PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[Myles]

Hi Steve,
I've got a large 10ft by 2 ft tank that I would like to stock with:
a Rhinecanthus trigger fish probably the Picasso;
a male bird wrasse;
a large Maori wrasse (not the redbreasted) species to be determined by Divers Den availability;
a Zebrasoma tang either the desjardinii or yellow.
If this won't work my alternative is to change the trigger fish to a
Xanthichthys ringens
still go with the large Maori and bird wrasse;
go with a smaller Zebrasoma (yellow or scopas)
and add a Kole tang and Harlequin bass (Serranus tigris).
In either case the centerpiece is the trigger so the real question is will the other selections work with the trigger.
Thanks,
Myles

 

[reefgills]

Many thanks Steve!

 

[ReefingWerewolf]

( 90 gallon mixed reef:

Pair of Pink Skunk Clownfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish (I prefer the longer nosed full black eye'd variety)
Pair of Yasha Gobies W. Shrimp
5 Carberryi anthias
Firefish
Female Bellus Angelfish
Red Scooter Blenny

Thanks Steve! )

Do you think it would be possible to add 1-2 sunburst or maybe a blotched anthias to the list? Thanks again!

 

[snorvich]

Hi Steve,
I've got a large 10ft by 2 ft tank that I would like to stock with:
a Rhinecanthus trigger fish probably the Picasso;
a male bird wrasse;
a large Maori wrasse (not the redbreasted) species to be determined by Divers Den availability;
a Zebrasoma tang either the desjardinii or yellow.
If this won't work my alternative is to change the trigger fish to a
Xanthichthys ringens
still go with the large Maori and bird wrasse;
go with a smaller Zebrasoma (yellow or scopas)
and add a Kole tang and Harlequin bass (Serranus tigris).
In either case the centerpiece is the trigger so the real question is will the other selections work with the trigger.
Thanks,
Myles

I normally do not like to provide analysis of aggressive fish community tanks. However, I think that stocking list would work in a 10 foot tank. The trigger, of course, is the problematic one in the list.

 

[snorvich]

( 90 gallon mixed reef:

Pair of Pink Skunk Clownfish
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish (I prefer the longer nosed full black eye'd variety)
Pair of Yasha Gobies W. Shrimp
5 Carberryi anthias
Firefish
Female Bellus Angelfish
Red Scooter Blenny

Thanks Steve! )

Do you think it would be possible to add 1-2 sunburst or maybe a blotched anthias to the list? Thanks again!

Because of the social interaction of anthias, we prefer groups to be in tanks that are 125 gallons or more. I think that adding additional anthias may be problematic.

 

[mpderksen]

Snorvich,
In the interest of not having to repeat yourself (how many times have to had to say, "needs a bigger tank"? Lol).
Could you give your advice on Anthias recommendations? I've seen you comment multiple times at a pair/group will become one over time. At what size tank do you recommend for a group to remain a group?

 

[Myles]

Thanks, Steve
The trigger is the problem-it's so hard to predict what they might do in the long term.
Myles

 

[snorvich]

Snorvich,
In the interest of not having to repeat yourself (how many times have to had to say, "needs a bigger tank"? Lol).
Could you give your advice on Anthias recommendations? I've seen you comment multiple times at a pair/group will become one over time. At what size tank do you recommend for a group to remain a group?

No, it is chromis that will reduce to one, not anthias. Anthias need a longer tank because of the social interaction when a male "herds his females". If you have a large group, you will end up with more than one male, and each male will herd and protect his females.

 

[snorvich]

Thanks, Steve
The trigger is the problem-it's so hard to predict what they might do in the long term.
Myles

I have seen some species have hyper aggressive or fairly mild but cannot predict as it depends on the individual fish. Some species ONLY are hyper-aggressive such as clown triggers, queen triggers, undulated triggers, titan triggers.

 

[JWClark]

Set up: 125g w/ lifereef 150s, GAC, and 20" refugium--about 150g total volume before rock. Will have 1-2" sand, 190lbs rock (100 dry and 90 liverock-fiji).

Plan to be a mixed tank w/ softies and sps. Snails for CUC and cleaner shrimp.

Planned fish list:

Powder blue tang
Kole yellow eye tang--maybe
maybe a dwarf angel
Green mandarin
Red mandarin
False percula clown (or 2)
blenny and goby of some type maybe

Finally have everything up and running and cycled. Pod population has exploded and my amphipods look like a severe infestation at night. Have recently added some zoas, a mushroom, a ricordea, a kenya tree, and small Galaxia frag--all doing well. Have fine tuned the above fish list since my original post.

