PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

Thanks Steve. I know you do not typically recommend specific fish, but is there an alternative Puffer that may not be as messy or aggressive (such as the Saddle Valentini?) or does it not make a difference even with the smaller size puffers? Also do they all typically have that same intelligence or are some more of that stereotypical genious than other puffers?

actually, I do not provide commentary on aggressive fish tanks. It is just too difficult and unpredictable with aggressive fish since some are super aggressive while other ones are not.

I dont mind the hard meaty foods required (thanks for that tip) but are they typically ok with the other fish listed?

Good to occasionally change the decor in the tank for the puffers (and the other fish too for that matter) or does that disrupt their overall comfort of their established hiding places/territory?

With respect to the wrasses would a melanarus be more compatible with a solorensus than a scott's? Other options that may be more compatible with the Solorensus? (not so much asking your preference which I know you do not prefer, but just inquiring as to what may be more compatible)

C. scottorum is super aggressive. A melanarus is a better match.

Thanks again!

 

[NeilFox]

Hello

I recently set up what will be a 120 gal mixed reep mostly lps and softies. There is about 120 lbs of live rock that has pretty much cycled. My wife was getting tired of lookning at a pile of rocks so decided to take matters into her own hands. I had shown her a few fish that would be good to start with. Various small damsels etc.. I also said that we need to introduce the fish slowly. It may be worth mentioning that we live in Vietnam. So two days ago she came home with two Yellow Tailed Damsels (OK), an Oriental Sweetlips and a Cleaner Wrasse (Oh dear). I'm not too worried about the Damsels, but I have serious reservations about the Sweetlips and especially the Cleaner Wrasse.

The LFS told her these were good begginer fish; however, my understanding is that the Sweetlips is really difficult and the Wrasse almost impossible to maintain. I also think that the tank is too small for the Sweetlips if he manages to survive and he may not be a good reef fish. They managed to survive so far after being unceramoniously dumped into the tank with zero acclimation time. Any suggestions what to do now?

 

[snorvich]

Hello

I recently set up what will be a 120 gal mixed reep mostly lps and softies. There is about 120 lbs of live rock that has pretty much cycled. My wife was getting tired of lookning at a pile of rocks so decided to take matters into her own hands. I had shown her a few fish that would be good to start with. Various small damsels etc.. I also said that we need to introduce the fish slowly. It may be worth mentioning that we live in Vietnam. So two days ago she came home with two Yellow Tailed Damsels (OK), an Oriental Sweetlips and a Cleaner Wrasse (Oh dear). I'm not too worried about the Damsels, but I have serious reservations about the Sweetlips and especially the Cleaner Wrasse.

The LFS told her these were good begginer fish; however, my understanding is that the Sweetlips is really difficult and the Wrasse almost impossible to maintain. I also think that the tank is too small for the Sweetlips if he manages to survive and he may not be a good reef fish. They managed to survive so far after being unceramoniously dumped into the tank with zero acclimation time. Any suggestions what to do now?

Well, the first thing I would suggest would be not to buy fish ever from that LFS. Sweetlips is an expert only fish that grows to about 2.5 feet. Picture that in your aquarium, assuming, of course, that it would live to maturity which is highly unlikely. They are cute as small juveniles and are a "sucker fish" sold to unwary customers. Second thing would be to take both fish back for a refund. Third thing is not to allow your wife to purchase fish for that aquarium.

 

[NeilFox]

Thanks Snorvich. I figured as much. Wife already banned from making purchases. Breaking down some rock so I can catch this guy. Not the LFS that I suggested. I have been dealing with a reputable guy. These guys definately had my wife ID'ed as a sucker...

 

[snorvich]

Thanks Snorvich. I figured as much. Wife already banned from making purchases. Breaking down some rock so I can catch this guy. Not the LFS that I suggested. I have been dealing with a reputable guy. These guys definately had my wife ID'ed as a sucker...

It is unfortunate that there are scam artists in this hobby. Best of luck.

