200g Cowfish and ????????

S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Ok, I need some serious help here. All opinions are welcome, even if it is a somewhat educated guess.
I haven't even started setting the tank up yet, so I have lots of time.
This is the fun part.....planning what it will be.
So far, I know it will contain 1 Longhorn Cowfish.
I am getting the tank specifically for her, but it's a 200g and can certainly house more with the right precautions. All must be peaceful, but there are many fish I would never even look at before cuz they need a large tank. Now, I am looking.

Here are some fish I am considering. I def. couldn't do them all, just a list of maybes.
I am looking for input on experience with any of the following fish, other fish suggestions, or your opinion on the complete stocklist for this tank.
Particulars are 200g tank with 90g display refuge. Refuge will contain 4-5 scorp/lionfish.

Possibilities for 200g with cowfish:
Hippo Tang or Blonde Naso Tang (both wouldn't work, right)
Either 1 Annularis Angel(semi-aggressive, anyone know how aggressive?)
or a pair of Bellus Angelfish
Copperband Butterfly????? (if I can see it eat first)
Either a Tassle or a bristletail Filefish
Bicolor or Magnificent Foxface
Longnose, Flame, or Spotted Hawkfish
Bicolor Goatfish
Please, help me narrow this down!

Thanks, Amy
 
lord fu fu

lord fu fu

Member
well imo the tangs arent such a good idea with teh cow fish since they can easily become very territorial and it woulndt be worth the risk especially with a cowfish (they are the one with the poison right?) and im thinking maybe a hawkfish and/or a school of chromis would be nice
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
That's good thinking. Yes, the cowfish has toxins, but I think the power of the toxins are overrated and I plan to run carbon.
Ok, tangs are totally off the list.
Hawkfish stays in.
Now I need to decide which one! lol
Add the possible school of Chromis. I have heard that they will fight and you will eventually just have one or 2. Is this not true?
What about the Goatfish. Supposedly, peaceful bottom dweller.
And I would really like to add the Bristletail Filefish. Any opinions on this?
What if I take out the large angels and add a Flame, instead.
So, either the hawk and a school of chromis!
OR:
Hawk, Flame Angel, Bristletail, and Goatfish?? (Too much, I could leave out the Goatfish)
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
What about sort of an oddball predator setup?
Cowfish
Porkfish - pair
Filefish
Sargassum Trigger
Hamlet
Hawkfish
The goatfish I would say either way is out, their max size is measured in feet, and grow quickly.
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Ok, Aquaknight, you have the experience with these fish, so I have a few questions about your list. If you would be so kind as to take the time.
Porkfish pair are cool, but the cowfish is yellow, too. What if I replace them with the Bellus Angel pair.
If my research is right, they only reach about 7 inches each and are supposedly peaceful.
The Sargassum trigger is awesome and beautiful, but what about aggressive? I know they are supposed to be less aggressive then other triggers, but do you think he would pick on the Cowfish when he got bigger?
Same question for the hamlet. Is there a particular one you would recommend?
Also, would this list be too much for the 200g? Do I need to be looking at smaller fish?
I am going to ty to get actual measurements on the tank tomorrow. It looked bigger than 200g to me, but I have never been good at guessing tank size!
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3265197
Ok, Aquaknight, you have the experience with these fish, so I have a few questions about your list. If you would be so kind as to take the time.
Porkfish pair are cool, but the cowfish is yellow, too. What if I replace them with the Bellus Angel pair.
If my research is right, they only reach about 7 inches each and are supposedly peaceful.
Bellus pair would be cool and work fine. Porkfish are more mostly a pearlescent white with yellow hightlights/find but yea it would be more yellow.
The Sargassum trigger is awesome and beautiful, but what about aggressive? I know they are supposed to be less aggressive then other triggers, but do you think he would pick on the Cowfish when he got bigger?
I definitely wouldn't believe a Sargassum was picking on a Cowfish. Especially if you purchased a smaller Sargassum, the growth rate of the Cowfish will outpace the Sarg.
Same question for the hamlet. Is there a particular one you would recommend?
It is believe that all hamlets are the same species, they just have adopted different coloring based on location, so pick whichever one you like/can find. They aren't really available a ton. And about the coloring, it's said that some of them, the Indigo for example, coloring comes from their diet, which in the wild is excusely blue chromis. Unlike their relatives, the groupers, they are not aggressive in the least, are actually sorta shy, very much like a lionfish. If something fits into it's mouth, it might try to consume.
Also, would this list be too much for the 200g? Do I need to be looking at smaller fish?
1 Cowfish, 2 angel, Sargassum, and a hamlet I definitely don't think is too much for at least a 200gal with adequate filtration. The better filtration, the more room you have!
.
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Very cool! I got the measurements on the tank today! 72x24x29. So it is acually 216.94 or something like that. Can we call that 220g??
So, stocklist:
1 Longhorn Cowfish
1 Pair Bellus Angels
1 Awesome Sargassum Trigger
1 Hamlet (very cool cuz it looks similar to a parrotfish and I would love one, but get real, right)
Possible:
Bristletail filefish
Hawkfish
If Hamlet won't eat 'em??
Is a Hamlet difficult to convert to prepared foods??
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Yep! Those are the measurements of a 220gal.
I would say Hamlets are lower-moderate to convert, 4 out of 10 (10 being impossible). If you get those scorps in the 90gal first, it should be a cinch to get the Hamlet converted. Or if the Hamlet is first, it will be nice training tool. The problem isn't soo much that they are food reluctant (getting hit in the face with food, but not interested like say a Leaf fish), but their shyness. They are a strong candidate for a QT where the Hamlet can adjust.
If the extremes are meet, a full-size hamlet with a little filefish, yea it's possible for them to be eaten. But a decent sized File should be too large to eat. I might be leary of a hawkfish because of their aggression levels, with most of the other fish on the list.
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Ok, so I'll leave the Hawkfish out!
My plan, once the tank is ready, is to let the Cowfish establish itself and grow out a little. I'll add the Filefish shortly after.
Wait a while, add the Angels. Then the Trigger. Hamlet last.
I'd like to get them all as small as possible and grow them up, so the order should work well with aggressiveness!
No worries with the QT. Everyone will be QT'd!
Thanks for all your help, I can't wait to get started!
Oh yeah, I know shrimp, crabs and snails are out! Would brittle/serpant stars be safe in here?
 
