PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[wesside]

Live Aquaria is excellent. Obviously, no matter what the source, all should be quarantined.

Thanks. I'm glad you're here to make sure I don't put stuff in my tank that won't work. The LFS would sell me anything without asking a single question.

 

[jmustapha]

Hey guys. I'm new to the hobby and have recently set up a 140 gal tank with a 40 gal sump and approx 120 lbs of dry rock mixed with 30 pounds of live rock. It's been about 3 months since set up and a month and half ago I started adding fish. Currently I have

2 ocellaris clowns.
3 yellow tail damsels,
royal gramma basslet,
firefish (fire goby)
flame angel.
And a fairly decent cleanup crew so far


So far no major problems. I've lost one yt damsel somewhere in the rocks. Haven't seen it in weeks so presumed dead and eaten.

I want to add

One spot Foxface
3 blue/green chromis
Copperbanded butterfly
Some sort of tang ( was thinking square tail bristletooth)
Six line wrasse
And maybe a mandarin (depending on my pod population in a years time)

Any suggestions/concerns with my list? Also how many more fish do you think I can add before it's crowded.

 

[snorvich]

Thanks. I'm glad you're here to make sure I don't put stuff in my tank that won't work. The LFS would sell me anything without asking a single question.

That is, unfortunately, almost universally the case. It is very difficult to fix behavioral errors so planning ahead is always the best. As such I try and keep this thread very current with any questions.

 

[snorvich]

Hey guys. I'm new to the hobby and have recently set up a 140 gal tank with a 40 gal sump and approx 120 lbs of dry rock mixed with 30 pounds of live rock. It's been about 3 months since set up and a month and half ago I started adding fish. Currently I have

2 ocellaris clowns.
3 yellow tail damsels,
royal gramma basslet,
firefish (fire goby)
flame angel.
And a fairly decent cleanup crew so far


So far no major problems. I've lost one yt damsel somewhere in the rocks. Haven't seen it in weeks so presumed dead and eaten.

I want to add

One spot Foxface
3 blue/green chromis will become one or at most two over time
Copperbanded butterfly difficult; best chance is an Australian endemic one
Some sort of tang ( was thinking square tail bristletooth)
Six line wrasse may intimidate your firefish
And maybe a mandarin (depending on my pod population in a years time) Actually, it also depends on what copepod eaters you add as well. A six line precludes a mandarin as it will compete successfully for copepods and may not tolerate a fish in the same ecological niche.

Any suggestions/concerns with my list? Also how many more fish do you think I can add before it's crowded. That is an unanswerable question as it greatly depends on fish behavior rather than number or fish size

 

[SandyB]

My tank info is in my sig.
Just updating my list and checking on what I would like to add next.

Current livestock
1 clown fish
3 pajama cardinals
1 Lubbock fairy wrasse
1 yellow watchman goby (my favorite he's so cute)

I have checked about adding a dwarf angel, but this time I'm asking specifically about a bi-color dwarf angel. Are they any more or less difficult then the flame angel?
Also with what I have now, would I be pushing it to add 2 different angels as long as I do it at the same time? I'm only asking because I have such a hard time trying to choose between them. But I'm really liking the blue and yellow colors of the b-color.
I'm still planning on a mandarin after my tank has been up for a year, that's about Jan or Feb. I'm pretty sure that is going to be all for my tank.
Thank you again for taking the trouble to answer all my questions.

 

[snorvich]

My tank info is 65 gallon tank.
Just updating my list and checking on what I would like to add next.

Current livestock
1 clown fish
3 pajama cardinals
1 Lubbock fairy wrasse
1 yellow watchman goby (my favorite he's so cute)

I have checked about adding a dwarf angel, but this time I'm asking specifically about a bi-color dwarf angel. Are they any more or less difficult then the flame angel? flame angel would be fine; a bicolor angel is more difficult and aggressive and also needs a larger tank
Also with what I have now, would I be pushing it to add 2 different angels as long as I do it at the same time? I'm only asking because I have such a hard time trying to choose between them. But I'm really liking the blue and yellow colors of the b-color. With your sized tank, one dwarf is preferred
I'm still planning on a mandarin after my tank has been up for a year, that's about Jan or Feb. I'm pretty sure that is going to be all for my tank. A mandarin is possible but marginal for this sized tank unless you add a refugium
Thank you again for taking the trouble to answer all my questions.

 

[SandyB]

Thanks, I will definitely research a refugium, I've been thinking about that for a while. I'll stick to the flame angel, I like the blue of the bi color, but if it's more aggressive, I don't want to stress out the little guys I have now.
Thanks again

 

[cbass488]

Hi,

You advised me a while back that my Six Line Wrasse MAY have issues with a Royal Gramma. I did add one, and for a couple days the Six Line chased him everywhere. After a couple days, it stopped and the wrasse no longer seems remotely interested in the gramma.

