PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[bfoleyiii]

We are looking to add the next fish to our tank sometime this summer so had a few questions about what we are looking at.

We are thinking about either a Yellow & Purple Wrasse or Yellow "Corris" Wrasse and either a Yellow Eye Kole Tang or Bristle Tooth Tomini (Oragne Fin) Tang.

My biggest concern is with the wrasses. Twords the end of the year when the tank has established itself more we will be adding a Mandarin and I am wondering if either of these wrasses will be overly competative for pods.

Current tank info:
90g Setup 3 months, 1 month on cycle and 2 months with fish.
YWG/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, two Ocellaris Clowns, and a Purple Firefish.

Future purchases we are looking at:
One of the mentioned wrasses (so long as it doesnt compete with the mandarin)
One of the mentioned Tangs
Mandarin, the wife keeps flip flopping between the spotted and green (this week is the green)
And last I would like to add a trio of Anthias, but these could be cut if spacing becomes an issue.

Looking at adding some SPS down the road once I finish off my LED build but I have not read where any of these fish should be an issue there. I am also looking at building an ATS to help with both pod production and nutrient export.

Thanks again,

 

[snorvich]

We are looking to add the next fish to our tank sometime this summer so had a few questions about what we are looking at.

We are thinking about either a Yellow & Purple Wrasse or Yellow "Corris" Wrasse and either a Yellow Eye Kole Tang or Bristle Tooth Tomini (Oragne Fin) Tang.

Either tang would do well so depends on your preference as they basically have the same personality and requirements.

Both wrasses have similar requirements and needs. The Yellow & Purple Wrasse is also known as the White or Four Spot wrasse, and originates from the invertebrate-rich waters of Sri Lanka. The Juvenile form is yellow and white/purple in coloration. The top half of the fish is yellow, while the lower half is white to purple. As the fish matures, the yellow coloration is lost to a beautiful pink coloration. Exercise caution if including this species into a reef aquarium, as it may feed upon feather dusters, ornamental shrimp and other similar invertebrates. This same caution applies to the Coris Wrasse.

Both the Yellow & Purple Wrasse and Coris Wrasse require a 50-gallon or larger aquarium with plenty of live rock and a few inch deep sand bed which it will use for hiding and grazing. Both are known jumpers, and a tight fitting canopy is a must or a mesh screen with 1/4 inch holes. It will eat fireworms and pyramidellid snails, protecting corals and clams. In addition, it may also eat feather dusters, wild shrimp, tubeworms, and flatworms. However, they will not bother polyps, mushrooms or corals.

Both the Yellow & Purple Wrasse wrasse and Coris Wrasse require a diet including vitamin enriched frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods along with a high quality marine flake and marine pellet food.

There should be no problem with a mandarin down the line, but I always suggest having a refugium for feeding a mandarin as well as maintenance of biodiversity.



My biggest concern is with the wrasses. Twords the end of the year when the tank has established itself more we will be adding a Mandarin and I am wondering if either of these wrasses will be overly competative for pods. No, not really. I would not acquire both wrasses, pick one that you prefer

Current tank info:
90g Setup 3 months, 1 month on cycle and 2 months with fish.
YWG/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, two Ocellaris Clowns, and a Purple Firefish.

Future purchases we are looking at:
One of the mentioned wrasses (so long as it doesnt compete with the mandarin)
One of the mentioned Tangs

I would not ignore the Chevron Tang as it is in the same family and is a great fish

Mandarin, the wife keeps flip flopping between the spotted and green (this week is the green)
And last I would like to add a trio of Anthias, but these could be cut if spacing becomes an issue.

Since anthias are such active fish we generally recommend a larger tank for a trio but can agree that one would do well. But, if you acquire those wrasses, that precludes cleaner shrimp and anthias love being cleaned

Looking at adding some SPS down the road once I finish off my LED build but I have not read where any of these fish should be an issue there. I am also looking at building an ATS to help with both pod production and nutrient export.

No issue with LED and any of these fish and none of these fish preclude SPS.

Thanks again,

My pleasure

 

[bfoleyiii]

I thought the Chevron Tangs got quite a bit larger and needed more tank. I am sure my wife would go for the color untill she sees the price tag on one, last time I recall seeing one it was close to 2 bills and I am sure that would cause her to balk.

