A hopeful reef tank

[parrotfish100]

Well... now that I have a job... I am looking to set up a reef tank. My job's at my LFS, so I get a nice fat discount! The hopeful tank will be a 125 gallon. My favorite SW fish are tangs, so I want to make the fish in it mainly tangs. I've heard that they don't get along too well, so I asked my co-worker. He said that the Zebrasoma's get along well, but the Ancanthurus' don't. Well, I am kinda in luck, since I wanted to get a Sohal, Yellow, and Regal Tang... but I have a question: Would the Regal get along with the others? I also wanted to get a Pineapple Trigger, possibly 2 clownfish to go in some anemones, and possibly a Hawaiian Hawkfish. Would these go well together in that size tank, or is that over stocking? My co-worker said that the tangs would get along good, as long as I introduced them around the same time.

 

[Cearbhaill]

You're way ahead of yourself IMO-

You have so much in front of you in terms of equipment selection and chemistry classes- relax about the stock list.
Tangs have lots of issues- running room paramount among them, as well as lots of folks expressing opinions about them. I do believe that "mainly tangs" is a bad idea in a tank that size.

I would continue to learn about the individual tangs and their specific needs- sure. But honestly- it will be months before you are ready to add fish, so concentrate as much on the set-up as you do fish dreaming.

Got your skimmer chosen? Circulation? Lighting? Plumbing?
You are going full blown mixed reef?

 

[holyherbiness]

Agreed with Cearbhail.
I would recommend you ask around and read forums for information on keeping such fish.
Filtration methods/lighting/etc will also be very important

For a tank that size, you do not want to screw up which would cost a lot of money.
Be patient and do your research

www.reefcentral.com has some fantastic forums. I would suggest you look around and ask people for compatibility issues. I'm sure you would get more of a response there than here

good luck!

 

[Ray Pollett]

I respectfully disagree with both answers so far. These are common mistakes people make IMO. You were doing it right IMO. You decide on the animals you want to keep and then set up the tank accordingly. That means you decide on equipment after you decide on fish.IMO

While I have seen people put those three tangs in a 125; I've never seen them grow up to their potential. I therefore do not reccomend having all three in a 125. Personally I would pick the ONE I wanted most. The Clowns and Hawkfish would do OKwith any of the tangs. I am not a trigger person so someone else will have to answer that. What little I know about them is most are aggressive after they are in a tank for a while.

Ray

 

[parrotfish100]

Ive decided against a full-blown reef if I want to get a trigger, or a parrot... they eat the heck outta reefs So it will probably just be a semi-reef... Live rock, and a few anemones.

The space issue is what I was worried about... the tank looked smaller than a different 125 I have seen... but I think thats cause it had built in overflows.

As with the "rushing in thing", I think its better to decide what you like ahead of time... I'm not going to set up a whole thing, and decide that I don't have enough room for the fish I wanted.

I agree with the "I respectfully disagree with both answers so far. These are common mistakes people make IMO. You were doing it right IMO. You decide on the animals you want to keep and then set up the tank accordingly. That means you decide on equipment after you decide on fish.IMO"

I won't get all three, I guess... Probably the Sohal, a small Yellow, and see where it goes from there. I would like to get a trigger and a parrot, but I know the parrots can get pretty big...