120 Stocking Help

[H.reidi.MN]

Tank is 4x2x2 with a 30 Gal refugium. Lots of LR and some zoa's, hammer, GSP, Frogspawn. Running for a few years and moved twice, once a few weeks ago, and about 2/3 months before that.

Currently the tank is home to 1 female BT trigger

Awaiting to enter the DT are a potters angel and tomini tang

Im looking to possibly make an online order in the near future.

Some fish im looking at.

Anthias, either bartlett or dispar. Looking to add a harem of 3-5 total

- 1 Helfrichi firefish

- 1 blenny (need suggestions) My starry found a way through my screen top the night before i moved my tank So either a starry or midas possibly?

- 1 Leaf, wasp, scorpion fish (supposed to be reef safe, concerned about eating small fish?)

- 1 cbb possibly?

- 1 bluestripe pipefish

- Considering a wrasse but dont know which species ( carpenters flasher or along those lines )

- Pair banggai cardinals or pair of clown's, haven't decided which. If i go clowns i want something unique

Ideas on the list whether its to much or what to add or loose? Thanks

 

[jyxie]

i would not recommend the pipefish or scorpion.
they have to be fed live foods and would have a hard time competing with the other fish for food

 

[RayL]

I recommend adding the Helfrichi before any of those fish, you want him to feel like the tank is his home, otherwise he might hide a lot if added late to a tank with a few semi aggressive fish

 

[msmith619]

I have the same tank. I had planned a trio of Barlett's but, you know how plans go, I bought Talbot damsels instead. They are the most beautiful pastel purple and yellow and swim around like anthias. Either way, both Anthias are good choices for that tank. They are the two hardier varieties.

I had planned Helfrichi firefish but, due to costs, bought two regular firefish. They do not fight and always hang out together. I still think of all the firefish, they have the best coloration.

The scorpion fish will eat that Helfrichi.

The CBB is a good choice, make sure he is eating first!

I had Bangaii cardinals for years. They always bred for me, raised several babies by just having long spine sea urchins in the tank where the babies hid. Now I have Pajama cardinals. I like both. A word of caution- Bangaii will pair and kill any extra. I always bought a trio to get at least one pair. Let two pair up and then removed the third. It seems the Pajamas have less desire to kill the odd man out.

I don't think this is too much if you leave out the Leaf.

I have: 1 Rock Beauty angel, 2 Royal gramma, 2 firefish, 2 Pajama cardinals, 2 yellowtail damsels, 2 Talbot's damsels, 1 blue hippo tang and a yellowhead jawfish.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

i would not recommend the pipefish or scorpion.
they have to be fed live foods and would have a hard time competing with the other fish for food

Thanks ill take that into consideration. I think i can rule out the leaf fish. However paul b has good success with his pipefish in his reef and if i get one im going to try my best to train prepared foods. And would most likely use a feeder system like paul.

I recommend adding the Helfrichi before any of those fish, you want him to feel like the tank is his home, otherwise he might hide a lot if added late to a tank with a few semi aggressive fish

Thanks I would have never thought of that. That why my BT trigger is so active as she has had the tank to her self and it makes a difference for the shy ones.


Good advice on the cardinals, any suggestions for blennies or wrasses. I like the Bartlett's but hear they might all turn male and that worries me. Dispar are supposed to be really good schoolers which I like so I'm stuck between those 2 choices

 

[rssjsb]

i would not recommend the pipefish or scorpion.
they have to be fed live foods and would have a hard time competing with the other fish for food

Actually, a bluestripe is likely to survive just fine on its own if the tank is well established and has a productive refugium. I've kept them in smaller tanks with no fuge for long periods when they didn't seem to eat anything I put in the tank (including frozen). Having said that, I would be concerned about the pipes and the helfrichi and the blue throat. I know they're supposed to be on the safe side, but as humaguy says, I would never trust any trigger. In any event, the footprint on a 4x2x2 tank is tighter than you'd think. Your trigger will outgrow it. Smaller more active fish are a better bet for you in the long run.

On a slightly different note, I would also avoid a starry blenny. Your tomini is likely not to tolerate it. A midas may be ok.

 

[H.reidi.MN]

Cool thanks. Ya I know what ppl say about triggers , however I'm not worried about my gal getting aggressive or snacking on anyone.