Marine fish recommendations from the community

[RavenFly]

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the process of setting up three marine tanks - a Rio 240, a Rekord 96, and a 24G D-D Lynxo Reef. I'd love to get some ideas on stocking them. They all have T5 lighting, and I'm keen to include coflakes in the Rio 240, but I know some fish love to eat them.

I've got a few fish in mind that I really like - the Clown Trigger, Picclyasso Trigger, and the Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish, which is a must-have for me, I think they're brilliant. I'm also considering the Tomato Clown, Clarkie Clown, Percula Clown, and Skunk Clown. Then there are the Blue and Yellow Tangs, but I know they can get huge. I'm aware of that, but I'm willing to upgrade to a larger tank if needed.

I've already got two Bristle Star Fish that came with the live rock. If I can make the coflakes work in the Rio 240, that'd be great, but it's not a deal-breaker if I can't. Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam

[dune9x]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for sharing your tank setup and the fish you're interested in keeping. I have some thoughts on the ones you've listed.

First off, Clown Triggers are beautiful but they can get massive and quite aggressive, so I'd advise against them for your tanks. The Picclyasso Trigger is also quite large and aggressive, and it's not great with inverts either.

On the other hand, Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish are amazing fish, but just be aware that they can grow up to 8 inches and will eat anything that fits in their mouth. As for clowns, the Tomato Clown is lovely but it's best not to mix it with other clowns. The Skunk Clown should be fine, though.

Regarding the Tangs, I think you mean Regal Tang when you say Blue Tang? They do get very large quickly and are prone to whitespot. The Yellow Tang could work in your 240, but ideally, it needs a bigger tank.

Hope this helps you make some informed decisions about your tank stocking!

[RavenFly]

Hi, thanks for your input. I appreciate your concerns about the tank size, but as I mentioned earlier, I'm prepared to upgrade when needed.

Regarding the compatibility of the fish, I'd love to know if a Clown Trigger, Tomato Clown, Skunk Clown, Regal Tang, Yellow Tang, and a Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish would get along. The main thing for me is whether they'll leave the coflakes alone. I've heard some fish can be quite destructive when it comes to them.

[zenoxa]

Clown triggers are notorious for their laid-back nature initially, but beware, as they hit around 8 inches in length, their demeanor can drastically change - they're capable of decimating an entire tank's fish population in a single night. It's also worth noting that they demand respect when you're working in the tank, lest you invite a nasty nip from their sharp teeth.

[dune9x]

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the process of setting up three marine tanks - a Rio 240, a Rekord 96, and a 24G D-D Lynxo Reef. I'd love to get some ideas on stocking them. They all have T5 lighting, and I'm keen to include coflakes in the Rio 240, but I know some fish love to eat them.

I've got a few fish in mind that I really like - the Clown Trigger, Picclyasso Trigger, and the Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish, which is a must-have for me, I think they're brilliant. I'm also considering the Tomato Clown, Clarkie Clown, Percula Clown, and Skunk Clown. Then there are the Blue and Yellow Tangs, but I know they can get huge. I'm aware of that, but I'm willing to upgrade to a larger tank if needed.

I've already got two Bristle Star Fish that came with the live rock. If I can make the coflakes work in the Rio 240, that'd be great, but it's not a deal-breaker if I can't. Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam

Don't mix the clowns, I'd recommend the Tomato if you're set on keeping one. The Clown Trigger will likely devour any inverts but may spare the coflakes - however, keep in mind they grow massive and have a reputation for turning on other fish. If you're dead set on a trigger, consider the Picclyasso or better yet, a blue throat. Also, be aware that triggers have been known to nip at lionfish fins.

If you do decide on a Clown or Picclyasso, introduce it last and be cautious when adding new fish to the tank. As for the Tangs, introducing them simultaneously should be fine, but I'd advise against the Regal unless you're prepared to upgrade to a much larger tank soon. They grow at an incredible rate - I've seen one go from 1" to 6" in under six months.

Scott Michael suggests a minimum tank size of 100 gallons for a Regal Tang, but personally, I think that's too small. They're extremely active fish requiring ample swimming space. I've learned from my own mistakes with these fish, so I'm passing on the warning. Consider picking up a copy of "Marine Fishes" by Scott W. Michael - it's an invaluable resource.

[zenoxa]

I agree with most of the points raised, particularly the potential issues with the Clown Trigger and the Lionfish - it's likely to be a recipe for disaster. If you're dead set on keeping a trigger, I'd recommend exploring other options that are less aggressive and less likely to cause problems.

