Thoughts on Fish List - 200 gallon (72"x28"35")

[kmwcane]

Hello everyone! I wanted input on my stocking list for my 200 gallon (72"x28"35") tank. Is this just right or too many fish? See any issues? My list is ordered in how I will introduce the fish, which will be done in groups after the fish complete quarantine.

Group 1

1. 8 lyretail anthias
2. tesselated blenny
3. orange spotted blenny

Group 2

1. bell's flasher wrasse
2. red tail flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus rubricaudalis)
3. pink streaked wrasse (Psudocheilinops ataenia)

Group 3

1. lineatus fairy wrasse
2. girdled fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus balteatus)
3. either Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus or Cirrhilabrus nahackyi

Group 4

1. watanabei angelfish (female)
2. achilles tang or gold rim tang
3. purple tang

 

[i cant think]

Hello everyone! I wanted input on my stocking list for my 200 gallon (72"x28"35") tank. Is this just right or too many fish? See any issues? My list is ordered in how I will introduce the fish, which will be done in groups after the fish complete quarantine.

Group 1

1. 8 lyretail anthias
2. tesselated blenny
3. orange spotted blenny

Group 2

1. bell's flasher wrasse
2. red tail flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus rubricaudalis)
3. pink streaked wrasse (Psudocheilinops ataenia)

Group 3

1. lineatus fairy wrasse
2. girdled fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus balteatus)
3. either Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus or Cirrhilabrus nahackyi

Group 4

1. watanabei angelfish (female)
2. achilles tang or gold rim tang
3. purple tang

As a whole great list, I’d rethink the Pseudocheilinops ataenia personally as it’s likely to get overwhelmed with the high activity fish going in later down the line.

Also the C. Bathyphylus/nahackyi I would put in sooner, ideally alongside the bellae & rubricaudalis as both Bathyphylus and Nahackyi can be fairly shy (the whole Bathy complex is rather shy to start with) and if added with the other fairies may get targeted into hiding so I’d say it’s best with them to add them after the Bath/Nahack is settled.

Other than that, the only thing I’d look at is potentially a few more wrasses of the other genera (Anampses, Macropharyngodon, Pseudojuloides) or even maybe a couple more Cirrhilabrus and Paracheilinus if you have no sand. A personal favourite of mine is C. laboutei.

Also, if you go for the Achilles, I’d probably steer away from another tang due to their hyperactivity and almost requirement to be the dominant one in the tank. I’d also do this because the wrasses you want can be quite easily bullied and startled by sudden activity and I’ve had it where wrasses are completely fine initially but tangs can become slightly too dominant for them and sometimes will stress them into hiding.

 

[kmwcane]

As a whole great list, I’d rethink the Pseudocheilinops ataenia personally as it’s likely to get overwhelmed with the high activity fish going in later down the line.

Also the C. Bathyphylus/nahackyi I would put in sooner, ideally alongside the bellae & rubricaudalis as both Bathyphylus and Nahackyi can be fairly shy (the whole Bathy complex is rather shy to start with) and if added with the other fairies may get targeted into hiding so I’d say it’s best with them to add them after the Bath/Nahack is settled.

Other than that, the only thing I’d look at is potentially a few more wrasses of the other genera (Anampses, Macropharyngodon, Pseudojuloides) or even maybe a couple more Cirrhilabrus and Paracheilinus if you have no sand. A personal favourite of mine is C. laboutei.

Also, if you go for the Achilles, I’d probably steer away from another tang due to their hyperactivity and almost requirement to be the dominant one in the tank. I’d also do this because the wrasses you want can be quite easily bullied and startled by sudden activity and I’ve had it where wrasses are completely fine initially but tangs can become slightly too dominant for them and sometimes will stress them into hiding.

Thank you for the detailed response, this is very much appreciated! A few follow up comments/questions:

1. Regarding the other non-fairy/flasher wrasses you mentioned, the sand I am using has a larger grain size (3-5 mm) since this is a high flow Acropora dominate system. Given this, I assumed most, if not all, wrasses that need to bury themselves were out of the picture for me. Do you agree with my assumption or are there some that are okay with larger grain sized sand?
2. I do like C. laboutei and will add it to my list. What about also adding C. aurantidorsalis to my group?
3. As for an additional flasher, thoughts on the eight line flasher? I know they get a bit larger and are more boisterous than most other flashers so I don't want to cause too many issues... Maybe add it later after the other flashers have been in the tank for a while?
4. Would a couple of exquisite firefish be good additions? Or is my combo of high flow and more active fish too much for them?
5. Let's say I don't go with the achilles and choose the gold rim or another Acanthurus like a powder blue - would a Zebrosoma or Ctenochaetus tang work with them?
6. Could I have another Genicanthus angel with the watanabei, like a swallowtail? If I went this route, I'd drop one of the tangs I think.
7. Any other fish you would recommend for my tank? I thought about a pyramid butterfly but I have one in my other aquarium and it feasts on any snails, shrimp or crabs that I've tried to add (otherwise its great, doesn't bother coral) so I am passing on butterflies in this tank.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Hello everyone! I wanted input on my stocking list for my 200 gallon (72"x28"35") tank. Is this just right or too many fish? See any issues? My list is ordered in how I will introduce the fish, which will be done in groups after the fish complete quarantine.

