Chat GPT Stocking recommendation

[mbader]

Hi All,

I asked ChatGPT to give me a recommendation for stocking my new 650-gallon Aquarium which I will have ready by end of February, and it gave me the following plan:

What do you think of this plan and livestock suggestions?

Here’s a detailed stocking plan for your 2500-liter reef tank, broken down into phases, ensuring the tank develops steadily without overwhelming the filtration system. This phased approach accommodates biological balance, coral growth, and livestock adaptation.



Phase 1: Tank Cycling and Initial Setup (Weeks 1–8)

1. Prepare the Tank:

• Add live rock, sand substrate, and marine saltwater.

• Begin the nitrogen cycle using an ammonia source (pure ammonia or fish food).

• Monitor ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels weekly.

2. Add Clean-Up Crew (Weeks 6–8):

• Once cycling is complete (ammonia/nitrite = 0 ppm, nitrate < 20 ppm), introduce:

• Trochus Snails: 50 individuals.

• Nassarius Snails: 40 individuals.

• Cerith Snails: 20 individuals.

• Scarlet Reef Hermit Crabs: 15 individuals.

• Blue Leg Hermit Crabs: 15 individuals.

• Skunk Cleaner Shrimp: 2 individuals.

• Monitor their activity and algae control before moving to Phase 2.



Phase 2: Hardy Fish and Soft Corals (Weeks 9–16)

1. Introduce Hardy Fish (Add in small groups every 2 weeks):

• Weeks 9–10:

• 4–6 Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris).

• Weeks 11–12:

• 2–3 Royal Gramma Basslets (Gramma loreto).

• Weeks 13–14:

• 4–5 Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni).

2. Add Soft Corals (Weeks 15–16):

• Green Star Polyps (Pachyclavularia): 1–2 colonies.

• Xenia Coral (Xenia elongata): 1 colony.

• Kenya Tree Coral (Capnella spp.): 1 colony.

• Mushroom Corals (Discosoma spp.): 2 colonies.



Phase 3: Active Swimmers and LPS Corals (Weeks 17–24)

1. Add Active Swimmers (Add over 2–3 weeks):

• Week 17:

• 1 Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus).

• Week 19:

• 1 Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens).

• 1 Foxface Rabbitfish (Siganus vulpinus).

• Week 21:

• 6 Green Chromis (Chromis viridis).

2. Add LPS Corals (Weeks 22–24):

• Torch Coral (Euphyllia glabrescens): 1 colony.

• Hammer Coral (Euphyllia ancora): 1 colony.

• Candy Cane Coral (Caulastrea furcata): 1 colony.

• Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa): 1 colony.



Phase 4: Advanced Species and SPS Corals (Months 7–10)

1. Introduce Unique Fish (Add over 6–8 weeks):

• Week 25:

• 1 Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus) (only if copepod population is established).

• Week 27:

• 1 Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus).

• Week 29:

• 4 Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis).

2. Add SPS Corals (Months 8–9):

• Acropora (Acropora spp.): 2 colonies.

• Montipora (Montipora spp.): 2 colonies.

• Bird’s Nest Coral (Seriatopora spp.): 1 colony.

3. Add Filter Feeders:

• Maxima Clams (Tridacna maxima): 1 individual (placed on rock structure).



Phase 5: Final Additions and Adjustments (Months 11–12)

1. Add Final Fish and Invertebrates:

• Week 45:

• 1 Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas).

• 1 Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa).

• Week 47:

• 2 Sand-Sifting Starfish (Astropecten spp.).

• 2 Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius).

2. Add Anemones (Month 11):

• Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor): 1–2 individuals.

3. Add Final Corals (Month 12):

• SPS Corals (Acropora, Montipora): 2–3 colonies.

• LPS Corals (Torch, Hammer, Frogspawn): 1–2 colonies.



Stocking Sequence Summary

• Months 1–2: Tank cycling, clean-up crew introduction.

• Months 3–4: Hardy fish and soft corals.

• Months 5–6: Active swimmers and LPS corals.

• Months 7–10: Unique species, SPS corals, and clams.

• Months 11–12: Final fish, invertebrates, anemones, and coral adjustments.



Key Tips for Success

1. Acclimate All Livestock Slowly:

• Use a drip acclimation method to reduce stress.

2. Monitor Water Parameters Weekly:

• Keep ammonia and nitrites at 0 ppm, nitrates under 10 ppm, and phosphate levels low.

3. Target Feed Corals and Invertebrates:

• Provide coral foods (e.g., Reef Roids) and algae-based food for snails/urchins.

4. Observe Compatibility:

• Watch for aggression or signs of stress as new fish are added.

 

[fishywishy]

looks good overall, but there are a few things that are a little wrong. First, don’t add a clean-up crew too early, wait until the tank is more established for that. Also, I would add the tangs last and at the same time.

