What to add next , out of ideas !

[drew930]

180 gallon tank, 40 sump... SRO 3000. I don't know what to add next . I kind of want some little fish that stand out. Some colorful ones or unique ones would be nice. I have the following .

Sailfin tang
Small hippo tang
Yellow tang
Kole tang
Coral beauty angel
2 diamond gobies
3 Bengaii cardinals
5 blue green chromis
Pair of Picasso clowns

I will add a naso tang .. And of course take it out when it's big . I will also probably add a powder blue or Achilles . Or a foxface .

I though about adding a pair of firefish . And a single Helfrichi firefish or some anthias . But I have heard anthias and difficult and firefish might fight with clowns ???

Are anthias hard ? Or do you just have to feed a lot ? And do firefish and clowns get along ?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Why add a fish that you know you will have to remove?

I wouldn't add any more tangs, see lots of fighting going on.

 

[drew930]

Well I live the naso abc I'll be moving before he out grows tank lol or I wouldn't

Other than the tangs, any input on anthias or firefish ?

Any advice on a different fish to put in ? Colorful ,.. Not real expensive ?

 

[Toddrtrex]

IMO/E, should only purchase fish that can spend their lifespan in your current tank. Catching and selling a large Naso species tang won't be all that easy.

The firefish might get picked on/lost in your tank.

No real experience with anthias, so won't speak about them.

 

[drew930]

Okay . I might want to consider that . Thanks for the advice!!!

Does anyone have any suggestions on small/medium fish that skool ?

 

[Microcosmos]

I love my lemonpeel angel. Not a schooling fish, but small and beautiful and hardy and gets along with my ocellaris clown. Even in a 180 you'd be taking a risk adding more than 1 dwarf angel though, since they do not really seem to like each other much (very territorial). But who knows, if you add say a flame or a coral beauty and a lemonpeel of similar size at the same time, they may be able to stake out their own territories. I didn't see you mention any triggers or puffers or wrasses, so I'm guessing your tank is reef-safe, and as such, you can get creative with reef-safe invertebrates (peppermint shrimps, anemone crabs)...

Bottom line for fish right now my vote is for two similar sized dwarf angels with different coloration introduced at the same time. Firefish are pretty too, and tend to stay in the open, but they are not IMHO as interesting to watch as dwarf angels. Anthias require frequent feeding of live or frozen food from what I've read (I'm not about to try even one Anthias in my 24 gallon); I wouldn't put up a bunch of money for a school of beautiful fish that will just go belly up on you, the same reason most folks shouldn't go home with a mandarin or scooter dragonet....[edit] Oops I see you already have a coral beauty...I still might risk a lemonpeel or flame addition but be careful to get one similar in size or one dwarf angel will likely kill the other...and looking over your stock list again I do see you have a TON of fish in there already...maybe a few firefish are your best bet after all...

 

[asim58]

I think a wrasse would fit well for your criteria, the flasher wrasses (Paracheilinus sp) don't usually get any bigger than 3-4 inches and are bright, active and generally a peaceful reef safe fish. You could even do a harem, which would be pretty awesome. If you want slightly bigger the fairy wrasses (Cirrhilabrus sp) are around 5-6 inches adult size and have some sweet colors, very active fish. Neither genus are usually very delicate either.
You didn't say if its a reef setup but the Halichores spp are nice too, not really reef safe, (coral safe, inverts not so much) but most don't very big, (4-8 inches) and having amazing colors and patterns. The radiant wrasse is a great looking fish. Kind of a wrasse man if you can't tell.
Honestly with your fish I think a firefish would probably be intimidated by the tangs and angel so you wouldn't see it much.

 

[drew930]

Yes it is a reef safe tank . I'm gonna pass on the anthias lol ... And I do like the wrasses . I do also like the lemonpeel but do not know if it's safe .. But I have seen 2 dwarf angels in a 6 foot tank . Although I was looking for more color variations opposed to just one or two solid colors . I will have some yellow because of the yellow tang and foxface . I was looking for some red , or purple , and some green fish lol maybe the target mandrian . I think those look pretty cool how the perch . Cool colors too .

So maybe a target mandrian, a couple wrasses and 2-3 firefish ? That wouldn't be over crowed I don't think .

Any other suggestions on some fish that stand out .. Good colors and maybe not seen so much ?

 

[Buzzword]

Nice school of blue reef chromis would look real nice.

 

[reefjunkie42]

Fairy and flashers are what you want. Look at them
And get back to us what you like. I'd skip any dwarfs. Unless you like watching little
Kids bicker and fight relentlessly.

 

[drew930]

I do have blue green chromis lol and I do like the McCoskers flasher and the carpenters flasher. They seem pretty cool . I like the labouts fairy wrasse too.. But maybe to expensive for my first wrasse . Are these usually pretty hardy then ?

 

[Microcosmos]

You mentioned that you like red fish that perch...have you considered the flame hawkfish? It is small, but pretty...