PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

If I wait to see how the Solar Wrasse responds to new inhabitants would that be a good indication of how it will respond to a melanurus or are you concerned specifically about how the Solar will behave with the melanurus.

Fish behavior changes over time. The odds of it interacting negatively with other fairy wrasses is greater than with the Melanurus wrasse. But it could. Over time I have found that aggressiveness, while characteristic of a given species can vary with the individual fish and with the maturity and perceived ecological niche. In larger tanks, behaviors of normally aggressive fish can be mitigated by space and size of perceived territory.

I just removed an agressive High Hat that had my flasher wrasse hiding under my anenome and would chase my Solar wrasse. As soon as I removed it, the stress level in the tank lifted and my Solar wrasse and flasher wrasse seem to get along well. Also, you list my shrimp and crabs as at risk. Is this just a chance you have to take or is it a high probability that the melanurus will go after them.

shrimp are a reasonably likely prey.

Thanks

 

[jerkyjunky]

Areas acting as a refugium are designed to protect small critters such as copepods, amphipods, mysis shrimp, etc. But animals in that area defeats the purpose. Gobies/pistol shrimp or similar would not be at risk in the main tank.

The blenny might pick on the goby, and the pistol shrimp in a tank of 4 other shrimp might not be super happy. Plus the sand in the DT isn't deep enough for a pistol to burrow well enough.

Also planning on having the chaeto near the wall that leads to the return pump's area. That unlit area might also end up being a refuge for pods?

 

[snorvich]

The blenny might pick on the goby, and the pistol shrimp in a tank of 4 other shrimp might not be super happy. Plus the sand in the DT isn't deep enough for a pistol to burrow well enough.

Also planning on having the chaeto near the wall that leads to the return pump's area. That unlit area might also end up being a refuge for pods?

I can only tell you what I would do.

 

[wolfenstein87]

I'm wondering if I am going a little overboard with my stock selection for a new 12g Nano. Here is the setup:

12g CADLight Nano, ripped out the refugium portion
Stock lighting
Aquaclear 20 HOB filled with LR rubble
Hydor Nano PH
LR and LS

Stock that I am I considering:
Candy Pistol Shrimp
Carmel clown
Tailspot Blenny
Orange Stripe Prawn Gobie
Duncanopsammia
Zoa colony
Red Tip Tree colony
Spiny Cup Pectinia Coral

 

[snorvich]

I'm wondering if I am going a little overboard with my stock selection for a new 12g Nano. Here is the setup:

12g CADLight Nano, ripped out the refugium portion
Stock lighting
Aquaclear 20 HOB filled with LR rubble
Hydor Nano PH
LR and LS

Stock that I am I considering:
Candy Pistol Shrimp
Carmel clown
Tailspot Blenny
Orange Stripe Prawn Gobie
Duncanopsammia
Zoa colony
Red Tip Tree colony
Spiny Cup Pectinia Coral

Three fish in a 12 gallon tank is way too much. One small fish would work.

 

[MrClam]

Hi and thanks for your help. I have made a few changes since last post and wanted to check back again.

Setup:
150g 60''long DT 120lb LR and about 2'' fine sand bed. About 30x turnover water movement.

30g sump/fuge w/ DSB and about 15# LR rubble. Reef Octopus 6 skimmer

Ultimately I would like to set up a mixed reef (mostly LPS and softies) Possibly also a Maxima Clam down the road.

Fish:

Currently have one Benggai Cardinal.

I plan to add (in no particular order):

1 red or green mandarin. Possibly also a scooter Blenny but will this be too much pressure on the pod population?

Either a yellow, powder blue, or whitecheek tang (Are there any compatibility conflicts with my other tankmates?)

2 Ocellaris Clowns added together. Also eventually a bubble tip anemone for them to host.

2 Blue reef chromis

1 Scott's Fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus scottorum)

1 White Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella albofasciata)

1 Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)

One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus) Will this eat corals?

1 Flame Dwarf Angel (Are there any angels that wont eat my clam?)

Tankmates:
1 banded coral shrimp
1 cleaner shrimp
1 spiny blue lobster
Assorted snail CUC and a fighting conch


Thanks for the guidance.

