PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[kenman345]

Okay, so I have 2 Red Firefish, 1 PJ Cardinal and 2 misbar Ocellaris Clownfish in a 56G FOWLR tank with no sump.

Was thinking maybe of getting a bonded pair of Bengaii Cardinals or a Pygmy (Cherub) angelfish or a Flameback angelfish.

Potentially, a Mandarin, but slightly concerned I will not be able to provide it a steady enough diet even with my in-tank refugium. I am looking into creating a hatchery for brine shrimp though with the idea of potentially making that hope a reality.

So the main thing is my firefish stay under one of the rocks a lot, but when they are out and around the tank, they mostly stay to one side and after the first month of being in the tank with the clownfish (clownfish added to the tank that had the firefish in it, to mediate territorial behaviors), they all seem to swim together when they are out from their little home. The PJ Cardinal roams around and hardly ever scares the firefish anymore. I would like to introduce another interesting fish that will be like the PJ Cardinal is or the clownfish, as they offer an interesting dynamic and are always around to see. The clownfish are still young enough they have been together for 2 months and havent figured out the dominant one yet. I think it may be wise to try and introduce a new inhabitant before too long so that the clownfish are not as territorial.

So, which option should work the best? Or maybe I should consider a different type of fish.

 

[oakengineer]

I'm working on a 65 gal non reef tank. Got about 65 lbs of live rock, and 50 lbs of sand, a 15gal sump with a protein skimmer.

Have:
2 Oscelaris clownfish
3 Astra snails
2 turbo snails
5 hermits (and one snail disguised as a hermit)

Want:
Orchid Dottyback
Yellow clown goby
Blue spot puffer
Flame angel

 

[Zer0.]

So maybe instead of a blue hippo in the 180 I could go with a powder blue?
Would a powder blue, a kole yellow eye, and possibly a yellow/purple tang all be ok in a 180? I believe they are all 3 different body types that should lesson aggression.

 

[kenman345]

Okay, so I have 2 Red Firefish, 1 PJ Cardinal and 2 misbar Ocellaris Clownfish in a 56G FOWLR tank with no sump.

Was thinking maybe of getting a bonded pair of Bengaii Cardinals or a Pygmy (Cherub) angelfish or a Flameback angelfish.

Potentially, a Mandarin, but slightly concerned I will not be able to provide it a steady enough diet even with my in-tank refugium. I am looking into creating a hatchery for brine shrimp though with the idea of potentially making that hope a reality.

So the main thing is my firefish stay under one of the rocks a lot, but when they are out and around the tank, they mostly stay to one side and after the first month of being in the tank with the clownfish (clownfish added to the tank that had the firefish in it, to mediate territorial behaviors), they all seem to swim together when they are out from their little home. The PJ Cardinal roams around and hardly ever scares the firefish anymore. I would like to introduce another interesting fish that will be like the PJ Cardinal is or the clownfish, as they offer an interesting dynamic and are always around to see. The clownfish are still young enough they have been together for 2 months and havent figured out the dominant one yet. I think it may be wise to try and introduce a new inhabitant before too long so that the clownfish are not as territorial.

So, which option should work the best? Or maybe I should consider a different type of fish.

I also want to add, I have 3 emerald crabs, 3 peppermint shrimp, 2 scarlet cleaner shrimp, and ~15 Hermit crabs.

I preferably want something that will eat algae and be able to live long term in my sized tank. I know I will move in the next year, and will likely sell off some fish in the moving process, but I may keep this tank going at my parents home for a while.

