Waterbox 150.4 stocking list

[The deepwaterhorizon reef]

I am just about to add fish to my waterbox 150.4 (115 gallon display which is 48 X 25 X 22) and I have a few stocking questions / want feedback. Thanks

Additional information: My goal is to have a peaceful mixed / leaning-sps reef. I am looking into keeping a clam and I don't know if any of the fish on this list would pose a problem for that. I am also a fan of captive-bred fish and mated pairs when possible.

Fish:

- Two ORA captive-bred clowns (mated pair)
- Biota captive-bred yellow tang
- Diamond-back goby (I want a goby for both sand-sifting and symbiosis with a pistol shrimp)
- Flame angelfish (I have heard of people mixing dwarf angels but it sounds like there is a high likelihood of aggression so I only have one on the list)
- Foxface rabbitfish (would it pose a problem to keep a fox face with a yellow tang since they are both larger fish or would the tank still remain peaceful)
- Bicolor dottyback
- Two biota captive-bred mandarin dragonets (mated pair) (I have a refugium section in my sump and I plan on raising brine shrimp and dosing phytoplankton. I want to get the mandarin's after roughly a year. Will this provide enough food for them or does my tank need to be more mature. I started with majority dry rock and roughly 10% live rock.)
- Captive-bred Banggai cardinal (Can this fish be mated?)

Looking into:

Reef-safe Wrasse (especially the idea of having males of different species mixed together)
Anthias school (I have heard that Anthias schools / harems tend to die off which makes me hesitant to get these fish)
Potentially another small tang such as a purple or kole
Open to suggestions for any other fish!

I haven't researched inverts enough to provide a list but I might add to this thread as my tank progresses

 

[Jekyl]

List looks good. The only concern i would have would be food for 2 mandarin and a wrasse. As you said though waiting a year for the mandarin will help this as they have the same food source.

For the inverts check out reefcleaners.org

Once algae shows up get the package for 1/2 your display size. Once algae gets worse, get the other half.

 

[The deepwaterhorizon reef]

List looks good. The only concern i would have would be food for 2 mandarin and a wrasse. As you said though waiting a year for the mandarin will help this as they have the same food source.

For the inverts check out reefcleaners.org

Once algae shows up get the package for 1/2 your display size. Once algae gets worse, get the other half

Do mandarins take to brine shrimp well?

 

[Jekyl]

Do mandarins take to brine shrimp well?

Copepods and lots of them. Same with most wrasse.

 

[JustAlilReef]

Do mandarins take to brine shrimp well?

Since you will be getting them young, you have a good shot at adjusting them to brine shrimp and pellets. Mine eats anything and everything I put into my tank! But also a good source of pods will never hurt! I have a monthly shipment from Reef Nutrition and could not be happier!

 

[The deepwaterhorizon reef]

Copepods and lots of them. Same with most wrasse.

I have a refugium and a pretty good amount of rock. I plan on dosing phytoplankton to make up for the uv steriliser reducing the population. The brine is just to prevent the copepod population from collapsing due to over-predation.

 

[The deepwaterhorizon reef]

Since you will be getting them young, you have a good shot at adjusting them to brine shrimp and pellets. Mine eats anything and everything I put into my tank! But also a good source of pods will never hurt! I have a monthly shipment from Reef Nutrition and could not be happier!

I would prefer to not be dependent on a monthly copepod purchase if I have the option.

 

[JustAlilReef]

I would prefer to not be dependent on a monthly copepod purchase if I have the option.

You'll need to ensure you have a strong population of copepods, before introducing one, let alone two. It can be done. Getting captive bread will be your best of them taking new food types just get smaller sizes.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Do mandarins take to brine shrimp well?

I believe so, but they have to be, as stated, young and trained to do so. I escapes me, but there is a seller that does this for you. THAT being said, I'd also have copious amounts of Copepods around. And with three fish eating those, you may want to consider dedicating a separate tank just to breed them. How is that done? No clue. Still gotta learn that.......

 

[The deepwaterhorizon reef]

Two Picasso clowns came from ORA a few days ago! They seem to be getting along pretty well and are both eating.

I am struggling to decide what my next addition should be and when I should add it. Thoughts?

 

[JustAlilReef]

Nice they look great! Here is my suggestion from your list. I would work in utility fish before more decorative fish.
- Biota captive-bred yellow tang
- Captive-bred Banggai cardinal(s) make sure to get 2or3 they can and will breed in your tank.
- Diamond-back goby
- Foxface rabbitfish
- Flame angelfish
- Bicolor dottyback

Also, be sure to QT your fish, you don't want to risk the addition of any plaque (Ich, Velvet, Flukes... etc). I hope this helps!

 

[littlefoxx]

Two Picasso clowns came from ORA a few days ago! They seem to be getting along pretty well and are both eating.

I am struggling to decide what my next addition should be and when I should add it. Thoughts?

Beautiful! I would add your small fish first. Or the foxface. Only thing I caution is with the biota yellow those come so tiny (grow decently fast) would be to get that and let it grow before adding another tang. Purple especially, they really hate other zebrasoma tangs lol. I had a yellow with my purple, she was old when I added the yellow at night and didnt notice him until he was getting bigger then she was upset he was there but got over it

 

[The deepwaterhorizon reef]

Nice they look great! Here is my suggestion from your list. I would work in utility fish before more decorative fish.
- Biota captive-bred yellow tang
- Captive-bred Banggai cardinal(s) make sure to get 2or3 they can and will breed in your tank.
- Diamond-back goby
- Foxface rabbitfish
- Flame angelfish
- Bicolor dottyback

Also, be sure to QT your fish, you don't want to risk the addition of any plaque (Ich, Velvet, Flukes... etc). I hope this helps!

Thanks for the help! I am mostly planning on getting captive-bred fish but still weighing a quarantine (mainly space concerns which have led me to currently not have one planned and instead have a steriliser and safety stop)

 

[The deepwaterhorizon reef]

Beautiful! I would add your small fish first. Or the foxface. Only thing I caution is with the biota yellow those come so tiny (grow decently fast) would be to get that and let it grow before adding another tang. Purple especially, they really hate other zebrasoma tangs lol. I had a yellow with my purple, she was old when I added the yellow at night and didnt notice him until he was getting bigger then she was upset he was there but got over it

Thanks for the reply! I am hoping to add another fish in 2-ish weeks.

 

[JustAlilReef]

Thanks for the help! I am mostly planning on getting captive-bred fish but still weighing a quarantine (mainly space concerns which have led me to currently not have one planned and instead have a steriliser and safety stop)

I would recommend maybe looking for pre-QT'd fish then. While Captive Bred is safer, there is still a risk especially if you are buying online. You never know if they kept them separate or if they mixed them in with wild-caught fish.

 

[The deepwaterhorizon reef]

I would recommend maybe looking for pre-QT'd fish then. While Captive Bred is safer, there is still a risk especially if you are buying online. You never know if they kept them separate or if they mixed them in with wild-caught fish.

Trying to buy from the captive-breeders themselves so I know that the fish are captive-bred. I have heard of the pre-qt'd places but the prices are very high so I will need to weigh the cost of a quarantine against a pre-qt'd fish to see which would be more worth it.