PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[Plainswalker]

Hi snorvich,

Just wanted your opinion on the last fish to be added to a 35g 36x12x18. I have:
2 occellaris clowns
1 yellowline neon goby
1 tailspot blenny

My chromis died a couple months ago and I was wondering if an ORA orchid dottyback or a royal gramma would work with the current fish.

 

[Plainswalker]

<double-post>

 

[snorvich]

Thanks, my sixline has grown now too. How about 3 chromis with sixline? Would that work?

Three chromis will end up being one chromis in this sized tank. One will work.

 

[snorvich]

Hi snorvich,

Just wanted your opinion on the last fish to be added to a 35g 36x12x18. I have:
2 occellaris clowns
1 yellowline neon goby
1 tailspot blenny

My chromis died a couple months ago and I was wondering if an ORA orchid dottyback or a royal gramma would work with the current fish.

Either but not both. Chromis have been coming in less than healthy so probably not your fault.

 

[jws0318]

Hi Steve,

Im upgrading from a 60g cube to a 5ft x 2 ft x 20" 130 mixed reef. Currently in the 60, I have:

McCoskers Wrasse
Radiant Wrasse
Sunburst Anthias
Tailspot Blenny
Rainford Goby

In addition to the above, i want to add:

2 angels (Potters, Flame, or Coral Beauty)
1 Tang (purple, lemon peel mimic or Chevron)

I realize its hit or miss with the angels and corals - these 3 seem to have the best shot of success from what i have read.

I really like the purple tang, but it scares me how many people are getting rid of them as they grow because they become meaner. I realize a 5ft 125g tank is the bare minimum, but do you think it would work? Or would i be better off with either the mimic or the Chevron?

And finally, assuming I add 2 angels and 1 tang from the above list, do i have room for maybe another wrasse? or a third dwarf angel?

Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[JulieS]

Are there any fish that would be beneficial in a 40-breeder which is mostly used as a frag tank/coral storage spot? The tank in question is plumbed down to a 55-gallon sump/refugium (almost 3/4 of it is the refugium). I was thinking one herbivore and one small omnivore to pick at algae and any uneaten food if you think this is a good idea.

Thanks for any input.

 

[snorvich]

Hi Steve,

Im upgrading from a 60g cube to a 5ft x 2 ft x 20" 130 mixed reef. Currently in the 60, I have:

McCoskers Wrasse
Radiant Wrasse
Sunburst Anthias
Tailspot Blenny
Rainford Goby

In addition to the above, i want to add:

2 angels (Potters, Flame, or Coral Beauty)
1 Tang (purple, lemon peel mimic or Chevron)

I realize its hit or miss with the angels and corals - these 3 seem to have the best shot of success from what i have read.

I really like the purple tang, but it scares me how many people are getting rid of them as they grow because they become meaner.

Yes, a purple tang (or a yellow) will become mean

I realize a 5ft 125g tank is the bare minimum, but do you think it would work? Or would i be better off with either the mimic or the Chevron?

The mimic would be a better choice; remember that tangs and dwarf angels are grazers but the larger tank, once mature should work

And finally, assuming I add 2 angels and 1 tang from the above list, do i have room for maybe another wrasse? or a third dwarf angel?

dwarf angels are a roll of the dice with regard to coral. In a 130 gallon tank, a third would work, but ideally they should be introduced concurrently (and quarantined) Another flasher wrasse would work but make sure the tank is tightly covered (not egg crate).

Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[snorvich]

Are there any fish that would be beneficial in a 40-breeder which is mostly used as a frag tank/coral storage spot? The tank in question is plumbed down to a 55-gallon sump/refugium (almost 3/4 of it is the refugium). I was thinking one herbivore and one small omnivore to pick at algae and any uneaten food if you think this is a good idea.

Thanks for any input.

Julie, generally, assuming the frag tank and sump are also plumbed to a community tank, it is important that any fish added for beneficial purposes be coral safe and small. And definitely it must be quarantined! I am reluctant to suggest a fish for this purpose; sorry, but I keep thinking of the downsides and they do not match the upside. Invertebrate scavengers, on the other hand are an excellent idea.

 

[JulieS]

Julie, generally, assuming the frag tank and sump are also plumbed to a community tank, it is important that any fish added for beneficial purposes be coral safe and small. And definitely it must be quarantined! I am reluctant to suggest a fish for this purpose; sorry, but I keep thinking of the downsides and they do not match the upside. Invertebrate scavengers, on the other hand are an excellent idea.

The tank and sump are isolated, water-wise, from our other tanks if that makes a difference. (We're actually running 4 separate water systems for 5 tanks.)

So is there a thread for the best scavengers then? We have a pretty wide and diverse variety of little critters in some of the other tanks if there are best ones for a frag tank we can move over. (The 40 frag tank/coral hotel has ~2" of that Reef Grade aragonite sand that CaribSea sells lying under the egg crate structure, with about ~4" of their oolitic stuff down in the refugium. And the main macro "downstairs" is chaeto.)

Thanks.

 

[snorvich]

The tank and sump are isolated, water-wise, from our other tanks if that makes a difference. (We're actually running 4 separate water systems for 5 tanks.)

