What fish can be added to a tank that is not well established?

michellejy · 10/06/2008, 11:55 AM

I have a 120 gallon RR tank with a 40 gallon sump/refugium that I am in the proces of setting up. I know that it needs to be fully cycled with the live rock before I add anything, BUT it seems like every fish I've chosen is the one that is supposed to be added last because it is: territorial/needs a well established tank for food/some other reason.

So my dream fish is a mandarin, and I know he needs to be added after the tank has been set up for a minimum of 6 months to make sure he has food.

Also on my must list is:
flame angel
pair of clowns (either gold striped maroon or black and white ocellaris)
hippo tang

I have a couple of "like to have fish":
yellow tang (is this okay in a 120 with a hippo tang? I've read conflicting opinions about this.)
a full size angel (is this okay with a dwarf angel? I can't seem to find anything about people mixing angels in anything under a 200 gallon tank.)

So I guess the questions I have are:

1. Can I have all of those fish: mandarin, flame angel, large angel, 2 clownfish, hippo tang, yellow tang?

2. If so, what order do I add them in?

3. Can I have more than those fish, or is that pretty much the limit?

4. If I can have others, what fish would go well with the ones I have listed?

I've tried researching this for months, but there seems to be so much conflicting information that it's making my head spin.

HappySkittles · 10/06/2008, 12:04 PM

even the 6 months might not be long enough for the mandarin...maybe try to fuind one that takes frozen mysis...or get a psychedelic mandarin...i think they are easier to get to eat mysis
you can do the flame angel and your clowns
you can mix a dwarf and a full size angel with no problem...mixing two dwarfs or two larger angels in a small tank is bad...make sure the large angel can fit in your tank
i think you can mix the blue hippo and the yellow tang with no problems

maybe try to add the angels last at the same time
and add the tangs at the same time
and clowns at the same time
dunno about the order except the angels last

and which fish besides mandarin need established tanks? if it eats algae you can add that dried nori in a clip.

there will always be conflicting things it seems @_@

michellejy · 10/06/2008, 02:13 PM

Thanks so much.

So do those 7 fish sound like the maximum I should have in the tank?

night_blade · 10/06/2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by michellejy
Thanks so much.

So do those 7 fish sound like the maximum I should have in the tank?

if you want you could add another smaller fish (gobies, damsels, cardinals, small wrasse, etc.) but i wouldn't add anymore large fish

MargieInAZ · 10/06/2008, 02:33 PM

I have a pair of clowns, and added them first into my tank. I haven't had any problems adding new fish, but all of mine are very passive fish to begin with. I was also told to add angels last.
If I were you, I'd add the clowns first. Then maybe a few small fish if you want. I have a royal gramma and a fire fish that I really enjoy. They both have a lot of personality.
Then add the pair of tangs at the same time, then the angels.
I have no experience with the Mandarin, but as you mentioned, add that after the tank has been set up for a while.
And add all new fish with lights out.
Good luck!

camanuch · 10/06/2008, 04:08 PM

i would wait till the tank is fully cycled till you add anything in the tank.

michellejy · 10/06/2008, 04:11 PM

I plan to wait until it is fully cycled. I am trying to figure out a stocking list for after it is cycled so I know the best order to buy the fish. Thank you though. I know a lot of newbies don't realize they can't just throw fish in a day after adding water.

agreeive?fish · 10/06/2008, 04:38 PM

oder to put in

smaller least agressive fish like dartfish/firefish/ gobies if you want more fish than on your list so they can get established first

pair of clowns ok (be ware maroons are hard to pair up)
also can be mean / territorial once sexualy mature

yellow and hippo together is ok.

drawf and large angel together is ok

mandrin for the most part nobody is going to bother your mandrin (when your tank is ready for one)
there may be alittle territory squable when the mandrin feeds in the gobies territory at first but nothing big or major

