120g stock help.

[fishmanstan]

Hello. I have a 120 4' standard dimension tank. It was setup on the 7th of march and is thriving, I MEAN THRIVING. I would post pics, but don't know how to. The inhabitants are:
4 clowns...2 BW, 2 Orange, both ocellaris
1 Yellow Tang
2 Bangaiis
4 chromis
2 RBTAS-HUGE
1 SEBAE
LOST OF CORAL FROM SPS, SOFTIES, ZOAS, LPS.
I want to add these
Mandarin..can I add one now? I added tisbe pods last week. I see lots of amphipods in the sump/refuge as well.
Dragonface pipe
Diamond or gold head sleeper goby... Mine jumped out of my open tank..
Thanks!

 

[Ambition]

Before considering new fish I want to point a couple things out based on the information given.

First, it is best to only keep a single clown or single pair of clowns. Even in the largest of tanks people can't usually keep more than a pair. The only exception to this, at times, is a group from the same hatch... I would suggest getting rid of two of them (choosing which ones to get rid of may need to be careful if they are close to sexual maturity).

Secondly, a yellow tang needs a larger tank (longer than 4ft long). You could take it out and get a mimic, kole, or tomini tang if you want a tang in your tank. Tangs are large active fish, so they need as large of a tank as possible. When size is a constraint you should pick the smaller/less active species as they don't need quite as much space as the bigger/more active species.

Also, two different anemone species could lead to problems. Sometimes one species or the other will never settle in and get comfortable. Sometimes even moving closer to the other anemone species to sting it. Just keep your eye out for this (I have had this happen).

For your wanted additions, choose either the mandarin or the pipefish. Both heavily compete for pods in the home aquarium. Not sure how advanced you are in the hobby, but getting both would be a big task. You would have to get both on to prepared foods, which is not a guarantee for either species. Getting only one gives you more time to work on getting the fish onto prepared as there are more pods for it to consume without too much competition. Competition is not something mandarins do well with as they are slow methodical eaters, making it easy for other fish to out compete them for food, even prepared. Just be sure to do your home work on pipefish and mandarins before purchasing. Also, you are going to want to wait a few more months so that your tank is well established. General guideline is 8-12 months before adding a mandarin. The diamond or gold head sleeper goby should be okay as long as your tank is covered (it is only a matter of time before any fish jumps).

 

[Hoosierfan]

I agree with Ambition on everything but the Yellow Tang. A 4' tank should be fine for a yellow, but I'd make it your only large fish.

Also, it's a generally accepted fact that 4 chromis will turn into 1 or 2 eventually.

 

[fishmanstan]

I am not removing anything. The clowns have grown into each other and fight no more. They are still small and have their own properties, even though they don't host. My nems are on opposite sides, so I'm not worried. As for chemical warfare, I run carbon. I also think my yellow tang is fine. When he outgrows my tank, if he does, I will give him away. I have had him a couple months and he swims the length of my tank just fine. The fish I stated are the only ones I plan on adding.

 

[fishmanstan]

Also, I started with 6 chromis about 4 months ago when I added them all at once, after about 1 month, I had 4. To this day I have 4.

 

[Ambition]

I am not removing anything. The clowns have grown into each other and fight no more. They are still small and have their own properties, even though they don't host. My nems are on opposite sides, so I'm not worried. As for chemical warfare, I run carbon. I also think my yellow tang is fine. When he outgrows my tank, if he does, I will give him away. I have had him a couple months and he swims the length of my tank just fine. The fish I stated are the only ones I plan on adding.

What do you mean by "grown into each other"? If two stay on one side and the other two stay on the opposite side, that means two pairs. That is going to end with WWIII when they become sexually mature. Female clowns will not tolerate another female clown... Not going to keep that from happening other than a physical barrier. By small, how big are they?

Do both species stay in place for the most part? Or is one or the other moving fairly often? I am just giving you a heads up on the fact that two different species of anemones in the same tank doesn't work out long term.

I will not comment further on the YT as you have your mind set on it. IMO, thinking you can just rehome a fish after it outgrows your tank is not a good way to operate in this hobby... Stock for the tank you have now, not the one you plan on having. The larger the tang is, the harder it may potentially be to find a new home.

 

[Meus]

Personally, I wouldn't rely on a tanks ability to produce enough food for a mandarin.

Dragonface pipes are actually pipehorses. So they tend to stick to the substrate. Thus, they will be extremely vulnerable to being eaten by the anemones, or picked on by the tang. Also, they require small foods, and it would better suited in a species tank.

Ditto on the gobies. I agree about the tang, you shouldn't buy fish that will outgrow your tank, you may not be able to find a home for him. As stated 4 chromis normally will eventually become one or two.

The clowns are small you say, and they don't host. I'd assume they are all still males. When one decides to become a female and another becomes the alpha male the other two will likely be bullied to death. After they start hosting they become extremely territorial, to everything.

I don't think you should add anything, your current stock is pretty much at the max, with one fish that will outgrow the tank, assuming it will live that long.

 

[Meus]

what do you mean by "grown into each other"? If two stay on one side and the other two stay on the opposite side, that means two pairs. That is going to end with wwiii when they become sexually mature. Female clowns will not tolerate another female clown... Not going to keep that from happening other than a physical barrier. By small, how big are they?