 

[MHG]

New additions

New additions

Current stock.

Pair ocilarus clowns
Fire fish
Lawn mower blenny
Midas blenny
6 line
Green chromis
Fire shrimp plus CUC
Male lyretail anthis.


All get along well except anthias does not like midas....

Low nitrates are starving my corals so I am thinking of adding one or two of the following:

Watchman gobby
Mandarin (my tank is 16 months old. Lots of rock and lots of pods...)
Banggaicardinal

 

[Bike2k]

Need new addition

Need new addition

75 gallon reef tank with currently only one coral. Looking to add one or 2 more fish for color.

current list:
(1) Kole Tang
(2) Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish
(2) Kaudern's Cardinals
(1) Yellow Watchman Goby

I was looking into wrasse's but they aren't cheap and I've lost a few fish in QT so as a beginner i think i need something hardier.

I was thinking a Royal Gramma Basslet and maybe a firefish

or

I know clowns are Damsels but could I also add an Azure Damsel fish? I have heard so much bad about damsels I'm afraid to get one.

 

[snorvich]

Current stock.

Pair ocilarus clowns
Fire fish
Lawn mower blenny
Midas blenny
6 line
Green chromis
Fire shrimp plus CUC
Male lyretail anthis.


All get along well except anthias does not like midas....

Low nitrates are starving my corals so I am thinking of adding one or two of the following:

Watchman gobby
Mandarin (my tank is 16 months old. Lots of rock and lots of pods...)
Banggaicardinal

given a sixline wrasse, adding a mandarin will not work, especially in this sized tank. A bangaii is fine b ut be sure it is tank raised

 

[snorvich]

75 gallon reef tank with currently only one coral. Looking to add one or 2 more fish for color.

current list:
(1) Kole Tang
(2) Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish
(2) Kaudern's Cardinals
(1) Yellow Watchman Goby

I was looking into wrasse's but they aren't cheap and I've lost a few fish in QT so as a beginner i think i need something hardier.

I was thinking a Royal Gramma Basslet and maybe a firefish

or

I know clowns are Damsels but could I also add an Azure Damsel fish? I have heard so much bad about damsels I'm afraid to get one.

a royal gramma or a firefish will be fine

 

[ZiggyBuster]

My tank (3 months old, live rock moved from a 3+ year 15gal. setup)
46 gallon bow
50lb. Live rock
32lb. Live sand;
Unfortunately due to tank placement, a Sump is not feasable for me...
Eheim 2729 Wet Dry (May change to a Fluval G3 or G6 soon)
Aqua C Remora skimmer
Nova Extreme T5 4 Lamp
200W heater

Fish in tank:
Red Firefish

Corals in tank:
Kenya Tree
Green Hydroflora
Snake Polyps


Now for my Wish List;
Fish;
Ocellarious Clown
Flame Angel
Mandarin Goby
Lawnmower blenny
One spot foxface

Clean up Crew;
10 nassarius snails
10 Turbo snails
10 red leg hermits
10 blue leg hermits
2 peppermint shrimp
2 emerald crabs

Corals;
mushroom, polyps, and leathers

 

[snorvich]

My tank (3 months old, live rock moved from a 3+ year 15gal. setup)
46 gallon bow
50lb. Live rock
32lb. Live sand;
Unfortunately due to tank placement, a Sump is not feasable for me...
Eheim 2729 Wet Dry (May change to a Fluval G3 or G6 soon)
Aqua C Remora skimmer
Nova Extreme T5 4 Lamp
200W heater

Fish in tank:
Red Firefish

Corals in tank:
Kenya Tree
Green Hydroflora
Snake Polyps


Now for my Wish List;
Fish;
Ocellarious Clown
Flame Angel
Mandarin Goby needs a larger tank due to feeding considerations
Lawnmower blenny
One spot foxface needs a larger tank

Clean up Crew;
10 nassarius snails
10 Turbo snails
10 red leg hermits hermit crabs will kill snails for their shells
10 blue leg hermits
2 peppermint shrimp
2 emerald crabs

Corals;
mushroom, polyps, and leathers

 

[ZiggyBuster]

Gotcha on the Foxface,
Maybe regularly add copepods for the mandarin or no way?
Alternative for the hermits?

