Help Stock my 200g rimless :)

[spslove]

Im planning my fish stock for my elos 160xl, tank is rimless 200g 63"x31.5"x23.5". Corals will be mixed with mostly sps. I will be moving everything from my current 100g 60"x18"x20".

heres my list:

1 Powder Blue Tang (3.5", in my 100g)
1 Pacific Blue Tang (3", in my 100g)
1 Black Tang or Purple Tang
1 or 2 other Acanthurus if possible?Is a Mimmic or blue Caribbean different enough from a PBT? I really like the Achilles and the other black ones, Would it be likely they get along if all introduced into the new tank at the same time?

9 Lyretail Anthias (1m, 8f)

1 Mandarin Goby( m) (2.5", in my 100g)
1 Mandarin Goby (f) possible to pickout a female that will get along with my male?
1 Diamond Goby (2.5", in my 100g)
1 Goby shrimp pair? Trying to decide which ones.
2 Midas Blenny (pair) or 2 or 3 Black Combtooth blenny or a mix of both?



2 Maroon Clowns if it makes sense, if not ill go for a less aggressive clown or ditch the idea. Im worried they bother my frogspawn/torch and i don't think i want an anemone in there.

Thats pretty much the list right now, Im still thinking of adding a wrasse that eats flatworms or other fish that will benefit the community.

Please let me know your opinion and feel free to suggest fish that would go well in my system.

 

[nikon187]

I dont think there is any way to keep 5 large tanks in that tank. It is only 5 feet by 30", i would want a bigger tank for the powder, black, hippo and achilles ( which probably will not work with a powder blue regardless) 2 tangs would be the max i would shoot for, also anthias are jumpers so you may find some on the floor due to going rimless.

 

[John&Steph]

I have a powder blue I tried to add a purple and the PB went at him and would not leave him alone till I had to remove the purple. I do have a naso in there with my PB and they are great together.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Dont add any fish you wouldnt be heartbroken to find dead when theyve jumped.

 

[Stumped]

2 Midas Blenny (pair)

Please let me know your opinion and feel free to suggest fish that would go well in my system.

Dont add any fish you wouldnt be heartbroken to find dead when theyve jumped.

Keeping with what jmaneyapanda said, there's no way I'd want to keep midas blennies in an uncovered tank. I have one (my tank is covered) and he jumps all the time. If my tank was uncovered there'd be no chance he would still be around. For what it's worth, there is zero aggression in the tank he's in. He shares it with a helfrich's firefish and a neon goby pair and he's by far the largest and most 'aggressive' fish.

 

[spslove]

I dont think there is any way to keep 5 large tanks in that tank. It is only 5 feet by 30", i would want a bigger tank for the powder, black, hippo and achilles ( which probably will not work with a powder blue regardless) 2 tangs would be the max i would shoot for, also anthias are jumpers so you may find some on the floor due to going rimless.

Ill stick to 3 or 4 tangs (likely 3). Im keeping 2 in my 100g right now and the PBT could use some extra swimming room but the pacific likes caves so hes fine. Im thinking i can add 1 more for sure when i transfer to a tank 2x the size. Iv seen successful setups, same size, with 4 or 5 tangs. I wouldn't want to have 4 or 5 tangs with the personality of a PBT (constantly swimming like crazy). Tank would look to busy, but 4 or 5 fish with personality of pacific blue would work. Im just not sure where the black tang/purple tang fit in? What are they like? Also whats the Mimic and blue Caribean like?


Iv seen people keep Lyretails and other anthias in open top tanks. Iv gotta look into this more. I really want the anthias as they would make the majority of my tank. How likely you think they are to jump in my system?

 

[spslove]

Keeping with what jmaneyapanda said, there's no way I'd want to keep midas blennies in an uncovered tank. I have one (my tank is covered) and he jumps all the time. If my tank was uncovered there'd be no chance he would still be around. For what it's worth, there is zero aggression in the tank he's in. He shares it with a helfrich's firefish and a neon goby pair and he's by far the largest and most 'aggressive' fish.