 

[snorvich]

Okay, so I have 2 Red Firefish, will become one over time

1 PJ Cardinal and 2 misbar Ocellaris Clownfish in a 56G FOWLR tank with no sump.

Was thinking maybe of getting a bonded pair of Bengaii Cardinals fine or a Pygmy (Cherub) angelfish or a Flameback angelfish. either would work, both are on the aggressive side

Potentially, a Mandarin, but slightly concerned I will not be able to provide it a steady enough diet even with my in-tank refugium. I am looking into creating a hatchery for brine shrimp though with the idea of potentially making that hope a reality. your tank is not large enough to sustain a mandarin long term without exceptional effort

So the main thing is my firefish stay under one of the rocks a lot, but when they are out and around the tank, they mostly stay to one side and after the first month of being in the tank with the clownfish (clownfish added to the tank that had the firefish in it, to mediate territorial behaviors), they all seem to swim together when they are out from their little home. as I indicated, the firefish will become a single in the longer run The PJ Cardinal roams around and hardly ever scares the firefish anymore. I would like to introduce another interesting fish that will be like the PJ Cardinal is or the clownfish, as they offer an interesting dynamic and are always around to see. The clownfish are still young enough they have been together for 2 months and havent figured out the dominant one yet. I think it may be wise to try and introduce a new inhabitant before too long so that the clownfish are not as territorial.

So, which option should work the best? Or maybe I should consider a different type of fish.

 

[snorvich]

I'm working on a 65 gal non reef tank. Got about 65 lbs of live rock, and 50 lbs of sand, a 15gal sump with a protein skimmer.

Have:
2 Oscelaris clownfish
3 Astra snails
2 turbo snails
5 hermits (and one snail disguised as a hermit)

Want:
Orchid Dottyback
Yellow clown goby
Blue spot puffer not invert safe
Flame angel

fine except as noted

 

[snorvich]

I also want to add, I have 3 emerald crabs, 3 peppermint shrimp, 2 scarlet cleaner shrimp, and ~15 Hermit crabs.

I preferably want something that will eat algae and be able to live long term in my sized tank. I know I will move in the next year, and will likely sell off some fish in the moving process, but I may keep this tank going at my parents home for a while.

emerald crabs can take fish when large enough

 

[snorvich]

So maybe instead of a blue hippo in the 180 I could go with a powder blue?
Would a powder blue, a kole yellow eye, and possibly a yellow/purple tang all be ok in a 180? I believe they are all 3 different body types that should lesson aggression.

three tangs in a 180 would mean you should not have other grazers especially if corals are involved

 

[Mg4life0331]

Hey Steve Im in need of some of your world class advice again. I may venture out of the scope of this thread, but I want to give you some background.

55 gallon reef tank. 10 gallon refuge.

Currently just two False perc clowns and a pistol shrimp. Various snails as a clean up crew.

About 5 months ago, I was treating some bryopsis with the Kent Mag supplement. I never got over 1600 and I had some fish deaths. I lost a pj cardinal, banggai cardinal, tail spot blenny, yasha goby, cleaner shrimp, and peppermint shrimp. The other inverts lived including my maxima clam and sexy shrimp. I never got a grasp on what really killed them. I am thinking my tiger shrimp went rogue or the kent mag supplement was bad I'm not sure.

I quarantined another yasha for 1 month, put him in and he died 2 weeks later. The clowns have never acted adversely to anything. Neither have the remaining inverts.

So here we are with two clowns that have had the tank to themselves for nearly 4 months. Are they going to be so aggressive I can't add anything else now? I was planning on trapping the tiger shrimp and adding the following.

Tail Spot blenny
Helfrichi firefish
carpenter flasher wrasse

Thank you for your time and advice.

 

[Miz40B]

PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

I have a 40B/20L sump. In sump skimmer, refugium, filter sock. Very simply tank. Minimal rock scape consisting of 2 rock cave islands.

Current live stock are a Bi-Color Blenny whom I love and a very timid Yellow-lined Cardinal who may be rehomed.

I would love to get a Falco Hawk Fish (Cirrhitichthys falco) as a last addition. What do you think?

 

[snorvich]

Hey Steve Im in need of some of your world class advice again. I may venture out of the scope of this thread, but I want to give you some background.

55 gallon reef tank. 10 gallon refuge.

Currently just two False perc clowns and a pistol shrimp. Various snails as a clean up crew.

