Stocking list for 135g mixed reef

[zwalter38]

So I’m starting to look long term at the end goal of my stocking. It is a 135g 72”x20”x18”. I realize this most likely should be established somewhat before I started to add fish. However I just sorta went and looked at what my lfs had and now I want to make my final selections very particularly.
so here is what I currently have stocked.
2 ocellaris clowns
1 foxface
1 princess damsel
1 yellow watchman goby
1 algae blenny
1 male/female pair lyretail anthias

I’m in the process of trying to remove the damsel because I can’t even stick my hand in the tank without getting attacked.

What ideally I’d like to add is
1 yellow tang
1 white tail bristle tooth
1 Tomini tang
1 “reef safe” dwarf angel
Maybes
Long nose hawk fish
Diamond goby or another sand sifter

I may be way overstocking but it’s hard for me to tell. I’ve had plenty of freshwater tanks but the biggest was 20 gallons, and never a saltwater. So I don’t have a good grasp on stocking amounts for a tank of this size.

 

[Should I]

i don't think you would be way overstocked how old is the tank though diamond goby/sand sifter feed on ditritus in the sand so if its rather new i would wait abit to add these untill your sand gets dirty enough

 

[zwalter38]

It’s a year old. I’m confident in there being enough for the sand sifters. I have a few conchs, yellow watchman, brittle stars, and a sand sifting star. All are thriving. But to be honest the sifting goby wouldn’t be anytime soon. The next addition would be all three tangs at once. Id like to get all three at the same time. Preferably when they are fairly small, so I can QT them together and then add them to the display all at once. Hopefully to reduce aggression amongst them.

 

[Should I]

go for it dude ur fine for stocking :)

 

[zwalter38]

I also have thought about a powered blue tang. I have heard so many different opinions. So I figured I’ll ask for my tank specifically. Would I be able to swap the Tomini tang I had mentioned (in the group of tangs I planned on adding) for a powder blue? Originally I had just written off any Acanthurus tang, but the more I read I saw a lot of people doing it in a 6’ 125g.

 

[littlefoxx]

I also have thought about a powered blue tang. I have heard so many different opinions. So I figured I’ll ask for my tank specifically. Would I be able to swap the Tomini tang I had mentioned (in the group of tangs I planned on adding) for a powder blue? Originally I had just written off any Acanthurus tang, but the more I read I saw a lot of people doing it in a 6’ 125g.

So I was one of those who did a powder blue in a 6 foot 125… 10/10 would not recommend. Fish was a nightmare in there, killed a tusk, and was trying to kill my purple and yellow tangs. I wouldnt do it if I were you! Rehomed her because she was attacking everything within a few weeks.

 

[zwalter38]

So I was one of those who did a powder blue in a 6 foot 125… 10/10 would not recommend. Fish was a nightmare in there, killed a tusk, and was trying to kill my purple and yellow tangs. I wouldnt do it if I were you! Rehomed her because she was attacking everything within a few weeks.

that’s kinda what I was thinking originally. I just keep ending up getting the same color pallet of fish. Red orange yellow and pinkish. I was hoping to add the powder blue since it would be drastically different to the other fish colors

 

[littlefoxx]

that’s kinda what I was thinking originally. I just keep ending up getting the same color pallet of fish. Red orange yellow and pinkish. I was hoping to add the powder blue since it would be drastically different to the other fish colors

Yeah they are beautiful but are terrors! I would choose between a tomini and a whatever bristletooth you want, a tomini is a bristletooth tang too. They dont get along with eachother well. My white tail is very in everyones face!

 

[zwalter38]

Yeah they are beautiful but are terrors! I would choose between a tomini and a whatever bristletooth you want, a tomini is a bristletooth tang too. They dont get along with eachother well. My white tail is very in everyones face!

I was looking to get a group of three. I really like the white tail but would consider any group of tangs really. Is a group of three realistic would you say? Also what would your choices be if a group of three is possible?

 

[littlefoxx]

I was looking to get a group of three. I really like the white tail but would consider any group of tangs really. Is a group of three realistic would you say? Also what would your choices be if a group of three is possible?

Group of three tangs yeah, Im assuming this is a six foot tank? You could do a yellow, a white tail and another smaller tang!

 

[zwalter38]

Group of three tangs yeah, Im assuming this is a six foot tank? You could do a yellow, a white tail and another smaller tang!

Yea it is a 6’ tank. That’s why I chose a Tomini because it was a smaller one, I didn’t realize there was aggression between bristletooths. I understand tangs are aggressive especially to each other, but I didn’t realize specifically between bristletooths. Any suggestions for smaller tangs that would fit well with a yellow and white tail?

 

[littlefoxx]

Yea it is a 6’ tank. That’s why I chose a Tomini because it was a smaller one, I didn’t realize there was aggression between bristletooths. I understand tangs are aggressive especially to each other, but I didn’t realize specifically between bristletooths. Any suggestions for smaller tangs that would fit well with a yellow and white tail?

A chocolate tang would be cool! Maybe even a powder brown, they are not as nasty as the powder blues! Those 3 would give you a good variety of tangs, recommend adding them together

 

[zwalter38]

A chocolate tang would be cool! Maybe even a powder brown, they are not as nasty as the powder blues! Those 3 would give you a good variety of tangs, recommend adding them together

Yea I’m definitely adding them together, I’m going to see if my lfs can order them in somewhat small so I can qt them together and Add them at the same time. I may look into a powder brown. I’ve never seen a chocolate tang before, they are neat

 

[littlefoxx]

Yea I’m definitely adding them together, I’m going to see if my lfs can order them in somewhat small so I can qt them together and Add them at the same time. I may look into a powder brown. I’ve never seen a chocolate tang before, they are neat

Yeah! They can be aggressive but less than the powder blue for sure

 

[Should I]

my powder blue was not as evil as everyone says they are i had a mirror up cause i had just added a new wrasse and was abit stressed but the fish probs would have left it alone anyways would i do another 1 nah cause they have no chill they swim constantly i would get another zebrasoma though maybe UK fish are more chill than US fish :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

 

[zwalter38]

my powder blue was not as evil as everyone says they are i had a mirror up cause i had just added a new wrasse and was abit stressed but the fish probs would have left it alone anyways would i do another 1 nah cause they have no chill they swim constantly i would get another zebrasoma though maybe UK fish are more chill than US fish :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

It always seems to boil down to the individual fish in terms of behavior.