PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

Hi, been in reefing about a year and a half now but first time posting on RC. my current 90 gallon tank has been doing really well but with a move of house it only means 1 thing... upgrade!! so new tank is 72x27x24 about 200G. the tank will be SPS heavy and will be a bacteria driven system with biopellets. I am looking for a fairly heavy stocked tank. any way my stocking plan is as follows.

3x blue reef chromis- possible they may work down to one i know probably
1x royal gramma (from current tank)
1x lyretail anthias (from current tank)
1x leopard wrasse (from current tank)
5x Carberryi Anthias
3x Resplendent Anthias
1x one spot fox face (from current tank)
1x Melanurus Wrasse
1x Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse (from current tank)
1x Linneatus Fairy Wrasse (from current tank)

fine so far

1x Blue Throat Trigger- not shrimp safe but crab and snail safe (from current tank)
1x Hippo tang (from Current tank) needs a larger tank
1x Blonde Naso Tang needs a larger tank

I also currently have a chevron tang in my current tank but am unsure if he will make the move due to aggression issues. in a larger tank, this fish should be fine

Please let me know what you think. I think the filtration system could handle this load but let me know your thoughts.

bioload is rarely the issue, it is almost always a behavioral issue when you try to mix fish in the same ecological niche when their perceived territorial imperative is not satisfied

I had also thought about adding a female or 2 for the fairy wrasses but do not know if this would be possible female fairy wrasses are fine
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Even thought this is my first post RC has been a great help in my research for my reef.
Mike

[welcome]

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

I do not give analysis on aggressive fish community tanks; I also do not get into "he says" type discussions. If they are credible in your mind, they should be your source of information. You can find almost any point of view here, the problem will always be deciding how credible the source is.

I find you to be the most credible. That's why I was asking you. Since you do not get into these type of discussions ( very wise of you btw) I'm not going to believe that's it's ok to keep a giant aggressive fish in a medium size community tank. My gut just tells me No.
Thanks tho.

 

[highergroove]

blue spotted jawfish in 12 gallon nano

blue spotted jawfish in 12 gallon nano

So I bought a blue spotted jawfish for my 300 gallon. A week later he disappeared. then my boyfriend was cleaning out the filter socks in the sump and when he got to the second one and turned it inside out, the jawfish fell out. We put him back in the tank and he was super stressed and then the damsel comes along and bites him. Then later, grabbed him by the tail and dragged him. So, I put him into the 12 gallon nano we have been cycling and believe it or not, he is doing amazing - 100% normal. I kinda like him in the nano (12 gallon JBJ biocube) and thought about keeping him in there but minimum tank size seems to be 30 gallon (at least according to liveaquaria and my books are in storage). I know they don't really move from their den much so I thought I'd see what others think/have done. Thoughts?

 

[snorvich]

So I bought a blue spotted jawfish for my 300 gallon. A week later he disappeared. then my boyfriend was cleaning out the filter socks in the sump and when he got to the second one and turned it inside out, the jawfish fell out. We put him back in the tank and he was super stressed and then the damsel comes along and bites him. Then later, grabbed him by the tail and dragged him. So, I put him into the 12 gallon nano we have been cycling and believe it or not, he is doing amazing - 100% normal. I kinda like him in the nano (12 gallon JBJ biocube) and thought about keeping him in there but minimum tank size seems to be 30 gallon (at least according to liveaquaria and my books are in storage). I know they don't really move from their den much so I thought I'd see what others think/have done. Thoughts?

For long term success, they need peaceful tank mates (probably why he jumped, they are prolific jumpers), cooler temperatures (they are collected in the Sea of Cortez) and an appropriate home (substrate, rock rubble). Your nano is too small, your large tank tankmates are a bit too hostile.

 

[kainic]

Hi,

I have a 60cm*36cm*36cm tank, no sump, good skimmer, 1,5cm sugar sized sand bed , 8kg mixed live/dry rock. My wishlist is:

1x Ocellaris B/W
1x Ocellaris (regular)
1x Pterapogon kauderni
Several soft and LPS corals.

If possible, what fish would you add to those?

Thanks in advance.

 

[snorvich]

Hi,

I have a 60cm*36cm*36cm tank, no sump, good skimmer, 1,5cm sugar sized sand bed , 8kg mixed live/dry rock. My wishlist is:

1x Ocellaris B/W
1x Ocellaris (regular)
1x Pterapogon kauderni
Several soft and LPS corals.

If possible, what fish would you add to those?

Thanks in advance.

I would not add additional fish and would stick with the clownfish pair only. Clownfish, once sexually mature, will want to control a larger volume of tank space.

 

[Vilas]

Hi!
OK, so after some pondering..
320 gallon mixed reef
Existing..
3 chromis
2 percs
1 African flame back angel
1 blue spotted goby
2 little tidepool gobies
Want to add..
7 anthias
2 tangs - any suggestion on two fairly easy and appropriate two?
1 angel - genicanthus (sp?) Or other fairly reef safe variety
3-4 wrasses
It is hard to find many fish here, so some flexibility is needed. Will I have issues with multiple wrasses? Which tangs will be happy and not fight as much?

