New tank stocking question

[ruab]

I finally have my new 185G (60LX30Dx24H) set up, so I am starting to consider stocking. We kept a flame hawk, clarkii clown, and blue throat trigger from the old 75 and sold our rabbit and six-line back to the LFS for credit. With this tank, I'm not real sure how many fish it can resonably hold without stressing any of them. I plan on adding some SPS/clams to the tank over time as well. Here are the relevant specs -

185G reef ready tank w/dursos
20G sump
EuroReef RS-135 skimmer
2x Seio 1500 PH
1/3 HP Chiller/Heater (TECO)
Mag 9 return (soon to be a Mag 18)
3x250W MH, 2x96W PC Actinic

My hope would be to add the following fish -

Fairy Wrasses (not sure which kind yet)
Anthias (not sure which kind yet)
1-2 "large" fish.. probably a Naso tang and something else.. maybe another compatible tang.

I was hoping to do multiples of both the wrasses and anthias (one male and 1-2 females of each). Is this too many fish for this tank? It would be 11 fish max, assuming the 3 fish i have, 3 wrasses, 3 anthias, and the 2 big fish. Obviously, I will be spacing these out over quite a bit of time, probably the wrasses first, the naso second, the anthias third, and then possibly another larger tang or similar.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what kinds of wrasses/anthias/tangs might be suitable? I think I'm leaning towards the scott's wrasses, pink square anthias, and a naso tang. Other than tangs, and rabbitfish, what are some good "larger bodied" reef safe fish?

Thanks for all the help,
Jason

 

[Anonymous]

The length of the tank is not suited to a large open water fish like a naso. I'd go with one of the smaller zebrasoma tangs (yellow, scopas, or purple). I think the fairy wrasses and anthias would work. Your trigger can count as one of your larger fish, along with a tang. The rest will give you a lot of movement/color/interest.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd be careful about adding a fish too large to such a small tank. Consider how much room is going to be occupied by rock, and consider the natural territories occupied by the fish you're considering. Suddenly your 60" tank isn't so expansive. I have experience stocking a tank of almost the exact dimensions as yours, and believe me, smaller fish are better.

I wouldn't consider anything bigger than a Zebrasoma tang, and you have a myriad of choices in this size range.

Consider providing smaller fish with with an expansive environment, rather than adding the largest fish that will eek out a crammed life in any given tank, be it 10 gallons or 2000 gallons. You can easily add a fish that's too large for either.

Jim

 

[ruab]

Ok.. thanks for the advice. After doing a bit of research, I see that the Naso can get much larger than I thought (1'6" in aquariums?). Can anyone recommend a good site/listing/book with realistic minimum aquarium sizes? It seems like the listings on many of the e-tailer websites are way underestimated (http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/tangs/ has the Naso at a 55 gallon minimum size).

Would any of these fish be considered reasonable for a 60"/185G tank?

Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma veliferum)
Redsea Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma desjardinii)
Orange Shoulder Tang (Acanthurus olivaceus)
Blue/Regal Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)
Chevron Tang (Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis) - assuming I can find one

I also really like the Power Blue/Power Brown Tangs, but I've read many horror stories of keeping them.

If I stick with the 3 fish I have now, 3 wrasses, 3 anthias, and 1 of the above Tangs, would that be considered resonable? I'm looking for one "larger" fish to round out the tank, and am open to suggestions on what might be appropriate. I certainly dont want to stock the tank to a point that is going to be bad for the fish, or the tank. In general, I like "decorated" fish as opposed to fish which are monotone, which is why I am not gravitating towards the more common Zebramosa tangs (Yellow Tang, Purple Tang, Scopas Tang, etc).

Thanks for your input,
Jason