And would Dora the Tiger Pistol Shimp be an eventual lunch for either of the wrasses or is it going to just be those that spend their days out and about?

 

[snorvich]

I thought the Chevron Tangs got quite a bit larger and needed more tank. I am sure my wife would go for the color untill she sees the price tag on one, last time I recall seeing one it was close to 2 bills and I am sure that would cause her to balk.

And would Dora the Tiger Pistol Shimp be an eventual lunch for either of the wrasses or is it going to just be those that spend their days out and about?

Mine is old so I don't remember what it cost. They are likely to be more expensive but I have not recently priced them. The pistol shrimp being guarded by the goby is not a for certain meal but either of those wrasses will eat shrimp.

 

[bfoleyiii]

Mine is old so I don't remember what it cost. They are likely to be more expensive but I have not recently priced them. The pistol shrimp being guarded by the goby is not a for certain meal but either of those wrasses will eat shrimp.

We liked the yellow active Wrasses there, but any other choices you can think of that are not going to be looking at the shrimp as a meal. I'm pretty sure that would be a rough morning explaining to the four year old what that yellow fish is eating Dora.

 

[snorvich]

We liked the yellow active Wrasses there, but any other choices you can think of that are not going to be looking at the shrimp as a meal. I'm pretty sure that would be a rough morning explaining to the four year old what that yellow fish is eating Dora.

Well . . . flasher wrasses would not feed on shrimp and they are colorful, active, and if you add a male + female, will display mating behavior. But they do not have the pest removal characteristics of the other wrasses you are considering.

 

[bfoleyiii]

Thanks again, pest removal wasnt really one of the considerations so I think I'll see about steering the family back to the flashers and see what we can come up with. The Flashers all seem to be described on the more peacefull side so I would guess that introduction of a pair of flashers or a tang would not matter much in the order?

 

[snorvich]

Thanks again, pest removal wasnt really one of the considerations so I think I'll see about steering the family back to the flashers and see what we can come up with. The Flashers all seem to be described on the more peacefull side so I would guess that introduction of a pair of flashers or a tang would not matter much in the order?

Tangs and flasher wrasses do not notice each other so the order is irrelevant

 

[Tortuga78]

Japanese Pygmy Filefish

Japanese Pygmy Filefish

Current Setup:
150 Gallon Reef Tank, 90 gallon sump with skimmer and refugium. 150 lbs of Live rock and about 60 lbs of live sand in display tank.
Coral:
Predominantly SPS, a dozen Ricordea, one small Zoa colony.
Fish:
3 Bangaii Cardinalfish, 1 Dragonet Red Scooter, 3 Helfrichi Firefish
Inverts:
Misc Snails up to one inch in size. Blue Legged Hermit Crabs & Red Scarlett Hermit Crabs up to 1-1/2 inch in size.

Since I will not have many fish in my tank, I would like to add not so common interesting looking fish to it. The Japanese whitespotted pygmy filefish caught my eye. It is said that it can be added to a reef tank "with caution". I have not found a lot of information regarding compatibility with other fish and coral. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[snorvich]

Current Setup:
150 Gallon Reef Tank, 90 gallon sump with skimmer and refugium. 150 lbs of Live rock and about 60 lbs of live sand in display tank.
Coral:
Predominantly SPS, a dozen Ricordea, one small Zoa colony.
Fish:
3 Bangaii Cardinalfish, 1 Dragonet Red Scooter, 3 Helfrichi Firefish
Inverts:
Misc Snails up to one inch in size. Blue Legged Hermit Crabs & Red Scarlett Hermit Crabs up to 1-1/2 inch in size.

Since I will not have many fish in my tank, I would like to add not so common interesting looking fish to it. The Japanese whitespotted pygmy filefish caught my eye. It is said that it can be added to a reef tank "with caution". I have not found a lot of information regarding compatibility with other fish and coral. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Although Live Aquaria says these fish can survive in temperatures up to 75F, they are actually a cooler water fish that would do best a bit lower around the 72 F temperature. They are semi reef safe in that there are some corals they will eat. I subscribe to your strategy of keeping fewer fish that are uncommon. Your Bangaii cardinals are not normally stable in numbers greater than two and those have to be a male + female pair. On rare occasions F + M + F triads will coexist in very large tanks.

