Upgrading my tank

[hillg2784]

I am in the process of upgrading my tank. Going from a pet smart 125g with HOB filters to a IM ext 200. I got the equipment down but wanted to check on fish stocking. I’ll be running filter socks, refugium, skimmer and uv. Below is what I have and what I want. Will this be to many? Could I squeeze a few more smaller fish? I know compatibility is dependent on a few things but it is possible.

Appreciate the help.

• Naso tang (Naso lituratus)
• Blue Tangang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
• Yellow Pyramid Butterflyfish

• Have-Lemon Tang (Acanthurus pyroferus)
• Have-Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus japonicus)
• Have-2 Ocellaris Clownfish
• Have-2 Black Saddleback Clownfish
• Have-4 Three Stripe Damselfish
• Have-4 Yellowtail Damselfish
• Have-Flame Angelfish
• Have-Spotted Watchman Goby
• Bicolor Angelfish
• Coral Beauty
• Green Mandarin
• 5 Green Chromis
• Melanurus Wrasse

 

[lapin]

Too many

 

[hillg2784]

By how many? Which would you remove?

 

[lapin]

You have 25 fish in a 200 gallon aquarium. Add rock and your down to 175. That’s 7 gallons per fish. That’s fine for small fish. But for larger fish it’s probably not the best.

 

[hillg2784]

So would 10 gallons per fish be better for the larger ones?

 

[hillg2784]

I asked ChatGPT about stocking and removing the damsels, this is what it said.

What Removing the Damsels Allows You to Add​

1. Anthias (big win!)​

Damsels often bully anthias, but without them, anthias thrive.
Great choices for a 200g:

• Lyretail Anthias (hardy)
• Bartlett’s Anthias
• Dispar Anthias
• Sunburst/Fathead Anthias (slower, introverted, needs caves)

You can comfortably keep a group of 5–8.

---

2. Peaceful Wrasse Communities​

Without damsels harassing them, you can build a beautiful wrasse mix:

• Fairy Wrasses (Lineatus, Labouti, Pink Margin)
• Flasher Wrasses (McCosker’s, Carpenter’s)
• Halichoeres Wrasses (Melanurus, Yellow Coris)

You can keep 5–7 wrasses easily in a 200g.

---

3. Chromis (true schooling behavior)​

Instead of being chased relentlessly by damsels, chromis will actually group.
Great options:

• Blue Green Chromis
• Vanderbilt Chromis
• Black Axil Chromis

Groups of 6–10 look amazing.

---

4. Peaceful Gobies & Blennies​

No damsels means these fish can establish territories without getting bullied:

• Tailspot Blenny
• Midas Blenny
• Yasha Goby + Pistol shrimp
• Diamond Watchman Goby

---

5. More Angels (optional)​

With less aggression in the water column, adding a second dwarf angel becomes easier:

• Coral Beauty
• Multicolor Angel
• Potter’s Angel (most delicate)

Your flame angel may still posture, but in 200g it's usually manageable.

---

6. Schooling or Display Fish​

Without damsels dominating certain regions, adding “centerpiece groups” is much easier:

• Banggai Cardinals (4–6)
• Pyramid Butterflies (1–3)
• Reef-safe anthias groups (as above)

---

7. Another Tang (carefully selected)​

Your current tangs:

• Lemon Tang (A. pyroferus)
• Powder Brown Tang (A. japonicus)

You can safely add ONE of the following:

• Tomini Tang (bottle-brush teeth, algae specialist)
• Kole Tang
• Chevron Tang (juvenile is stunning)

Avoid adding more Acanthurus species—your Powder Brown will guard that niche.

---

Suggested Stocking Plan WITHOUT Damsels​

Here’s a clean, balanced, stable lineup I’d recommend:

Core Additions​

• 5–7 Fairy/Flasher Wrasses
• 5–8 Anthias (Lyretail or Bartlett’s)
• 1 Foxface Lo
• 1 Bristletooth Tang (Tomini or Kole)
• 1 Midas Blenny
• 1 Yasha Goby + Pistol Shrimp

Optional​

• 3 Pyramid Butterflies
• 1 additional dwarf angel

This gives you:

• color everywhere
• movement in all zones
• compatibility with current fish
• no overcrowding of niches

---

 

[fishface NJ]

So what did you settle on?

 

[hillg2784]

So what did you settle on?

I’m going to move these over from my current tank.

Lemon Tang
Flame Angel
4 × Clownfish

I plan on adding the following

Bristle tooth tang
2 x McCosker wrasse
2 x Carpenter wrasse
2 x Yellow Cori’s wrasse
3 x Melanurus wrasse
3 x Exquisite Fairy wrasse
2 x Pyramid Butterfly Fish

I really wanted to get a lot of movement in the tank, that’s why it’s wrasse heavy now.

Tank just arrived on Thursday, haven’t been able to get anyone to come help get in from the garage.

 

[hillg2784]

Tank is in, and this is day 9 of it up and running. I successfully moved over the 4 clowns and the flame angel, the tang did not make it . Had a mishap with my Hannah salinity checker and I thought I was at 35ppm but I was actually at about 58ppm. After a lot of water changes of the week salinity is now in line.

Ammonia is .25, not testing for nitrites and nitrates are 1.1

Small diatoms are starting to form from some uneaten food. Things are coming along. Just added copepods last night and will be adding plankton over the next week or so to help.