Stocking question

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I know that people on here will definitely be able to add their two cents in on this....

My 210 gal tank has been up for roughly 8 months and has a good mix of SPS and LPS. Here is a link to the build (and yes... I know I need to update it).

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2461391

So after months of staring at the same fish I decided to buy more. I had/still have a mandarin goby (came with the coral that I bought... What a mess) and I have 4 scissortail dart fish. The mandarin has been in there for at least 6 months and is doing great. Pod population is through the roof.

Not really where my question lies though. I got the itch to buy and had my stock list ready. Then a few little changes here and there based on what fish were available and the costs of fish (we've all been there right...). I added a Melanarus Wrasse who is loving life. I only remembered people talking about how great they were and how much they loved them... Not how mean they can be.

Now my Melanarus hasn't shown any aggression but I also don't really have any other fish in there.

So.... I have made a purchase off of Divers Den which will be here Monday. Excited yet nervous because even after researching I find new evidence that my purchase could be a risk.

Ordered and arriving Monday are:
A McCoskers Terminal Phase Male and a McCoskers Flasher Wrasse Initial Phase (with hopes it will submit to becoming the female).

Yellowfin Flasher Wrasse Terminal Phase Male. Hopes to buy a female or two of same genus.

And a Pink Streaked Wrasse (timid and shy).


I would have preferred these fish to be in the tank prior to the Melanarus and now I'm questioning of these fish should be together at all. I've read mixed reviews. Thought it would be good to hear what the crowd says.

This is the rest of my planned fish list (in order) for your thoughts....

Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
Pink margin fairy wrasse
(Should I put females with them?)

Kauderns Cardinal Fish x2 (bonded)

Orange Clowns (Amphiprion Percula) x2

Bartlett's Anthias x3 (1 male, 2 females)

And two of the following tangs:
Squaretail Bristletooth Tang
Purple Tang
Caribbean blue tang
Yellow tang
Sailfin tang
Orange shoulder tang


The Melanarus was only added in the last week so not sure how established he is or how aggressive he will be towards new tank mates. He has eft all snails, hermits, and my shrimp alone (for now).

What problems do you all foresee with adding these fish? And anything about the rest of the planned fish?


Thanks again for all the help!

 

[thegrun]

There is a fair amount of room in your tank and I've had several wrasses live in relative harmony in tanks smaller than yours, but all fish are different so that is no guarantee. I've only had one Melanarus over the years and it was actually quite peaceful. I would be cautious about so many Fairy Wrasses. I worry more about the pod population for your Mandarin with multiple wrasses, they usually will out compete all other fish for pods.
With the Tangs be sure to only get one from a particular family i.e. if you go with a Purple Tang no Yellow or Sailfin, but a Bristletooth would be fine.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

There is a fair amount of room in your tank and I've had several wrasses live in relative harmony in tanks smaller than yours, but all fish are different so that is no guarantee. I've only had one Melanarus over the years and it was actually quite peaceful. I would be cautious about so many Fairy Wrasses. I worry more about the pod population for your Mandarin with multiple wrasses, they usually will out compete all other fish for pods.
With the Tangs be sure to only get one from a particular family i.e. if you go with a Purple Tang no Yellow or Sailfin, but a Bristletooth would be fine.

Thanks for your take on things. I'm hoping that things go smoothly, but all fish are different and you don't know what is going to happen until it does.

There doesn't seem to be too many wrasse lovers commenting here. Makes me nervous : /

 

[chefbill]

Many wrasse lovers, just not commenting. If I had a real answer I would help you out. I do know that with the flashers you do not necessarily need a female. Males will often flash at males of other species.

 

[RGS2]

My Melanaurus is very peaceful and has not bothered any new additions. I also have a mystery wrasse, blue head wrasse, Solon, Scott's fairy wrasse. The blue head wrasse is the most aggressive of the bunch.

 

[WaReefer458]

I have a longfin fairy wrasse, red head solon wrasse, and a mccoskers in my 40b. I put them in the tank 1 by 1 over a couple weeks but if I had to do it over again I would have dumped them all in at the same time as I had a bit of initial aggression towards the "new guy" but after a few days of all of them in there the zen has returned. In a tank the size of yours I would say you should be fine either way. Just a side note from experience, if you are planning all those tangs I'd put them all in together before anyone gets to " stake their claim " in the tang of you are gonna have a brawl.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Many wrasse lovers, just not commenting. If I had a real answer I would help you out. I do know that with the flashers you do not necessarily need a female. Males will often flash at males of other species.

Well I appreciate your comment cause even after countless hours of reading I have not come across that info. It would be nice to not buy females only for the mere fact of trying to make the males flash. I haven't read anywhere try need a female to live although my wife begs to differ. She believes all males need a female.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

My Melanaurus is very peaceful and has not bothered any new additions. I also have a mystery wrasse, blue head wrasse, Solon, Scott's fairy wrasse. The blue head wrasse is the most aggressive of the bunch.

That's good to know. And I plan on adding groups at a time. How about the mystery? That was originally on my list but I heard that try are the ones to watch out for once they get larger?

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I have a longfin fairy wrasse, red head solon wrasse, and a mccoskers in my 40b. I put them in the tank 1 by 1 over a couple weeks but if I had to do it over again I would have dumped them all in at the same time as I had a bit of initial aggression towards the "new guy" but after a few days of all of them in there the zen has returned. In a tank the size of yours I would say you should be fine either way. Just a side note from experience, if you are planning all those tangs I'd put them all in together before anyone gets to " stake their claim " in the tang of you are gonna have a brawl.

Definitely looking at adding in groups at a time. Not too sure what I will be doing as far as the tangs. Maybe pick the two or three I want and adding them at once.

 

[chefbill]

There are a lot of good wrasse posts in the fish forum

 

[e048]

Each fish is different if you can catch the melanrus wrasse do it keep him in the sump a few days before you put the new fish after qt in and that should keep any aggression from him on the low side.

If that fails you can always add a mirror to one side of the tank

Do you have a tight lid on this tank?

 

[e048]

Mystery wrasses are like 6 lines they can be little turds when they get big

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Each fish is different if you can catch the melanrus wrasse do it keep him in the sump a few days before you put the new fish after qt in and that should keep any aggression from him on the low side.

If that fails you can always add a mirror to one side of the tank

Do you have a tight lid on this tank?

Yeah. Tight netted lid. I read about the mirror trick so I'll be ready for that one.

 

[RGS2]

That's good to know. And I plan on adding groups at a time. How about the mystery? That was originally on my list but I heard that try are the ones to watch out for once they get larger?

My mystery wrasse was one of the last added and was also smaller than the other wrasses. He has grown but shows no aggression at all. My wrasses are in a 250g tank which helps give them room. My blue head wrasse is the one that will show a bit of aggression towards any new tank mate. FWIW, I have several tangs (hippo, purple, Sailfin, Naso, powder blue) that get along fine also. People will say that when they get bigger you will have issues, but mine are all the same size and haven't grown much if any in the past year. I think they have reached the max the tank will allow.