PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[jharte]

First off, Snorvich thank you for all of the insight and help.

I currently have a standard 65 gallon. It is filled with a mix of soft corals and LPS.

Currently I have 2 occellaris clowns, 1 candy hogfish, 1 melanurus wrasse, 1 chromis, and 1 lawnmower blenny. All are doing quite well and are getting along.

I am interested in adding one blue mandarin and a flame angel (I am willing to risk some of the corals, I have always wanted one).

Would this be feasible?

 

[Mg4life0331]

I got the tank filled after your insight and they are a happy family Steve. Thanks a ton.

 

[snorvich]

I have 5 fish in my 120 right now that I plan to move over to my new 180, plus 1 in QT right now. They are:

1 Yellow tang
1 Kole tang (in QT)
1 royal gramma (mean)
1 blue/green chromis
2 Ocellaris Clownfish

I want to add a flame hawk and some type of blennie or dragonet. Would these two be a good addition to my group, and are the two comptable? LA's description on the flame hawk says: "Use caution when adding to an aquarium with small species of bottom dwelling gobies and blennies." So I was thinking maybe a starry blenny or a mandarin that are the same size or bigger than the flame hawk. I have a 25 gallon refugium with plenty of pods already running on the 180 system.

Those fish should be fine. Flame Hawks will eat small fish and most shrimp. Your biggest problem with be the yellow tang once it is established.

 

[snorvich]

First off, Snorvich thank you for all of the insight and help.

I currently have a standard 65 gallon. It is filled with a mix of soft corals and LPS.

Currently I have 2 occellaris clowns, 1 candy hogfish, 1 melanurus wrasse, 1 chromis, and 1 lawnmower blenny. All are doing quite well and are getting along.

I am interested in adding one blue mandarin and a flame angel (I am willing to risk some of the corals, I have always wanted one).

Would this be feasible?

The flame angel really needs a larger tank especially with another algae eater. The mandarin is marginal for this tank size but with no other copepod eaters, may be ok.

 

[snorvich]

I got the tank filled after your insight and they are a happy family Steve. Thanks a ton.

Your success is my happiness. You are most welcome.

 

[Fish Biscuit]

Hi Steve,

I have decided to skip the jawfish after trying to keep 2 tanks going during the holidays at work.

Here's what I have so far: 40B w/ 20L sump
Astrea & Turbo Snails
Skunk & Fire Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Randall Goby/Tiger Pistol Pair
LPS

Proposed additions:
Helfrichi Firefish - next kid in the pool
Gold Assessor
Tailspot Blenny
Possum Wrasse
Pink Streaked Wrasse
Cardinal - some type of peaceful one kept singly
Sexy Shrimp

Is there anything else I can look at fish wise that won't share the same niche as the fish listed above? Thank you again for all your help.

 

[snorvich]

Hi Steve,

I have decided to skip the jawfish after trying to keep 2 tanks going during the holidays at work.

Here's what I have so far: 40B w/ 20L sump
Astrea & Turbo Snails
Skunk & Fire Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Randall Goby/Tiger Pistol Pair
LPS

Proposed additions:
Helfrichi Firefish - next kid in the pool
Gold Assessor
Tailspot Blenny
Possum Wrasse
Pink Streaked Wrasse
Cardinal - some type of peaceful one kept singly
Sexy Shrimp

Is there anything else I can look at fish wise that won't share the same niche as the fish listed above? Thank you again for all your help.

Excellent stocking plan. I am concerned about any cardinal fish with sexy shrimp

 

[eastfernstreet]

Am I Ready for A Mandarin?

Am I Ready for A Mandarin?

I have a 16-month old tank. 90 gallons, 20 gallon sump, 100+ pounds live rock, 1.5 inch sand bed. Lots of purple growing on rock, etc. Except for some cyano (periodic - solved with blackouts) and some algae that my Florida Turbos seem to be addressing, there's nothing wrong. Healthy colonies of Zoas, some mushrooms, a couple of rapidly growing Birdsnests, Monti,etc. Oh yeah, a green bubbletip, too.

Other fish & inverts:
2 Emerald Crabs
Cleaner Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Bonded pair of Black O. Clowns
Long nosed hawk
5 Green Chromis
Yellow Tang (I know, but he's totally happy and will go back to LFS if he starts to act squirrelly.)
Bar Goby

Question: What are the odds of my successfully keeping a Mandarin? (The common Green variety.)

