I want another Fish!!!!!!!

[bj32482]

I am thinking about adding one more fish, my tank is a standard 180g with a 40g sump. The tank is Bare Bottom, with no skimmer, a huge ball of chaeto, and a phosban reactor. The tank has no algae or nutrient problems.

Here is my current stock:

pair of percula clowns(tank raised)

cherub angel 2.5 inches

canary blenny(tank raised) 3 inches

spotted hawkfish 2 inches

lawnmower blenny 2 inches

swallowtail angel 3.5 inches

yellow tang 5.5 inches

The yellow tang is aggressive towards other large fish. I had to separate her and the swallowtail for a few weeks at first. So similar fish are out of the question, and I can't get rid of her because "Sunshine" was the fish that got me into salt water and I have had her for over year. What type of fish do you think I should get?
The tank also has several types of zoas, softies, and shrooms.

Thinking of something unique....

 

[bj32482]

BUMP

 

[oceanparadise1]

coris warrase they are amazing from juvi to adult hood amazing fish just wont work if u have any inverts

 

[sean48183]

If you add a skimmer you could add alot of fish. IMO you are under stocked. Do you keep any shrimp or crabs? You could try a large wrasse like a harlequin tusk or a lunar or maybe even some type of smaller eel. In that size tank you could even try another small angel like a lemonpeel or flame. I have 2 dwarf angels in my softy reef along with a lunar wrasse and a snowflake eel. So not your typical reef tank. Also have 2 big old nasty hermits(1 brown, 1 red) They are the clean up crew.

 

[bj32482]

I have lots of crabs and snails,no shrimp due to the hawkfish, my yellow tang will not tolerate any large or similar fish. How would a snowflake eel do with my current stock? and I have had skimmers in the past and had no noticeable difference in water chemistry. In my opinion they are just too much work...

An Eel sounds cool though...

 

[Chibils]

Say goodbye to your small fish (blennies + hawkfish).

You could try some wrasses.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12555554#post12555554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bj32482
I have lots of crabs and snails,no shrimp due to the hawkfish, my yellow tang will not tolerate any large or similar fish. How would a snowflake eel do with my current stock? and I have had skimmers in the past and had no noticeable difference in water chemistry. In my opinion they are just too much work...

An Eel sounds cool though...

Skimmers are one of the most important pieces of equipment for a system with fish. It would be an ENORMOUS mistake to add an eel if you dont have a skimmer. Dont spend money on fish, spend money on a skimmer.

 

[bj32482]

I doubt that I will ever own an eel, it just sounded like a cool idea, as for the skimmer, I am pretty sure that I am proving that I don't need one. The tank has been established with the above mentioned fish and I have no problems with waste removal or algae blooms. I like having a more natural system. If I were to do a sps only tank, then I would consider a skimmer, but all of my corals are growing well and my fish have never shown ick or any other problems. If it's not broke, then don't try and fix it...

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12559728#post12559728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bj32482
I doubt that I will ever own an eel, it just sounded like a cool idea, as for the skimmer, I am pretty sure that I am proving that I don't need one. The tank has been established with the above mentioned fish and I have no problems with waste removal or algae blooms. I like having a more natural system. If I were to do a sps only tank, then I would consider a skimmer, but all of my corals are growing well and my fish have never shown ick or any other problems. If it's not broke, then don't try and fix it...

You are free to do whatever you want. If you dont want to run a skimmer- don't. With an active, waste producing fish like a tang, I think you are playing a little russian roulette, but I am just speculating. However, if you plan on adding more fish, I really do feel it would be very foolish not to run a skimmer. Just look at what any typical skimmer would pull out of a tank, and ask yourself if you want that in your water.

FWIW, nature has a protein skimmer- it is the surf crashing onto the beaches, and leaving at that foam.

 

[bj32482]

As neat as those pictures are, they do not represent the majority of ocean beaches. I am familiar with the idea of the surf creating bubbles and hence, skimming. However, given the relatively small amount of shore lines on the planet in comparison to the vast amounts of ocean water, I find it hard to assume that the ocean is really filtering itself this way. If you were to accurately try and replicate this you would have a tiny skimmer on a huge tank.

 

[reef_doug]

I would pick up a used skimmer first. You can add alot more to a 180g after a skimmer.

 

[bj32482]

You guys seem to be missing the point, I don't want several more fish. The beauty of my tank is the minimal stocking list, it makes maintenance simple and quick. Just because a tank's filtration system can handle a large bio load, doesn't mean that you should have a ton of fish. I would be more concerned with aggression issues with too many fish, rather than if the tank can handle the bio load. Fewer fish equal happier fish...

The point of the original post was to help me pick out a small interesting fish to finish off my tank.

 

[jpa0741]

Wow. Has no one around seen any tanks without skimmers. There are many here that have beautiful softy and LPS tanks without running skimmers. That is why he doesn't have many fish in a 180. There are many ways to run tanks.

I would definatly look into a wrasse of some sorts.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I have no problem with him not wanting to run a skimmer. It is his choice. I merely differed in opinion that he might add an eel, and that it is a "natural method". Comparing coastline to water volume as per ocean vs. aquarium is rather silly in my mind. Compare bioload in you miniscule 180 gallons to bioload of a 100 square mile area of reef. Apples and oranges.

Here is another way to look at it- reefkeepers love to tout they water chemistry numbers and parameters. However, compared to oceanic values, we are delusional. A tank we consider to have "pristine" water conditoions is more than likely far dirtier than the areas of the reef considered "high nutrient". Saying that in order to replicate nature we should run small skimmers is a gross misundertsanding.

But, at any rate, good luck.

 

[bj32482]

If I have no noticeable nitrates, no ammonia, or any thing else that would cause problems, what would I need a skimmer for? What is it going to do aside from mess with my salinity levels? I use a phosban reactor with carbon occasionally. I don't understand why everyone wants to fix my tank with a protein skimmer. Tell me what is wrong with my tank?


oh, and by natural method, I mean as few pieces of equipment as possible...

 

[petoonia]

I agree with the wrasse suggestion. A fairy wrasse would add a nice touch of color to the tank. Honestly I think you could probably add 2 maybe 3 small fish without seeing any problems. As long as you are consistent with regular water changes, and dont add any sensitive corals I really dont see the need to add a skimmer.

A few other fish I would suggest are black cap basslet, royal gramma, watchman goby, purple firefish, or neon gobies.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

For pete's sake man- for the final time now- I DONT CARE IF YOU DONT WANT TO RUN A SKIMMER! I dont understand why you are so surprised people are suggesting one, it is likely the most influential piece of equipment for the hobby, but, do what you want!!!

 

[Chibils]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12560686#post12560686 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by petoonia
I agree with the wrasse suggestion. A fairy wrasse would add a nice touch of color to the tank. Honestly I think you could probably add 2 maybe 3 small fish without seeing any problems. As long as you are consistent with regular water changes, and dont add any sensitive corals I really dont see the need to add a skimmer.

A few other fish I would suggest are black cap basslet, royal gramma, watchman goby, purple firefish, or neon gobies.

+1.