New to Saltwater

EMBK23 · 02/17/2016, 09:51 AM

Hello everyone!
I have had freshwater tanks on and off for years, my husband and I have always loved Saltwater. We are looking to get going on this venture and we have decided to go with a 240 gallon tank (72 X 24 X x30). We are going to have this built buy a custom shop who will also help us with the filtration to make sure we have the appropriate equipment.
This will be a FOWLR tank.
We have been putting together a list of fish we like and are working on narrowing the list. This is where I am looking for some opinions based on compatibility and your experience!

This is our list.
Chromis - group of 5-7
Clownfish pairs-
Ocellaris
Black and White
Pink Skunk
(with appropriate Anemones)
Tangs-
Yellow
Kole Yellow Eye
Butterfly-
Auriga
Pearlscale
6 Line Wrasse
Puffer
Anthias 1-3
Blenny or Goby
Starfish
Clean up crew

Down the road
Dragonet 1-2
Moorish Idol 1-3

It is hard to narrow the list as ALL saltwater fish are beautiful!

Thank you!!

Jade5051 · 02/17/2016, 10:35 AM

Species on some of the fish is important.

The 6 line will out compete the dragonet for pods. Since the tank is rather large you may be able to get away with it. I wouldn't risk it, one or the other IMO. Furthermore, if it's a sand sifting goby will decimated pod populations. You may consider a wrasse/goby that first target pods then do 2 dragonets.

At least 3 anthias probably 4 or 5.

Puffer could be problematic depending on species.

I don't see and any large or dwarf Angels on the list which is a must have IMO.

Kole tangs are aggressive toward algae eating blennies.

Too many clowns. IME clowns are devils. I'd pick one set and go with that. That will lighten the load and open up the tank for other fish.

Chromis are filler fish IMO. Moreover, I don't recommend chromis at all due to uronema bacterial infections are quite common and result in a total tank reset.

Best advice I can give you is go slow, only bad things happen fast. Make sure you have a much larger budget than what you think you need. Read/research a lot before making decisions. And, ALWAYS QUARANTINE!!!

RocketEngineer · 02/17/2016, 10:43 AM

1) Moorish Idols should never be kept in an aquarium. They are obligate sponge feeders and will gradually starve in even large systems. Please leave them in the ocean where they belong.

2) A puffer is likely to eat the clean up crew and take chunks out of or outright eat the other fish, especially the smaller ones.

3) Even in a tank that size, you are likely to have territory issues with one pair of clownfish, let alone three different species. I would stick with one type of clown.

4) The two species of butterfly fish may also have territory issues but I don't have enough personal experience keeping them to say for sure.

scooter31707 · 02/17/2016, 11:07 AM

I agree ^^^. Moorish Idols are very difficult to keep. Those 2 butterflies will be find together. I recommend adding them together or adding the small one first and let it get establish and then adding the second one.

02/17/2016, 09:51 AM	#1
EMBK23 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4	New to Saltwater Hello everyone! I have had freshwater tanks on and off for years, my husband and I have always loved Saltwater. We are looking to get going on this venture and we have decided to go with a 240 gallon tank (72 X 24 X x30). We are going to have this built buy a custom shop who will also help us with the filtration to make sure we have the appropriate equipment. This will be a FOWLR tank. We have been putting together a list of fish we like and are working on narrowing the list. This is where I am looking for some opinions based on compatibility and your experience! This is our list. Chromis - group of 5-7 Clownfish pairs- Ocellaris Black and White Pink Skunk (with appropriate Anemones) Tangs- Yellow Kole Yellow Eye Butterfly- Auriga Pearlscale 6 Line Wrasse Puffer Anthias 1-3 Blenny or Goby Starfish Clean up crew Down the road Dragonet 1-2 Moorish Idol 1-3 It is hard to narrow the list as ALL saltwater fish are beautiful! Thank you!! Last edited by EMBK23; 02/17/2016 at 10:04 AM.

02/17/2016, 10:35 AM	#2
Jade5051 That guy... Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,218	Species on some of the fish is important. The 6 line will out compete the dragonet for pods. Since the tank is rather large you may be able to get away with it. I wouldn't risk it, one or the other IMO. Furthermore, if it's a sand sifting goby will decimated pod populations. You may consider a wrasse/goby that first target pods then do 2 dragonets. At least 3 anthias probably 4 or 5. Puffer could be problematic depending on species. I don't see and any large or dwarf Angels on the list which is a must have IMO. Kole tangs are aggressive toward algae eating blennies. Too many clowns. IME clowns are devils. I'd pick one set and go with that. That will lighten the load and open up the tank for other fish. Chromis are filler fish IMO. Moreover, I don't recommend chromis at all due to uronema bacterial infections are quite common and result in a total tank reset. Best advice I can give you is go slow, only bad things happen fast. Make sure you have a much larger budget than what you think you need. Read/research a lot before making decisions. And, ALWAYS QUARANTINE!!! __________________ The dream that is now a memory - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550891

02/17/2016, 10:43 AM	#3
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	1) Moorish Idols should never be kept in an aquarium. They are obligate sponge feeders and will gradually starve in even large systems. Please leave them in the ocean where they belong. 2) A puffer is likely to eat the clean up crew and take chunks out of or outright eat the other fish, especially the smaller ones. 3) Even in a tank that size, you are likely to have territory issues with one pair of clownfish, let alone three different species. I would stick with one type of clown. 4) The two species of butterfly fish may also have territory issues but I don't have enough personal experience keeping them to say for sure. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

02/17/2016, 11:07 AM	#4
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I agree ^^^. Moorish Idols are very difficult to keep. Those 2 butterflies will be find together. I recommend adding them together or adding the small one first and let it get establish and then adding the second one.