Thanks to all!

 

[snorvich]

I have a 16-month old tank. 90 gallons, 20 gallon sump, 100+ pounds live rock, 1.5 inch sand bed. Lots of purple growing on rock, etc. Except for some cyano (periodic - solved with blackouts) and some algae that my Florida Turbos seem to be addressing, there's nothing wrong. Healthy colonies of Zoas, some mushrooms, a couple of rapidly growing Birdsnests, Monti,etc. Oh yeah, a green bubbletip, too.

Other fish & inverts:
2 Emerald Crabs
Cleaner Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Bonded pair of Black O. Clowns
Long nosed hawk
5 Green Chromis
Yellow Tang (I know, but he's totally happy and will go back to LFS if he starts to act squirrelly.)
Bar Goby

Question: What are the odds of my successfully keeping a Mandarin? (The common Green variety.)

Thanks to all!

I won't address the issues with your existing stocking since you obviously do not want to hear. A mandarin should be ok, but tank size is borderline.

 

[eastfernstreet]

Don't bother replying next time.

Don't bother replying next time.

I won't address the issues with your existing stocking since you obviously do not want to hear. A mandarin should be ok, but tank size is borderline.

 

[i4o9]

75 gallons. Currently a FOWLR, but will eventually become a reef. I only have a skimmer and plenty of LR for now but will add a sump in a few months.

3 clearfin squirrelfish (already added)
1 maroon clown w/ bubble tip OR 2 clarkii w/carpet
1 one spot foxface
1 lyretail hog
1 female bellus angel
1 anthias (not sure which, please suggest!)
1 mandarin dragonet

I'd like to add the mandarin after I can set up a sump with plenty of pod piles, but tss presence is totally negotiable. I just want to have a good balance between warm and cool colors. Thanks

 

[snorvich]

75 gallons. Currently a FOWLR, but will eventually become a reef. I only have a skimmer and plenty of LR for now but will add a sump in a few months.

3 clearfin squirrelfish (already added) nocturnal, will not do much with lights on and not invert safe
1 maroon clown w/ bubble tip very aggressive


OR 2 clarkii w/carpet not compatible with mandarin and note that carpets eat fish; clarkii are also very aggressive
1 one spot foxface needs larger tank
1 lyretail hog
1 female bellus angel needs larger tank
1 anthias (not sure which, please suggest!) needs to be fed three times per day for success
1 mandarin dragonet tank size marginal for mandarin and will not coexist with carpet anemone

I'd like to add the mandarin after I can set up a sump with plenty of pod piles, but tss presence is totally negotiable. I just want to have a good balance between warm and cool colors. Thanks

 

[i4o9]

I can handle the thrice daily feedings for the anthias, since I don't have a busy schedule. LiveAquaria says the minimum tank size for a foxface is 70 gallons so how large a tank does it need? I can add the clown last to minimize aggression and get a safer anemone. Are long tentacles a better choice? I'd like to add a purple tilefish instead of the mandarin. Thanks for the fast reply.

 

[snorvich]

I can handle the thrice daily feedings for the anthias, since I don't have a busy schedule. LiveAquaria says the minimum tank size for a foxface is 70 gallons so how large a tank does it need?

The LA requirement is fine but if you add in a bellus angel with its high activity level, it is more of a problem. Note that the foxface is reef safe ONLY if well fed

I can add the clown last to minimize aggression and get a safer anemone. Are long tentacles a better choice?

bubble tips are fine, but either of the species of clownfish will want to control about 50 gallons of tank space after they are mature so adding them last, while good, is probably not sufficient. Especially so with a carpet anemone

I'd like to add a purple tilefish instead of the mandarin. a better choice

Thanks for the fast reply.

 

[Travis Rohrbach]

I have a 90 LPs and softy tank ~120lbs of live rock 30gallon sump/refuge with 25lbs of live rock and lots of macro algae packed with pods tank has been setup for 2 years.

here's the current stock
1.scooter blenny
1.green coral goby
1.green chromis
1yellow eye kole tang
1.orange shoulder tang
2.firefighter gobies
2. True perc Picassos
3.damsels-sold to me as sunset chromis soon to be caught and sold
2.mollies that I converted

Here what I have In qt
3. Ora black cardinals---invert safe? I've heard mixed things
1. Tailspot blenny

Here's what im thinking about
3-flasher wrasses or anthias not positive on which kinds will work in my tank
1-2.red mandarins
1.ruby red dragonet
1. Japanese swallow tail angel
1. Lawnmower or starry blenny
1. Blue hippo tang

Any suggestions or tips welcome about bioload,compatibility,or anything else.

