Advice for stocking a 225

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by TheMikey

what were you thinking for your centerpiece fish?

The Kole actually. If I had my way it'd be either a sohal, naso or both. But I'm going to attempt some self-control here as I feel they get too big/active.

Originally Posted by Leah

The square spot Anthia's are beautiful, how many are you thinking of adding? I have noticed mine do not like brite light

Yeah I read something about their colours fading under bright light and my tank is certainly bright. Maybe I'll have to choose a different anthias. I'm a really big an of the red striped ones as well.

Originally Posted by Dez

I would be tentative toward a royal gramma and a purple pseudochromis (these are a couple of my favourite fish) because they can tend to get super aggressive.

Like Tony said the orchid is less aggressive. I had one of these in my first tank and he was very close to a model citizen. He and my tomato clown would size each other up but nothing ever came of it. I didn't know the gramma could be aggressive tho.

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Let's face it, it's probably going to be subject to change anyhow as you go along so it's not something I'd sweat too much at this point.

Oh yeah I'm sure things will change. The list will be longer in its final form. Happens to everyone! Don't you have one of those angels Tony? If so just a male or both sexes?

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Does anyone know what the fish is for the basslet area on live aquaria? The two-tone purple fish that doesn't appear in the category itself? I'd choose this over the orchid as it looks BOSS.

[naesco]

Just my opinion. Ditch the royal gramma (too aggressive)
Add a powder brown tang (A. japonica) the one with orange on it, and add a mandarin 6 months after start up to give the the critters a chance to get up to speed.
(the kole needs film algae so keep the end of your tank dirty.)
But except for the royal nice choices.
Go slow with the additions. real slow.
Good Luck

[lastlight]

My last orchid hunted and ate pods and critters off the rocks...all day. Perhaps that's why he didn't have time to cause much trouble? I'm avoiding the mandarin for this very reason. Does flow affect pod count? I'm going mainly SPS...flow is slower right now but will eventually be cranked high. Watching these little guys crawl around in the fuge it seems that they wouldn't really do too well in the display where the water moves over the rocks pretty quickly. Wouldn't they have little chance t even hang on let alone flourish?

Kole will most likely be my only tang. Unless my wife...yeah my wife...really wants another...or two.

Tony's sailfin is super cool as well but they get HUGE too. I think that too many large fish upset the visual balance...realism in our small tanks.

Thanks for commenting.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by lastlight

I think that too many large fish upset the visual balance...realism in our small tanks.

I like the way your thinking! That's one thing that I hated about my 200 when I had it...way too many big fish. I had 4 big tangs (7" sailfin, 6" hippo, 4" yellow, 5" naso), a large rabbit (6") and a large tusk (6" or so).

At the time I couldn't figure out what I didn't like about it...it wasn't any individual fish but then I saw a 400G (I think, may have been bigger) tank the other day on RC that made me realize what it was.

This tank was very mature, massive sps colonies (which he didn't over do, just let a few colonies grow very large), beautiful open coralscape and I think he estimated over a hundred fish! None over a few inches other than a large school of anthias. All small gobies, blennies, a few clowns, blue eyes cardinals ect. Basically what people call nano fish.

The video of the tank was incredible with all the fish going in and out of the rockwork. Such a natural looking reef!

I think your list is really great.

Having only had a 34G tank now for a while, I have come to realize most of the small fish are nicer to keep than the big guys because they really seem to act quite naturally. Not much if any pacing of the tank or begging for food. They just seem to go about their business and defend their small territories.

[lastlight]

Great post and I couldn't agree more. You can't NOT leave a link to that tank/video now

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Great post and I couldn't agree more. You can't NOT leave a link to that tank/video now

LOL...I was just looking for it!

I can't remember where it was. I thought RC but now I can't find it anymore. When I said "a few days ago" I really should have said a few weeks ago.

I will keep looking though. It was a pretty cool tank with all the small active fish.

[lastlight]

Justin if you don't find it I'll have no choice but to do the work I've been putting off until tonight. I know you're kinder than that!

[Delphinus]

Search faster Justin. Sheesh! "This is not the 400g you're looking for.." (Ok that was out of place, but I just hadn't seen enough SW quotes here today..)

I sort of hear what you guys are saying. There are a LOT of fish I've steered myself away from over the years because they just get too danged big.

One of the reason I steered towards a doliatus rabbit was because they are the smallest of the genus. Although now seeing them in the Georgia Aquarium at 14" long (ugh), I see that "smallest" doesn't always mean a lot.

But you see the same principle in FW too, big huge tanks, and then all they have in them is a school of itty bitty tetras. And those are the ones you really tend to think, "wow".

But that's not to say I love my sailfin any less. Yeah I guess he's a big fish but then I've had him for 8 years now.

[Delphinus]

I don't think flow will really affect the way 'pods are able to take hold. They manage under all kinds of conditions.

Originally Posted by lastlight

Don't you have one of those angels Tony? If so just a male or both sexes?

I have a "pair" (but it could just be that they're a male and a female, but not really a "pair", per se. I'm not sure, but they sure don't act like a loving couple. OTOH, they act like most married couples I've known, so maybe they are after all.) Interestingly, the females in Genicanthus tend to be more colourful than the males; although the males get more pronounced swallow-tail effects. I think pairs are the way to go with these guys.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Does anyone know what the fish is for the basslet area on live aquaria? The two-tone purple fish that doesn't appear in the category itself? I'd choose this over the orchid as it looks BOSS.

This guy? http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_...1+47&pcatid=47

Black cap basslet. Yeah, pretty fish! .. I know nothing of it though.

[lastlight]

Yeah you're right:

http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/bas...ackcapbasslet/

Damn forget the orchid or the other gramma. I need this badass. Sounds like a smart addition like the 4-stripe is a smart addition lol. I'm heading towards a cichlid-like tank haha.

More good info here:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...hp/t-3784.html