About 5 months ago, I was treating some bryopsis with the Kent Mag supplement. I never got over 1600 and I had some fish deaths. I lost a pj cardinal, banggai cardinal, tail spot blenny, yasha goby, cleaner shrimp, and peppermint shrimp. The other inverts lived including my maxima clam and sexy shrimp. I never got a grasp on what really killed them. I am thinking my tiger shrimp went rogue or the kent mag supplement was bad I'm not sure.

I quarantined another yasha for 1 month, put him in and he died 2 weeks later. The clowns have never acted adversely to anything. Neither have the remaining inverts.

So here we are with two clowns that have had the tank to themselves for nearly 4 months. Are they going to be so aggressive I can't add anything else now? I was planning on trapping the tiger shrimp and adding the following.

acclimation box will make introduction easier. I have never heard of high magnesium being a problem by the way. Although anything could, in theory be "bad" normally it would not affect animals selectively

Tail Spot blenny
Helfrichi firefish
carpenter flasher wrasse marginal tank size for this fish

Thank you for your time and advice.

 

[snorvich]

I have a 40B/20L sump. In sump skimmer, refugium, filter sock. Very simply tank. Minimal rock scape consisting of 2 rock cave islands.

Current live stock are a Bi-Color Blenny whom I love and a very timid Yellow-lined Cardinal who may be rehomed.

I would love to get a Falco Hawk Fish (Cirrhitichthys falco) as a last addition. What do you think?

Nice aquascaping. You must remember that hawkfish are ambush predators and will eat small fish and shrimp. While this one is not large, it will try to eat whatever will fit in its mouth.

 

[LamboBoy]

My tank is 120g with a 60g sump about half full with an oversized Lifereef skimmer.

So far the inhabitants are:
Pair of Lineatus wrasse 5"/ 3"
Pair Hooded wrasse 3.5"/ 2.5"
One Exquisite wrasse 3.5"
One Lubbock wrasse 2.5"
One Goldflake angel 3.75"
One marine betta 5"
3 Pajama cardinals 2.5"

Am I overstocked or can I add a small 2-3" yellow tang to this mix? They are all pretty peaceful, no fighting so far but need a good algae eater.

Thanks.

 

[Pigpen17]

The long slow road here.

I have an African Midas Blenny. Yup. That's it. It's blue. I want to add a lawnmower Blenny as well. Are they different enough to get along?

 

[snorvich]

My tank is 120g with a 60g sump about half full with an oversized Lifereef skimmer.

So far the inhabitants are:
Pair of Lineatus wrasse 5"/ 3"
Pair Hooded wrasse 3.5"/ 2.5"
One Exquisite wrasse 3.5"
One Lubbock wrasse 2.5"
One Goldflake angel 3.75"
One marine betta 5"
3 Pajama cardinals 2.5"

Am I overstocked or can I add a small 2-3" yellow tang to this mix? They are all pretty peaceful, no fighting so far but need a good algae eater.

Thanks.

I would not add a yellow tang but would look at one of the Ctenochaetus tangs if algae control is your primary objective

 

[snorvich]

The long slow road here.

I have an African Midas Blenny. Yup. That's it. It's blue. I want to add a lawnmower Blenny as well. Are they different enough to get along?

No, I would not.

 

[Pigpen17]

No, I would not.

Fair enough. What about a sand sifting Goby? Or a scooter Blenny?

 

[snorvich]

Fair enough. What about a sand sifting Goby? No problem.

Or a scooter Blenny? they are not blennies but rather they are dragonets and your tank is insufficient to maintain one

 

[Pigpen17]

Got ya. I have pods in the tank, but probably not enough. I thought they were grazers.

Thanks.

 

[snorvich]

Got ya. I have pods in the tank, but probably not enough. I thought they were grazers.

Thanks.

They are not algae grazers, they graze on copepods. Your midas blenny is likely to preclude addition of any other algae grazer.