Moorish Idols (Zanclus cornutus) are my favorite fish by far (bad choice, I know).
I have never kept a single one due to their reputation.
And I would REALLY like to keep one or multiple long term...
I will have a 1000 gallon tank (320,5x120x95cm or about 11'x4'x3') comming in about 3 weeks time, and would like to try keeping Moorish Idols in there.
So now my Question, what would be the ideal way to start up a tank for these fish?
I have read the article 'Keeping The Mysterious Moorish Idol', but it is mostly about how to introduce one in your already running system.
I never found articles/experiences where a tank was built to their needs and stocking it safely always with the moorish idols in mind as the primary fish.
So what would be ideal?
Should I just start it up like normal with safe fish, and introducing one or multiple moorish idol after 2 or 3 years?
Or should I take this opportunity with a new large tank and try a different aproach.
I was thinking:
- Let the tank run dark, curing the rock 2 months, also introducing sponges.
- then lights on and introduce coral, invertebrates and a few functional fish (no fish that compete for food or space with moorish idols)
- Intoruce the moorish idols after 4-6 months, and after the proper quarantine
- When they are well established and feeding well, introduce the rest of the stocking:
The more peaceful tangs like tomini, yellow eye cole, blonde naso?, group of anthias, maybe navarchus angel,...
No sohals, zebrasomas, or other fish with sometimes bad characters
Or another option:
- Let tank run dark, afterwards sponges, coral, invertebrates, but no fish.
- Introduce Moorish idols as the first fish after 4-6 months, without quarantine (only 1x freshwater dip), and get them directly from wholesale without any sellers in between
Only check if they are fat and healthy, fresh from the reef.
This may reduce stress as no quanantine procedures needed, no 40G cramped spaces for months.
And This way I may have more time to get them eating, and they only need to adapt once....
Then watching them closely for 2 months before adding the rest of the fish, who of course will need full quarantine.
This could be seen as a light non medicated quarantine as they are the first and only fish in the tank.
And how many Moorish Idols? I could put in 5-8 in a 1000 gallon, and see how they do? If they get agressive after some time I'll take some out.
But maybe in this large a tank it can be done, as 2 may keep fighting but if 1 out of 8 is the boss and picks on the rest, everyone gets 1/7th of the agression.
I am very curious of your opinions!
I would like to try it the best way possible, and have a lot of patience if needed.
I have never kept a single one due to their reputation.
And I would REALLY like to keep one or multiple long term...
I will have a 1000 gallon tank (320,5x120x95cm or about 11'x4'x3') comming in about 3 weeks time, and would like to try keeping Moorish Idols in there.
So now my Question, what would be the ideal way to start up a tank for these fish?
I have read the article 'Keeping The Mysterious Moorish Idol', but it is mostly about how to introduce one in your already running system.
I never found articles/experiences where a tank was built to their needs and stocking it safely always with the moorish idols in mind as the primary fish.
So what would be ideal?
Should I just start it up like normal with safe fish, and introducing one or multiple moorish idol after 2 or 3 years?
Or should I take this opportunity with a new large tank and try a different aproach.
I was thinking:
- Let the tank run dark, curing the rock 2 months, also introducing sponges.
- then lights on and introduce coral, invertebrates and a few functional fish (no fish that compete for food or space with moorish idols)
- Intoruce the moorish idols after 4-6 months, and after the proper quarantine
- When they are well established and feeding well, introduce the rest of the stocking:
The more peaceful tangs like tomini, yellow eye cole, blonde naso?, group of anthias, maybe navarchus angel,...
No sohals, zebrasomas, or other fish with sometimes bad characters
Or another option:
- Let tank run dark, afterwards sponges, coral, invertebrates, but no fish.
- Introduce Moorish idols as the first fish after 4-6 months, without quarantine (only 1x freshwater dip), and get them directly from wholesale without any sellers in between
Only check if they are fat and healthy, fresh from the reef.
This may reduce stress as no quanantine procedures needed, no 40G cramped spaces for months.
And This way I may have more time to get them eating, and they only need to adapt once....
Then watching them closely for 2 months before adding the rest of the fish, who of course will need full quarantine.
This could be seen as a light non medicated quarantine as they are the first and only fish in the tank.
And how many Moorish Idols? I could put in 5-8 in a 1000 gallon, and see how they do? If they get agressive after some time I'll take some out.
But maybe in this large a tank it can be done, as 2 may keep fighting but if 1 out of 8 is the boss and picks on the rest, everyone gets 1/7th of the agression.
I am very curious of your opinions!
I would like to try it the best way possible, and have a lot of patience if needed.