cherryfish has a new site and Ive been in house and the fish are QTed and shipped fat and healthy (bit of a premium for the QT, but Austin is doing it right!).

Other popular sites are NYAquatic, PacificIslandAquatics, BlueZoo and Reefwise. Ive seen fish that come shipped from these vendors and they do really well and look like good specimen out of the box. Reefwise and PIA usually have wrasses and anthias for sale round the clock. NYA has a little bit of everything, but generally has some larger angels and really fancy wrasses. BlueZoo has a bit of everything and the prices can be quite different than other sites (some higher, some lower), but their customer service is quite good.

Sweet lists!
I check liveaquaria, blue zoo and Nyauatic daily.
Going to check those others now thank you!

 

[ksfulk]

Forgot about PetSolutions - they use the same supplier as LiveAquaria and have the same guarantee, but cheaper shipping. Decent selection and health through them as well.

 

[Heather w]

Hello everyone I am deciding what fish to purchase for my RedSea Peninsula 650.
The only fish I currently have is my hippo tang. My goal is a nice active tank. Feedings will remain at 3 to 5 times a day. All fish purchased will go through quarantine. I am looking for thoughts and feedback on experiences. Also feedback on species group sizes.

Here are some that I am strongly looking at. Some I have had in past setups and some are new to me.
I'm using live aquaria pics because I may purchase from them.

Wrasses? Never had one i didnt love! I agree that damsels are/ can be aggressive. Try chomis. My yellow ones are brooding a cluth of eggs now. They are related, but thw attitude is night and day. Ive had some wonderful angels. Your largwr blennied have more personality than most i know.
Black comb blennies are in my favorite list. Jawfish...faves. i am waiting to find a nice sized pearly out of Florida. Antias are stunning but, for me?....no joy. I have 2 fire fish in purple. So fun. If your wanting a clown anwnome relationship gwt one 3 times their size. Rose are good for that. In all, the wrasse is my favorite. Ive never had one pluck at my corals like some say they do. Angels? Potters, rusty, yellow ot black sided are nice.

I do hope youre shopping online with a live warrantee, live aquaria is amazing. 2 week for fish and 30 for coral. Great shipping. Ive done my stocking for just about everything, from meds to live rock. I have had not a single issue with them.

Check them out and good luck

 

[Heather w]

Man I wish I had those options. Fish stores within a 2 hour drive one way are seriously lacking. This northeast coast is nothing compared to other places I have lived lol. Last store I checked told me to check in with them next week... Its really looking like I will be making most fish purchases online unfortunately.

Live aquaria.com is always an amazing choice. With them, you are never styck with leftovers or second choice.