Question is, I was looking at a Purple Fire Fish, I can't remember the latin name he gave it, but it's a less common variety with more intense couloring and doesn't have the big long fin pointing upwards from the top of his back. Would the Wrasse or the Gramma have any likely issues with this one?

 

[snorvich]

Hi,

You advised me a while back that my Six Line Wrasse MAY have issues with a Royal Gramma. I did add one, and for a couple days the Six Line chased him everywhere. After a couple days, it stopped and the wrasse no longer seems remotely interested in the gramma.

Question is, I was looking at a Purple Fire Fish, I can't remember the latin name he gave it, but it's a less common variety with more intense couloring and doesn't have the big long fin pointing upwards from the top of his back. Would the Wrasse or the Gramma have any likely issues with this one?

The Gramma Loretto will have no issues; the six line wrasse will have issues and firefish are easily intimidated at which point they starve to death.

 

[Wozzo]

Hi Steve,
It's been a while since my last post. Could you please advise on the new list below?
Thanks again for your time and service. It's sincerely appreciated!

Aquarium: 75 g w/ 2 Hydor Koralia 1400 powerheads, w/140 LR + 40 LS
Lighting: 4x54 T5HO's w/4 moons
Sump: 20 g sump/refuge w/10 LS, Chaeto + EV-180 external skimmer
Params: sp 1.024, temp 78-80, ph 8.1-8.2, alk 8.7 dkh, Ca 440 ppm, Mg 1440 ppm
Note: Tank has been up for about 10 months, fish for 6-8 months and corals 2-3 months. Lots of caves and hiding places.

Goal: sps dominated reef tank, lightly to moderately stocked with durable energetic fish.

Current stock list:
Corals:
Assorted Montipora and Seriatopora's, plus Euphyllia paradivisa, Plerogyra sinuosa, Duncanopsammia axifuga, diploastrea heliopora, Favites pentagona, Zoanthus sp.

Inverts:
1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp Lysmata amboinensis
1 Peppermint Shrimp Lysmata wurdemanni complex
2 Mexican Turbo Snail Turbo fluctuosa
4 Nassarius Snail Nassarius sp.

Fish:
1 Black-axil Chromis Chromis atripectoralis
2 Percula Clownfish -tank bred Amphiprion percula "“paired up
1 Royal Gramma Basslet Gramma loreto
1 Two Spot Bristletooth Tang Ctenochaetus binotatus


Fish I'd like to add:
1 McCosker's Flasher Wrasse Paracheilinus mccoskeri (only one that is a "˜must-have' of the bunch)
1 Yellow Wrasse Halichoeres chrysus
1 Chalk Bass Serranus tortugarum

Plus Either
1 Indigo Dottyback -tank Bred Pseudochromis fridmani x sankeyi
Or
1 Sunrise Dottyback -tank-Bred Pseudochromis flavivertex (really like the coloration)

Questions and Concerns:
Will either of the dottybacks clash with the flasher wrasse due to similar size/shape etc..?

Are either of the dottybacks likely to become a problematic bully?

Will the Chalk Bass be a problem with the Royal Gramma?

The tang has a lot of personality and needs another fish or two to balance it out. Had a McCosker's that seemed to be a perfect match but lost it about 3 weeks ago.

 

[Kessler]

Finalizing up my stock list and might make a couple purchases soon since my tank finished cycling.
This'll be in a 40 breeder.
2x true perc
1x flame angel/Lemonpeel angel (going in last)
1x royal gramma
1x Purple firefish (starting with this)
1x bicolor blenny/tailspot
1x Jawfish Yellowhead
1x lawnmower blenny

Will I have trouble with the last 3 things get along okay? Or will the jawfish be bullied too much since the tank isn't that large.

Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

Hi Steve,
It's been a while since my last post. Could you please advise on the new list below?
Thanks again for your time and service. It's sincerely appreciated!

Aquarium: 75 g w/ 2 Hydor Koralia 1400 powerheads, w/140 LR + 40 LS
Lighting: 4x54 T5HO's w/4 moons
Sump: 20 g sump/refuge w/10 LS, Chaeto + EV-180 external skimmer
Params: sp 1.024, temp 78-80, ph 8.1-8.2, alk 8.7 dkh, Ca 440 ppm, Mg 1440 ppm
Note: Tank has been up for about 10 months, fish for 6-8 months and corals 2-3 months. Lots of caves and hiding places.

Goal: sps dominated reef tank, lightly to moderately stocked with durable energetic fish.