I'm thinking of starting w/ a trio of lyre tail anthias as my first fish addition. Q: will they harass new additions in the future--the above list? My goal is to introduce the most peaceful to most agressive to avoid too much undue stress. After this I am thinking of adding the mandarins, blenny and goby (if I decide too), then tangs, then clowns, and the dwarf angel last--if I get one.

Thoughts?

 

[snorvich]

Finally have everything up and running and cycled. Pod population has exploded and my amphipods look like a severe infestation at night. Have recently added some zoas, a mushroom, a ricordea, a kenya tree, and small Galaxia frag--all doing well. Have fine tuned the above fish list since my original post.

I'm thinking of starting w/ a trio of lyre tail anthias as my first fish addition. Q: will they harass new additions in the future--the above list? My goal is to introduce the most peaceful to most agressive to avoid too much undue stress. After this I am thinking of adding the mandarins, blenny and goby (if I decide too), then tangs, then clowns, and the dwarf angel last--if I get one.

Thoughts?

Stocking list is fine but if a PBT is your tang of choice, I would go with only one. Two mandarins would be iffy in this sized tank, one would be easy (after 9 months maturity). Order is fine.

 

[chiefifd]

I have a 90 gallon DT with a 75 gallon sump holding about 30 gallons of water. I have 100 pounds of dry rock from ReefCleaners.com, of which 90 pounds are in the DT and 10 pounds in the sump. I have a LifeReef 24" Skimmer, Auto-Top off system, 2 inches of Tropic Eden mini flakes.

The tank has been cycled and running for about 2 months, I added the first tank inhabitants 2 ocellaris clownfish a few days ago after quarantining them. I don't have any clean-up crew yet, I haven't added any copepods amphipods. I don't have any signs of algae in the tank and no corals yet.

Salinity 1.025 w/refractor
Ammonia 0
Nitrites .0
Nitrates 10
Temp 78.5
All using Salifert Test Kits

I'd like to add one or two more fish and a coral or two shipped in before the real cold weather sets in here in Upper Michigan.

2 ocellaris clownfish already in DT

Here is my overall wish list below:
1 Tailspot Blenny
1 Randall's Goby
or Either Goby with 1 Red Banded Pistol Shrimp*
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Mystery Wrasse
1 Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
3 Banggai Cardinal's
1 Kole Tang

Thanks, reading over many of these posts has been very informative for sure.....

 

[Hzuiel]

Standard 20 gallon.

Current inhabitants:
(1) A. occelaris
(1) Banded coral shrimp (i know they can attack fish, thus far the clown keeps it's distance and has never had any signs of damage, it may find a new home if i don't upgrade tanks soon.)
(1) astrea snail
(1) trochus snail
(1) turbo snail
(2) nassarius snails
(2-3) dwarf hermits, haven't seen the third one in a while

Corals will mostly be lps, may possibly add sps in the future.

Intended purchases:

(1) white banded possum wrasse (red with white stripes, similar to or same species but unnamed tanaka pygmy wrasse)
(1-2) purple firefish/dartfish (with screen top) I haven't been able to find any information on how to establish a mated pair of dartfish, or if they become more aggressive when in pairs.
(1) Blue and gold blenny
(1) Yellow striped cardinal
(1) wheeler's goby (could there be aggression between the blenny and wheeler's?)

If the banded coral shrimp seems like it might be a danger to any of the fish, it may get re-homed and replaced with a scarlet cleaner and several ornamental shrimp like peppermint and sexy anemone shrimp.

 

[snorvich]

I have a 90 gallon DT with a 75 gallon sump holding about 30 gallons of water. I have 100 pounds of dry rock from ReefCleaners.com, of which 90 pounds are in the DT and 10 pounds in the sump. I have a LifeReef 24" Skimmer, Auto-Top off system, 2 inches of Tropic Eden mini flakes.

The tank has been cycled and running for about 2 months, I added the first tank inhabitants 2 ocellaris clownfish a few days ago after quarantining them. I don't have any clean-up crew yet, I haven't added any copepods amphipods. I don't have any signs of algae in the tank and no corals yet.

Salinity 1.025 w/refractor
Ammonia 0
Nitrites .0
Nitrates 10
Temp 78.5
All using Salifert Test Kits

I'd like to add one or two more fish and a coral or two shipped in before the real cold weather sets in here in Upper Michigan.

2 ocellaris clownfish already in DT

Here is my overall wish list below:
1 Tailspot Blenny
1 Randall's Goby
or Either Goby with 1 Red Banded Pistol Shrimp*
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Mystery Wrasse aggressive; while pretty I would avoid with your other planned inhabitants.
1 Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
3 Banggai Cardinal's only a male plus female is long term stable
1 Kole Tang

Thanks, reading over many of these posts has been very informative for sure.....

fine except as annotated

 

[snorvich]

Standard 20 gallon.

