PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[manny532]

Planning on adding multiple moorish idols to my established 225 gallon fowlr. My biggest concern is amongst each other, males females dominance etc. Could having 3 or maybe even 5 work or will it be like the chromis or fire goby issue where after a few months you end up with only one or two if you are lucky? Btw tank you for the advice on the wrasses you gave me earlier they all get along

 

[snorvich]

Planning on adding multiple moorish idols to my established 225 gallon fowlr. My biggest concern is amongst each other, males females dominance etc. Could having 3 or maybe even 5 work or will it be like the chromis or fire goby issue where after a few months you end up with only one or two if you are lucky? Btw tank you for the advice on the wrasses you gave me earlier they all get along

I do not expect behavioral issues from more than one Moorish Idol. However, since feeding is a major concern, I suspect that will be the primary issue in your sized tank. See the Moorish Idol thread found here.

 

[keefesn1]

Hi snorvich,

I didn't know whether to post here or to start a new post in the general discussion forums. If you think, please let me know and I will post there. My 220 gallon reef tank has been up and running for almost nine months. I have about 200 pounds of live rock. My fish so far are:

pair of ocellaris clowns
tongan blue devil damsel
starry blenny
flame angel
yasha haze goby
royal gramma basslet
powder blue tang
tomini tang

and just added a copper band butterfly today and a pastel green or green coris wrasse today.

My question, am I close to my bioload or can I still add a purple tang and yellow tang congruently and a marine betta. How do I know when my boiled is approaching?

Also, can my copper band be in the tank with another butterflyfish. Specifically I am looking for a chaetodon semilarvatus, the golden butterflyfish.

Thanks again.

 

[snorvich]

Hi snorvich,

I didn't know whether to post here or to start a new post in the general discussion forums. If you think, please let me know and I will post there. My 220 gallon reef tank has been up and running for almost nine months. I have about 200 pounds of live rock. My fish so far are:

pair of ocellaris clowns
tongan blue devil damsel
starry blenny
flame angel
yasha haze goby
royal gramma basslet
powder blue tang
tomini tang

and just added a copper band butterfly today and a pastel green or green coris wrasse today.

My question, am I close to my bioload or can I still add a purple tang and yellow tang congruently and a marine betta. How do I know when my boiled is approaching?

Also, can my copper band be in the tank with another butterflyfish. Specifically I am looking for a chaetodon semilarvatus, the golden butterflyfish.

Thanks again.

Bioload is less of an important factor than behavioral characteristics and the ecological niche that a fish resides within. For example, most tangs reside in the same ecological niche and as inefficient eaters, they tend to have territorial imperatives towards fish that they perceive as food competitors. The two established tangs in your tank will not take kindly towards introduction of food competitors (especially the powder blue) A copperband butterfly requires peaceful tank mates.

 

[keefesn1]

I think I read that about the copperband in one of your previous replies to somebody. The PBT is still in quarantine and will remain so for a few more weeks. The CBB is larger and already in the display. Think things will be fine? And what about the two zebrasoma congruently?

 

[snorvich]

I think I read that about the copperband in one of your previous replies to somebody. The PBT is still in quarantine and will remain so for a few more weeks. The CBB is larger and already in the display. Think things will be fine? And what about the two zebrasoma congruently?

Your existing tangs will give them a hard time. But perhaps it would work.

 

[manny532]

I do not expect behavioral issues from more than one Moorish Idol. However, since feeding is a major concern, I suspect that will be the primary issue in your sized tank. See the Moorish Idol thread found here.

Feeding wasn't an issue. My concern was having a few then as they mature they boys start killing each other or girls start fighting and in the end to be left with only one or two. Will definitely look into the thread. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[sbash]

Greetings, I am planning on upgrading my 65G Reef tank to a 220G Reef (72L x 24W x 30H), I currently have:

2 x Ocellaris Clowns
Yellow Tail Damsel
Chromis
Neon Goby

I would like to start aiming toward the following stocking list. These are listed in the rough order I would add them in, I figure it will take a two years to complete (based on time, cost and availability). My 65G will serve as the QT...

3 x Neon Gobies
Watchman Goby
Clown Goby
Firefish
5 x Anthias
2 x Cardinals (Bangaii or PJ)
Mandarin Dragonet (aiming for a full year at this point)
Foxface (Lo or One spot)
Achilles Tang
Koles Tang
Yellow Tang

This seems like it might be too much... Your thoughts are greatly appreciated

 

[Tjsmoot]

Hi, I'm planning the stock list for my 90 gallon mixed reef. It's just the standard 90 with a sump, protein skimmer and refugium. I always end up overstocking so I want to plan this one out beforehand. I was hoping to create a good mix of fish, but was concerned about aggression. My plan was

2x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris )
2x Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon meleagris)
1x Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
1x Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
1x Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus)

I already own the clowns, wrasses, and goby which I will move to the new tank. My concern is with the addition of the hawkfish and dottyback. I've heard the dottyback shouldn't be too much of a problem, especially if it's tank bred, but my main worry is the hawkfish. I know shrimp and inverts are in danger, but some things I've read mention that they may eat smaller fish. I was wondering how small is small enough to be eaten. One of the leopard wrasses is really small (maybe 1.5-2") and the yellow watchman goby is also probably about that size. Also, I checked the max sizes of all of the fish using Live Aquaria. The only fish with a max size bigger than the flame hawkfish is the leopard wrasse. Do you think this would work if I bought a small hawkfish and/or dottyback?