Current stock list:
Corals:
Assorted Montipora and Seriatopora's, plus Euphyllia paradivisa, Plerogyra sinuosa, Duncanopsammia axifuga, diploastrea heliopora, Favites pentagona, Zoanthus sp.

Inverts:
1 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp Lysmata amboinensis
1 Peppermint Shrimp Lysmata wurdemanni complex
2 Mexican Turbo Snail Turbo fluctuosa
4 Nassarius Snail Nassarius sp.

Fish:
1 Black-axil Chromis Chromis atripectoralis
2 Percula Clownfish -tank bred Amphiprion percula "“paired up
1 Royal Gramma Basslet Gramma loreto
1 Two Spot Bristletooth Tang Ctenochaetus binotatus


Fish I'd like to add:
1 McCosker's Flasher Wrasse Paracheilinus mccoskeri (only one that is a "˜must-have' of the bunch)
1 Yellow Wrasse Halichoeres chrysus
1 Chalk Bass Serranus tortugarum

Plus Either I am leery of either of these pseudochromis with an otherwise peaceful mix
1 Indigo Dottyback -tank Bred Pseudochromis fridmani x sankeyi
Or
1 Sunrise Dottyback -tank-Bred Pseudochromis flavivertex (really like the coloration)

Questions and Concerns:
Will either of the dottybacks clash with the flasher wrasse due to similar size/shape etc..?

Are either of the dottybacks likely to become a problematic bully? could be

Will the Chalk Bass be a problem with the Royal Gramma? doubtful

The tang has a lot of personality and needs another fish or two to balance it out. Had a McCosker's that seemed to be a perfect match but lost it about 3 weeks ago.

is your tank 100% covered?

 

[snorvich]

Finalizing up my stock list and might make a couple purchases soon since my tank finished cycling.
This'll be in a 40 breeder.
2x true perc
1x flame angel/Lemonpeel angel (going in last)
1x royal gramma
1x Purple firefish (starting with this)
1x bicolor blenny/tailspot I would only do one blenny, probably this one, but in this sized tank with a dwarf angel, would most likely skip any blennies.
1x Jawfish Yellowhead
1x lawnmower blenny not reef safe towards clams and lps

Will I have trouble with the last 3 things get along okay? Or will the jawfish be bullied too much since the tank isn't that large. tough call.

Thanks!

 

[zach jay]

55g, already have one clown

would like:
2x clowns total (percs)
3x chromis
1x midas blenny
1x 6line wrasse
potentially trio of cardinals

I'm assuming another blenny, like a black combtooth would be too many for the tank

thanks!

 

[RAMMD]

Is it possible to have a chalk basslet and royal gramma in a 220g mixed reef together or is it better to have one one or the other. With the aquascaping I made 3 separate mound of LR instead of one continuous rock structure. Thank you for your assistance!

 

[snorvich]

55g, already have one clown

would like:
2x clowns total (percs) when adding a second clown to an existing, established clown, it is critical that the addition be as small as possible
3x chromis will become one over time
1x midas blenny nips at tankmates
1x 6line wrasse aggressive towards many other fish so will preclude tankmates going forward
potentially trio of cardinals If Bangaii, only two, and then only a male and female, ideally tank raised

I'm assuming another blenny, like a black combtooth would be too many for the tank only one blenny, especially in a small tank

thanks!

 

[snorvich]

Is it possible to have a chalk basslet and royal gramma in a 220g mixed reef together or is it better to have one one or the other. With the aquascaping I made 3 separate mound of LR instead of one continuous rock structure. Thank you for your assistance!

Both are doable in this sized tank

 

[Wozzo]

is your tank 100% covered?

Will take a pass on the dottybacks.

Yes, fully enclosed canopy. Overflow is covered as well -found the previous flasher hiding out in it like it was his personal 'safe-house' not long ago. Thank you for asking and your help.

 

[vballlife2]

In a 75 gallon with a 10 gallon sump 65 lbs of live rock and 50lbs of live sand can I add in order:

2 ocellaris clowns
1 One Spot Foxface
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Six Line Wrasse
1 Orchid Dottyback/Bi Color Dottyback/ Royal Gramma
1 Bicolor dwarf Angel
1 Flame dwarf Angel

Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

In a 75 gallon with a 10 gallon sump 65 lbs of live rock and 50lbs of live sand can I add in order:

2 ocellaris clowns
1 One Spot Foxface reef safe only if well fed
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Six Line Wrasse aggressive, may preclude later additions
1 Orchid Dottyback/Bi Color Dottyback/ Royal Gramma royal gramma is fine but either pseudochromis will fight with the six line wrasse
1 Bicolor dwarf Angel the dwarf angels should be added concurrently
1 Flame dwarf Angel

Thanks!