Advice or Suggestions On my Tank, Setup, or Stocking

Hello I'm just starting up in saltwater but have been into fish for awhile now keeping discus and varies other creatures. Now a friend of mine convinced me to try my luck at saltwater. So from my previous experiences I decided to go big due to the fluctuation in water due to salinity. So I have obtained a 220 gallon marineland pre-drilled aquarium for a FOWLR tank. Its 72" X 24" x30" i think. Im also think of doing a 125 gallon sump but not sure if thats to big or too small. So now I am getting 40 lbs of base rock and curing it in a 37 gallon tank that will in the future used as a QT/hospital tank. Ok, equipment I am looking at is the Reef Octopus 250 skimmer, some kind of external pump (don't know what kind), vortech power-heads, T5 lighting, a turf scrubber, and what ever else is needed. So I could use some help in were to go. This all was recommended to me my the same friend who talked me into this mess in the first place. So my fiancé and I have been looking at fish and this is a little list we have come up with and what some opinions and comments on this to see if they are good choices or not. Black & white ocellaris clowns, gold stripe maroon clowns, flame angel, copper band butterflyfish, orchird dotty back, springeri dotty back, green mandarin, flame hawkfish, yellow tang, chevron tang, a chillies tang, harlequin tusk, and some big angelfish. Now i want an eel of some sort and she wants a golden puffer. Are either or any of therse this going to have problems? Am I missing any equipment? Are there any sweet fish we haven't thought of? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Gregg

 

Sounds like an awesome build! 125 gal sump would be appropriate for that size tank; more water volume is always better! Vortechs are awesome, and will do in that tank as long as they are not MP-10s. Need at least MP-40s if not MP-60s. For return pump, if you do go with the 125 sump, you would be looking at a pump that will flow around 600 GPH at the head for your tank.

For the fish list, because of how large it is, you should be ok with most selections. Not sure on the (2) Dottybacks though; someone else will have to give more thoughts on that. Green Mandarin should be added once the tank is well established so it has plenty of pods to eat. But that tank size is very appropriate for the fish. Other than that, I would probably stay away from the eel and puffer. The eel can and likely will eat the smaller fish when given the opportunity. The puffer will eat any and all snails. Otherwise, the tangs are all from different species, so those should work together. But again, someone with more experience would need to chime in if there are any issues.

How about corals; any thoughts into if you want them or not? Keep in mind, even if you don't know, you likely will once you get into this!

 

I'm thinking the little mandarin might have trouble with eating pods with so many big eaters in the tank. It may survive in the sump if you culture pods there. That is a big tank but the two types of clowns may be problematic but may not. Just know that maroons are beasts - you'll want to add two together at the same time and toward the last on your list add. The black and whites are pretty docile but each may find a niche in a tank that large. I'm not familiar with dotty backs so I can't help there. I would take the butterfly off the list (unfortunately) - I know they are gorgeous but they are pretty passive fish and can be finicky eaters so with a more lively crew, it probably wouldn't be ok....You also will want to keep in mind that most of your fish once grown, are going to be big eaters so you'll want to make sure you have a good filtration system in place (strong skimmer, carbon/GFO reactors or place to run). If you go with the eel, you'll probably need to cut down on the number of fish just because each tank can only support a certain bioload....

 

I am no expert, but that is a large tank and should not have a problem keeping a mandarin well fed, as long as it is established. The other fish listed should not really compete with it anyways. And with over 300 gallons of water volume, bioload should not come into play unless it was way overstocked. Just my opinions

 

I think "established" is the key. I believe the op is just starting the tank. One should define established which I consider to be at least 6 months to a year. Just so the op doesn't just add a mandarin from the get go, I think our comments are in agreement

 

Hey thanks guys. I didn't know that the maroons are so nasty. Just went to the lfs and online and tried to find fish that were intersenting to us and was going to do a little research on them before adding. kinda sad the butterfly won't work but totally understandable. Also I will be getting tank-bred fish instead of live captured. Just was wondering about the dry rock curing and then using it to seed more dry rock in the future. Also what size skimmer should i get and should i overclock it just in case?

 

Indeed; in that case we are 100% in agreement ;D

And for skimmers, I can not help here besides saying you are going to need a "big" one There have been tons of posts recently on larger skimmers. Do a quick search and see if any can help.

 

Welcome Gregg!! I don't really have the exsperience with large systems that would be of help with any specifics but I think if I was to plan a large system such as you are planning I would definitely look into a larger than needed skimmer and biopellets/reactor.From what I have read using biopellets,especially in a large system,seems like a lower maintenance way to go.