How do you prefer to Stock a tank?

[D'sreef]

Some reefers meticulously plan what fish or inverts to buy before purchasing a tank or even begin to cycle. Some just buy what looks good at LFS. Some just choose chaos and let the system tell you want you need based on what problems you have arise. I am definitely more of the later, and think that a healthy system contains fish who are all employed in some task at keeping the tank clean. What's the right way?

 

[CopepodsForSale Verified Sponsor]

Some reefers meticulously plan what fish or inverts to buy before purchasing a tank or even begin to cycle. Some just buy what looks good at LFS. Some just choose chaos and let the system tell you want you need based on what problems you have arise. I am definitely more of the later, and think that a healthy system contains fish who are all employed in some task at keeping the tank clean. What's the right way?

I am definitely in the "let the system tell you what it needs" camp. I think a lot of people overthink stocking lists and miss the fact that a healthy tank kind of guides you if you pay attention.

That said I am a huge believer in building your cleanup crew and micro life before you even think about adding fish. Get your pods, snails, and hermits established first, let the tank develop some natural balance, and then start adding fish slowly based on what you are actually seeing in the system. If you are getting algae buildup, maybe a blenny or tang makes sense. If your pod population is thriving, that is a green light for a mandarin down the road.

The reefers who plan every single fish before the tank is even wet usually end up changing that list six times anyway once the tank starts doing its own thing. I say have a general idea of what you want but stay flexible and let the ecosystem guide you.

 

[littlefoxx]

I planned my stock around the fish I liked, which tend to be more aggressive and predatory I have the perfect balance of fish right now and I enjoy my tank. They all get along really well minus some chasing here and there. I had to plan my fish around Calypso, my sailfin because shes the biggest and tank boss. She pretty much dictates if a new fish stays or goes! But Im full stocked so nothing to worry there.

 

[PharmrJohn]

For my upcoming tank I've got a list of fish I like. Most of these fish are utilitarian. Some are there to look good, but I want to know that most have a job that'll be good for the ecosystem. Since we cannot truly have a complete ecosystem, I want to try to get just a little closer. I consider it a win-win.

 

[christinna77]

I don't think there's one right way. Once I got my tilefish, I started building the tank around him. I rehomed several fish that bothered him, skipped stuff like anemones after reading about at least two cases of tilefish darting into them, and now I research every potential new fish very carefully to make sure it'll live peacefully with him.

 

[slingfox]

Planning out the tank to the most painful level of detail is half the fun with setting up a tank

 

[D'sreef]

Planning out the tank to the most painful level of detail is half the fun with setting up a tank

 

[i cant think]

Some reefers meticulously plan what fish or inverts to buy before purchasing a tank or even begin to cycle. Some just buy what looks good at LFS. Some just choose chaos and let the system tell you want you need based on what problems you have arise. I am definitely more of the later, and think that a healthy system contains fish who are all employed in some task at keeping the tank clean. What's the right way?

Last time I started my 5 foot system, it was more seeing what would appear in the shop that I liked. And that’s similar to how I’m doing it now, with the reset, except I’m going somewhat slower and after more specific species - but there’s nothing to say I won’t grab a rare or interesting wrasse if I see one.

Currently it’s a case of trying to regain the species I had prior to the crash, which so far I have been successful in getting a female Efatensis/Bathyphylus and an Iridis that’s around the same size (<1 inch).

 

[Waters]

There really is no right way. I always start with everything I want, then eventually end up removing all of the non reef safe fish because I realize that they are more problems then they are worth lol.

 

[BriansBrain]

I’ve come to appreciate more smaller even the “beginner” fish to give a lot of depth to the tank as opposed to mostly big fish.

I stopped keeping fish that have a specific diet or “difficult/expert”: copperband, dragonets, bengaii cardinals, most anthias etc. If I leave for a week or two the only food is going to be pellets and I only feed frozen 1x-2x per week now anyways. I’m tired of the heartache and stress they bring haha. Also I have bare bottom, so no sand dwellers.

Probably controversial but I think most snails, hermits, and adding copepods are over rated and marketed to push sales. If the tank size is appropriate, I’ll take urchins, a fox face, and a tang over an army of standard snails and hermits any day. However if the tank is to small for utilitarian fish then add the inverts