Thinking About Additions

[ca1ore]

I'm upgrading from my current 265 to a 450 in the Summer (not just planned, but actually ordered). New tank will be a foot longer, but more importantly a foot wider. Current fish list is as follows:

Tangs - Desjardini, Yellow, Purple, Achilles, Hippo and Chevron
Anthias - Bimacs (5), Resplendent (5) and Bartlett (2)
Dwarf Angels - Flame, Potters and LemonPeel
Wrasses - Dusky, Jeweled Leopard, BlueStar Leopard and cleaner wrasse
Pyramid Butterfly (3)
Occelaris Clowns (2)
Chalk Basslet (2)
Watchman Goby
Yellowtail damsel
Golden Melatremus Eel

I also have an attached 5' refugium currently housing a quoyi parrot, polyzona tang, gem tang, naso tang, three leopards and an orchid dottyback. They're all small, but at some point the naso tang at least will need to be moved to the bigger tank.

So, my debate with self is what to plan to add once the bigger tank is installed. I would love to have a vlamingi, though even an 8' 450 may still be too small. Am thinking about adding more bimac anthias (maybe as many as 6 more females), perhaps a powder blue tang, and some fairy wrasses.

Thus the question. I have kept a few flashers over the years, but find them just too twitchy. I've not ever kept any fairy wrasses - for no particular reason really. Can they be kept successfully with my current fish population that skews on the aggressive side? If so, what would be the best choices? Ones that are more on the robust side I'd think. Orange back, Scotts .... singles or groups?

 

[wcu]

I've had several fairy wrasses over the years. The only one that got picked on by anybody was a velvet fairy who had a mystery wrasse tormentor. When you mentioned fairies that will put up with a boisterous crowd, Scotts were the first thing to come to mind for me as well. On the same page!

 

[Dromon]

Don't have answer for your question but........450 gallons! Woo Hoo! :dance:

 

[tkiry1]

I'm upgrading from my current 265 to a 450 in the Summer (not just planned, but actually ordered). New tank will be a foot longer, but more importantly a foot wider. Current fish list is as follows:

Tangs - Desjardini, Yellow, Purple, Achilles, Hippo and Chevron
Anthias - Bimacs (5), Resplendent (5) and Bartlett (2)
Dwarf Angels - Flame, Potters and LemonPeel
Wrasses - Dusky, Jeweled Leopard, BlueStar Leopard and cleaner wrasse
Pyramid Butterfly (3)
Occelaris Clowns (2)
Chalk Basslet (2)
Watchman Goby
Yellowtail damsel
Golden Melatremus Eel

I also have an attached 5' refugium currently housing a quoyi parrot, polyzona tang, gem tang, naso tang, three leopards and an orchid dottyback. They're all small, but at some point the naso tang at least will need to be moved to the bigger tank.

So, my debate with self is what to plan to add once the bigger tank is installed. I would love to have a vlamingi, though even an 8' 450 may still be too small. Am thinking about adding more bimac anthias (maybe as many as 6 more females), perhaps a powder blue tang, and some fairy wrasses.

Thus the question. I have kept a few flashers over the years, but find them just too twitchy. I've not ever kept any fairy wrasses - for no particular reason really. Can they be kept successfully with my current fish population that skews on the aggressive side? If so, what would be the best choices? Ones that are more on the robust side I'd think. Orange back, Scotts .... singles or groups?

I have a stupid question but are you selling your 265 setup? The tank, stand, and canopy I have been looking for used... I have a 220 but want that extra foot with the 265.. Good luck.. But please let me know either way. I live in nj but willing to drive.....

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[marleesan]

I would add the naso to the big tank and not get the vlamingi. 450 is a huge tank, but they can get to almost 2 feet long, which would be cramped in an 8 foot tank

 

[OrionN]

I got 8 foot 450 gal tank before for many years, my current tank is 320. It really is not that much bigger than a 240. Wider, taller but not longer.
I would consider your fish load max out in term of larger fishes. Smaller and medium fishes addition are fine but I would not add larger fish, those that reach 6+ inches.

 

[ca1ore]

Oops, forget to list to trio of pajama cardinals. Pretty unassuming bunch though - unlikely to give newcomers trouble.

 

[ca1ore]

I have a stupid question but are you selling your 265 setup? The tank, stand, and canopy I have been looking for used... I have a 220 but want that extra foot with the 265.. Good luck.. But please let me know either way. I live in nj but willing to drive.....

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I will certainly offer it for sale once the time comes. Drawback of the stand is that it was built for a basement sump and there is no room in the stand for one.

 

[ca1ore]

I got 8 foot 450 gal tank before for many years, my current tank is 320. It really is not that much bigger than a 240. Wider, taller but not longer.
I would consider your fish load max out in term of larger fishes. Smaller and medium fishes addition are fine but I would not add larger fish, those that reach 6+ inches.

Well my 265 (240 gallons of water) is only 7' long, so the 450 (400 gallons of water) is longer :lol:, though I take your point.

 

[tkiry1]

I will certainly offer it for sale once the time comes. Drawback of the stand is that it was built for a basement sump and there is no room in the stand for one.

That's no problem... I have a separate filter fish room... Just Neptune apex stuff mounted underneath and ballasts for radion lights... Can you send me some pictures? Thanks..

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[OrionN]

Consider a Harlequin Tusk. They are cool reef safe fish for larger tanks.

 

[ca1ore]

That's no problem... I have a separate filter fish room... Just Neptune apex stuff mounted underneath and ballasts for radion lights... Can you send me some pictures? Thanks..

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Check out my CT265 build thread over on the large tank section of RC. Lots of pictures. CT400 is the build thread for the new tank.

 

[tkiry1]

Check out my CT265 build thread over on the large tank section of RC. Lots of pictures. CT400 is the build thread for the new tank.

Ok I will... I'm not in a super hurry.. Fish are doing great in 220.. But I would like to go to 265 for the extra foot... I have a large Rubbermaid stock sump.. Extra foot would be great until I can go custom...

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[ca1ore]

I had a 220 for a long time and 265 is a nice upgrade. Of course, no matter how big your tank is, eventually you run out of space.

 

[tkiry1]

I had a 220 for a long time and 265 is a nice upgrade. Of course, no matter how big your tank is, eventually you run out of space.

You got that right.. I have 3 young kids.. They love tank.. In my office.. I don't have a place upstairs at my house.. So I could go 265 or 300 or something custom that I would have to make taller.. What time in summer are you thinking of doing this? Only reason is I would have to drive to you. I live in nj...

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[ca1ore]

Late Summer, prob Sept, maybe late August.

 

[ca1ore]

I would consider your fish load max out in term of larger fishes. Smaller and medium fishes addition are fine but I would not add larger fish, those that reach 6+ inches.

Doesn't the suggestion of a Harlequin Tusk conflict with your advice :lol: ? Or maybe they just stay smaller in captivity - dunno, never kept one.

 

[OrionN]

There are no absolute. You seem to want to add more fishes. What am I to say. I would not doesn't not mean that you would not.

Consider the Harlequin Tusk. Way too cool fish for large tank. Striking colors.
I would choose a HT over the Parrot fish. My shrimps and my small fishes are fine. One problem is with small snails. My Turbo, Stomatella and Strombus snails were breeding in my tank and the HT eliminated all the babies of these snails.

 

[ca1ore]

Is a very good suggestion, I think I may just do that. Snails reproduce in my various refugia but not in the display thanks to my dusky wrasse. HT is a stunning fish.

 

[OrionN]

Mine is an Australian HT. More colorful than Indo-Pacific counterpart