Stocking List Proposal - 500gal

[ElussssvReefSD]

Hey everyone!

My custom build is coming along and should be arriving in the next 4-5 weeks, so I've developed and finalized my stocking list! Tcychis tank will be 500 gallons (108x36x30), and will be a primarily SPS reef with an open aquascape, and the random LPS thrown in here and there I'm sure. I plan on cycling w/ Live Rock for at least 3-4 months to allow for the microbiome and pod/phyto population to build a base food-chain, then add corals/inverts, then slowly start adding fish according to the plan below. My plan is for 3 phases of fish, Phase 1 being the hardier and more peaceful residents, followed by Phase 2 which are slightly more ornery or have more specialized needs such as a booming pod population, then concluding with Phase 3 which basically consist of the bullies and psychotics (aka Tangs).

So without further ado... here is my stocking plan. Take a gander, let me know what you think and feel free to point out anything that I may have missed (nicely please)!

Drumroll.......................


Phase 1 Peaceful & Friendly

Forktail Blenny (Meiacanthus atrodorsalis)
Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
Copperband Butterfly (Chelmon rostratus)
White Storm Clownfish Pair (Amphiprion ocellaris variant)
Blue Caribbean Chromis School (Chromis cyanea)
Spotted Drum (Equetus punctatus)
Neon Cleaner Goby Gang (Elactinus oceanops)
Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifons)
Melanurus Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)

Phase 2 Ornery and/or Needing Pods (8-9mos post-cycling)

Lemonpeel Angel (Centropyge flavissimus)
Potter's Angel (Centropyge potteri)
Watanabei Angel Pair (Genicanthus watanabei)
Mitratus Butterfly (Chaetodon mitratus)
Ruby Red Dragonet (Synchiropus sycorax)
Bella Goby Pair (Valenciennea bella)
Peppermint Candy Cane Hogfish (Bodianus sepiacauda)
Candy Cane Femininus Wrasse (Anampses femininus)
Fairy Lineatus Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lineatus)
Golden Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis)
Laboute's Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus laboutei)

Phase 3 The Aggros and Psychotics for Last

Queen Angel (Holacanthus ciliaris)
Achilles Tang (Acanthurus achilles)
Bristletooth White Tail Tang (Ctenochaetus flauvicauda)
Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)


So, whadda ya think?

 

[reef lover]

Looks like a good list. I would only change adding all wrasses together...the melanarus is quite ornery as well.

 

[pcon]

Hogfish can be pretty nasty, often intolerant of other labrids. Big enough tank it may work out, but you have some really sensitive wrasses on that list. I might skip or move to the third group.

 

[ElussssvReefSD]

Looks like a good list. I would only change adding all wrasses together...the melanarus is quite ornery as well.

Hmmm.... okay. I was thinking the Melanarus in the earlier group because it's hardier than the others but you're saying it would beat up on the other wrasses if added beforehand?

 

[ElussssvReefSD]

Hogfish can be pretty nasty, often intolerant of other labrids. Big enough tank it may work out, but you have some really sensitive wrasses on that list. I might skip or move to the third group.

Thanks for the tip, I didn't realize the hog may try and beat up on the wrasses. And wrasses > hogfish in my opinion so the hogfish is most likely off the list. See? This is why I love this forum!

Any ideas about another fish that has similar red and white coloration that may be a little more well-behaved?

 

[pcon]

Peppermint angelfish? I Kidd, unfortunately red and white is some what an uncommon color. Perhaps a skunk tile fish, Hoplolatius marcosi?

 

[ElussssvReefSD]

Peppermint angelfish? I Kidd, unfortunately red and white is some what an uncommon color. Perhaps a skunk tile fish, Hoplolatius marcosi?

I did look at that one, I read that they usually don't do very well though. Have you had any experience with one?

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Achilies tang and powderblue... you are joking right?

Take those two fish out and make a separate group.. the meanest tangs known to man that will fight to the death.

 

[pcon]

I don't have experience with tile fish, though I doubt they are as difficult as the femininus.

 

[ElussssvReefSD]

Achilies tang and powderblue... you are joking right?

Take those two fish out and make a separate group.. the meanest tangs known to man that will fight to the death.

Nope not joking. Was going to follow the advice put forward by @4FordFamily about creating a "Tang Gang" to spread out the aggression and introduce them simultaneously as the very last additions.

Rest assured though that I am well-aware that there are no guarantees with these beautiful little psychos but I'm hoping to replicate other's success with the above intro method.

 

[Squidward]

Achilies tang and powderblue... you are joking right?

Take those two fish out and make a separate group.. the meanest tangs known to man that will fight to the death.

I have them both in my 300g. Of course they are the bullies of the tank. Had the PBT first then added the Achilles a few months later. PBT went after the Achilles as soon as he saw it. They bickered and fought and I was afraid I might have to pull the PBT but the Achilles never backed down. About an hour later, the Achilles put the PBT in its place. They are still on the smaller size but have already bullied all but the larger White tail bristletooth Tang. So yes it can work especially in a 500g. The true biggest Bullies are the Sohal and Clown tangs...which I won't even bother with.

 

[reef lover]

Hmmm.... okay. I was thinking the Melanarus in the earlier group because it's hardier than the others but you're saying it would beat up on the other wrasses if added beforehand?

Yes if the melanarus gets established it will be hard to add other wrasses later on.

 

[ElussssvReefSD]

Yes if the melanarus gets established it will be hard to add other wrasses later on.

Alright good to know. So the Melanarus is now officially in the punk group. Any other switches y'all think I should make?

 

[reef lover]

I think i cant wait to see it in action!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I think you would want another tang in there to spread out the agression a little. Also something that can hold it's own, like a desjardini, powder brown, or quite honestly, a sohal. The only thing that kept my achilies in check was my sohal. He is dominant but not actually aggressive like PB and achilies can be.

 

[ElussssvReefSD]

I think you would want another tang in there to spread out the agression a little. Also something that can hold it's own, like a desjardini, powder brown, or quite honestly, a sohal. The only thing that kept my achilies in check was my sohal. He is dominant but not actually aggressive like PB and achilies can be.

I do really like the Sohal Tang, just heard that they were too aggressive. But I'd def be down for making it a gang of 5.