Stocking Advice For 6x2x2

[FeroX]

Setting up a 6x2x2 tank later on once I got finances in check and I was wondering, what are your guys' reccomendations for a tank of that size of predators? I'd like to have a variety if possible, so i.e. a trigger, a puffer possibly, a moray/toadfish, a grouper? if ones are small enough, maybe some cool big wrasse...idk, can you give me ideas? I've exhausted my options and can't decide what a cool stocking would be for this tank.

It'll be FOWLR, all predators, and I'd LIKE to have a moray or a toadfish in there as well. So having said that, with one of those guys (moray/toadfish) and all the other preds, what filtration do you reccomend?

 

[Lynden]

Seems fine. You want to pick a moray that stays under about 4'; will be much cheaper to maintain and feed. For the groupers I would recommend a Cephalopholis boenack or C. miniata, both stay small and have beautiful colouration.

Toadfish can be tricky. I have owned two, one in FW that lived for a few weeks until the oscar went mean. The other in SW that I fed live earthworms for a time, then a large dead prawn, which he ate but then died later from what I can only guess was some sort of 'gut-rot' problem. Nevertheless, they are beautiful, interesting animals and less predatory than frogfish, if somewhat sedentary.

As for puffers and triggers, I would recommend most of the Arothron and though not a puffer, Diodon holacanthus (or a smaller species) works very well in communities. Triggers can include one of any of the Rhinecanthus and any of the planktonivorous species. Use caution with the other genera as they can be mean and huge.

Wrasses I would recommend include Coris gaimard, Thalassoma and Novaculichthys species. Really there is a tremendous amount of option here.

As for filtration, I would recommend a sump with a skimmer, refugium and GFO. This will keep waste buildup to a minimum. Flowrates should preferably be at least 10x per hour. Based on my above list you should be able to keep 5 or 6 large fish. Always use caution when stocking monster fish and get as much info as possible.

 

[SkiFletch]

Hehe, Lynden and Andywg are your predator guys . I'll second the C. miniata reccomendation, these are GORGEOUS fish. Obviously this kind of tank will likely be a FOWLR so consider fullsized angelfish too . The Genicanthus genus are excellent choices, as are emperor angelfish.

 

[FeroX]

That's great, thanks a lot guys. The miniatus grouper IS one of my favourites, as my store has one in our shark tank and he's so personable, I love him. we also just got a Coris gaimard , and he's beautiful, so I think I'll definitely take one of those. I also forgot to mention I'd like a lionfish. I think I'll stick to a moray over a toadfish, and just marvel at the toadfish we have at my store instead .

How's this for stocking?

Snowflake moray - Echidna nebulosa
miniatus grouper - C. miniata
lionfish - Pterois volitans
Picasso trigger - Rhinecanthus aculeatus
Coris gaimard
Diodon nichthemerus?

Hmm maybe 1 other fish like Rhinecanthus rectangulus? Or would the above list be enough and with the addition of Rhinecanthus rectangulus be too much?

I'm not going for any type of setup or any specific setup or anything, obviously, just specimens that I find extremely interesting. I'd probably have the tank set up with a nice deep sandbed for Coris gaimard, with a sort of upside-down "U" shaped live rock, to provide enough hiding places but also plenty of swimming space in the middle. EDIT - Oh, could you specify what you mean by GFO? I'm pretty sure I know but it could be something totally different then I'd look retarded.

 

[Lynden]

Sounds great. I would not add two benthic triggers of the same genus, but you could add, say, a niger or pinktailed. That may be pushing it as they grow to adult sizes but you should be OK.

GFO = granular ferric oxide. I buy it as "phosphate reducer". It is perhaps the most useful and effective aquarium additive available.

 

[FeroX]

Wooohoooo holy moly am I ever excited lmao. Too bad I can't just throw em all in at once !

Oh, speaking of which, I've obviously never kept any of these fish so temperment-wise between all of them...which ones should I be adding first and last? Should there be a specific order or guys I should definitely wait until the end to add...etc? Thx for your help though, Lynden, really appreciate it.

 

[Lynden]

You're welcome. There shouldn't need to be a real order, but as a special caution, I would advise adding the trigger and wrasse last, even though they aren't typically very aggressive, they are territorial.

 

[andywg]

Finding a Diodon that isn't D. holacanathus is not one of the easiest things in the world, but if you can then well done.

Putting a lion in with a Diodon is hit an miss. Often times those long spines end up just too tempting and the porky will decide to cut them down to size, especially as the fish grow (so do not place much weight on people who have had "success" for 8-14 months ). Ideally you want a sedantry porky, not one which spends ts whole time riding up and down the glass looking for adventure. This seems to limit the chance of them getting bored and shredding lions, but there will always be a risk.

Rather than a toadfish, why not look at scorpionfish? Many of them look great and have the same sedantry lie and wait predation style.

Be aware of growth rates with the fish when adding. The grouper and the lionfish will have trapdoor like mouths, so make sure the tank mates are at least half their length, preferably over two thirds.

Finally, you want live rock to help with that sort of bioload, if you don't put a great deal in the tank then make sure you have a large sump to enable more LR. Also the skimmer needs to be hugely rated. Think 400 gallons or more. You will want at least 2.5 times the tank volume. This will cost a lot at the set up, but will save you a small fortune over the years in salt at water changes.

 

[FeroX]

Finding a Diodon that isn't D. holacanathus is not one of the easiest things in the world, but if you can then well done.

Putting a lion in with a Diodon is hit an miss. Often times those long spines end up just too tempting and the porky will decide to cut them down to size, especially as the fish grow (so do not place much weight on people who have had "success" for 8-14 months ). Ideally you want a sedantry porky, not one which spends ts whole time riding up and down the glass looking for adventure. This seems to limit the chance of them getting bored and shredding lions, but there will always be a risk.

Rather than a toadfish, why not look at scorpionfish? Many of them look great and have the same sedantry lie and wait predation style.

Be aware of growth rates with the fish when adding. The grouper and the lionfish will have trapdoor like mouths, so make sure the tank mates are at least half their length, preferably over two thirds.

Finally, you want live rock to help with that sort of bioload, if you don't put a great deal in the tank then make sure you have a large sump to enable more LR. Also the skimmer needs to be hugely rated. Think 400 gallons or more. You will want at least 2.5 times the tank volume. This will cost a lot at the set up, but will save you a small fortune over the years in salt at water changes.

Oh yeah, definitely. I totally forgot about the porky's fin-nipping habits. The lionfish and grouper will be my most 2 prized fish, so if something will bother one of those, it's out. I can live w/o a porky anyway . I can definitely get a scorpionfish. I work in a LFS (thats where my interest in these critters came into play) so I can definitely get a scorpionfish and all other fish the same size/bigger than grouper and lionfish, since I can just order w/e I want.

And yes, I was looking at a TON of live rock, both in tank and in sump, and was looking at a hugely massive skimmer. It won't be AS bad since I get a 25% discount, so I'm looking forward to it greatly.

 

[andywg]

Sure you can live without the below?

 

[FeroX]

Not if you show me a pic like that, no!

Bastard.

 

[Lynden]

Mmm... to be honest I don't think they nip fins too much. The odd specimen will, but I do see these two fishes (lions and diodonts) combined, and porcs with much smaller fish. Tetradonts seem to be intelligent fish, and can often have completely different personalities from specimen to specimen.