 

[snorvich]

Hi and thanks for your help. I have made a few changes since last post and wanted to check back again.

Setup:
150g 60''long DT 120lb LR and about 2'' fine sand bed. About 30x turnover water movement.

30g sump/fuge w/ DSB and about 15# LR rubble. Reef Octopus 6 skimmer

Ultimately I would like to set up a mixed reef (mostly LPS and softies) Possibly also a Maxima Clam down the road.

Fish:

Currently have one Benggai Cardinal.

I plan to add (in no particular order):

1 red or green mandarin. Possibly also a scooter Blenny but will this be too much pressure on the pod population?

In a mature (9months) 150 gallon tank it should be fine

Either a yellow, powder blue, or whitecheek tang (Are there any compatibility conflicts with my other tankmates?)

No, but if you do a foxface it should be introduced first especially if planning on the yellow tang

2 Ocellaris Clowns added together. Also eventually a bubble tip anemone for them to host.

As I previously mentioned you need to match the anemone with the clownfish, not all clownfish will associate with a bubble tip anemone

2 Blue reef chromis these have been coming in not healthy

1 Scott's Fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus scottorum) aggressive, I would avoid; additionally without a female, they will lose some coloration

1 White Banded Possum Wrasse (Wetmorella albofasciata)

1 Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) not shrimp safe

One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus) Will this eat corals?

If they are hungry, they will eat corals

1 Flame Dwarf Angel (Are there any angels that wont eat my clam?) angels are not clam safe

Tankmates:
1 banded coral shrimp can take fish
1 cleaner shrimp
1 spiny blue lobster will take fish
Assorted snail CUC and a fighting conch


Thanks for the guidance.

 

[mikmac]

I have two lyretail anthias now in my 65. i had three but one didnt make it. could i put another 2 or 3 in this tank? there is a desjardini tang, 2 percs, i bicolor blenny and i tiger goby.

 

[snorvich]

I have two lyretail anthias now in my 65. i had three but one didnt make it. could i put another 2 or 3 in this tank? there is a desjardini tang, 2 percs, i bicolor blenny and i tiger goby.

The minimum tank size for a single anthias is 75 gallons and the recommended tank size for multiples is 125 gallons. A desjarini tang needs a much larger tank as well.

 

[Nocare]

Lots of info

Lots of info

Accidental double

 

[Nocare]

Lots of info

Lots of info

I have a 55 gallon reef tank with a 20 gallon refugium
I am in the procces of upgrading to a 200 gallon with a 60 gallon or large refugium. 1 at most 2 weeks remaining till its operational and fully transferred.

I am overstocked but bio load is holding with no parameter spikes and swimming room is enough till I transition to larger tank since the fish are still young and small.

Fish largest to smallest (current size) starting at 2.5/3 in
Zebra lionfish
Flame fin aka tomini tang
Marine betta
One spot foxface
2 female banggai cardinals
2 blue chromis
Female Erectus /lined seahorse (I can feel the glares from some people)
Maroon clownfish
Scooter blenny

(Note: I will discusse the sea horse if its seen as necessary but eaither through PMs or another thread. All I want are any red flags besides it being there)

Inverts
Rose-green bubble tip anemone paired with clown
Tiger brittle star
Sand sifting star
Fromia red star
2 tuxedo and one black longspine urchin
Porcelin Anemone crab
Rock flower anemone
2 mated sally lightfoot crabs
Emerald crabs
Variety of common cleaner snails like turbo and nassarius
Blue leg hermit crabs
ORA Gold maxima clam and blue maxima clam.
Electric flame scallop (two little fishies marnie snow as primary food)

Various corals and mushrooms of all types and sizes. If it looks like food to something I probably have it unless its very specific type of coral.

After the larger tank is up an running and I'm sure everything is stable

Adding
Yasha shrimp goby and tiger pistol shrimp
2 male banggai cardinals
A female erectus seahorse to keep the first one companie but to avoid babies
Arrow crab

This is where I need the most help

I want a sea hare and I would prefer the bluespot sea hare (dolabella sp)

Sand sifting cucumber. What is best though I want to avoid tiger tails beacuse I am told they tend to only leave the mouth of the cave rather than roam but that may be wrong.