Thanks for the heads up, no midas for me if they are likely to jump. What makes them jump in your tank? Are the fish just skitish? What size is your tank?

Is a Black Comb Tooth Blenny as likely to jump?

 

[RealReef7]

I would get maybe 1 really nice tang like a black or purple tang then lots of small fish.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Ill stick to 3 or 4 tangs (likely 3). Im keeping 2 in my 100g right now and the PBT could use some extra swimming room but the pacific likes caves so hes fine. Im thinking i can add 1 more for sure when i transfer to a tank 2x the size. Iv seen successful setups, same size, with 4 or 5 tangs. I wouldn't want to have 4 or 5 tangs with the personality of a PBT (constantly swimming like crazy). Tank would look to busy, but 4 or 5 fish with personality of pacific blue would work. Im just not sure where the black tang/purple tang fit in? What are they like? Also whats the Mimic and blue Caribean like?


Iv seen people keep Lyretails and other anthias in open top tanks. Iv gotta look into this more. I really want the anthias as they would make the majority of my tank. How likely you think they are to jump in my system?

Honestly, you should be prepared for any fish (except seahorses) to jump, at any time, with no explanation. IMO, rimless tank are russian roulette for fish. There is no way around it. If you do it, I would suggest that you WILL have a jumping loss at some point. JMO.

 

[spslove]

Honestly, you should be prepared for any fish (except seahorses) to jump, at any time, with no explanation. IMO, rimless tank are russian roulette for fish. There is no way around it. If you do it, I would suggest that you WILL have a jumping loss at some point. JMO.

Your scaring me, hehe. But really i dont expect any of the fish i currently have to jump. Iv always had my tank with an open top. Not all fish are the same. I know my tangs, diamond goby, and mandarin are highly unlikely to jump. I just dont know about other fish i havn't kept, like the Lyretail Anthias.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Your scaring me, hehe. But really i dont expect any of the fish i currently have to jump. Iv always had my tank with an open top. Not all fish are the same. I know my tangs, diamond goby, and mandarin are highly unlikely to jump. I just dont know about other fish i havn't kept, like the Lyretail Anthias.

With the intention of scaring you.......those are famous last words. We have *NO IDEA* what causes fish to jump. You are absolutely correct- each fish is different- so why take the chance? People have kept fish for years, and then come home to find fish jerky one day. For me, I have more respect for my fishes lives than to take that risk. I perosnally dont see having the novelty of an open top aquarium to be worth the life of a fish. But to each, his own. Good luck. Im sorry I cant be more useful.

 

[Stumped]

Thanks for the heads up, no midas for me if they are likely to jump. What makes them jump in your tank? Are the fish just skitish? What size is your tank?

Is a Black Comb Tooth Blenny as likely to jump?

No idea what makes him jump. He's done it for as long as I've had him and he just tends to be swimming and jumps randomly. I wouldn't call him skittish at all really. He isn't jumping because he's harrassed or startled he just seems to do it every so often for whatever reson. The tank he's in is just a 24g which obviously could be a factor, but the Helfrich's with him (which are supposedly notorious jumpers) has shown no propensity to jump at all and he is definitely a skittish fish by comparison. Also worth noting is the midas isn't restless at all and the actual jumping just appears to be part of his behaviour.

I have no clue about other blennies as I've only had my midas, but I wouldn't automatically assume a comb tooth would act the same as him because the comb tooth is an algae blenny and I would presume it would act somewhat differently.

 

[stunreefer]

Honestly, you should be prepared for any fish (except seahorses) to jump, at any time, with no explanation.

Agreed... when working in the "industry" I've seen every "non-jumping" fish jump out... from 12" lionfish to tangs to epaullette sharks - you name it. If a fish feels threatened and happens to be close to the surface or "looking" up, plan on a flying fish ejecting from your tank.