 

[snorvich]

Greetings, I am planning on upgrading my 65G Reef tank to a 220G Reef (72L x 24W x 30H), I currently have:

2 x Ocellaris Clowns
Yellow Tail Damsel
Chromis
Neon Goby

I would like to start aiming toward the following stocking list. These are listed in the rough order I would add them in, I figure it will take a two years to complete (based on time, cost and availability). My 65G will serve as the QT...

3 x Neon Gobies
Watchman Goby
Clown Goby
Firefish
5 x Anthias
2 x Cardinals (Bangaii or PJ)
Mandarin Dragonet (aiming for a full year at this point)
Foxface (Lo or One spot)
Achilles Tang
Koles Tang
Yellow Tang

This seems like it might be too much... Your thoughts are greatly appreciated

In a six foot tank, I would not try four large grazers. Three would be ok, but the yellow tang, if one of them, must be last.

 

[snorvich]

Hi, I'm planning the stock list for my 90 gallon mixed reef. It's just the standard 90 with a sump, protein skimmer and refugium. I always end up overstocking so I want to plan this one out beforehand. I was hoping to create a good mix of fish, but was concerned about aggression. My plan was

2x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris )
2x Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon meleagris) one in this sized tank
1x Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
1x Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
1x Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus)

I already own the clowns, wrasses, and goby which I will move to the new tank. My concern is with the addition of the hawkfish and dottyback. I've heard the dottyback shouldn't be too much of a problem, especially if it's tank bred,

P. fridmani is a well behaved dottyback

but my main worry is the hawkfish. I know shrimp and inverts are in danger,

correct

but some things I've read mention that they may eat smaller fish. I was wondering how small is small enough to be eaten. One of the leopard wrasses is really small (maybe 1.5-2") and the yellow watchman goby is also probably about that size. Also, I checked the max sizes of all of the fish using Live Aquaria. The only fish with a max size bigger than the flame hawkfish is the leopard wrasse. Do you think this would work if I bought a small hawkfish and/or dottyback?

fine but not shrimp safe

 

[Tjsmoot]

Thank you so much for the advice. I guess I'll remove the smaller leopard wrasse. Do you have any suggestions for a replacement? Should I find a replacement at all, or just call it a day with that stock list?

Just curious, why wouldn't 2 leopard wrasses work out? Is it from aggression or pod competition?

 

[csammis]

Following up from my previous post...

I'd like to get your take on this plan, please. Tank is a 93g cube (30"x30"x24") with 20g sump, skimmer, LPS and SPS corals.

Current Stocking

1x Pajama Cardinalfish
1x Purple Firefish
1x Whipfin Wrasse

Potential Tankmates
1x Rainford goby (Koumansetta rainfordi)
1x Gold Line goby (Elacatinus horsti)
1x Macneill's Assessor basslet (Assessor macneilli)
1x Canary blenny (Meiacanthus oualanensis) or Green Canary blenny (Meiacanthus tongaensis)

Would any on this list preclude a mandarin? The tank is 16 months old and pods are everywhere, and the wrasse shows zero interest. If a mandarin is a feasible tankmate where should it come in addition order?

 

[donut0079]

Just was thinking about adding either a purple or helfrichi fire fish to my biocube 29. The current inhabitants are a Mai tai clown, a mccoskers flasher, and a yellow watchman that is paired with a pistol shrimp. My only concern lies in the clown. He has had a few tail nips with the wrasse but things seem pretty balanced out. Is the temperament of the fire fish on par with the wrasse or is there a high chance of the fire fish being scared into hiding.

 

[snorvich]

Thank you so much for the advice. I guess I'll remove the smaller leopard wrasse. Do you have any suggestions for a replacement? Should I find a replacement at all, or just call it a day with that stock list?

Just curious, why wouldn't 2 leopard wrasses work out? Is it from aggression or pod competition?

copepod competition. Leopards will all eat frozen and in most case, pellets. However, most aquarists feed sparingly to manage nutrient content and leopard wrasses and dragonets eat constantly.

 

[snorvich]

Following up from my previous post...



Would any on this list preclude a mandarin? The tank is 16 months old and pods are everywhere, and the wrasse shows zero interest. If a mandarin is a feasible tankmate where should it come in addition order?

a mandarin is feasible but only marginally so. If the tank is 16 months mature, any time would work.

 

[snorvich]

Just was thinking about adding either a purple or helfrichi fire fish to my biocube 29. The current inhabitants are a Mai tai clown, a mccoskers flasher, and a yellow watchman that is paired with a pistol shrimp. My only concern lies in the clown. He has had a few tail nips with the wrasse but things seem pretty balanced out. Is the temperament of the fire fish on par with the wrasse or is there a high chance of the fire fish being scared into hiding.

A flasher wrasse needs a larger tank because it is a very active fish. As such there is a high probability that a fire fish would be intimidated. Also, a firefish and the existing flasher wrasse are prolific jumpers, FYI.

 

[Tjsmoot]

copepod competition. Leopards will all eat frozen and in most case, pellets. However, most aquarists feed sparingly to manage nutrient content and leopard wrasses and dragonets eat constantly.

Ok, good to know for future reference. Thank you for everything

 

[snorvich]

Ok, good to know for future reference. Thank you for everything

I have multiples in one of my tanks but it is a 240 gallon tank with a 40 gallon refugium. And with multiples, be sure you do not end up with two males.

 

[Tjsmoot]

I have multiples in one of my tanks but it is a 240 gallon tank with a 40 gallon refugium. And with multiples, be sure you do not end up with two males.

Wow! That sounds like a really nice setup. If you don't mind me asking, how many and what types of leopard wrasse do you have in there? Leopard wrasses are stunning and amazing to observe, but definitely require a lot of planning and care