Think I could get another fish?

[matt frizz]

So basically I have a 50 Breeder with 100lbs of LR that's been running for 2 years but the rock has been in my possession for over 3 years total. I have a 20 gallon sump thats filled up to 10 gallons or so with chemi-pure elite/SWC Xtreme 160 cone skimmer/refugium. Tank is drilled with 3 returns that are powered by a mag-9.5 return and run through an SCWD to alternate the flow.

Extremely stable system, water quality is always pristine. Tank inhabitants are as follows:

2x Occelaris Clownfish
1x Yellow Watchman Goby
1x Green Mandarin Dragonet
1x Starry Blenny

The reason I want another fish is because 2 of my fish are perchers, 1 is a rock grazer and only 2 of them swim around. I want another fish or two that will swim around all day and not just perch or be out of view grazing on many many pods.

I'm pretty positive my tank could easily take another peaceful fish or two because there is plenty of hiding space, its a stable system, and I have a powerhouse of a skimmer.

What do you guys think about that amount of fish in a tank my size? If you think it's do-able what fish would you suggest? I would love a mystery wrasse or something along those lines but I don't know if the combo of the dragonet and a wrasse could decimate the pod population. My tank is literally crawling with them in the fuge and display. Wrasse may be out of the question so if that's true what are my other options? I'm going for interesting or out of the ordinary fish options if possible. What would you put in if you were in my shoes?

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

You have plenty of room for one or two other small fish. I would go with one of the smaller flasher wrasses like a McCoskers or carpenters wrasse rather than a lined wrasse, and whatever you do dont get a sixline. Do you have a closed top, they will jump.

 

[small alien]

+1. Great advice.

 

[nsmith_mma]

You could go with a firefish. They aren't exactly going to "swim around" but they will at least occupy the mid-level of your water column pretty much at all times. For color variation, you might think about a purple firefish. A cardinalfish would give a similar effect for an alternative.

A dwarf angel might not be a bad idea either such as a coral beauty, a flame, an eibl's, or one of the pygmy angel species.

 

[Alex482455]

you have plenty of room for one or two other small fish. I would go with one of the smaller flasher wrasses like a mccoskers or carpenters wrasse rather than a lined wrasse, and whatever you do dont get a sixline. Do you have a closed top, they will jump.

+1

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I would suggest a royal gramma or assessor of some sort (yellow or blue). Then maybe a smaller flasher like a McCoskers. You may be able to do a single Bartlett's anthia as one of the two as well. Sometimes they are too aggressive for groups of Bartlett's anthias so a single would work fairly well I would think.

 

[matt frizz]

Thanks so much for the tips guys. I would definitely not get a six-lined wrasse but did you guys have any thoughts on the mystery wrasse? I think it's technically lined as well so it could get aggressive but it would also be the last fish added to the tank so that's something to consider.

The pygmy angelfish could turn out really cool if it doesn't nip at my corals. I believe that there is a thread that has discussion about which of the pygmy species are best suited for a reef tank so I'll search for that. I've also considered a single Anthias too they are beautiful.

I would love a yellow assessor but I know my clowns would harass it. They are quite territorial because I've had them for over 3 years. I might swap my normal Ocellaris for a Snowflake pair in addition to adding some new fish. Only downside is that I just got my clowns to host my Torch and I don't know if the new pair would take to it right away.

 

[tanksfishtank]

I agree that you have plenty of room for a couple more fish! There are some reef safe pygmy angels that would add a lot of action and color! Good Luck!

 

[runintoluck]

You can always tank your chances with some of the commonly seen centropyge angels such as a flame, coral beauty, potters... etc. I would personally add a fairy wrasse of some sort like a solar wrasse <-- those are pretty cool with nice coloration and will definitely swim around and such. If I had the money I would drop it on a flame wrasse pair. In your situation, there are a variety of colorful reef safe wrasses would fit nicely into your tank. Good luck!

 

[matt frizz]

Thanks guys. I figured I'd be ok but wanted to check with the community. I'm thinking Labout's fairy wrasse and an angel fish of some kind right now. Or a wrasse and an anthias. So many options, I didn't realize it would be this fun.

 

[Alex482455]

Wrasse and anthias is better option in my opinion. But get what u really like all the 4 options are good.

 

[dzfish17]

How about a splash of yellow... yellow coris wrasse.

 

[matt frizz]

Yeah I'm shying away from the dwarf angel idea entirely. I can't risk them eating my corals I've spent too much money on them. I'm definitely loving that yellow coris wrasse idea! It's so hard to pick one wrasse that I really love though. Trying to stay away from the pod eaters to avoid mandarin food competition. I think the yellow coris works for that.

Keep the suggestions coming. I don't want to overlook any cool fish.

 

[Vince272992]

You could probably even do a small group of (2-3) chromis and a firefish... that will add nice movement and color

 

[Fin Mike]

Centropyge argi or Cent acanthops. Both are beautiful, active and more on the reef safe side. Don't count out the dwarfs yet!