So is there a thread for the best scavengers then? We have a pretty wide and diverse variety of little critters in some of the other tanks if there are best ones for a frag tank we can move over. (The 40 frag tank/coral hotel has ~2" of that Reef Grade aragonite sand that CaribSea sells lying under the egg crate structure, with about ~4" of their oolitic stuff down in the refugium. And the main macro "downstairs" is chaeto.)

Thanks.

With your further description, as long as a fish would have "access" to the sand bed (so it can sleep there), I would suggest a wrasse that would protect the coral frags from undesirable pests. If you check the Live Aquaria website under non reef safe wrasses, you will find a variety of selection. They are not safe for inverts but they are coral safe.

 

[JulieS]

With your further description, as long as a fish would have "access" to the sand bed (so it can sleep there), I would suggest a wrasse that would protect the coral frags from undesirable pests. If you check the Live Aquaria website under non reef safe wrasses, you will find a variety of selection. They are not safe for inverts but they are coral safe.

I do have a yellow coris wrasse in another tank that we've been trying to catch for months to evict him to a different tank. (His current home has aiptasia that we've been unable to eliminate since Mr. Wrasse would eat a Berghia or a peppermint.) Would he be a good candidate for this frag tank purpose? If so, we'll be a little more aggressive in our capture attempts for relocation.

Sorry to be such a pest!

 

[snorvich]

I do have a yellow coris wrasse in another tank that we've been trying to catch for months to evict him to a different tank. (His current home has aiptasia that we've been unable to eliminate since Mr. Wrasse would eat a Berghia or a peppermint.) Would he be a good candidate for this frag tank purpose? If so, we'll be a little more aggressive in our capture attempts for relocation.

Sorry to be such a pest!

Yes, the coris wrasse would be an excellent candidate. NOT a trivial catch, however.

 

[HUNTER1]

Three chromis will end up being one chromis in this sized tank. One will work.

One chromis will be fine, thanks

 

[rogermccray]

I have a 125 gallon DT with a 55 gallon sump/fuge and I am running an ASM2 skimmer. My tank has a tight fitting top to prevent jumping. I also feed Nori every few days for the tangs and blenny.

My current stocking list is
Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri)
Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus)
Yellow Tang - Hawaii (Zebrasoma flavescens)
Blue/Green Reef Chromis (Chromis viridis)
Dispar Anthias (Pseudanthias dispar)
Firefish, Purple (Nemateleotris decora)
Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) - working on catching this guy in a fish trap as we speak

Want to add:

Spotted Mandarin (Synchiropus picturatus) - tank/fuge have been up for a year
Pink Margin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus)
Green Wrasse (Halichoeres chloropterus)
Clown Goby, Yellow (Gobiodon okinawae)

 

[snorvich]

I have a 125 gallon DT with a 55 gallon sump/fuge and I am running an ASM2 skimmer. My tank has a tight fitting top to prevent jumping. I also feed Nori every few days for the tangs and blenny.

My current stocking list is
Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri)
Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus)
Yellow Tang - Hawaii (Zebrasoma flavescens)
Blue/Green Reef Chromis (Chromis viridis)
Dispar Anthias (Pseudanthias dispar)
Firefish, Purple (Nemateleotris decora)
Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) - working on catching this guy in a fish trap as we speak good idea for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it is inappropriate in your sized tank

Want to add:

Spotted Mandarin (Synchiropus picturatus) - tank/fuge have been up for a year
Pink Margin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrimarginatus) It has been my experience that males of this species ship poorly and often perish in short order
Green Wrasse (Halichoeres chloropterus)
Clown Goby, Yellow (Gobiodon okinawae)

otherwise, you should be fine

 

[Zswift]

Building a 125 or 150 rimless tank.
2 black and white clownfish or snowflake clownfish
3-4 lyretail or Bartlett Anthias
1 powder brown or blue powder tang
1 purple tang
2-3 wrasse of some kind.

Is that too many? Can I have more?

 

[snorvich]

Building a 125 or 150 rimless tank.
2 black and white clownfish or snowflake clownfish
3-4 lyretail or Bartlett Anthias
1 powder brown or blue powder tang
1 purple tang This one will become aggressive, but the rest should be fine.
2-3 wrasse of some kind. depends on whiuch ones

Is that too many? Can I have more?

The bioload should be fine

 

[Zswift]

I was thinking mccoskers, Scott's fairy wrasse, or carpenter flashers

 

[snorvich]

I was thinking mccoskers, Scott's fairy wrasse, or carpenter flashers

C. scottorum is incredibly aggressive and loses some coloration absent a female; not recommended. Flasher wrasses are excellent. Be sure the tank is covered (not with egg crate) as wrasses are prolific jumpers.

 

[Pantera19871]

Goal for tank

Goal for tank

Fish:

2 clowns 1 B/W 1 OC
1 Scopas Tang
2 Mandarine m/f
1 flame angel
1 lawnmower blenny
Would Love some sort of boxfish or puffer because I love their personality Need help finding one that will work.

Corals:
1 Torch
1 Metallic green flower pot
1 Chili
1 redtip tree

CUC:
2 cleaner shrimp
1 peppermint
12 astrea
6 ness

Does this sound like a doable setup? should I have a bigger CUC?
I would rather decrease corals than fish.