One thing missing is quarantining. It’s not absolutely necessary, but with that many fish, it’s worth considering. Either buy pre-quarantined fish or quarantine them yourself it’ll save you a lot of trouble if they get sick later on.

only drip acclimate fish if they’re from a local store, never do it with fish bought online.

 

[Bruttall]

Adding those tangs first pretty much assure the coral beauty will be killed by them. Tangs are super territorial and Very Food Aggressive, they should all be added at the same time and only added AFTER all your other fish are in the tank IMO.
Not sure I'd put that many clowns in either, they also get aggressive and maybe just add 2.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I’ll take a risk and assume you really have such a tank and aren’t wasting our time with a school homework problem, but I’m suspicious that someone who actually has a 650 gallon tank asked an ai what to put in it.

First, there’s no mention of what sort of equipment it has, as if that doesn’t matter.

Second, the list of parameters to measure is off base. Never bother measuring nitrite. Once cycled, ammonia isn’t worth monitoring. But alkalinity is critical and calcium can be important.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Going to lock this thread for now as it has suspicious attributes beyond Chat GPT. If you are the OP and want it reopened, report the original post with the report button and explain that in the reason to report.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thread reopened

 

[mbader]

Thank you for reopening the thread.

Yes, it is real and is still being put together and I expect it to arrive late February. It is my third tank, my first one was 100 liters, and the second one is 320 liters and now that I have a little experience and building a house extension thought it is time to go for my last one which I made it as big as possible.

I asked ChatGPT just for fun and thought it was better to ask the expert here.

As for the equipment here is the list of equipment that I have purchased with it:

 

[I never finish anythi]

That tank is awesome. Please do a build thread . I'll be waiting. Good luck

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I didn't thoroughly go through the AI recommendations, but it certainly looks like it compiled a list based on what's considered easy then work up to hard.

What gives me pause to follow any of it is the way it has you introducing corals. 1st step being all the easy stuff that once it's in the tank, you'd better like it because you're never getting rid of it. I dont know if I'd ever start off with soft corals if my goal was acropora.

Although outlined in a way that looks appealing, that's about all it has going for it.

 

[mbader]

missing is quarantining. It’s not absolut

Thank you. I was wondering what the cleaning crew would clean

 

[mbader]

That tank is awesome. Please do a build thread . I'll be waiting. Good luck

will definitely do thanks

 

[mbader]

Adding those tangs first pretty much assure the coral beauty will be killed by them. Tangs are super territorial and Very Food Aggressive, they should all be added at the same time and only added AFTER all your other fish are in the tank IMO.
Not sure I'd put that many clowns in either, they also get aggressive and maybe just add 2.

I though the yellow tang is a reef cleaner and would eat the algae. Isn't it?

 

[mbader]

I didn't thoroughly go through the AI recommendations, but it certainly looks like it compiled a list based on what's considered easy then work up to hard.

What gives me pause to follow any of it is the way it has you introducing corals. 1st step being all the easy stuff that once it's in the tank, you'd better like it because you're never getting rid of it. I dont know if I'd ever start off with soft corals if my goal was acropora.

Although outlined in a way that looks appealing, that's about all it has going for it.

What if I split the aquascaping into two islands and have one for soft corals and the other for SPS? would that work?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I though the yellow tang is a reef cleaner and would eat the algae. Isn't it?

If you get aquacultured yellow tangs, they will be small and I'd add them early.

 

[Northern Flicker]

Imagine getting a tank that large and than leaving all the fun stuff up to AI.

AI was supposed to do our boring tedious stuff not the fun stuff

 

[mbader]

If you get aquacultured yellow tangs, they will be small and I'd add them early.

Thank you

 

[exnisstech]

I though the yellow tang is a reef cleaner and would eat the algae. Isn't it?

Yellow tangs are some of my favorite cuc members. I have 3 biota baby yellows along with an adult wild caught. Those and the rest of the gang keep this tank algae free with the help of a few snails and urchins. The three babies were the first fish in the tank then I brought the others over one at a time.

EDIT; I really have little to no food aggression with mine but I feed a lot. I think a hungry fish is an aggressive fish because they fight to survive. For me keeping them fat and full really seems to help. This is one of my 2-3 daily feedings. They also get pellets as snacks and algae from my scrubber.

 

[mbader]

Yellow tangs are some of my favorite cuc members. I have 3 biota baby yellows along with an adult wild caught. Those and the rest of the gang keep this tank algae free with the help of a few snails and urchins. The three babies were the first fish in the tank then I brought the others over one at a time.

and they look beautiful too

 

[Bruttall]

I though the yellow tang is a reef cleaner and would eat the algae. Isn't it?

yes, but it is still a Surgeon Fish and they tend to be very food aggressive and territorial once in the tank, basically they mark out a piece of real estate as theirs and attack any other grazers that come into their spot.