VetGirl

More or less our final list--thanks for all the ideas! Now, what order should these fish be introduced into the tank (they will be quarantined first)? Green Bird Wrasse (Gomphosus varius) Picasso Trigger (Rhinecanthus aculeatus) male Blue Jaw Trigger (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) arc-eye hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) Hawaiian White Spotted Toby (Canthigaster jactator)

As far as updates go, our tank has been cycling away and is about ready for fish I think. The last month has consisted of dead week, finals week, spring break, and starting the new term, so I have been a bit overwhelmed with school and things. Now that things are settling down again, I can focus on my tanks more. When the triggers are full grown will a toby that size be able to hold it's own? That was my main concern with the smallers puffers--thanks for the idea though--we saw some pretty ones when we were in Hawaii and thought they would be cool to keep. I really need to talk to people who have had some of the fish I want (since I am so indecisive). I would like to know if anyone has kept sadle wrasse or bird wrasse? I am not sure which I want, but our sand bed is fairly deep so I think I can accommodate either. I have heard it is good to keep bird wrasses in pairs. At this point, the list looks like this: Picasso Trigger Blue Jaw Trigger 1 Saddle Wrasse OR 1 Green Bird Wrasse OR 1 Green and 1 Brown Bird Wrasse + ? I figure the wrasse(s) should go in first, so if I get that decided, at least I can get the ball rolling. Thanks!

So, we are thinking this will be our stocking list: Bird Wrasse (male) Blue Jaw Trigger (male) Huma Picasso Trigger Yellow Tang + one puffer? Can anyone recommend a puffer that would get along with the other fishes and not outgrow a 125g tank? We would love to have a stars and stripes puffer (Arothron hispidus), but figure they get too big, depending on who you ask. I was hoping for all Hawaiian fish (these were all species we saw snorkeling/scuba diving in Maui and I have always shot for environmental/biotope tanks with freshwater), but hubby really wants a puffer, so any puffer that meets the requirements will do. Thanks!

Biweekly if not weekly water changes should be no problem (been doing it for years with my freshwater tanks). Since we are in the middle of plumbing everything, we might just go with the canister now. Would you recomend one with a micron filter as well as carbon, or just carbon?

The American Wildlife Foundation--it's a wildlife rehab facility and they do community education. It's in Molalla. http://www.awildfound.org

What type of filtration is recommended for a FOWLR with this bioload? How frequent and what size water changes are needed? We have a Euro-Reef RS-135 skimmer and will have liverock in the sump and tank. Do we need more than this? We had thought about getting an ocean clear canister filter, but thought it shouldn't be necessary. Also, what order should we add the fish in (I assume blue jaw and huma triggers go last)?

I'd like opinions on stocking options for our 125g FOWLR tank. We'd like to do semi-aggressive fishes and really like triggers, tangs, and puffers. I've been reading forums on several sites and have noticed many rules of thumb (no tangs of similar shape, minimun tank sizes, etc) but when I see posted pictures of tanks, people often don't seem to follow the rules and everyone still complements their tanks. So, here are some species we are interested in keeping (but certainly not all of these together): Blue Jaw Trigger (male) Huma Picasso Trigger Bird Wrasse (male) Saddle Wrasse Stars and Stripes Puffer Maybe a yellow tang, maybe an snowflake eel, husband would like a clownfish... Also, I have a friend that wants me to take a red snapper off his hands, but we'll see about that... I've seen so many different things about maximum growth sizes of fish, minimum tank requirements, and compatibility. I would imagine a stars and stripes puffer will get too big for 125g, especially if he has to share it with other fish, but from the pictures I've seen, lots of people keep them. Also, is it possible to keep multiple triggers? My husband wants a picasso, but I would prefer a blue jaw. Which is less aggressive? I have seen pictures of people keeping three or four different trigger species together (and not always in huge tanks)--is this common? Help me pick out a trigger, maybe a puffer, and other fishes that will get along with them. Any suggestions appreciated--they don't have to be on my little list.

So, I am still in the process of setting up our 125 g FOWLR. Despite the research I have done, I still don't know what kind of lighting to purchase. With the type of fish we want to keep, I really doubt this tank will turn into a reef tank, but who knows down the road. Do the organisms living on liverock need a certain type/strength of lighting? I haven't found a good online resource regarding lighting, so as I am feeling kind of clueless, if you know of any basic references, let me know. (I haven't been impressed with the small selection of LFS in my area and being in school I don't have a lot of time to get to Eugene or Portland, so I do a lot of online research.) Someone mentioned hellolights.com and reefgeek.com as good sources, on my previous newbie post. How much should I be spending on lighting for a FOWLR tank (since there are other areas would rather spend more money on)? This probably isn't that complicated, but thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Thanks for the info--it's good to know what NOT to buy as well! I tried reading about skimmers on the Reef Central forums, but just got more confused, what with all the abbreviations and modifications. How about a Euro-Reef RS135 (would this be suitable)? Marine Depot has a table showing Average Rating (ave. load 135gal) and Comparative Rating (up to 300gal)...anyone know exactly what this means? TIA!

I have ~8 years with freshwater fish and planted tanks, but my husband and I would like to get into marine. We are rather overwhelmed by all the choices we need to make concerning equipment. My husband wants to order everything from DrsFosterandSmith and get it here ASAP, but I would like to do a bit more research. We have a 125 g tank and are thinking about putting in a 40 or 55 g sump. The tank has no built in overflows, and we'd like to make the tank a room divider (keep the visible equipment to one end), so we were told a continuous siphon overflow would work for us. We'd like to do a semi/aggressive FOWLR tank once things are up and running. So...specifically, what brands/models of pumps and skimmers (and RO/DI units?) would you recommend? I read somewhere that "Sea Line" pumps are the same as Eheim, but under a different name--anyone have one? What about Mag and Gen-X? My husband also thinks he'd like an Ocean Clear 325 (the one w/ micron filter and carbon)--is this worth the money? All we have so far are tank, stand, and canopy...so what would you buy if you were starting out? Thanks in advance!