 

[snorvich]

I have a 90 LPs and softy tank ~120lbs of live rock 30gallon sump/refuge with 25lbs of live rock and lots of macro algae packed with pods tank has been setup for 2 years.

here's the current stock
1.scooter blenny
1.green coral goby
1.green chromis
1yellow eye kole tang two tangs in this sized tank will be a problem long term
1.orange shoulder tang
2.firefighter gobies what is the real name
2. True perc Picassos
3.damsels-sold to me as sunset chromis soon to be caught and sold good idea to remove them, plerhaps you should change LFS?
2.mollies that I converted

Here what I have In qt
3. Ora black cardinals---invert safe? I've heard mixed things cardinals in general may not be shrimp safe
1. Tailspot blenny

Here's what im thinking about
3-flasher wrasses or anthias not positive on which kinds will work in my tank needs larger tank for more than one
1-2.red mandarins needs a much larger tank with other copepod eaters already in residence
1.ruby red dragonet needs a much larger tank with other copepod eaters already in residence
1. Japanese swallow tail angel needs a larger tank
1. Lawnmower or starry blenny needs a larger tank with two grazers already present
1. Blue hippo tang needs a much larger and longer tank

Any suggestions or tips welcome about bioload,compatibility,or anything else.

bioload will be excessive with this plan and there are behavioral compatibility issues with multiple members of the same ecological niche in a moderately sized tank

 

[Travis Rohrbach]

Thank you
For the real name of the firefighter goby I'm not sure their the red and white ones I know they come in purple to, maybe there called fire fish?
With their being two tangs it came from the orange shoulder being a rescue project I picked him up from someone who had him in a 29gallon biocube ��
Would one wrasse and one anthias work?
Would I be ok with just adding one of the pod eaters?


Everything that I have under what I was thinking about weren't definite plans just things I liked and were thinking about.

I really appreciate your help with this!!!!

 

[snorvich]

Thank you
For the real name of the firefighter goby I'm not sure their the red and white ones I know they come in purple to, maybe there called fire fish? If they are firefish, then only one will survive long term
With their being two tangs it came from the orange shoulder being a rescue project I picked him up from someone who had him in a 29gallon biocube �� Well the problem is twofold: first that fish needs a MUCH larger tank and with two grazers in this sized tank, the more aggressive one will eventually feel crowded and take out the other one
Would one wrasse and one anthias work? yes. The social interaction of one is vastly different than with a group
Would I be ok with just adding one of the pod eaters? yes


Everything that I have under what I was thinking about weren't definite plans just things I liked and were thinking about.

I really appreciate your help with this!!!!

always a pleasure. Check back with any questions but please provide tank size and complete stocking list since my memory is not as good as it used to be and I have done thousands of these.

 

[oseymour]

3 Month old 37 Gallon Aquarium, 12 gallon Sump, skimmer, vortech mp10 pumps, Apex Controller, 2 inch deep fine sand and lots of live rock and hiding places, I have a refugium in the sump with some copepods and amphipods.

I have 2 oscellaris clowns and an emerald crab that was given to me.

I am thinking of purchasing a small coral beauty and 2 blue/green chromis. Interested to know what you think about my next choice of fish.

I don't mind fish that are going to grow since we plan on upgrading to a much larger tank in 2 years and we have friends in the hobby (55gal, 100gal, 400gal) that can take larger fish.

 

[snorvich]

3 Month old 37 Gallon Aquarium, 12 gallon Sump, skimmer, vortech mp10 pumps, Apex Controller, 2 inch deep fine sand and lots of live rock and hiding places, I have a refugium in the sump with some copepods and amphipods.

I have 2 oscellaris clowns and an emerald crab that was given to me.

I am thinking of purchasing a small coral beauty and 2 blue/green chromis. Interested to know what you think about my next choice of fish.

Any dwarf angel will need a larger tank. Two chromis will become one chromis. Larger tanks are required NOT because of fish size, but rather fish metabolism and feeding requirements.

I don't mind fish that are going to grow since we plan on upgrading to a much larger tank in 2 years and we have friends in the hobby (55gal, 100gal, 400gal) that can take larger fish.