How many is too many?

[Aloha Corals]

Aloha R2R.

How many fish is too many? I hear the "minimum tank size" rules and then I hear the "swimming room" stand.

I currently have a 72"L x 18"W x 15"H being built for me in California. I've been playing around with a stocking list. Believe it or not, this is a slimmed down list.

Take a look for me... If you think I'm nuts, please tell me! Compatibility issues, experiences, etc... I'm looking for feedback.

- Black & White Ocellaris x2 (Amphiprion ocellaris var.) These fish are in my possesion already and have secured a spot in my tank until i can ship in an elos mini for them.


- Tinkerii Butterflyfish (Chaeton tinkeri)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-88689-tinkerii-butterfly.jpg

- Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/surgeonfishes/ctenochaetus-strigosus-juv.jpg

- Chevron Tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis)
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/surgeonfishes/ctenochaetus-hawaiiensis-2.jpg

- Potter's Wrasse (Macropharyngodon geoffroy)
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/wrasses/macropharyngodon-geoffroy-f.jpg

- Leopard Wrasse [female] (Macropharyngodon meleagris)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-75917-wrasse.jpg

- Golden Rhomboid Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-80228-Golden-Rhomboidali.jpg

- Labout's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus laboutei)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-26155-Labout's-Fairy.jpg

- Lineatus Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lineatus)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-89159-Lineatus-Fairy-Male.jpg

- Hawaiian Flame Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus jordani)
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/wrasses/cirrhilabrus-jordani-m-2.jpg

- Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/wrasses/labroides-phthirophagus.jpg

- Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-24048-trigger.jpg

AC-Kevin

 

[jaytizzle]

Some of those are pretty challenging fish. That tank has odd dimensions so you have a lot of horizontal swimming room which makes me at first say that having multiple large fish (i.e. tangs, triggers, etc.) will be fine but it isn't a whole lot of water volume which is where you would likely run into issues as far as maintaining high water quality. If you are diligent on your maintenance then I don't see a problem with that stocking. If you aren't then I would certainly remove one of the tangs that you have picked. Otherwise it all looks fine. You could also add schooling fish (i.e. chromis, cardinals, etc.) to the mix to add some activity.

 

[Aloha Corals]

Some of those are pretty challenging fish. That tank has odd dimensions so you have a lot of horizontal swimming room which makes me at first say that having multiple large fish (i.e. tangs, triggers, etc.) will be fine but it isn't a whole lot of water volume which is where you would likely run into issues as far as maintaining high water quality. If you are diligent on your maintenance then I don't see a problem with that stocking. If you aren't then I would certainly remove one of the tangs that you have picked. Otherwise it all looks fine. You could also add schooling fish (i.e. chromis, cardinals, etc.) to the mix to add some activity.

Thanks for the comments. I could remove the Chevron. I'd like to keep the Kole for its cleaning work. I have a Kole in each of my frag tanks and they sure do poop alot. lol

My wife wants the Niger... Especially after seeing the one at Waikiki Aquarium pace back and forth across the tank.

Kevin

 

[Aloha Corals]

After speaking with a good friend on wrasse compatibility, i've slimmed the stock list down to:

The list would look more like this:

- Black & White Ocellaris x2 (Amphiprion ocellaris var.)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-90001-clownfish.jpg

- Tinkerii Butterflyfish (Chaeton tinkeri)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-88689-tinkerii-butterfly.jpg

- Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/surgeonfishes/ctenochaetus-strigosus-juv.jpg

- Potter's Wrasse (Macropharyngodon geoffroy)
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/wrasses/macropharyngodon-geoffroy-f.jpg

- Golden Rhomboid Wrasse Pair (Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-80228-Golden-Rhomboidali.jpg

- Lineatus Fairy Wrasse Pair (Cirrhilabrus lineatus)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-89159-Lineatus-Fairy-Male.jpg

- Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/wrasses/labroides-phthirophagus.jpg

- Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/images/categories/product/p-24048-trigger.jpg

 

[jaytizzle]

Looks good... not a bad list at all.

 

[jam3s]

I'm glad you kept the Tinkeri and Potter's wrasse in there. Two fishes that I will be getting for my new tank.

Right now I have a 60g and for the last few months there have been 8 fishes in there. I tested my nitrate recently, and it was decently high. I decide to remove 2 of the fishes (into separate tank) to see if that will lower the nitrate a bit. I think the nitrate is high due to all the food that I'm feeding to the fishes. I feed twice a day , and it's probably too much for my system to handle.

Hopefully my nitrates will go down a bit with some large water changes.

But good luck with that list of fishes! Your tank going to be sweet!

 

[wrasseluver]

I'm not sure if I would mix a Lineatus and and a Golden Rhomboid in the same tank I had them both and had to get rid of the Lineatus. They had some really bad fights but that's just my 2 cents.

 

[Aloha Corals]

I'm not sure if I would mix a Lineatus and and a Golden Rhomboid in the same tank I had them both and had to get rid of the Lineatus. They had some really bad fights but that's just my 2 cents.

Do you have any experiance on which of the two are the bad eggs. It's hard for me to decide between those four fairies listed in the first post. To be honest any two would be good with me.

I would think flames and laboutes are the least aggressive.

Kevin

 

[wrasseluver]

I have a flame and I had Golden Rhomboid and they got along good. The Lineatus did get along with the flame and the Rhomboid. I sold the Lineatus.

 

[Aloha Corals]

I have a flame and I had Golden Rhomboid and they got along good. The Lineatus did get along with the flame and the Rhomboid. I sold the Lineatus.

Thanks. I think I can deal those two types of fairies.

Now my wife just threw me a curve ball and suggested a heram of one type. How do you choose between the four above!? Lol.

 

[wrasseluver]

I would go with the flames.