If you're absolutely certain that you can upgrade to a larger tank in the future, I'd also suggest considering some of the smaller piscivorous morays and groupers. These fish can be fascinating additions to a tank, but they do come with their own set of challenges. They'll likely see the clownfish as a meal, but they should be fine with tangs and other similar fish.

It's worth noting that these fish do require a lot of space and suitable hiding places, so a larger tank is essential. I'd recommend doing plenty of research and planning carefully before introducing these fish to your tank.

[RavenFly]

Cheers for all your replies so far,

I've been thinking, and this is what I've come up with...

D-D 24G Lynxo Reef: I'm thinking coflakes with either a pair of young Percula Clowns or a Tomato Clown, and/or a Skunk Clown. Would anything else get along with a Tomato or Skunk clown in this tank, without eating the coflakes?

Rio 240: I'm unsure about this one, as I'd really like to keep coflakes in there too. I've been considering a Clown Trigger, Regal Tang, or Yellow Tang. Would a Tomato, Clarkie, or Skunk clown co-exist with any of these fish? Maybe a Sea Horse or Starfish? I've also thought about a Lionfish, not the dwarf variety. Size isn't a major concern for me, as I'll just upgrade to a bigger tank when the time comes.

Juwel 100L: If the Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish can't go in the 240 with the other fish, I might put it in this tank instead. Will it eat coflakes, though?

Any ideas for better combinations or suggestions would be appreciated. I'm after fish with sharp, vivid colors, like the Picclyasso Trigger, Clown Trigger, or Perculas. Lionfish really interest me, so that's a priority.

Thanks, Sam

[dune9x]

Thanks for all the advice so far. I'm thinking of setting up my tanks like this...

D-D 24G Lynxo Reef - I'd love to have coflakes in here with either a pair of young Percula Clowns or a Skunk Clown. Maybe a Ocelaris Clown could also work? Would they all get along and leave the coflakes alone?

Rio 240 - This one's still up in the air. I really want to keep coflakes in here too, but I'm not sure what else to pair with them. A Clown Trigger or Regal Tang might be too aggressive? Could a Skunk Clown or Clarkie Clown coexist with a Yellow Tang? I'm also considering a Sea Horse or Starfish, but I'm not sure if they'd be compatible. A Lionfish could be interesting, but I've been warned about their size.

Juwel 100L - If I can't put the Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish in the 240, I'll put it in here. But will it eat coflakes? I've been told they're okay with Tangs, but not with Triggers.

If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions, please let me know. I'm looking for fish with bright, vibrant colors - something that'll really make my tanks pop. Lionfish are a priority for me, so I'd love to hear about any other species that might work well in my tanks.

[zenfox8]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for sharing your tank setup and the fish you're interested in keeping. I have some thoughts on the ones you've listed.

First off, Clown Triggers are beautiful but they can get massive and quite aggressive, so I'd advise against them for your tanks. The Picclyasso Trigger is also quite large and aggressive, and it's not great with inverts either.

On the other hand, Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish are amazing fish, but just be aware that they can grow up to 8 inches and will eat anything that fits in their mouth. As for clowns, the Tomato Clown is lovely but it's best not to mix it with other clowns. The Skunk Clown should be fine, though.

Regarding the Tangs, I think you mean Regal Tang when you say Blue Tang? They do get very large quickly and are prone to whitespot. The Yellow Tang could work in your 240, but ideally, it needs a bigger tank.

Hope this helps you make some informed decisions about your tank stocking!

I'm not convinced about the 8" figure. Fishbase puts the maximum wild size of the dwarf fuzzy (Dendrochirus blazulipterus) at 17cm total length, including that rather large tail. That works out to just over 6.5" max. Realistically, getting one of these over 5" is quite an achievement.

[dune9x]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for sharing your tank setup and the fish you're interested in keeping. I have some thoughts on the ones you've listed.

First off, Clown Triggers are beautiful but they can get massive and quite aggressive, so I'd advise against them for your tanks. The Picclyasso Trigger is also quite large and aggressive, and it's not great with inverts either.

On the other hand, Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish are amazing fish, but just be aware that they can grow up to 8 inches and will eat anything that fits in their mouth. As for clowns, the Tomato Clown is lovely but it's best not to mix it with other clowns. The Skunk Clown should be fine, though.

Regarding the Tangs, I think you mean Regal Tang when you say Blue Tang? They do get very large quickly and are prone to whitespot. The Yellow Tang could work in your 240, but ideally, it needs a bigger tank.

Hope this helps you make some informed decisions about your tank stocking!

You're right, 8" might be a bit of an overstatement. According to Fishbase, the maximum wild size of the dwarf fuzzy lionfish is around 17cm, which is roughly 6.5" max. I mean, let's be realistic, getting one over 5" is a pretty impressive feat.