species list...good or bad?

kikireef · 05/18/2009, 10:35 AM

I am currently cycling a 125 gallon reef tank. 6 feet long. I would like to add the following probably in this order. Is this a good list or bad?

2 tomato clownfish (preferably larger ones)
1 blue tang
1 poor mans moorish idol (i forget the actual name)
1 snowflake eel (smaller to start)
1 Bluethroat trigger
1 dwarf lionfish
1 mandarin goby

I have heard mixed thoughts as to whether a bluethroat trigger is reef safe and clownfish safe

I have also heard that a dwarf lionfish is ok with larger clownfish because they can't fit in its mouth.

I don't want to get a lionfish and feed it a $30 meal of clownfish.

Any help is appreciated.

lostinthereef · 05/18/2009, 11:49 AM

blue throat is reef safe for sure

Aquarist ?s · 05/18/2009, 11:54 AM

First of all, I don't know what to tell you about the Lionfish but i doubt a goby would last long with it. The trigger should be fine except for issues with aggression. The eel is probably your biggest worry for reef safeness. The poor mans moorish idol or Longfin Heniochus is probably fine as is the clowns and the tangs. Hope this helps.

KDDG · 05/18/2009, 12:31 PM

My opinion:

Blue throat - Reef safe with caution. I think most people have found their blue throats have not caused too much trouble. I have not done it myself.

Lion- I would not put in a reef tank. They have bigger mouths than you would think.

Eel- I have put one of these in my reef before. No fish went missing, but I did not have a shrimp left in sight. FWIW, I would not get one again.

The others would be OK, but Moorish Idols are difficult to keep. I personally would not get one of those either. But, I think a few people have successfully kept them.

kikireef · 05/18/2009, 12:42 PM

Definetly not a real moorish idol. I heard they are impossible to keep alive. Looking for a longfin heniochus as mentioned by Aquaris ?s.

kikireef · 05/18/2009, 12:43 PM

Thanks for the help and any more ideas/experiences/thoughts would be appreciated.

KDDG · 05/18/2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kikireef
Definetly not a real moorish idol. I heard they are impossible to keep alive. Looking for a longfin heniochus as mentioned by Aquaris ?s.

I see. I misread.

WaterKeeper · 05/18/2009, 01:08 PM

I've never has a problem with a snowflake in a community tank except, as Kelly noted, they will chow down on shrimp as well similar, bite sized inverts. I also agree that a lion of any type is chancy in a mixed tank but I have seem them in tanks where they did well without eating their tankmates. It is one of those "it depends on the fish species".

jmjohnson · 05/18/2009, 01:18 PM

Heniochus like to be kept in multiples as they are a schooling fish.

WaterKeeper · 05/18/2009, 02:28 PM

JM,

I thought H. acuminatus was OK as a solitary fish and the H. diphreutes was the type that schools. Most of the ones offered have been the former but the latter may be entering the market. For any easily confused newbies we are talking about the Poor Man's Moorish Idol aka Bannerfish. There are two types and both resemble all the contestants on The Next American Idol.

05/18/2009, 10:35 AM	#1
kikireef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chino at The Preserve Posts: 1,107	species list...good or bad? I am currently cycling a 125 gallon reef tank. 6 feet long. I would like to add the following probably in this order. Is this a good list or bad? 2 tomato clownfish (preferably larger ones) 1 blue tang 1 poor mans moorish idol (i forget the actual name) 1 snowflake eel (smaller to start) 1 Bluethroat trigger 1 dwarf lionfish 1 mandarin goby I have heard mixed thoughts as to whether a bluethroat trigger is reef safe and clownfish safe I have also heard that a dwarf lionfish is ok with larger clownfish because they can't fit in its mouth. I don't want to get a lionfish and feed it a $30 meal of clownfish. Any help is appreciated.

05/18/2009, 12:31 PM	#4
KDDG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 208	My opinion: Blue throat - Reef safe with caution. I think most people have found their blue throats have not caused too much trouble. I have not done it myself. Lion- I would not put in a reef tank. They have bigger mouths than you would think. Eel- I have put one of these in my reef before. No fish went missing, but I did not have a shrimp left in sight. FWIW, I would not get one again. The others would be OK, but Moorish Idols are difficult to keep. I personally would not get one of those either. But, I think a few people have successfully kept them. __________________ Kelly Current Tank Info: In wall, bar: Approx. 310 Gal

05/18/2009, 12:42 PM	#5
kikireef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chino at The Preserve Posts: 1,107	Definetly not a real moorish idol. I heard they are impossible to keep alive. Looking for a longfin heniochus as mentioned by Aquaris ?s. __________________ Keith SCMAS Member Tank Info: 120 gallon 48"x30"x20" Leemar Rimless. 2 MP40w, 1 MP10w, SROsss Skimmer, ATI Sunpower 8x54w, Neptune Apex Controller with WXM module. 2 BRS dosing pumps. Check my homepage for the build...

05/18/2009, 12:43 PM	#6
kikireef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chino at The Preserve Posts: 1,107	Thanks for the help and any more ideas/experiences/thoughts would be appreciated. __________________ Keith SCMAS Member Tank Info: 120 gallon 48"x30"x20" Leemar Rimless. 2 MP40w, 1 MP10w, SROsss Skimmer, ATI Sunpower 8x54w, Neptune Apex Controller with WXM module. 2 BRS dosing pumps. Check my homepage for the build...

05/18/2009, 01:08 PM	#8
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I've never has a problem with a snowflake in a community tank except, as Kelly noted, they will chow down on shrimp as well similar, bite sized inverts. I also agree that a lion of any type is chancy in a mixed tank but I have seem them in tanks where they did well without eating their tankmates. It is one of those "it depends on the fish species". __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

05/18/2009, 11:49 AM	#2
lostinthereef Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: somewhere Posts: 125	blue throat is reef safe for sure

05/18/2009, 11:54 AM	#3
Aquarist ?s Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 71	First of all, I don't know what to tell you about the Lionfish but i doubt a goby would last long with it. The trigger should be fine except for issues with aggression. The eel is probably your biggest worry for reef safeness. The poor mans moorish idol or Longfin Heniochus is probably fine as is the clowns and the tangs. Hope this helps.

05/18/2009, 01:18 PM	#9
jmjohnson Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 208	Heniochus like to be kept in multiples as they are a schooling fish.

05/18/2009, 02:28 PM	#10
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	JM, I thought H. acuminatus was OK as a solitary fish and the H. diphreutes was the type that schools. Most of the ones offered have been the former but the latter may be entering the market. For any easily confused newbies we are talking about the Poor Man's Moorish Idol aka Bannerfish. There are two types and both resemble all the contestants on The Next American Idol. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29