FOWLR 120gal - Stocking Suggestions

So I'm a total newbie to the saltwater world (not a pet newbie by any means, I've kept reptiles all my life) and I need some help on deciding what to stock the tank with. A few bits of info first. I will soon be setting up the tank, but I need to cycle it first. The tank I'm picking up has been drained for 6 months, but there's about 175lbs of rock in it. There's also a very nice Hamilton light on it, so my live rock will be nicely lit and fed. It's possible I may someday transition to a reef tank. Tank dimensions are 60"x25"(T)x18(D). There is no canopy or lid on the tank, so things that can escape are out for now. 20 gal sump set up. Basically, I'm looking for an interesting tank to observe and stocked with some "colorful diversity". Initially, I was considering going with a Picasso trigger and selecting my other fish around such, but I've started to talk myself out of that. Primarily due to the limiting factors with one, mainly the inability to keep any cleaner shrimp/clams. It's not that regular water changes will be a problem for me, but I see the ability to keep some tank janitors far more beneficial, as well as more interesting. So, currently I'm considering something along the lines of a tang (yellow? powder blue? sailfin? combination of any of the prior?), a wrasse or two (6 line?), a flame angel, a hawk fish, and/or....? Please help with a suggested stocking list. Thanks in advance.

 

The yellow and sailfin will not go together in a tank of that size because they have the same body type.

The rest look like a nice selection to met your parameters.

The flame may be a problem if you go reef. They are one of the better angels in a reef tank tho.

 

First I would recommend you go to Home depot and get a sheet of eggcrate and cut it to fit the top, get the white colored one as it's better ecologically. This will keep fish from jumping out of the tank.
You should decide which way your going to go as far as a reef or a FOWLR tank. They are two different situations especially with inhabitants.

If you go reef it doesn't mean you have to fill it with corals right away. Go at your own pace. As far as the fish go get the smallest healthiest fishes and let them grow up together. There is a better chance they will get along. Tangs are tricky and should be last. There are three different types of tangs. A yellow tang and a hippo tang get along ok or a purple tang and a hippo tang but NOT a purple and yellow together. The Powder Blue is very prown to ich and should go in very big established tanks. I have no experience with sailfins but they seem docile but they grow huge. Also put the tangs in at the same time.
Wrasse should be kept alone so pick a good one that is reef safe. Flame angels are beautiful I've tried to keep a few but they died real fast? Maybe try putting the Flame angel in early so he gets acclimented to tank life and feels confident. Other fish may include a trio of anthias (one male and the rest female). A hawk fish is tough on inverts so be careful, maybe a Longnose Hawk might work. Gobies are good and they clean the substrate I have three different kinds and they get along ok. Shrimp are great with the reef. They clean the parasites off the fish and eat dead fish. I'll shut up now.

 

if that live rock has been sitting dry with the tank for 6 months its going to be a LONG process to get it back into decent shape. Is there a skimmer? If so, what kind? For stocking options I would look into . . .

medium angels (anything that wont get over 1' in length)
butterflys
a bannerfish or 2
a single medium tang (no naso's, vlamingi, or clown)
red corris wrasse
harlequin tusk
miniatus grouper
lion fish
puffers

It all really depends on what YOU want. pick your favorite fish and try to build your list around it. for example, if you like lions, then any fin nippers like puffers, triggers and some angels are out. Your filtration will determine what kind of bio-load your tank can handle, If you want a heavily stocked tank I would get the largest skimmer possible and also a larger sump for more rock and water volume.

~Will.

 

Yellow tangs are an easy hardy fish but like said above can fight if they're already established. I've had my yellow tang attack many fish for a few days then get along fine later.

Powder blue fish are harder to keep. If possible add the yellow tang last.
A lot depends on which fish was there first.

 

What kind of light bulbs does it have, what size are they and how many?

 

The fixture has 3 250W Metal Halide ports with hamilton bulbs, and also holds 4 96w power compact bulbs for night lighting.

 

Great tip on the eggcrate, I'll definitely do that. Great info on the tangs, so now here's what everybody has me thinking: I'll be better off to assume the tank will eventually turn into a reef. I'm not in any huge hurry, and I realize it may take a couple months to cure the rock, and probably a year before it gets a decent amount of growth. As far as fish, here's where everyone has left me thinking:
Purple tang
Butterfly
Flame angel
Long nose hawkfish
6 line wrasse
Green clown goby
A clown fish or two

Thanks for all the advice thus far.

 

The butterfly should be a Copperband as they are about the only butterfly that's reef safe and also eats something called aptasia which is a good thing.
Hey no shrimp! They are like having an onboard doctor.

 

Oh, forgot about the cleaning crew!
Throw a banded coral shrimp in there, as well as some cleaner snails, and maybe a sea star.