Current inhabitants:
(1) A. occelaris
(1) Banded coral shrimp (i know they can attack fish, thus far the clown keeps it's distance and has never had any signs of damage, it may find a new home if i don't upgrade tanks soon.) as you know, they can and will take fish
(1) astrea snail
(1) trochus snail
(1) turbo snail
(2) nassarius snails
(2-3) dwarf hermits, haven't seen the third one in a while

Corals will mostly be lps, may possibly add sps in the future.

Intended purchases:

(1) white banded possum wrasse (red with white stripes, similar to or same species but unnamed tanaka pygmy wrasse)
(1-2) purple firefish/dartfish (with screen top) I haven't been able to find any information on how to establish a mated pair of dartfish, or if they become more aggressive when in pairs. one only for long term stability
(1) Blue and gold blenny
(1) Yellow striped cardinal
(1) wheeler's goby (could there be aggression between the blenny and wheeler's?)

If the banded coral shrimp seems like it might be a danger to any of the fish, it may get re-homed and replaced with a scarlet cleaner and several ornamental shrimp like peppermint and sexy anemone shrimp.

Your plan has six fish which is way too many for this sized tank. A clownfish, once sexually mature, will, by itself try to protect about 25 gallons of tank space

 

[Sheltie Mom]

Newbie with 75 gallon reef, ~70 lbs rock, 110 reef octopus sump protien skimmer - Nitrites levels rising in cycling so not ready to purchase yet, just planning.

1 purple firefish
1 blackcap basslett
2 carpenter wrasse
2 occellaris clowns
1 coral beauty or flameback or lemon peel angel
1 kole vs squaretail bristletooth tang
2 bartlett anthias
1 flame hawkfish

I know I will be adding very slow. It looks like from previous posts you recommend the purple firefish first, but not sure of order after that. I was thinking adding one every 2-4 wks. Also adding a variety of snails but no crabs. Looks like I should stay away from shrimp if I have the hawkfish.

I think it is awesome that you are willing to help!!! Thanks for any/all advise!! Let me know if I'm on the right track or need to rethink.

 

[snorvich]

Newbie with 75 gallon reef, ~70 lbs rock, 110 reef octopus sump protien skimmer - Nitrites levels rising in cycling so not ready to purchase yet, just planning.

1 purple firefish
1 blackcap basslett
2 carpenter wrasse male plus female
2 occellaris clowns
1 coral beauty or flameback or lemon peel angel no dwarf angel is reef safe in the long run
1 kole vs squaretail bristletooth tang either but not both
2 bartlett anthias I would go with only one in this sized tank and this species of anthias
1 flame hawkfish definitely not shrimp safe

I know I will be adding very slow. It looks like from previous posts you recommend the purple firefish first, but not sure of order after that. I was thinking adding one every 2-4 wks. Also adding a variety of snails but no crabs. good idea; crabs kill snails Looks like I should stay away from shrimp if I have the hawkfish. correct

I think it is awesome that you are willing to help!!! Thanks for any/all advise!! Let me know if I'm on the right track or need to rethink.

 

[JoelA7]

Hi Steve

Tank is a 4x2x2 mixed reef. Coming along well and had crypto so fallow for another month. Lost a bicolor blenny and saved the following, which will return home soon.

3 PJ Cardinals
1 Hoeven's Wrasse
1 Royal Gramma

Adds planned

1 Stargazer Blenny (to avoid color match aggression w RG)
3 Zebra Striped Dartfish
1 Eibli Angel
1 Kole Tang

Questions.

Too much bio load? I really don't want one of these overcrowded heavily fed tanks.
Kole Tang last or Eibli? Or could I put the Eibli in sooner?

Thank you very much.

 

[Sheltie Mom]

Thanks so much Steve! I'll rethink some of my options and post again, to make sure my final plan is ok.

 

[snorvich]

Hi Steve

Tank is a 4x2x2 mixed reef. Coming along well and had crypto so fallow for another month. Lost a bicolor blenny and saved the following, which will return home soon.

3 PJ Cardinals
1 Hoeven's Wrasse
1 Royal Gramma

Adds planned

1 Stargazer Blenny (to avoid color match aggression w RG) I assume you mean starry blenny, and if so the bicolor blenny is safer as the starry may take issue with the RG
3 Zebra Striped Dartfish
1 Eibli Angel
1 Kole Tang last

Questions.

Too much bio load? No, should be fine I really don't want one of these overcrowded heavily fed tanks.
Kole Tang last or Eibli? Or could I put the Eibli in sooner? you could put it in sooner

Thank you very much.