IMO, rimless tank are russian roulette for fish. There is no way around it.

Respectfully, disagree... just put a top on it

All my tanks are "rimless" and I run tops on all of them. Anytime someone comes over, pictures are being taken, I'm doing maintenance, or I'm sitting enjoying my tank the top comes off.

For me, I have more respect for my fishes lives than to take that risk.

+1,000,000 :thumbsup:

People who buy rimless tanks and plan to not run any kind of top on them should either expect to lose fish (which IMHO isn't right, it's so damn preventable to just put a top on!) or simply not keep fish. This can also be said for "rimmed" tanks however... no top = flying fish.

 

[Ian]

All my tanks are "rimless" and I run tops on all of them. Anytime someone comes over, pictures are being taken, I'm doing maintenance, or I'm sitting enjoying my tank the top comes off.

Besides the first and last part, I agree. No reason to risk it and my stand is so tall that I can't even see the screen.

I don't think he thought his fish would jump either...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1746134

Sorry to use your example Peter

 

[spslove]

I was planning to have a screen that i will use sparingly. When introducing new fish i will probably leave it on for a couple weeks or so. I might use the screen when i leave my house for extended periods of time. Believe me if i lose a fish or 2 because of jumping ill try to keep a screen on most of the time. Id rather try to not create a situation where i have fish likely to jump.

I have a 180g mixed cichlid tank(covered) with a bunch of frontosa, mbuna, others. Half the time i walk by the tank something hits the top. I know all about fish jumping, believe me. I know why my fish jump in that tank. Aggression + limited space + skitish fish = jumping. Jumping fish is usually explainable. I believe i could keep my cichlid tank open top with the correct selection of fish. I actually really wanna sell half the more aggressive fish in the tank to make jumping less likely. Much less work to just say "throw a top on it and your good".

I appreciate your concern but i have to disagree. I do believe you can have open top and NO jumpers. Those that think an open top tank should have no fish or a top are nuts. Really nuts. JMO.

The only fish im worried might jump is the Anthias. Im not worried at all about the others. I think if a tang or mandarin jumps out of your tank it most likely should have never been there. From my experience jumping is usually not a good sign. The less your fish jump the lighter and better your stock is usually. Obviously there are exceptions. Usually a fish jumping is a sign that it shouldn't be there.

 

[spslove]

My thread turned into a topless vs covered war, haha.

Im still looking for some livestock advice. Anyone have experience with combtooth blenny? Are they jumpers?

Any other fish you think i should add?

As for the tangs, Im set on adding Powder blue, Hippo, Black, Mimic (maybe)

I have read of people keeping mimic with powder blue, i think though they are both acanthurus they look different enough not to be a problem. What do you think?

 

[Ian]

So you think he should have expected his 4" regal to jump?

 

[SDguy]

Usually a fish jumping is a sign that it shouldn't be there.

Whatever makes you feel better.

 

[spslove]

So you think he should have expected his 4" regal to jump?

Iv never owned one so i have no experience with the fish plus there are so many factors, size of tank, tankmates, actuall fish's personality.

 

[spslove]

Whatever makes you feel better.

Dont hate me because your fish jumped. Im just speaking the truth

I did say usually. There are 3 main factors, Tank size, Fish personality, and tank mates. Any fish will jump if it is in small tank, if it is a skitish fish or gets scared easily, and If it has tankmates which dominate, chase, or scare the fish.

If regals arn't skittish it would almost be impossible for the fish to jump out of a large tank housed alone same goes for any non jumpy fish.

In your case i would guess another fish chased it or scared it.

I think a lot of the time we find ourselves covering our tanks due to the tanks being overstocked. If people kept 4 or 5 compatible fish in 200 gal tanks they would most likely not need covers and the living situation for the fish would be much better. Thats what i mean when i say the fish that jump most likely shouldn't have been there. I think a cover can be a cheap fix for an overpopulated tank.