Stocking suggestions for a 190

[davocean]

I like the lyretail anthias but have decided to stay away from anthias for feeding reasons. I need a crew that can hang tough for a day or two need be when I'm out of town.

Another reason I like lyretails, they eat NLS pellets pretty easy, so I just have an eheim auto feeder that doses twice daily for me, that way I can go away weekends w/out issues.
I still feed mysis/frozen once or twice at night.

 

[reefermadness3]

Another reason I like lyretails, they eat NLS pellets pretty easy, so I just have an eheim auto feeder that doses twice daily for me, that way I can go away weekends w/out issues.
I still feed mysis/frozen once or twice at night.

That's definitely an option again then and they would add some nice color to the tank overall.

What eheim feeder do you use? I had the everyday feeder for a year maybe
until the lcd screen went away for good. It worked okay but it was hard to regulate - esp with pellets. I saw they have a double chamber feeder that looks good but some of the reviews said it puts out a lot of food on the lowest setting. I will have to get one of them though. Fish gotta eat!

 

[davocean]

I have that dual/twin feeder(I believe Foster & Smith has them on sale for $49 right now) and it is awesome.
Agree, one spin puts out plenty.
I tested mine on a plate for a few days to make sure of output and make sure I had it set right.
It's a great way to go, and for that size tank it should work for you.
My lyretails are so easy to keep bright colors, can't say that for most other anthias, not this easy anyway.

 

[Crimson]

You don't need to soak the NLS spectrum thera+A in garlic or selcon. Matter of fact, you may want to ditch the garlic since the thera+a has it already. I soak my NLS thera in rodi or spring water to soften them up. Click HERE for more info.

Just soak the frozen food (non-formula) in selcon.

 

[reefermadness3]

You don't need to soak the NLS spectrum thera+A in garlic or selcon. Matter of fact, you may want to ditch the garlic since the thera+a has it already. I soak my NLS thera in rodi or spring water to soften them up. Click HERE for more info.

Just soak the frozen food (non-formula) in selcon.

Great read. Thanks for that. NLS will not be soaked in anything other than rodi from now on.

 

[reefermadness3]

I have that dual/twin feeder(I believe Foster & Smith has them on sale for $49 right now) and it is awesome.
Agree, one spin puts out plenty.
I tested mine on a plate for a few days to make sure of output and make sure I had it set right.
It's a great way to go, and for that size tank it should work for you.
My lyretails are so easy to keep bright colors, can't say that for most other anthias, not this easy anyway.

Sold! Just grabbed one off amazon warehouse deals for $44 shipped. And they are on sale at F&S but on backorder till 4/4.
Still doing math on the fish. Might scale it back to just some lyretails and bar gobies. Thinking the cardinalfish might not be as cool as I imagine and that my clownfish who has lived alone in a giant head of trumpets for the last four years would probably rather not have a new friend.

 

[reefermadness3]

I have that dual/twin feeder(I believe Foster & Smith has them on sale for $49 right now) and it is awesome.
Agree, one spin puts out plenty.
I tested mine on a plate for a few days to make sure of output and make sure I had it set right.
It's a great way to go, and for that size tank it should work for you.
My lyretails are so easy to keep bright colors, can't say that for most other anthias, not this easy anyway.

For the lyretails, how many would you recommend (male/female) with my current lineup plus maybe 3-5 bar gobies?

 

[davocean]

For the lyretails, how many would you recommend (male/female) with my current lineup plus maybe 3-5 bar gobies?

Get all females and let them work out who becomes male, it's very cool to watch the transformation.
I like at least 3 females to a male, more if you can.
This spreads out the keeping in check the male does and puts less stress on the females, as opposed to 1-2 females always being harassed.
Good find on the feeder, and just FYI marine depot often matches prices of competitors.

 

[reefermadness3]

You may have issues introducing fish after that zebrasoma tang, they're very territorial.

Snorvich runs a thread where you can give him a stocking list and he will evaluate it for you. It's extremely helpful.

Where can I find his thread? I've been looking but apparently in all the wrong places.

Thanks.

 

[reefermadness3]

Get all females and let them work out who becomes male, it's very cool to watch the transformation.
I like at least 3 females to a male, more if you can.
This spreads out the keeping in check the male does and puts less stress on the females, as opposed to 1-2 females always being harassed.
Good find on the feeder, and just FYI marine depot often matches prices of competitors.

That sounds good. Yeah after reading many threads about the male/female decision I like going with all small females and watching the changes happen. Looking like I will get 5 females - that could change again of course. Since they require a good bit of food I'm now thinking I might skip out on the bar gobies as well to lighten the load on the tank. I want some fish that add nice color and that will stay out in the open where you can see them. Seems like a coin flip with the bar gobies.

 

[msderganc]

Here you go: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2068112

 

[MikeandNicole]

If you decide to add anthias, I really like borbonius. We have a pair that eat ANYTHING we put in the tank. We also have (in order of ease of care) a quartet of cooperi, a sunburst, and a pair of hawaiianisis ventralis (sp?). We feed 2-3x daily.
I love basslets. At the moment, we have ten assesors in our 205- 7 gold assesors and three randali. We also have a swiss guard basslet in our 205 and a candy basslet in our 12g. The assesors are ORA captive raised, and quite active (especially in comparison to the wild caught ones). Our oldest will be 5 this year. I would recommend them.
Congrats on the new setup, tank looks really nice!