Do both species stay in place for the most part? Or is one or the other moving fairly often? I am just giving you a heads up on the fact that two different species of anemones in the same tank doesn't work out long term.

I will not comment further on the yt as you have your mind set on it. Imo, thinking you can just rehome a fish after it outgrows your tank is not a good way to operate in this hobby... Stock for the tank you have now, not the one you plan on having. The larger the tang is, the harder it may potentially be to find a new home.

+1

 

[fishmanstan]

I did plan for the tank I have, not for rehoming fish when they grow big. I did lots of research and didn't find anywhere that said a 120 was too small for a yellow. LiveAquaria, aquariumdomain, Bluezooaquatics, those are just a few sources. My clowns are maybe 2" .

 

[fishmanstan]

My nems are stable for the most part. 2 of 3 haven't moved...my sebae and one rbta. My other rbta is now in the back of the tank for some reason, directly behind my rbta.

 

[Meus]

I did plan for the tank I have, not for rehoming fish when they grow big. I did lots of research and didn't find anywhere that said a 120 was too small for a yellow. LiveAquaria, aquariumdomain, Bluezooaquatics, those are just a few sources. My clowns are maybe 2" .

LA and BZA are trying to sell fish, not provide accurate information. I've never heard of aquariumdomain, but if those are your only sources of research than please learn how to use google. The clowns have yet to mature, they are still all young males, but again, when one turns female..

 

[Meus]

Just looked at aquariumdomain. 55g is wayy too small for any tang. I wouldn't trust much information from them..

 

[fishmanstan]

Those are a few sources. I am aware of LA and bluezoo, being online stores, but LA usually gives pretty decent tank sizes. For example, blue tang-180g. Or, vlamingii tang-360g.

 

[Ambition]

LA is the best online store to get tank sizes from. Realize by tank size they aren't meaning total volume, but foot print. A 100 gallon tank is either 5' or 6' long, not sure as it isn't as common as other sizes...

Sorry if some posts came off as snotty.

 

[Meus]

Those are a few sources. I am aware of LA and bluezoo, being online stores, but LA usually gives pretty decent tank sizes. For example, blue tang-180g. Or, vlamingii tang-360g.

You asked for our opinions. We gave them to you. No matter how much you justify buying the tang, my opinion will stay. I know a good majority of people agree that a 120g is too small for a yellow tang. Again, I think the tank is at max, even if you got rid of the tang, I probably wouldn't add any other fish. If you just have to add a fish, avoid the difficult ones like the dragonface and the mandarin. We aren't attacking you, we're trying to help you. I'm not even sure why you posted this thread to be honest..

 

[fishmanstan]

I want a mandarin. I have payed money for tisbe pods and other things to help the population, chaeto, etc. Any tips on keeping them, besides mature tank?

 

[aandfsoccr04]

what do you mean by "grown into each other"? If two stay on one side and the other two stay on the opposite side, that means two pairs. That is going to end with wwiii when they become sexually mature. Female clowns will not tolerate another female clown... Not going to keep that from happening other than a physical barrier. By small, how big are they?

Do both species stay in place for the most part? Or is one or the other moving fairly often? I am just giving you a heads up on the fact that two different species of anemones in the same tank doesn't work out long term.

I will not comment further on the yt as you have your mind set on it. Imo, thinking you can just rehome a fish after it outgrows your tank is not a good way to operate in this hobby... Stock for the tank you have now, not the one you plan on having. The larger the tang is, the harder it may potentially be to find a new home.

+1

 

[mthomp]

everything else aside. Your tank is not old enough to support a mandarin regardless of how big it is. you said you are buying pods and getting cheato but you are not taking into consideration the voracious appetite these little guys have. They never stop hunting and eating and will decimate a pod population quickly unless you have a sure source to replenish them. If you plan on doing this by buying them you will quickly go broke.

Just my 2cents take it for whatever its worth.

I want to add the pipefish has the same food needs as the mandarin and since you will most likely get the mandarin you do not want to add anything that will be competing for its food source. this will include wrasse fish.

 

[JaneG]

You asked for our opinions. We gave them to you. No matter how much you justify buying the tang, my opinion will stay. I know a good majority of people agree that a 120g is too small for a yellow tang. Again, I think the tank is at max, even if you got rid of the tang, I probably wouldn't add any other fish. If you just have to add a fish, avoid the difficult ones like the dragonface and the mandarin. We aren't attacking you, we're trying to help you. I'm not even sure why you posted this thread to be honest..

Because he was asking for adding in more fish, not removing fish? To be perfectly honest, if OP wanted to put in a shark it wouldn't be anyone's right to tell him he can't - just to advise against it, which is fine, but his mind seems made up and he didn't ask for thoughts on his current fish. Even so, I personally think Zebrasoma tangs adapt extraordinarily well to the vigors of captivity compared to, say, your average Acanthurus tang - and I've seen more than enough of those in small tanks! A 120g', 4' tank, if aquascaped correctly, is a fine home for a Yellow Tang IMO (at least for a good while). OP, do your own 'thang, but just be sure to make an educated purchase. It's your tank - don't let anyone else tell you what to do. Just my opinion!

Jane
P.S. I think Liveaquaria's tank size suggestions are just fine.

 

[fishmanstan]

Thanks Jane. What does op stand for? I know, in this case, it was ne.