Stocking suggestions for a 190

[reefermadness3]

I have had this 190 up for three months now housing my fish from previous tanks and all are well. I've been in the hobby for eight years and want to add a few more fish to the mix.

I currently have a purple tang (a rescue recovering quite well from hlle), a naked ocellaris clownfish, a red firefish goby and a royal gramma.

I feed daily either a mix of pemysis shrimp with spectrum thera+A pellets soaked in garlic guard and selcon or a formula one or two frozen cube. I also place a strip of nori in the tank every day. Phosphates at .09 and nitrates at 1.0. Some things I read on here show people feeding many times a day but these fish are all fat and seem content.

I don't really want any other large fish other than the tang. I definitely want to add a diamond watchman goby to my current lineup to help keep my sand bed clean. Other than that I'm all ears. A fish with a job is always cool and/or fish that don't spend all day hiding.

Some things I have considered/wanted...1.a pair of black and white ocellaris clownfish but I think that my existing clown would not be okay with that 2. a few bartlett's anthias possibly (I've never kept anthias before) 3.a pair of helfrichi firefish but I think my existing firefish wouldn't approve 4.pajama cardinalfish or banggai cardinalfish.5. yellow clown goby - maybe a few?


Thanks for the help!

 

[leveldrummer]

Is that the 5 foot DSA 190? I think you can put all the fish you listed in there. You can pair a single black clown with your naked. You can try the pair of helfrici, I have never had issues from any firefish, a pair of pajamas and a pair of bangai should all have enough space, the anthias should be fine too, although they will require more frequent feedings.

You could consider some wrasses, there is much variation in colors to choose from. maybe a mandarin or a pipe fish.

 

[gsiegel]

I would check out wrasses. Lubbock's is really nice and less expensive than most other nice wrasses. There is a big variety (as well as price). All a matter of opinion and compatibility so I would check what you like and come back with a list.

A few of my favorites that I have to get you started (all but the solorensis are a bit more $ though) as well are:
- solorensis
- pintail
- rhomboidalis
- lineatus
- flame

 

[fishy.22]

Beautiful tank!
Go for the anthias! They are awesome, though like mentioned above at least 2x a day feedings.
An intrepid fish that schools well and displays all day is the zebra goby or bar goby. I've kept a small school of those with 5 lyretail anthias and they stole the show.

 

[reefermadness3]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Yes leveldrummer it's a dsa 190 (60x27x27). I had a purple firefish goby living with my red firefish for about a year until he jumped. (This tank will be covered soon with the 1/4" netting from brs.) But I was told that you shouldn't mix the varieties and ultimately the red firefish won the battle. idk Now seeing that a helfrici firefish cost $100 I think I'll go with another purple if anything.
I def like the idea of adding a black clown with my naked clown.

I had a six line wrasse years ago and it was a mean fish, worse than any damsel I've ever had. I'm hoping the other wrasses aren't as bold because I do like them. Esp the red head solon fairy (male) wrasse as well as the lubbocks for their looks as well as price. Most all my $ went to my lights etc...

Thanks fishy22! It's been a workout but is paying off. I had a group of three bar gobies when I first started out and loved them. Also had some engineer gobies that were cool. Still weighing the anthias option. Sometimes I work out of town and can't feed regularly. Def wouldn't want to lose anybody.

 

[reefermadness3]

after lots of reading, the engineer gobies will not make the cut. My sandbed is full of fungia and acans with many other corals that could easily be buried. knowledge is power!

 

[msderganc]

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.

 

[gordonheimer]

I purchased the same tank! What are you using for flow and skimming?

 

[reefermadness3]

I purchased the same tank! What are you using for flow and skimming?

Nice. I love mine so far. My return pump is a Waveline DC-4000, for flow I have a Jebao WP-40 and an Vortech mp-40. Skimmer is a Vertex N-180. I'm happy with my setup. Would maybe go with a DC-6000 if I had it to do over again for a little more power - the 4000 is maxed out but does a good enough job. 36" ruby elite sump/fuge underneath.

 

[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.

Yeah my tang seems nice enough but I guess we will see. The firefish goby came in after him from a diff tank and he is really cool with it - after the curiosity phase wore off anyways.

Thanks for the heads up. When I get a list pinned down I will def pass it by him.

