Adding fish to established tank

[package]

I have a 265g mixed reef that has been up about 7 years. There are a few smaller fish in it, but the larger fish include = 1 spot foxface, Dejardini Sailfin Tang, yellow tang, Blue hippo tang - all in the ~5-6" range. There is a little fighting between them from time to time, but nothing that ever creates a problem or any damage.

I was very interested in adding to the tank, really wanted to put my Purple tang in but always had purple/yellow issues in the past. Really wanted a PBT but was concerned it may pick at my Hippo and although I have read 20 versions of the ICH story, it seems to always find them. I was afraid to do 1 tang for it being singled out so I now have an ~8' male blonde Naso and a 6+" Sohal in a 55g QT. These 2 have been together for 2 weeks and are getting along fine. I did not know what to expect with the larger fish, I typically go 3-5", but did not want to add smaller fish to an established community. I have experience keeping them all in some combination in the past with not such an issue but the personalities and combinations are always questionable.

I am still a couple of weeks out before adding them, they will both eat algae from my hand and any fear associated with me walking around the tank or doing small water changes left them almost immediately.

I will try to shake things up a bit when I introduce them, move some rocks around, but I am limited due to the tank being setup for quite a while now.

In the past I have introduced new fish after the lights are off or in the morning before they come on, placed a few small mirrors in tank to create additional change. Although I suspect I am going to create chaos and hope to not look back in regret - any suggestions on how to successfully add the new pair?

Thanks!

 

[Dmorty217]

Personally I think you will regret adding a Sohal in a 265g tank in the long term. Once they get settled in a tank they end up killing all tank mates over time, and in a 265g I could see that happening. (I hope for your sake it never does) As far as what to do to combat aggression I would suggest rearranging rock work to break up territories already claimed by the established tank mates. Add fish when lights are off after feeding. The mirror trick is another good one like you mentioned.

 

[humaguy]

agree with you, chaos is coming and as the Sohal grows, it will only get worse i'm afraid... best of luck

 

[natural reef]

The longer you wait the more territorial they will become. One possibility is to 'train' them not to bully each other. I've managed to do this when my large blue ring angel (anularis) was badly bullying my smaller Koran angel. It can take a while but can be done successfully. I have 3 tangs blue, powder blue and purple all get along fine - sometimes its individual temperament, luck is always a factor

 

[ca1ore]

I added a purple of similar size to my old 265 with resident Desjardini, yellow and hippo. I used an acclimation box and taped a mirror to one end of the tank. Even so it was pretty dicey for a while with the yellow. Even now, 4 years later they maintain what's best described as an uneasy truce.

Naso will be ok, though a bit big already for a 265. My own experience with the Sohal, back about 20 years ago will never be repeated. About as close as a fish gets to being actually evil. Once mine got to about 8" it became an assassin with fins.