 

[Belegul]

Quick question:

I'm just now filling my 150 gal (5x2x2) and will start cycling in the next week or two, whenever I can get out to my LFS and get some LR and sand. That being said, planning fishy purchases:

I really have no specific desires, other than (a) a Humuhumu trigger.

I am NOT planning a reef tank; planning to keep this a FOWLR. Wife wanted a lionfish, but my understanding is that lions and triggers don't mix in the long term.

What are some other types of fish that could get along with a humu? I don't want to buy stuff to just have it get eaten

 

[Belegul]

Adding to previous post: have a 50 gallon sump, no refugium yet but in the next month or so I will add a 20 gallon fuge. the plumbing is all set up for it, just haven't had the bankroll to get it yet.

 

[Tortuga78]

Although Live Aquaria says these fish can survive in temperatures up to 75F, they are actually a cooler water fish that would do best a bit lower around the 72 F temperature. They are semi reef safe in that there are some corals they will eat. I subscribe to your strategy of keeping fewer fish that are uncommon. Your Bangaii cardinals are not normally stable in numbers greater than two and those have to be a male + female pair. On rare occasions F + M + F triads will coexist in very large tanks.

Thank you for your input. I actually do have 1 male and 2 female Cardinals. Do you know of any rare or intersting looking fish that would be a good addition? Thanks again!
Carlos

 

[snorvich]

Quick question:

I'm just now filling my 150 gal (5x2x2) and will start cycling in the next week or two, whenever I can get out to my LFS and get some LR and sand. That being said, planning fishy purchases:

I really have no specific desires, other than (a) a Humuhumu trigger.

I am NOT planning a reef tank; planning to keep this a FOWLR. Wife wanted a lionfish, but my understanding is that lions and triggers don't mix in the long term.

What are some other types of fish that could get along with a humu? I don't want to buy stuff to just have it get eaten

Generally lions will eat their tankmates or at least try. My specialty is reef fish not aggressive FOWLR tanks. Although I have a huge amount of experience as a diver in the ocean with the fish you are planning to keep, I don't really keep that kind of tank. As a consequence, questions about them would be better in the Aggressive Tank forum. Sorry that I cannot be more help, but I would not want to offer opinions without personal experience

 

[snorvich]

Thank you for your input. I actually do have 1 male and 2 female Cardinals. Do you know of any rare or intersting looking fish that would be a good addition? Thanks again!
Carlos

Well, it is unlikely that my tastes will coincide with yours so I can certainly give you pros and cons of what you select, but giving me a blank tablet would be difficult. My personal tastes run towards fish with highly interesting behaviors.

 

[Belegul]

Snorvich, tyvm for your honesty and expertise! I too have some experience with them diving, which is why want one they're absolutely gorgeous!

 

[snorvich]

Snorvich, tyvm for your honesty and expertise! I too have some experience with them diving, which is why want one they're absolutely gorgeous!

You are most welcome. They are indeed gorgeous but in the triggers family, I have preferences: I love clown triggers in species only tanks, as well as queen triggers. Fascinating fish but really not for the faint of heart.

 

[Tortuga78]

Well, it is unlikely that my tastes will coincide with yours so I can certainly give you pros and cons of what you select, but giving me a blank tablet would be difficult. My personal tastes run towards fish with highly interesting behaviors.

Thank you anyways for your input. By the way, I visited your web page and your photographs are incredible. Now I see what you mean by your interest of fish with "highly interesting behaviors". Thanks again!

 

[MD11]

29 gallon (30inch long version)
35 lbs of Live Rock
2 inch live sand bed


I was wanting to get a tang... Either yellow or blue hippo... but people said that they may get to big for my tank. I already have a clownfish in there, but any other recommendations of fish would be helpful too!

Also, my tank's temp goes from 77.5ish to 80 through out the day. I did not know is this matters because I know tangs get ich real easy.

 

[snorvich]

29 gallon (30inch long version)
35 lbs of Live Rock
2 inch live sand bed


I was wanting to get a tang... Either yellow or blue hippo... but people said that they may get to big for my tank. I already have a clownfish in there, but any other recommendations of fish would be helpful too!

Also, my tank's temp goes from 77.5ish to 80 through out the day. I did not know is this matters because I know tangs get ich real easy.

Your tank is way too small for any tang. We recommend the minimum size for a hepatus tank at 240 gallons. The temperature variation is probably ok for most fish and corals.