 

[risin]

My 8 year old sailfin tang has never acknowledged other tank mates. Maybe I just got lucky. His reflection on the other hand has been beaten up pretty bad. I got worried when he started smacking the glass with his barb.

Based on looks, I would vote for the anthias. I haven't had luck with them in the past, but they look great. I think my problem has been the feeding requirements.

 

[davocean]

One pair of clowns only, bartletts usually turn male, often end up w/ one, two if lucky, helfrichi's need a cover(and I still lost a pair through 1/4" mesh in the same night) clown goby's often nip sps and usually fight if more than one(yes I know we have all seen tanks loaded at the LFS, temporarily), bangaii, keep to a pair.
Lyretails are great starter anthias, and they eat and keep color easy.
Hope that doesn't sound negative but that is the basic run down on your list

 

[gordonheimer]

Nice. I love mine so far. My return pump is a Waveline DC-4000, for flow I have a Jebao WP-40 and an Vortech mp-40. Skimmer is a Vertex N-180. I'm happy with my setup. Would maybe go with a DC-6000 if I had it to do over again for a little more power - the 4000 is maxed out but does a good enough job. 36" ruby elite sump/fuge underneath.

Is the Waveline pretty quiet?

 

[reefermadness3]

One pair of clowns only, bartletts usually turn male, often end up w/ one, two if lucky, helfrichi's need a cover(and I still lost a pair through 1/4" mesh in the same night) clown goby's often nip sps and usually fight if more than one(yes I know we have all seen tanks loaded at the LFS, temporarily), bangaii, keep to a pair.
Lyretails are great starter anthias, and they eat and keep color easy.
Hope that doesn't sound negative but that is the basic run down on your list

Great info. I do plan on adding a single black and white clown. Going to leave the anthias alone. A pair of purple firefish are still an option - but not helfrici due to that jumping possibility even w a net$! I've read that about clown gobies nipping sps and will leave them alone as well. Bangaii or possibly the Kaaudern cardinalfish still in the running - tank bred only. Thanks again and it definitely doesn't sound negative - I've always had more trouble with fish than corals. Better to know as much as possible before you buy.

 

[reefermadness3]

Is the Waveline pretty quiet?

I can't hear it at all. My biggest noisemaker is the 5 year old vortech and it's not that loud really.

 

[msderganc]

Just FYI, all firefish jump, and it will be difficult to get a mated pair. Most people will suggest only one per tank, because you will eventually end up with one due to harassment anyway.

 

[reefermadness3]

Just FYI, all firefish jump, and it will be difficult to get a mated pair. Most people will suggest only one per tank, because you will eventually end up with one due to harassment anyway.

So true. I had a purple firefish jump about six months ago and it was most likely from harassment by the red firefish. I thought maybe it was because they were in a 65gal tank but now it seems that tank size wasn't really the problem. On a side note, my naked clown came as a mated pair and one of them jumped after about a year together.

So it looks like I will stick with my solo red firefish and install screens over this tank before any purchases.

You guys are saving me some serious money!

 

[RDtrack]

What about basslets? They are a little on the pricey side but I love them and they normally get along with each other. I have a blackcap (Gramma melacara) and a Cave (Liopropoma Mowbrayi).

I also like the suggestion of a wrasse. If it was me I'd put a nice pair of flame wrasses in.

Good Luck

 

[reefermadness3]

Beautiful tank!
Go for the anthias! They are awesome, though like mentioned above at least 2x a day feedings.
An intrepid fish that schools well and displays all day is the zebra goby or bar goby. I've kept a small school of those with 5 lyretail anthias and they stole the show.

How many bar gobies did you keep? I've pulled away from the engineer and diamond watchman gobies due to a sandbed full of coral. No sense in taking that chance really. I had 3 bar gobies when I started out - super cool fish. Most all of my first fish found their way back to the lfs for one reason or another though.
I think I would want to get 3 of them, 5 if it would work.

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.

 

[reefermadness3]

revised list

revised list

new working list (changing daily it seems)

one black and white clownfish

a pair of either pajama or bangaii cardinals (still unsure of which kind)

3-5 zebra/bar gobies (b/c I think they would leave my sandbed pretty much alone like a firefish goby does)

most all others have been eliminated for differing reasons. also I think this might be an overall good number of inhabitants for a tank this size. I very much want to keep my phosphates and nitrates low.

thanks again to everyone for the great feedback!
I should have done this back in 2005, I would have a bit more money and hair!
You people rock!