10/06/2008, 11:55 AM	#1
michellejy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OH Posts: 1,076	What fish can be added to a tank that is not well established? I have a 120 gallon RR tank with a 40 gallon sump/refugium that I am in the proces of setting up. I know that it needs to be fully cycled with the live rock before I add anything, BUT it seems like every fish I've chosen is the one that is supposed to be added last because it is: territorial/needs a well established tank for food/some other reason. So my dream fish is a mandarin, and I know he needs to be added after the tank has been set up for a minimum of 6 months to make sure he has food. Also on my must list is: flame angel pair of clowns (either gold striped maroon or black and white ocellaris) hippo tang I have a couple of "like to have fish": yellow tang (is this okay in a 120 with a hippo tang? I've read conflicting opinions about this.) a full size angel (is this okay with a dwarf angel? I can't seem to find anything about people mixing angels in anything under a 200 gallon tank.) So I guess the questions I have are: 1. Can I have all of those fish: mandarin, flame angel, large angel, 2 clownfish, hippo tang, yellow tang? 2. If so, what order do I add them in? 3. Can I have more than those fish, or is that pretty much the limit? 4. If I can have others, what fish would go well with the ones I have listed? I've tried researching this for months, but there seems to be so much conflicting information that it's making my head spin.

10/06/2008, 12:04 PM	#2
HappySkittles Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 401	even the 6 months might not be long enough for the mandarin...maybe try to fuind one that takes frozen mysis...or get a psychedelic mandarin...i think they are easier to get to eat mysis you can do the flame angel and your clowns you can mix a dwarf and a full size angel with no problem...mixing two dwarfs or two larger angels in a small tank is bad...make sure the large angel can fit in your tank i think you can mix the blue hippo and the yellow tang with no problems maybe try to add the angels last at the same time and add the tangs at the same time and clowns at the same time dunno about the order except the angels last and which fish besides mandarin need established tanks? if it eats algae you can add that dried nori in a clip. there will always be conflicting things it seems @_@ __________________ RESEARCH! <º)))>< Very important Sexy Blog? Click the red house! Current Tank Info: 3 gallon pico-zoas, gorgonian, mushrooms, nass snails and sexy shrimp

10/06/2008, 02:13 PM	#3
michellejy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OH Posts: 1,076	Thanks so much. So do those 7 fish sound like the maximum I should have in the tank? __________________ Michelle Current Tank Info: 30G FOWLR Clownfish tank soon to be replaced by JBJ 28 Gallon Nano

10/06/2008, 02:33 PM	#5
MargieInAZ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 348	I have a pair of clowns, and added them first into my tank. I haven't had any problems adding new fish, but all of mine are very passive fish to begin with. I was also told to add angels last. If I were you, I'd add the clowns first. Then maybe a few small fish if you want. I have a royal gramma and a fire fish that I really enjoy. They both have a lot of personality. Then add the pair of tangs at the same time, then the angels. I have no experience with the Mandarin, but as you mentioned, add that after the tank has been set up for a while. And add all new fish with lights out. Good luck! __________________ Mom to triplet girls! Yes, multiples run in my family. They run everywhere, actually. :) Current Tank Info: Building a 24" cube mixed reef

10/06/2008, 04:11 PM	#7
michellejy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OH Posts: 1,076	I plan to wait until it is fully cycled. I am trying to figure out a stocking list for after it is cycled so I know the best order to buy the fish. Thank you though. I know a lot of newbies don't realize they can't just throw fish in a day after adding water. __________________ Michelle Current Tank Info: 30G FOWLR Clownfish tank soon to be replaced by JBJ 28 Gallon Nano

10/06/2008, 04:08 PM	#6
camanuch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: bronx Posts: 52	i would wait till the tank is fully cycled till you add anything in the tank.

10/06/2008, 04:38 PM	#8
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	oder to put in smaller least agressive fish like dartfish/firefish/ gobies if you want more fish than on your list so they can get established first pair of clowns ok (be ware maroons are hard to pair up) also can be mean / territorial once sexualy mature yellow and hippo together is ok. drawf and large angel together is ok mandrin for the most part nobody is going to bother your mandrin (when your tank is ready for one) there may be alittle territory squable when the mandrin feeds in the gobies territory at first but nothing big or major