PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[DolphinzFan]

180 gal tank (72x24x24), 75 gal sump, over 200#'s LR, 4" sand bed. System running since Nov. last year @ 5 months

Current tank amtes:

Blonda Naso Tang (Understand needs to be in larger tank)
Yellow Tang
Coral Beauty
Blue/Green Chromis
Pair cinnamon Clownfish
Bi Color Blenny
Pair of Diamond watchman Gobies
Lawnmower Blenny

Considered additions:

Rusty Angel
Majestic Angel or Annularis Angel

2 Mandarin Dragonet - Green - Male and Female Duo, after 9+ months (will they survive with others in tank)

Thanks for your time and efforts.

 

[snorvich]

180 gal tank (72x24x24), 75 gal sump, over 200#'s LR, 4" sand bed. System running since Nov. last year @ 5 months

Current tank amtes:

Blonda Naso Tang (Understand needs to be in larger tank)
Yellow Tang
Coral Beauty
Blue/Green Chromis
Pair cinnamon Clownfish
Bi Color Blenny
Pair of Diamond watchman Gobies
Lawnmower Blenny

Considered additions:

Rusty Angel
Majestic Angel or Annularis Angel the yellow tang may make this difficult

2 Mandarin Dragonet - Green - Male and Female Duo, after 9+ months (will they survive with others in tank) should be fine

Thanks for your time and efforts.

 

[Amphiprotic]

Can you specify what you mean by "exceptional efforts" with regards to the mandarin?

Also do you have any suggestions for a flashy looking fish I can put in there that doesn't need a cover?

 

[snorvich]

Can you specify what you mean by "exceptional efforts" with regards to the mandarin?

Also do you have any suggestions for a flashy looking fish I can put in there that doesn't need a cover?

Mandarins eat constantly which means that in order to survive long term, there needs to be a source of copepods. Normally this would mean a mature 75 gallon tank (9 months) with no copepod eaters in the tank. Since this is not a discussion thread, do a search and you will see various points of view on this subject.

All fish can jump. Some fish have a greater proclivity for jumping (such as wrasses). I do not provide recommendations for a variety of reasons, but would be happy to reanalyze any perspective stocking plan.

 

[Amphiprotic]

Mandarins eat constantly which means that in order to survive long term, there needs to be a source of copepods. Normally this would mean a mature 75 gallon tank (9 months) with no copepod eaters in the tank. Since this is not a discussion thread, do a search and you will see various points of view on this subject.

All fish can jump. Some fish have a greater proclivity for jumping (such as wrasses). I do not provide recommendations for a variety of reasons, but would be happy to reanalyze any perspective stocking plan.

Alright thanks. Here's a new list:

Fish:
1 Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
3 Kaudern's Cardinal - Tank-Bred (Pterapogon kauderni) [If 3 is too much I'm ok with 1 or 2]
1 Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
1 McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri) [I will figure something out about the jumping, probably cut some egg crate and place it on top. I was reluctant at first because I didn't want it to be an eye sore.]

 

[snorvich]

Alright thanks. Here's a new list:

Fish:
1 Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
3 Kaudern's Cardinal - Tank-Bred (Pterapogon kauderni) [If 3 is too much I'm ok with 1 or 2] only tank bred male plus female will work
1 Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
1 McCosker's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus mccoskeri) [I will figure something out about the jumping, probably cut some egg crate and place it on top. I was reluctant at first because I didn't want it to be an eye sore.]

egg crate will not keep them in; you need 1/4 mesh in a frame (BRS, Lowes, etc)

 

[reefermadness3]

They are really cool fish. You will be pleased!!

I'm looking forward to getting them and am placing my order today. LA is out of the yellow prawn goby (but of course) but I'm seeing a pink bar goby with a red banded pistol shrimp. I had been told to get that type of combo years ago so maybe now is the time? My rocks are very secure - I've heard the shrimp is an excavator but is this goby a sand broadcaster like say a diamond goby? I have many fungia, acans, and other coral on my sand bed and don't want them covered. Thanks again Steve.

Also I see they have a mottled shrimp goby with a red banded pistol shrimp if that would be a better option.

 

[snorvich]

I'm looking forward to getting them and am placing my order today. LA is out of the yellow prawn goby (but of course) but I'm seeing a pink bar goby with a red banded pistol shrimp. I had been told to get that type of combo years ago so maybe now is the time? My rocks are very secure - I've heard the shrimp is an excavator but is this goby a sand broadcaster like say a diamond goby? I have many fungia, acans, and other coral on my sand bed and don't want them covered. Thanks again Steve.