Spider conch lambis lambis

Supplemental feeding for all 3 and other notes/concerns

Also beyond this for an average 200 gallon if I ever decide I want more fish rather than just coral. How many more could I add. I know there is no exact but there is an average.

Thanks ahead of time for all the input

 

[YoungSalt]

I recently got a 40 gallon tank and have set it up for saltwater. I already have live sand (Ocean Direct) and have added 4 blue leg hermit crabs, a chocolate chip sea star and 2 yellow tailed damsels. I have added bacteria so there isn't much of a cycle (I have had success with this in fresh water tanks). I am using a tetra ex45 HOB and do not have an air pump.

I have a few questions and hope you guys can help me.

After my tank is fully established I would like the following but I think the yellow tailed damsels may have been a mistake.

A mix (2 or 3) of ocellaris clowns, I want the black and white ones as well as the orange and white ones

6 line wrasse

Blue Eye Royal Dottyback

Any of the mandarins (dragonets) would be great

gobies

We also plan on getting another star and some shrimp

I understand all this would probably overstock my tank but wanted to find out which fish would work good together out of all the ones I listed. The only must have fish is the mandarin, the rest can be mixed/matched/removed as needed. I have found out (too late maybe) that the damsels are too aggressive to mix with most fish (from what I've read) and I am thinking about taking them back to the lfs. Should I do this or keep them?

BTW, right now I have live sand and some base rock. I plan on getting live rock very soon but don't plan on having coal any time in the near future (I have read sea stars eat it).

 

[snorvich]

I have a 55 gallon reef tank with a 20 gallon refugium
I am in the procces of upgrading to a 200 gallon with a 60 gallon or large refugium. 1 at most 2 weeks remaining till its operational and fully transferred.

I am overstocked but bio load is holding with no parameter spikes and swimming room is enough till I transition to larger tank since the fish are still young and small.

Sorry, I do not provide advice on aggressive fish tanks where one fish will eat others. Also, rather than overstock your existing tank, why not wait until the new tank is up and running. We have an aggressive fish forum where you can obtain a lot of good advice

Fish largest to smallest (current size) starting at 2.5/3 in
Zebra lionfish
Flame fin aka tomini tang
Marine betta
One spot foxface
2 female banggai cardinals
2 blue chromis
Female Erectus /lined seahorse (I can feel the glares from some people)
Maroon clownfish
Scooter blenny

(Note: I will discusse the sea horse if its seen as necessary but eaither through PMs or another thread. All I want are any red flags besides it being there)

Inverts
Rose-green bubble tip anemone paired with clown
Tiger brittle star
Sand sifting star
Fromia red star
2 tuxedo and one black longspine urchin
Porcelin Anemone crab
Rock flower anemone
2 mated sally lightfoot crabs
Emerald crabs
Variety of common cleaner snails like turbo and nassarius
Blue leg hermit crabs
ORA Gold maxima clam and blue maxima clam.
Electric flame scallop (two little fishies marnie snow as primary food)

Various corals and mushrooms of all types and sizes. If it looks like food to something I probably have it unless its very specific type of coral.

After the larger tank is up an running and I'm sure everything is stable

Adding
Yasha shrimp goby and tiger pistol shrimp
2 male banggai cardinals
A female erectus seahorse to keep the first one companie but to avoid babies
Arrow crab

This is where I need the most help

I want a sea hare and I would prefer the bluespot sea hare (dolabella sp)

Sand sifting cucumber. What is best though I want to avoid tiger tails beacuse I am told they tend to only leave the mouth of the cave rather than roam but that may be wrong.

Spider conch lambis lambis

Supplemental feeding for all 3 and other notes/concerns

Also beyond this for an average 200 gallon if I ever decide I want more fish rather than just coral. How many more could I add. I know there is no exact but there is an average.

Thanks ahead of time for all the input

 

[snorvich]

I recently got a 40 gallon tank and have set it up for saltwater. I already have live sand (Ocean Direct) and have added 4 blue leg hermit crabs, a chocolate chip sea star and 2 yellow tailed damsels. I have added bacteria so there isn't much of a cycle (I have had success with this in fresh water tanks). I am using a tetra ex45 HOB and do not have an air pump.