Group 1

1. 8 lyretail anthias
2. tesselated blenny
3. orange spotted blenny

Group 2

1. bell's flasher wrasse
2. red tail flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus rubricaudalis)
3. pink streaked wrasse (Psudocheilinops ataenia)

Group 3

1. lineatus fairy wrasse
2. girdled fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus balteatus)
3. either Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus or Cirrhilabrus nahackyi

Group 4

1. watanabei angelfish (female)
2. achilles tang or gold rim tang
3. purple tang

You described a 300 gallon aquarium, not a 200 gallon.

 

[i cant think]

Thank you for the detailed response, this is very much appreciated! A few follow up comments/questions:

1. Regarding the other non-fairy/flasher wrasses you mentioned, the sand I am using has a larger grain size (3-5 mm) since this is a high flow Acropora dominate system. Given this, I assumed most, if not all, wrasses that need to bury themselves were out of the picture for me. Do you agree with my assumption or are there some that are okay with larger grain sized sand?
2. I do like C. laboutei and will add it to my list. What about also adding C. aurantidorsalis to my group?
3. As for an additional flasher, thoughts on the eight line flasher? I know they get a bit larger and are more boisterous than most other flashers so I don't want to cause too many issues... Maybe add it later after the other flashers have been in the tank for a while?
4. Would a couple of exquisite firefish be good additions? Or is my combo of high flow and more active fish too much for them?
5. Let's say I don't go with the achilles and choose the gold rim or another Acanthurus like a powder blue - would a Zebrosoma or Ctenochaetus tang work with them?
6. Could I have another Genicanthus angel with the watanabei, like a swallowtail? If I went this route, I'd drop one of the tangs I think.
7. Any other fish you would recommend for my tank? I thought about a pyramid butterfly but I have one in my other aquarium and it feasts on any snails, shrimp or crabs that I've tried to add (otherwise its great, doesn't bother coral) so I am passing on butterflies in this tank.

1. I have sand around 3-5mm mixed into my sandbed in my wrasse tank and they were all good with it. Halichoeres species are the most robust but the other genera, Pseudojuloides, Macropharyngodon and Anampses, should also work with it. I’ve had Cirrhilabrus, Paracheilinus, and the above genera (plus some other sand sleepers like Hologymnosus and Xenojulis) and whilst I have about 3-4 different grain sizes mixed in, they weren’t affected by the 3-5mm.

2. C. aurantidorsalis should be good, I’d add it later down the line just to make sure the other fairies/flashers have a chance to settle.

3. Whilst it hasn’t been an Eight Line, I’ve had both an Attenuatus and Hemitaeniatus (the closest relatives within the same complex) and whilst they could become more pushy, as long as new flashers/fairies were added in groups they weren’t a major issue. I have been looking at going for a couple of eight lines in my 5 foot 180G recently as I’ve been replanning the wrasses I go for and what I do. Below the answers to the above post is the way I’d do the wrasse groupings with these additional Cirrhilabrus/Paracheilinus.

4. Exquisite Firefish would be a good choice if you wanted a pair of them, however if you wanted a group of Firefish the best species I find is the Magnifica (Reds) to mix as a group as they are naturally communal whilst the other species in the genus prefer to be more solitary or paired.

5. Yep! If you went for a different species it could work, I’d personally go for the Acanthurus and a Zebrasoma, as opposed to a Ctenochaetus as I have had them become unnecessarily aggressive towards wrasses. As for which Acanthurus to choose, I’d recommend a Gold Rim personally as they have a smaller maximum size overall and are the most peaceful out of the Powder Tangs (A. nigricans, A. japonicus, A. leucosternon & A. achilles).

6. Yes you could have another Genicanthus, I’ve seen a few tanks where they have 3-5 Genicanthus together, both pairs and singles. If it was me personally, I’d go for a Bellus and Watanabei or a pair of Watanabeis. I find nothing can beat the colours of a good male Watanabei.