 

[snorvich]

Hi!
OK, so after some pondering..
320 gallon mixed reef
Existing..
3 chromis
2 percs
1 African flame back angel
1 blue spotted goby
2 little tidepool gobies
Want to add..
7 anthias
2 tangs - any suggestion on two fairly easy and appropriate two? two different Ctenochaetus tangs added concurrently
1 angel - genicanthus (sp?) Or other fairly reef safe variety Genicanthus is mostly reef safe or as much as possible
3-4 wrasses you have leopard wrasses in your locale, females would get along. I do not remember if you have flasher wrasses; they would work
It is hard to find many fish here, so some flexibility is needed. Will I have issues with multiple wrasses? depends on species Which tangs will be happy and not fight as much? Ctenochaetus tangs are easiest

 

[hebus13]

PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

50 gallons reef tank 30" x 22" x 18"
Actual population :
- Pair of pink streaked wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia)
- Pair of blue stripe pipefish (Doryrhamphys excisus)
- Pair of red fire shrimp (lysmata debelius)

What i would like to add to get an endemic solomon island pop (except shrimp)
- Pair of yellow nose prawn goby (Stonogobiops xanthorhinica) with candy pistol shrimp
- 1 Multibar dwarf angelfish (Paracentropyge multifasciata)

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,
Thomas

What would you think of a pair of stripped fang blenny instead of the angel?

 

[snorvich]

What would you think of a pair of stripped fang blenny instead of the angel?

Much better and much more likely to succeed.

 

[vector_int_fish]

hello,
I think i have either a 100 or a 110 gallon, 60 x 18 x 24

possible stock list is:
2 Engineer Gobies
1 yellow watchman goby
with 1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp
1 One Spot Blenny or a Horned Blenny
5 Blue Saphire damsel
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
1(male) McCosker's Flasher Wrasse
1(male) Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
3 (female) Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
1 Red Stripe Angelfish (aka eibli angel)
1 Bicolor angelfish
1 Tomini Tang
1 yellowhead jawfish

this is what i was thinking but im not sure about compatibility, especially with the damsels. also not sure if this is too many fish. if so what would you suggest eliminating?
thanks for the help.

 

[snorvich]

hello,
I think i have either a 100 or a 110 gallon, 60 x 18 x 24

possible stock list is:
2 Engineer Gobies I suspect you would not be pleased with this species in reality
1 yellow watchman goby
with 1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp
1 One Spot Blenny or a Horned Blenny
5 Blue Saphire damsel I would avoid; they can become very aggressive
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
1(male) McCosker's Flasher Wrasse
1(male) Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
3 (female) Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
1 Red Stripe Angelfish (aka eibli angel)
1 Bicolor angelfish
1 Tomini Tang
1 yellowhead jawfish

this is what i was thinking but im not sure about compatibility, especially with the damsels. also not sure if this is too many fish. if so what would you suggest eliminating?
thanks for the help.

Except as annotated, the plan would be fine

 

[vector_int_fish]

thanks for the input, since the damsel should be avoided, im looking for some sort of grouping fish that is small. any ideas? ideally in a group of 5 or so.

 

[snorvich]

thanks for the input, since the damsel should be avoided, im looking for some sort of grouping fish that is small. any ideas? ideally in a group of 5 or so.

Nearly everyone wants that. Unfortunately, in our aquaria that does not happen. Multiples diminish over time. Best chance is a harem of female flasher wrasses, but they will not aggregate (what most people think of as shoaling or schooling)

 

[vector_int_fish]

what about chromis, or cardinal fish, or chalk bass? would any of those work?

 

[snorvich]

what about chromis, or cardinal fish, or chalk bass? would any of those work?

Chromis reduce their number to one over time, cardinal fish pair off, chalk bass will work but not shoal.

 

[vector_int_fish]

maybe group is the wrong word. i am looking for fish that will generally stay near each other, but don't have to always.

 

[snorvich]

maybe group is the wrong word. i am looking for fish that will generally stay near each other, but don't have to always.

Sorry, I am unable to help you with that.

 

[devimik]

Quote:
Originally Posted by devimik
Hi Steve,

I have a 90g with about 150lbs of rock - stocked currently with a Kole Tang, Tricolor Wrasse, Royal Gramma, two O. Clowns and a Yellow Watchman Goby. These fish have all been in the tank for 2 years.

I'm contemplating adding a Purple Firefish. Do you see any issues with that? I know the Kole is supposed to be the last fish, and it was, so not sure how the Firefish would be treated if added.

Thanks!

should be fine. The kole tang and firefish are in totally different ecological niches.

Ok, one more question - do you think it would be ok to add, in addition to the firefish, a female Tricolor Wrasse?

 

[mpderksen]

I read your comments daily, and have learned a great deal. After a while, I've notice a lot of posts/questions fall into a few categories. The 2 most common responses I see for you are, "needs a bigger (or MUCH bigger), tank", and incompatibilities of competing for ecological niches. While asking if Someone can put a hippo tang in their desktop nano is simply laziness, given the even LA offers recommendations that are fairly reasonable, properly filling a tank that doesn't have conflicts due to the ecological niches are less obvious.
I'm wondering if there is a sticky for this that I have not seen. Some sort of general summary of sub groups could be a place of reference to could direct people to.
Your advice and assistance to the hobby cannot be over-stated, and asking for even MORE shouldn't be taken as anything more than respect for you knowledge. I'm keen to research prior to purchasing and would find this helpful. As I start yet another tank, I would look for a blend of: jumpers vs. non, herbivores, pod eaters, etc. fish that are aggressive to con-specifics, reef-safe vs risky.
I can't even imagine a format, but I'm thinking that, in the long run, a resource like this could be a time saver for you.
Just my post-wine ramblings, perhaps.....