jtt

jtt

Member
so wait, so is a foxface not compatible with that set? I think a magnificent/white foxface would be a killer addition to this mix (visually) I think they are REALLY cool... just imo
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Originally Posted by JTT
http:///forum/post/3265735
so wait, so is a foxface not compatible with that set? I think a magnificent/white foxface would be a killer addition to this mix (visually) I think they are REALLY cool... just imo
That was on my original list. I seem to have strayed far from that. I don't think compatability is a problem, but space may be. I think the only thing I was set on(in the original list) was the Filefish. I am still not totally set on the Bellus pair, but I really want a large angelfish.
I really like the Annularis(sp?) Angel. Was worried about agression, but that seems to be out now. lol
Plenty of time to figure it out. The tank is still at the sellers house with freshies in it. Then I have to get it drilled. Build a stand. Plumb it, cycle it, etc. So, plenty of time for more opinions, but I do think the above list is unique.
Maybe I could squeeze in the foxface. I am def. going to need a good skimmer. Any recomendations??
 
ajroc31

ajroc31

Member
Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3264985
That's good thinking. Yes, the cowfish has toxins, but I think the power of the toxins are overrated and I plan to run carbon. Ok, tangs are totally off the list.
My longhorn died, killed all the smaller fish, only two tangs survived. With carbon, remember, you will need to change it every 2 or 3 weeks. Longhorn is a very friendly fish, had it from a pin size, used to get sucked into powerheads all the time, and very quickly outgrew the tangs. They won't bother it at all. They are territorial towards other tangs. I would love to get another longhorn, but they grow too fast, too big, and they eat and poop too much. Very friendly, but could develop an annoying habit of spitting water out of the tank. Killed the drywall around my tank.
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Originally Posted by ajroc31
http:///forum/post/3265935
My longhorn died, killed all the smaller fish, only two tangs survived. With carbon, remember, you will need to change it every 2 or 3 weeks. Longhorn is a very friendly fish, had it from a pin size, used to get sucked into powerheads all the time, and very quickly outgrew the tangs. They won't bother it at all. They are territorial towards other tangs. I would love to get another longhorn, but they grow too fast, too big, and they eat and poop too much. Very friendly, but could develop an annoying habit of spitting water out of the tank. Killed the drywall around my tank.
So, how big was your Cow and how big was your tank? What type of power heads? I'm going for a soft, even flow throughout the tank. Def. doing spraybars off the return, and maybe a closed loop.
Good note on the drywall. I didn't think of that. I only have to worry about the back side. I think I will attach some sort of guard on the back of tank. How far could she spit??
 
ajroc31

ajroc31

Member
He grew to about 10 inches. It was a 120, three Korelias 3. Had a power outage, nobody was home, poor guy suffocated, and took others with him. Two tangs barely survived. IMO, I would go with two tangs, throw them in at the same time, and they will be fine. Yellow and Regal are a good mix, different body shapes. Love the Naso, but he might become annoying to the cow, too big, and too active. My longhorn was really timid, a cleaner wrasse scared him to death when he wanted to clean it. It was funny, this huge fish running away from a little wrasse.
 
S

shrimpy brains

Guest
Originally Posted by ajroc31
http:///forum/post/3265993
He grew to about 10 inches. It was a 120, three Korelias 3. Had a power outage, nobody was home, poor guy suffocated, and took others with him. Two tangs barely survived. IMO, I would go with two tangs, throw them in at the same time, and they will be fine. Yellow and Regal are a good mix, different body shapes. Love the Naso, but he might become annoying to the cow, too big, and too active. My longhorn was really timid, a cleaner wrasse scared him to death when he wanted to clean it. It was funny, this huge fish running away from a little wrasse.
Sorry you lost him. I can picture the cleaner wrasse chasing him around the tank! Too funny!
I asked the size of the tank, because the system I am putting together will be about 300g. I am hoping that it will help to dilute any potential toxin. Also, it is possible that your other fish died as a result of the outage and not the toxins.
I have a yellow in my 125g. I have always wanted a hippo, but not the big tank to go with it. I like the stocklist that Aquaknight helped me put together, but I may have a moment of weakness, or be unable to get certain fish from the list. So, I am definitely keeping an open mind. lol
 
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