7. Other fish I’d look at are mainly small species like certain Cardinals of the Ostorhinchus genus, but also the Prognathodes butterflies. They’re smaller so don’t often target large snails, crabs or shrimp. I’ve had the Marcellae before in a display tank, but I personally love P. Aculeatus (Caribbean Long Nose).

8. How I’d add the new/potential ones I’ve recommended;

Group 1

1. 8 lyretail anthias
2. tesselated blenny
3. orange spotted blenny
4. Exquisite or Red Firefish

Group 2

1. bell's flasher wrasse
2. red tail flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus rubricaudalis)
3. Cirrhilabrus Bathyphylus/Nahackyi

Group 3

1. lineatus fairy wrasse
2. girdled fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus balteatus)
3. Cirrhilabrus laboutei
4. Paracheilinus octotaenia

Group 4

1. watanabei angelfish (female)
2. achilles tang or gold rim tang
3. purple tang

Or

1. Watanabei Angel
2. Other Genicanthus species
3. Acanthurus or Zebrasoma tang

 

[kmwcane]

1. I have sand around 3-5mm mixed into my sandbed in my wrasse tank and they were all good with it. Halichoeres species are the most robust but the other genera, Pseudojuloides, Macropharyngodon and Anampses, should also work with it. I’ve had Cirrhilabrus, Paracheilinus, and the above genera (plus some other sand sleepers like Hologymnosus and Xenojulis) and whilst I have about 3-4 different grain sizes mixed in, they weren’t affected by the 3-5mm.

2. C. aurantidorsalis should be good, I’d add it later down the line just to make sure the other fairies/flashers have a chance to settle.

3. Whilst it hasn’t been an Eight Line, I’ve had both an Attenuatus and Hemitaeniatus (the closest relatives within the same complex) and whilst they could become more pushy, as long as new flashers/fairies were added in groups they weren’t a major issue. I have been looking at going for a couple of eight lines in my 5 foot 180G recently as I’ve been replanning the wrasses I go for and what I do. Below the answers to the above post is the way I’d do the wrasse groupings with these additional Cirrhilabrus/Paracheilinus.

4. Exquisite Firefish would be a good choice if you wanted a pair of them, however if you wanted a group of Firefish the best species I find is the Magnifica (Reds) to mix as a group as they are naturally communal whilst the other species in the genus prefer to be more solitary or paired.

5. Yep! If you went for a different species it could work, I’d personally go for the Acanthurus and a Zebrasoma, as opposed to a Ctenochaetus as I have had them become unnecessarily aggressive towards wrasses. As for which Acanthurus to choose, I’d recommend a Gold Rim personally as they have a smaller maximum size overall and are the most peaceful out of the Powder Tangs (A. nigricans, A. japonicus, A. leucosternon & A. achilles).

6. Yes you could have another Genicanthus, I’ve seen a few tanks where they have 3-5 Genicanthus together, both pairs and singles. If it was me personally, I’d go for a Bellus and Watanabei or a pair of Watanabeis. I find nothing can beat the colours of a good male Watanabei.

7. Other fish I’d look at are mainly small species like certain Cardinals of the Ostorhinchus genus, but also the Prognathodes butterflies. They’re smaller so don’t often target large snails, crabs or shrimp. I’ve had the Marcellae before in a display tank, but I personally love P. Aculeatus (Caribbean Long Nose).

8. How I’d add the new/potential ones I’ve recommended;

Group 1

1. 8 lyretail anthias
2. tesselated blenny
3. orange spotted blenny
4. Exquisite or Red Firefish

Group 2

1. bell's flasher wrasse
2. red tail flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus rubricaudalis)
3. Cirrhilabrus Bathyphylus/Nahackyi

Group 3

1. lineatus fairy wrasse
2. girdled fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus balteatus)
3. Cirrhilabrus laboutei
4. Paracheilinus octotaenia

Group 4

1. watanabei angelfish (female)
2. achilles tang or gold rim tang
3. purple tang

Or

1. Watanabei Angel
2. Other Genicanthus species
3. Acanthurus or Zebrasoma tang

Seriously, thank you so much for your detailed responses to my questions! I know you answer a ton of these type of posts so it means a great deal to me that you took your time to respond and your responses have been extremely helpful.

 

[kmwcane]

You described a 300 gallon aquarium, not a 200 gallon.

My apologies, I mistyped the height measurement of the tank and did not proofread before posting. It should be 24 inches.

 

[kmwcane]

@i cant think

One more follow up question to our discussion. I've been looking at the wrasses from the genus Macropharyngodon as a possible addition to this tank but to be honest, their reputation as difficult or expert only has previously made me shy away from this genus in the past and gives me pause now. Are these wrasses truly as difficult to maintain? Is there a certain species that is more forgiving?

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