Where do I go from here?

[Mike5252]

I wanted to thank RC members. I'm new here but have already gained a wealth of knowledge.

I currently have a 210 gal FOWLR tank set up with a 55 gal sump, 10 gal refugium, 150lbs LR, 4" sand, & a skimmer. Lighting is CF at 384 watts.

I have only 5 fish: a porci puffer, dog face puffer, Picasso trigger, clown trigger, & a sail fin tang. All of which have been part of the family for about 4 years now.

My question is: I would love to be able to add something, but what? I have not bought anything other than salt and CF bulbs in what seems like forever, and would love to be able to add something. A second tank is not an option, unless I want a divorce in my future. It's hard enough to justify this one past the "family budget".

I've often considered adding something to the 10gal refugium, but it just seems like such a small area. Most of it is full of "reef rubble" and Miracle Mud/sand. Thoughts?

I'm assuming anything added to the main tank will be eaten/killed as the fish are used to eating anything I put in there. There was a time I wanted a Maroon Clowfish or Snowflake eel, but have not tried either. I also would never consider parting with any of these fish to start over. I don't know of any inverts that would work, but would love to try (possibly in the refugium?) There used to be a fairly large mantis shrimp that lived with us for about a year, but the triggers got him one day (long story).

Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas?

 

[EllieSuz]

I don't have any suggestions, but I'd love to hear the long story about the Mantis.

 

[billsreef]

A large angel such as a Queen, Passer, or Mac that can hold it's own or one of the large Thallasoma wrasses such as a Lunar.

 

[Mike5252]

Well, the long story about the Mantis shrimp isn't really that long. Basically, my wife and I made a whole hearted attempt to move him to another tank (which eventually became my refugium w/ Mud & LR.) This entire process took about 3 days, between trying different "traps" to moving rock around to finally just catching him. We thought we could save him by removing him from the aggressive tank, where he was surely to be eaten.

During the move, I found that a clown trigger is much faster than I am. I had him cornered and was herding him toward a glass jar with a net. I guess maybe the trigger fish thought he was helping with the herding process. It was over before I knew what was going on.

Sometimes I wonder if I would have just left him be, if he'd still be in there. He was interesting to watch. Never a problem and very colorful. He would eat just about anything.

 

[Mike5252]

UPDATE:

I posted this in another forum (fish only - aggressive) and received a good answer. I think I'll give discosoma mushrooms a try. Unless anyone else thinks differently.

Here was the reply from Sk8r:
-----------------------------

Well, you're doing something right to have those fish healthy and growing after 4 years.
I wonder if, for one thing, ordinary discosoma mushroooms might not brighten up your tank and provide some motion---without getting eaten. They spread well, take little light, are inexpensive, and thrive on a little extra food in the water.
Green star polyp is another unkillable, and I don't know if the fish would bother it, but I'm pretty sure the tang wouldn't.
A purple dottyback might be onery enough to hold his own: the dottybacks are (I believe) relatives of the wolf eel, and for sheer intelligence and low cunning (you can't catch one) as well as a little touch of mayhem, they're hard to beat. They come in yellow, purple, etc.


__________________
Sk8r

 

[kmckay]

Those are definatly worth a try.

 

[ludiNano]

I understand you've had these fish a long time. But everyone reading this is thinking of all...... the things you could pack in 210 gallon full blown reef.

But i have monti digita, squami clam( very small now), moti plate, candy coral, plate coral, zoa's, mushrooms, xena, and a clown in a 10 gallon.

Im sorry, i know this last comment is something constantly made fun of. Should i have all that in a 10 gallon tank, probly not!!!!!!
I am working on a larger home for all.

Im sure any soft coral would do fine. If you were to keep SPS that would be a lot of calcium supplemet for 220 gallon and 10g's of it needing it.