What fish would you add?

[lpsouth1978]

I know this is going to get a lot of different opinions, and that is exactly what I am looking for. I am looking into removing my clowns from the 40b and replacing them with something different. They refuse to use anything as a host that isn't the corner glass of the tank, and the female has already become VERY aggressive toward me (it is getting really annoying).

If you were to get a new fish for a system like this what would your choice be? Help me pick the potential new addition/s. Of course anything that you recommend would have to do well with everything else in the tank except the clowns, since they won't be in there.

Cycle completed roughly 4 months ago. I do weekly 5g water change with 0 TDS RODI water and Reef Crystals.

Params:

Temp = 78.5
SG = 1.026
pH = 8.3
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0 (API)
Phosphate = 0 (API)
Calcium = 480
Alk = 7.5

System:

40b w/20l sump
Bubble Magus NAC 3.5 skimmer
4" filter sock - changed 1-2x a week
Chaeto in fuge
Eshopps Eclipse Medium Overflow with herbie drain
Jebao DCP-8000 return pump (running @ 14W)
RFG nozzles
2 x Jebao OW-10 wavemakers
2 x AI Hydra 26HD
~40lbs dry rock
~40lbs Live oolitic sand

Current Inhabitants:

Pair of Black Occilaris Clowns
Royal Gramma
Melanurus Wrasse
Diamond Watchman Goby
Lawnmower Blenny
3 x Pajama Cardinals
Single head of Hammer Coral
Single head of Frogspawn
Large head of Indo Gold tip Torch
3 heads of duncan
Colony of roughly 50 radioactive Zoas
4 x orange mushrooms
4 x small acan frags
Rainbow Bubble tip anemone
Green Haddoni Carpet anemone

 

[lolgranny]

I'd get a anthias trio or a small yellow tang


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[jaybfresh]

I'd get a anthias trio or a small yellow tang


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Neither of those are great choices for a 40 gallon tank. Or was that a joke that went over my head?

I'd say 7 fish is pretty packed already, but if your tank was handling the current bioload... Midas blennies are cool. You could try a dwarf angel if you wanted to risk them nipping at your coral.

 

[lolgranny]

Neither of those are great choices for a 40 gallon tank. Or was that a joke that went over my head?



I'd say 7 fish is pretty packed already, but if your tank was handling the current bioload... Midas blennies are cool. You could try a dwarf angel if you wanted to risk them nipping at your coral.

He has small fish, I'd be adding a yellow tang no doubt about it. Tang police can fine me. As for the anthias I don't foresee a issue with 3 in there. Then again everyone's got different opinions

+1 Midas blennies or any Blenheim for that matter are very active and great fish. Could add a few more wrasses.


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[lpsouth1978]

Would the Lawnmower get along with another blenny? Also the Melanarus with flasher or fairy wrasses? I think I will stay away from the tangs in this tank, it's just not fair to them. I also like anthias, but I have never had any success with them. I think it is because I am not around to feed them often. I feed my tanks once a day, in the morning, and anthias have never done well with my schedule.

 

[jaybfresh]

Midas blennies swim in the open water and occupy the rockwork, so there shouldn't be a conflict with the lawnmower blenny

 

[Uncle99]

in a 40b, yes the Anthais, but just one. They do great alone.
in a big tank I might put 7-10, then the aggression will never be on the same dish, in a 40b, one is going to take the hits.
I have just one, bright orange, purple eyes, great fish going strong on just two feeds a day for 25 months now.

Tangs in a 40, not in a full tank. It's certainly going to raise the stress level and could open the door for Ick. Beware.

 

[nereefpat]

A tang is horrible advice.

Most commonly kept anthias (lyretail, Bartlett, carberryi, dispar, squareback) need a bigger tank than a 40 breeder too.

How about a flame or longnose hawk?

 

[lpsouth1978]

A tang is horrible advice.

Most commonly kept anthias (lyretail, Bartlett, carberryi, dispar, squareback) need a bigger tank than a 40 breeder too.

How about a flame or longnose hawk?

I have always liked the hawkfish, yet have never had one. I may have to change that. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[lolgranny]

A tang is horrible advice.



Most commonly kept anthias (lyretail, Bartlett, carberryi, dispar, squareback) need a bigger tank than a 40 breeder too.



How about a flame or longnose hawk?

The police have arrived! Haha

I'll never not have a tang in my 40 gallons. They are great for algae control. When they get too big for it I trade them in for a small skinny one. I've never had one tell me they are unhappy[emoji23]


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[Crooked Reef]

Have you had any fish tell you they were happy or unhappy?

 

[jaybfresh]

I'd guess most people don't want a fish they have to "trade in" in a year

 

[lolgranny]

Have you had any fish tell you they were happy or unhappy?

Yea, the ones that you wake up in the am and they are stuck to a power head or laying on the bottom of the tank. Unhappy, definitely.


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[lolgranny]

I'd guess most people don't want a fish they have to "trade in" in a year

I hear that, in my case I traded 1 in over the corse of 6 years. Can't say that's THAT bad.


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[Joe0813]

What about a yellow accessor? They are awesome fish to watch since they swim sideways and upside down.

 

[RioReefr]

A tang is horrible advice.

Most commonly kept anthias (lyretail, Bartlett, carberryi, dispar, squareback) need a bigger tank than a 40 breeder too.

How about a flame or longnose hawk?

I vote for the Flame Hawkfish, they are cool small fish. Mine gets along with everyone and non-aggressive. If I had to do it over, I would get a pair of them. They are similiar to clownfish, will eventually change sex and become a mated pair.

The only downside -- they will eat your shrimp if you have any. Other than that, they are great!

BTW, I tend to agree about the clownfish -- mine spend 99% of their time in the back left corner. My female clown is super aggressive towards me. Has bitten my several times.

 

[lpsouth1978]

If I was to get a pair of hawkfish, would I need to add them to the system at the same time, or could I get one and add another later?

 

[OrionN]

Consider a pair of Yasha or Randal shrimp Gobies with their Pistol shrimp.

A pair of Yellow head Jaw fish.

2 more Royal Gramma (add some really small ones and you will be fine with the existing male RG)
A pair of Orchid Dottyback
Two or three Flasher wrasses of different species.
One or two smaller Fairy wrasse

Any two of the suggestions about would be great for your tank.

 

[Daddyrawg]

Yea, the ones that you wake up in the am and they are stuck to a power head or laying on the bottom of the tank. Unhappy, definitely.


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how ironic... yesterday I came home to a dead chromis and it was stuck on the side of powerhead

 

[lolgranny]

how ironic... yesterday I came home to a dead chromis and it was stuck on the side of powerhead

It happens, but 99% of the time the fish was on its way out. If the fish is weak or sick this is the main reason that happens. Sorry for your loss


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