120 Stocking Help

My friend just bought a 120 gallon shallow tank (42X42X42X42). All he knows is that he wants coral. He kind of jumped in feet first. I'm trying to help him, problem is, I'm a nano guy (29 gallon). So, stocking suggestion?

 

If he is new to marine tanks, it would be best to stick with easy-to-care-for fish and corals. I would stick with the tried and true- Clownfish pair, cardinalfish, firefish, basslets, reef-safe wrasses. Down the road, maybe a large fish like a yellow tang or foxface? or corals- Zoanthids, mushrooms, leather- any soft coral. He should check out some beginner threads to research equipment and livestock options.

 

I should probably mention the lfs guy took him for a ride. He also has a 20 gallon that has a couple fish in it......and a shark egg. I'm trying to do damage control here.

 

At 42" x 42" x 42", your friend would have a 320 gal setup. What makes more sense is that the tank is a 48" 120 gal, which is actually a really nice footprint. We need to get that squared away first.

Also, your friend needs to take the shark egg back...it won't do well in a 120 gal as an adult.

 

agreed, have your friend take the egg back and tell the LFS guy to return the egg to the mother she missing her baby in the ocean, where he belongs;D

has he picked out a light source yet for the 120 yet?

 

It's a square tank probably 12-13 inches high, really shallow for the amount of water in it. I showed him on live aquaria that shark are for more advanced hobbyists. Hopefully he returns it before it hatches.
As far as a light he just ordered Maxspect Razor R42, 36 inch. I told him he would probably need more light than that. I tried pushing a couple Reefbreeder fixtures on him, nothing doing.
Any suggestions on the fish? What is practical, even tempered and looks good for a tank this size.

 

IMO I'd do a large school of cardinals, a pair of skunk clowns, if the tank will have sand mult. shrimp goby pairs, 1-2 rockdwelling blennies, and a few rockdwelling gobies.

 

Thanks, I'll run your ideas by him and see what he thinks.
I never got the "my friend" posts until now. I always wondered why the hell they didn't just go on a forum and ask. The problem is he doesn't know what questions to ask.

 

i remember reading somewhere that cardinals are mean to other fish in big schools. Maybe someone can chime in on that one, to say if it true or not

 

It kinda depends on the species...PJ/spotteds (Sphaeramia nematoptera) are about as docile as they come.