Waterbox 90.3 Stocking Ideas and Refugium Question

[barracuda4356]

Hi all, I purchased a Waterbox 90.3 and am having some trouble deciding how to stock it. I plan on keeping a pair of clownfish, either a Coral Beauty or a Flame Angelfish, and either one Mandarin Dragonet or possibly a pair. I have not decided yet. I was also wondering if it would be possible to run a refugium only with this tank. I would love to hear any stocking suggestions. Thanks!

 

[Euphyllia97]

If you don’t add too many heavy bioload fish, I’m pretty sure refugium only with regular waterchanges is enough to keep this tank thriving. Would definitely take things slow when it comes to the mandarins. Even in this size of tank a pair of mandarins can deplete the copepods after some time. As for stocking my biggest suggestion is to stay away from wrasses that are also hunting for pods (leopard wrasse,…) in combination with 1 or 2 mandarins it will just be a race to starvation.

Orangeback fairy wrasse
Royal gramma
Dwarf angelfish (1)
Orchid dottyback

 

[barracuda4356]

If you don’t add too many heavy bioload fish, I’m pretty sure refugium only with regular waterchanges is enough to keep this tank thriving. Would definitely take things slow when it comes to the mandarins. Even in this size of tank a pair of mandarins can deplete the copepods after some time. As for stocking my biggest suggestion is to stay away from wrasses that are also hunting for pods (leopard wrasse,…) in combination with 1 or 2 mandarins it will just be a race to starvation.

Orangeback fairy wrasse
Royal gramma
Dwarf angelfish (1)
Orchid dottyback

Thank you. I plan on adding the mandarins last or second to last. That is the main reason I want to run a refugium only, to help support a healthy copepod population. I also plan to supplement with additional pods when I first add the mandarins. And thank you for the suggestions, those are beautiful fish.