Peaceful vs Aggressive tankmates

[carb850]

Which do you lean toward and why?

I was hoping to keep mainly peaceful fish in my new setup but it is starting to seem like most ever reef safe fish I want is considered aggressive. So I was wondering how would the following do together in a tank. Would they be fighting all of the time of do they figure out the pecking order pretty quick then live in harmony?

Potential Aggressive stocking list:

Pair of Maroon Clowns
Purple Tang
Velvet Multicolor Wrasse
Scott's Fairy Wrasse
Orange-Back Wrasse

Then one of the follow
Powder Blue Tang
Sargassum Trigger
Magnificent Foxface

Any thoughts with this possible stocking list? Too many? Any suggestions for others that might work well with these fish?

 

[Tazbader]

....well I am not one to tell someone they have too many fish in a tank as I sort of break those rules myself, just ask Ron or Phil. I would start with the clowns, raise them up a bit then the wrasses and the others ending with the purple tang. he will end up being the boss. I do worry about adding that many wrasses to a tank especially since they are jumpers, but I'd go scott's, orange back and velvet in that order as the fairy wrasses are pretty gentle fellows and the others could be more boisterous. I keep a niger trigger in my tank with no issues yet and I have never kept a sargassum trigger so I can't say much about them or the foxface for that matter. If you want to keep a good supply of fish in your reef get a monster skimmer. You will thank yourself later, that's the best advice I can give you.

 

[carb850]

I appreciate the reply. I did a seperate post in the 'reef fish' section of this board and I'm getting replies that many are seeing very aggressive behavior in their Fairy Wrasse's. That is actually what prompted this post. They also warned about the fish lowing the vivid colors if no mates are in the tank which is something I didn't think about so I have more research to do on this.

I was wanting a medium fishload, so you think my list above would be considered heavy in a 120?

My skimmer is not a kingkong model by any means but I do believe it to be a solid one. H&S seems to be conservative in their ratings and this one is rated for 225G. Deltec sells a similar model and on it they say 270G (normal) and 200G (heavy).

 

[Tazbader]

from what I've heard I think your heading in the right direction. I wouldn't be too concerned with the fish losing there color due to no mates. I've never heard of anyone bringing up that issue except in freshwater. Not saying that it doesn't happen, just not much of a big difference with the fish your talking about IMO. Mean fairy wrasses, hmmm I know they can be pickers and fin nippers but as far as all out aggression like say some tangs? I really don't know, maybe ron will chime in on this and throw in his 2 cents. IMO you fish load would be ok BTW. I stock alot of fish in my tanks so I might not be the best guy to ask. Maybe if you plan alot of SPS you may want to be cautious with a high load of fish.... and I can't believe I just said that as I don't follow my own advice (4 tangs,4 clowns, a wrasse, 3 dottybacks,11inch engineer goby,manderin goby, 2 damsels, a niger and a virgate rabbitfish) in a 75?! Yea not the guy to ask about fish load heh heh... but it can be done.......

 

[firefish2020]

(4 tangs,4 clowns, a wrasse, 3 dottybacks,11inch engineer goby,manderin goby, 2 damsels, a niger and a virgate rabbitfish) in a 75?! Yea not the guy to ask about fish load heh heh... but it can be done.......

Yes it can be done, I can hold my breath too, but I can not sustain it for long. Should it be done? Thats something that has been argued for a long time and I wont get into here as there is little point. The point I will address though is this. When you set up a tank the moment you add bacteria and a home for it (sand, rock) the system begins to work toward a collective ecological balance. Size of the fish you add and how big they will get among other factors all play an important part in this. My biggest concern would be the tangs, as they grow they eat more and produce more waste. Without a monster skimmer you are in for an algae bloom in the future that is of course unless you can find ways to export an equivalent amount of nutrient daily to make up for the encroachment of nutrients upon the tanks balance. I personally like well balanced systems where fish are not over competing for food or space, but that is just my own preference.
Oh the color thing, I'm not sure on that, it may be posible but I think other factors lead to fish coloration (diet, light, food).

 

[Tazbader]

Ron does have a good point. Grow-out size of the fish is probably the most important factor. I know I can't keep my tangs forever in that tank. But I am in the slow process of setting up another in which they will have more room. A low stock balanced system is easier, I just always wanted a system that was on the edge as far as capacity. I like the looks of a system bursting with life so to speak. I am lucky enough to have chosen critters that get along with each other. With the exception of a fin nip here and there and a small case of ick I have very good luck with my fish and corals. Also to some extent there is a need for the wastes that the fish create especially with a live sandy bottom IMO. But I am not trying to be irresponsible about it. Hence the plans for the grow out of the fish and corals..... For me its my vlamingii, I just love those big guys. I guess its all about what your striving for, My tank is hopefully just a temporary thing till I get a larger system, so I am planning ahead(or jumping the gun). If this tank was the only tank I wanted to end up with I would take it alot slower(although I do love those frags)....So there you have it...it's all about (Beastie Boys) Watcha...Watcha..Watcha Want....!

 

[coralreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12857213#post12857213 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by firefish2020
Oh the color thing, I'm not sure on that, it may be posible but I think other factors lead to fish coloration (diet, light, food).

Ron male fairy wrasses do fade color without a female present. I imagine it's a courtship issue.
IIRC males in full color with a harem are called super wrasses.

 

[firefish2020]

Interesting, so they should be kept in pairs.

 

[carb850]

Here is the thread I started on Fairy Wrasse's.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1421682

I have read time and time again that you should refrain from buying a fish too big for your tank even if you do have a larger one in the works. For many people, plans go astray for one reason or another then your stuck with a fish outgrowing your tank. I know this is just a general guideline but it is one I'm trying to follow. I have been tempted so many times to buy 'X' fish now and have it ready for my larger tank. I'm glad I never did because my plan was to have my 90G up by the end of Feb. Here it is July and I'm still not ready to get the now 120 up.