No, they are not sand sifters (I hate sand sifters for the same reason you do); they eat from the water column but will pick off the sand if they find something. They do not create sand storms. Pink Bar is a very attractive fish.

 

[reefermadness3]

No, they are not sand sifters (I hate sand sifters for the same reason you do); they eat from the water column but will pick off the sand if they find something. They do not create sand storms. Pink Bar is a very attractive fish.

That is great news! Yeah I like the look of the pair for sure. Any worries with the shrimp and the filefish? I think I had read somewhere that they can bother some inverts.

 

[reefermadness3]

That is great news! Yeah I like the look of the pair for sure. Any worries with the shrimp and the filefish? I think I had read somewhere that they can bother some inverts.

I'm also reading where the red banded pistol shrimp might move corals in the sandbed and rearrange the sandbed as well. Is this a fact or just a possibility? I can't risk having small acan heads, etc being buried or moved really. For the same reason we dislike sand broadcasters I might dislike the pistol shrimp? I hope not because it looks like a really neat setup. Just wanting to make sure of everything before I finalize this order. Thanks again.

 

[snorvich]

That is great news! Yeah I like the look of the pair for sure. Any worries with the shrimp and the filefish? I think I had read somewhere that they can bother some inverts.

No problem

 

[snorvich]

I'm also reading where the red banded pistol shrimp might move corals in the sandbed and rearrange the sandbed as well. Is this a fact or just a possibility? I can't risk having small acan heads, etc being buried or moved really. For the same reason we dislike sand broadcasters I might dislike the pistol shrimp? I hope not because it looks like a really neat setup. Just wanting to make sure of everything before I finalize this order. Thanks again.

That is a greater issue. The shrimp will constantly push the sand dug from their perpetually expanding network of burrows far away from the opening. It can impact corals.

 

[reefermadness3]

That is a greater issue. The shrimp will constantly push the sand dug from their perpetually expanding network of burrows far away from the opening. It can impact corals.

So basically once the shrimp finds its new home I will need to adjust accordingly? As long as it keeps to one area I can handle that but if I wake up daily to a new sandbed arrangement from end to end (like an engineer goby would do let's say) that's a deal breaker. I realize no one can anticipate what a single shrimp will or won't do but hopefully that species has shown a tendency to behave one way consistently - or maybe I'm just dreaming.

 

[snorvich]

So basically once the shrimp finds its new home I will need to adjust accordingly? As long as it keeps to one area I can handle that but if I wake up daily to a new sandbed arrangement from end to end (like an engineer goby would do let's say) that's a deal breaker. I realize no one can anticipate what a single shrimp will or won't do but hopefully that species has shown a tendency to behave one way consistently - or maybe I'm just dreaming.

Well, the bad news is that they are constantly expanding their burrow system. So it is not predictable once they start. I do not keep them in my LPS oriented 8 foot tank, but in my larger SPS tank, no problem cause nothing is on the sand.

 

[reefermadness3]

Well, the bad news is that they are constantly expanding their burrow system. So it is not predictable once they start. I do not keep them in my LPS oriented 8 foot tank, but in my larger SPS tank, no problem cause nothing is on the sand.

Yeah I think I'm going to pass on the shrimp. Sounds cool but also horrible. My sandbed is covered with lps and I don't think it's worth taking the chance on the shrimp. I will however grab the pinkbar goby instead of the yellow prawn goby. You sir are a tank saver! Many thanks.

 

[JoelA7]

I've been researching like a bandit. Nothing is firm yet. New tank, 48 x 24 x 27h, about 120g, 1.5-2" oolite sand bed, #120 live rock.

I am going to try and get a gyre started for the laminar movement. If it works then maybe I can go with a Tang that needs more swimming room as it will orient itself into the current and, hopefully, not pace the length. Current (heh heh) idea:

Black cap basslet
royal gramma
bicolor blenny
3 sunrise dottybacks
3+ zebra barred dartfish
firefish
2-3 blue gudgeon dartfish
hoeven's wrasse or other that will eat flatworms and other nasties
3-5 spotted cardinalfish
3-5 anthias species undetermined but the easier the better
eibli angel
kole tang (or powder blue if the gyre is looking good).