I have a few questions and hope you guys can help me.

actually this thread is only answered by reef central staff

After my tank is fully established I would like the following but I think the yellow tailed damsels may have been a mistake.

It is bad practice to cycle a tank with live fish and it suggests that your LFS is not a good source of advice. I would definitely take them back.

A mix (2 or 3) of ocellaris clowns, I want the black and white ones as well as the orange and white ones

Clownfish will coexist as a male and female only. Any more than two will be eliminated and mixing species is not a good idea as well.

6 line wrasse very aggressive, will preclude other fish and especially any dragonets

Blue Eye Royal Dottyback very aggressive, will preclude other fish

Any of the mandarins (dragonets) would be great your tank is not large enough or mature enough for dragonets

gobies

We also plan on getting another star and some shrimp

I understand all this would probably overstock my tank but wanted to find out which fish would work good together out of all the ones I listed. The only must have fish is the mandarin, the rest can be mixed/matched/removed as needed. I have found out (too late maybe) that the damsels are too aggressive to mix with most fish (from what I've read) and I am thinking about taking them back to the lfs. Should I do this or keep them?

take them back and insist on full credit since the advice was bad; at least if they advised you to purchase them.

BTW, right now I have live sand and some base rock. I plan on getting live rock very soon but don't plan on having coal any time in the near future (I have read sea stars eat it).

 

[plentyfish]

Hi, im new to the forum just wanted ask couple questions that have been asked at couple pet stores & each had different answers, i have 2 clown fish (Ocellaris) & was wantin know if i can add any more clownfish in with them any breed of them was told i can by one place & another place told me i couldnt, & also i have a Scopas Tang & was wantin to purchase a Yellow Tang (hawaiian) was wantin know if they would get along was told same thing as clownfish & was also told if i take the scopas out for a little bit an add the Hawaiian then move some rock around then add the scopas back they should be fine. I have a 72 gal. & as right now only fish i have is the scopas tang, coral beauty, cleaner shrimp, & 2 ocellaris clowns any info. would be great Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

Hi, im new to the forum just wanted ask couple questions that have been asked at couple pet stores & each had different answers, i have 2 clown fish (Ocellaris) & was wantin know if i can add any more clownfish in with them

No. In very large tanks (500+ gallons) you can sometimes sustain more than one pair of clownfish, otherwise only two can coexist.

any breed of them was told i can by one place & another place told me i couldnt, & also i have a Scopas Tang & was wantin to purchase a Yellow Tang (hawaiian) was wantin know if they would get along was told same thing as clownfish & was also told if i take the scopas out for a little bit an add the Hawaiian then move some rock around then add the scopas back they should be fine. I have a 72 gal. & as right now only fish i have is the scopas tang, coral beauty, cleaner shrimp, & 2 ocellaris clowns any info. would be great Thanks!

In a 72 gallon tank, the absolute maximum number of tangs is one and that should be a Ctenochaetus family tang. If LFS folks are telling you that you can have more than two clownfish and/or more than a single tang in a 72 gallon tank they either are trying to sell you fish or do not have any idea of what they are talking about or both.

 

[Merrell056]

Can I put a Longnose Hawkfish in a 28 gallon JBJ cube or is that too small?

 

[snorvich]

Can I put a Longnose Hawkfish in a 28 gallon JBJ cube or is that too small?

No, it would be a perfect match. They do, however, eat shrimp.

 

[ashnat]

Yellow Tail Damsels

Yellow Tail Damsels

I am thinking I want to add 3-5 yellow tail damsels to my 150gal reef tank.

I currently have fairy and flasher wrasses, a starry blenny, an anemone and some cleaner shrimp. Plan to add a pair of Clown fish soon as well.

Will the damsels be peaceful tank mates with my setup?

 

[snorvich]

I am thinking I want to add 3-5 yellow tail damsels to my 150gal reef tank.

I currently have fairy and flasher wrasses, a starry blenny, an anemone and some cleaner shrimp. Plan to add a pair of Clown fish soon as well.

Will the damsels be peaceful tank mates with my setup?

Although they are not inherently peaceful, they should not interact with any of your current inhabitants in this sized tank. So, they should be fine.