Stocking order for a new predator tank

gillskills · Apr 22, 2019

hi everyone,

I’ve read on this site for ages but never posted, so hello and glad to be here. In a few weeks I’ll be breaking down a 54 corner reef and upgrading to a 125, which I would like to stock at a predator tank. The goal is to keep a few softies and LPS along with the following fish:

Harlequin Tuskfish
Powder blue tang (tank size permitting- if not I’ll do a kole, this is partially for algae control)
Marine betta
Orange toadfish
Longspine urchins for algae control
Possibly the flame angel from my current tank

So my question is this: in what order would you all introduce these fish to minimize aggression and appropriately build up the biological filter? And do you think the dwarf angel would be okay with those tankmates?

I look forward to hearing some constructive advice from the community on this one.

lion king · Apr 22, 2019

Welcome, glad you decided to join in. What jumps out at me is the PBT and flame angel, both can be aggressive. In a 125g the flame really should be fine, they are more likely to be a butt in a smaller tank. Be careful of the size of everything as the toadfish will eat anything and everything they can get down, and a much larger fish than you might imagine. I don't think I'd trust one with a flame angel. make sure your other fish are definitely larger. The harlequin tusk looks menacing, with the exception of their aggressive behavior towards some other wrasses, are actually pussycats. The betta is a shy fish that does pose a danger to smaller fish and inverts but are not aggressive. so the HT and the MB 1st and the PBT last. Be careful of any additions after the toadfish to make sure he doesn't get confused, and think it's food.

gillskills · Apr 22, 2019

lion king said:
Welcome, glad you decided to join in. What jumps out at me is the PBT and flame angel, both can be aggressive. In a 125g the flame really should be fine, they are more likely to be a butt in a smaller tank. Be careful of the size of everything as the toadfish will eat anything and everything they can get down, and a much larger fish than you might imagine. I don't think I'd trust one with a flame angel. make sure your other fish are definitely larger. The harlequin tusk looks menacing, with the exception of their aggressive behavior towards some other wrasses, are actually pussycats. The betta is a shy fish that does pose a danger to smaller fish and inverts but are not aggressive. so the HT and the MB 1st and the PBT last. Be careful of any additions after the toadfish to make sure he doesn't get confused, and think it's food.

Thanks for the input! I’m excited to hear the HT can go in sooner, those are really my favorite of the bunch. Also, to clarify, the flame angel has been in my 54 corner 8 months now and doesn’t bother anyone- I was more worried it would become food for something else in there. Very valuable info on the PBT as well- I would’ve put it in first, as the only non-predator of the bunch.

lion king · Apr 22, 2019

gillskills said:
Thanks for the input! I’m excited to hear the HT can go in sooner, those are really my favorite of the bunch. Also, to clarify, the flame angel has been in my 54 corner 8 months now and doesn’t bother anyone- I was more worried it would become food for something else in there. Very valuable info on the PBT as well- I would’ve put it in first, as the only non-predator of the bunch.

Yes I meant the flame could become food for the toadfish.