Of course not everything will go in the tank, but in time I'd like to get a lot of these fish in. Only one fish gets big (Powder Blue) and most get no more than 4" so there is a great chance that I can get a population established that will coexist and thrive for a long time.

Right now my biggest question is do I have any fish that will have conflicts with each other? Major space needs?

Thank you.

 

[DolphinzFan]

Originally Posted by DolphinzFan View Post
180 gal tank (72x24x24), 75 gal sump, over 200#'s LR, 4" sand bed. System running since Nov. last year @ 5 months

Current tank amtes:

Blonda Naso Tang (Understand needs to be in larger tank)
Yellow Tang
Coral Beauty
Blue/Green Chromis
Pair cinnamon Clownfish
Bi Color Blenny
Pair of Diamond watchman Gobies
Lawnmower Blenny

Considered additions:

Rusty Angel
Majestic Angel or Annularis Angel the yellow tang may make this difficult - What about an young adult Emperor? Or is this cause the yellow tang can be agressive?

2 Mandarin Dragonet - Green - Male and Female Duo, after 9+ months (will they survive with others in tank) should be fine

Thanks for your time and efforts.

 

[snorvich]

I've been researching like a bandit. Nothing is firm yet. New tank, 48 x 24 x 27h, about 120g, 1.5-2" oolite sand bed, #120 live rock.

I am going to try and get a gyre started for the laminar movement. If it works then maybe I can go with a Tang that needs more swimming room as it will orient itself into the current and, hopefully, not pace the length. while a gyre is good for water circulation purposes, it will have no impact on a tangs horizontal swimming room


Current (heh heh) idea:

Black cap basslet potentially inconsistent with dottyback
royal gramma potentially inconsistent with dottyback
bicolor blenny
3 sunrise dottybacks these are very aggressive and will preclude many tank mates including themselves unless added concurrently
3+ zebra barred dartfish
firefish potentially inconsistent with dottyback
2-3 blue gudgeon dartfish
hoeven's wrasse or other that will eat flatworms and other nasties
3-5 spotted cardinalfish
3-5 anthias species undetermined but the easier the better does best with multiple feedings per day
eibli angel
kole tang (or powder blue if the gyre is looking good).

Of course not everything will go in the tank, but in time I'd like to get a lot of these fish in. Only one fish gets big (Powder Blue) and most get no more than 4" so there is a great chance that I can get a population established that will coexist and thrive for a long time. size does not determine that, behavior does. Size does determine to some degree suitability for a given tank length or the fish may "pace"

Right now my biggest question is do I have any fish that will have conflicts with each other? Major space needs?

Thank you.

 

[JoelA7]

I am going to try and get a gyre started for the laminar movement. If it works then maybe I can go with a Tang that needs more swimming room as it will orient itself into the current and, hopefully, not pace the length. while a gyre is good for water circulation purposes, it will have no impact on a tangs horizontal swimming room


Current (heh heh) idea:

Black cap basslet potentially inconsistent with dottyback
royal gramma potentially inconsistent with dottyback
bicolor blenny
3 sunrise dottybacks these are very aggressive and will preclude many tank mates including themselves unless added concurrently
3+ zebra barred dartfish
firefish potentially inconsistent with dottyback
2-3 blue gudgeon dartfish
hoeven's wrasse or other that will eat flatworms and other nasties
3-5 spotted cardinalfish
3-5 anthias species undetermined but the easier the better does best with multiple feedings per day
eibli angel
kole tang (or powder blue if the gyre is looking good).

Of course not everything will go in the tank, but in time I'd like to get a lot of these fish in. Only one fish gets big (Powder Blue) and most get no more than 4" so there is a great chance that I can get a population established that will coexist and thrive for a long time. size does not determine that, behavior does. Size does determine to some degree suitability for a given tank length or the fish may "pace"

Right now my biggest question is do I have any fish that will have conflicts with each other? Major space needs?

Thank you.

So my takeaway is not a bad start and I need to decide what is more interesting, the group of sunrise dottybacks or singles of the others. That's easy - the group. added at one time.

Re my comment about the small size of the fish - I understand it's the behavior for their lifestyle - I mean, who wouldn't want to provide one's fish with a great unstressed lifestyle, wireless flatscreen, dolby noise reduction, the finest in gourmet food -- ;-) what I was getting at is that the collective consumption of all the fish is still not gigantic so I have a fighting chance of maintaining excellent water quality, and adding a mixture of soft, lps and sps corals along the way.

 

[JoelA7]

And how the heck do you get the quote function to work?