 

[snorvich]

Gotcha on the Foxface,
Maybe regularly add copepods for the mandarin or no way?

This fish eats constantly. You would go broke trying to supply copepods and most likely would even then be unsuccessful

Alternative for the hermits?

I personally use only snails, but many different kinds, and fighting conchs with no crabs of any kind. Crabs are opportunistic and I do not trust them. However this thread is about marine fish compatibility so I do not want to go into invertebrate issues.

 

[wardda]

fish

fish

I have a 90G mixed reef, 90G fuge, 40g sump, reef octo 2000 cone skimmer, lots of live rock in Fuge and fair amount in tank, and ATS, bahama sand (fine).

Current fish:
1 x Yellow Tang
1 x Hippo tang
1 x Firefish
2 x Green Mandarin
2 x Clown fish (small nemo style, I think Ocellaris)

So my question is of the following what is it safe to add. I don't plan on adding all of them just looking for which ones would be ok (space and temperament) and a general idea of how much more bio load my system can take. I'm also open to other suggestions of colorful peaceful reef safe fish others like that would be compatible with my mix. Ideally colorful and add character to the tank.

Royal Gramma Basslet
Sleeper Gold Head Goby
Anthias

In a previous post it was mentioned that the sleeper goby would starve, is there a good sand sifter to add to keep the substrate clean that won't knock around coral and won't make the mandarins starve?

 

[rworegon]

Current stock:

1 each,
Sailfin tang
flame hawk
blue spot goby / bulls eye pistol
lawnmower blenny
green mandarin
small perc clown
blue green chromis
skunk cleaner shrimp
reef lobster

would like to add either
copperband butterfly or
yellow longnose butterfly

will either of the butterflies have compatibility issues with the tang?

 

[snorvich]

In a previous post it was mentioned that the sleeper goby would starve, is there a good sand sifter to add to keep the substrate clean that won't knock around coral and won't make the mandarins starve?

sand sifters do not clean the sand, they deplete the sand of beneficial organisms, then starve. Best sand scavenger is fighting conchs, but since this thread is only about marine fish compatibility, we have other forums and threads for those questions.

 

[snorvich]

Current stock:

1 each,
Sailfin tang
flame hawk
blue spot goby / bulls eye pistol
lawnmower blenny
green mandarin
small perc clown
blue green chromis
skunk cleaner shrimp
reef lobster not reef safe towards fish

would like to add either
copperband butterfly or
yellow longnose butterfly

will either of the butterflies have compatibility issues with the tang?

For a proper answer, I would need tank size and other information.

 

[rworegon]

For a proper answer, I would need tank size and other information.

150 gal/ long w 40 sump and fuge. Aprox 120 lbs rock. plenty of pods. Mandarin is fat and happy.

Lobster lives in a cave and comes out only at night. Wife just had to have it. Loves purple.

 

[snorvich]

150 gal/ long w 40 sump and fuge. Aprox 120 lbs rock. plenty of pods. Mandarin is fat and happy.

Lobster lives in a cave and comes out only at night. Wife just had to have it. Loves purple.

Either species of yellow long nosed butterfly fish would work (there are two of them). The copperband is more susceptible to having problems with tank mates that are less than peaceful as the tang is likely to be. The lobster will eat fish.

 

[rworegon]

Either species of yellow long nosed butterfly fish would work (there are two of them). The copperband is more susceptible to having problems with tank mates that are less than peaceful as the tang is likely to be. The lobster will eat fish.

Thanks. Maybe I can put the Lobster in with the puffer and dwarf lion when he get a little bigger. Right now he's a little bitty guy. Only about 2". Don't want the lion to eat him.