Which Fish Would you Add?

[Patrick Cox]

I have a 75G SPS tank with the following fish in order of addition to tank...

2 - Percula Clowns
1 - Blackline Blenny
1 - Yellow Assesor
1 - Neon Goby
1 - Mystery Wrasse

I am ready to add one more fish and this might be my final fish but I will see how it goes. I am considering the following... (both tank bred/raised)

1 - Kaudern's Cardinal

1 - Orchid Dottyback

Other Suggestion?

Which would you add to my tank and why?

Thanks!

 

[reefgoddess808]

I vote for the Kaudrens personally, they are so unique looking and fun to watch. Like a little alien floating around. Also I prefer a firefish over a dotty back, unless its the splendid dottyback, but I think those are not reef safe...can't remember. Anywho, good luck! So far your tank looks beautiful

 

[RayL]

Agree with above, your tank looks great

I would add a dwarf angel if it were me, but I love angels

 

[Patrick Cox]

Agree with above, your tank looks great

I would add a dwarf angel if it were me, but I love angels

Thanks and good thought on the dwarf angel. Would you be worried about it nipping at the SPS?

 

[Patrick Cox]

I vote for the Kaudrens personally, they are so unique looking and fun to watch. Like a little alien floating around. Also I prefer a firefish over a dotty back, unless its the splendid dottyback, but I think those are not reef safe...can't remember. Anywho, good luck! So far your tank looks beautiful

Thanks!

 

[RayL]

Thanks and good thought on the dwarf angel. Would you be worried about it nipping at the SPS?

I personally have my dwarf angel in a fowlr tank, however I have read many times that dwarf angels are normally reef safe. There is a thread in this category called "The angel thread to end all angel threads: all owners of angelfish in reefs respond!!"
If you look in this thread on one of the last couple pages it has a list of most angelfish with people's experiences on if the fish is reef safe. This will hopefully answer the question based on the angel you like.

 

[Whystler]

Pygmy angel?

Pygmy angel?

I would do the Kauderns they are pretty neat. But have you considered a pygmy angel?

I have one and love it. Very active and hasn't touched my corals. Its a good looking active fish that works the rockwork. The kaudern is cool looking but is a "hover" fish. Less active but adds style to the tank.

The flameback looks awesome but can be pricey while the cherub is much cheaper and IMO looks awesome. I love mine and have not regretted it at all.

Since you already have plenty of yellow with the assesor the deep blue almost purple body of the cherub would be a nice addtion to your fish color scheme. IMO

 

[RayL]

I have to agree with the point above about the flameback, it is definitely one of my favourite fish around and according to the thread I previously mentioned, 13/14 people have had great success with it in a reef tank

 

[rssjsb]

Just a word of caution. Pygmy angels like the cherub and flameback are thought to be among the most coral-safe of the dwarf angels, and they're pretty. However, they are also 10 pounds of fish in a 3 ounce package - they have a big attitude and can be extremely territorial.

I would suggest an open-water swimmer like fairy wrasses, but I'm worried that your mystery may not allow it.

 

[Handil]

You could probably add both the cardinal and dotty back and be safe with your size tank. I'm typically a huge proponent on conservative stocking, but that will put you at around 8 small-medium fish with an adequate tank size. My 2 cents. Enjoy!

 

[Megatrev62]

Kole tang would be nice too. Nice tank

 

[Eville]

I have a pair of centropyge argi angels in my 75 gal mixed reef and although mine is not sps dominate, they have a great personality and are very fun to watch together. Another suggestion similar to these would be an African flameback angel. Very cool fish, and your tank looks great!

 

[Whystler]

You could probably add both the cardinal and dotty back and be safe with your size tank. I'm typically a huge proponent on conservative stocking, but that will put you at around 8 small-medium fish with an adequate tank size. My 2 cents. Enjoy!

I agree. Your tank does easily have the room for both. Also the Kole tang would be an excellent choice for that tank. The kole tang would help keep the tank clean and add activity.

In my experience the pygmys can be mean to newcomers. I try to add them last. But the same with the kole tang. Dottybacks can also be that way although not as aggressive as pygmys and tangs. if you really want the kaudels you should add it next. It can easily be bullied into hiding and then not eat well. Common problem from what i have read.

All the options come down to personal taste. I would try to add either the pygmy angel or kole tang for algae cleanup. The tang is a safe bet for reefs while the pygmy is a possible issue.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Thanks for your responses. I like the ideas of the dwarf angel and the Kole tang but I have worries about both:

On the Kole Tang, my tank is 36" x 24" x 20". Is this enough room for a Kole tang? Also on the tang, my understanding is that these fish can easily have ick. So will QT with profilactic copper treatment assure me that any ick the fish may have is gone? I had a bad experience with ick in my prior tank, wiped out all of my fish, so I want to be very conservative in that regard with this tank.

And on the dwarf angel, My main worry is picking at my corals. I do think the coral beauty would blend well with my other fish though.

Need to think this through!

 

[MrClam]

My vote is for the Kauderns. Very interesting fish that gets along well with all my other reef inhabitants. Doesn't swim much, but adds a dynamic of stability that most other fish don't bring (similar to a goby).

 

[rssjsb]

On the Kole Tang, my tank is 36" x 24" x 20". Is this enough room for a Kole tang?

Honestly, I don't think so.

Also on the tang, my understanding is that these fish can easily have ick. So will QT with profilactic copper treatment assure me that any ick the fish may have is gone? I had a bad experience with ick in my prior tank, wiped out all of my fish, so I want to be very conservative in that regard with this tank.

If you properly quarantine and treat at theraputic levels of copper, you should be able to rid a tank of ich.

And on the dwarf angel, My main worry is picking at my corals. I do think the coral beauty would blend well with my other fish though.

That's a risk with any angel. Cherubs can be very territorial, but are generally regarded as a lesser risk to corals. A CB is the opposite. Almost any angel will pose a risk to fleshy LPS.

 

[Patrick Cox]

I just saw a bonded pair of tank bred Kaudern's cardinal fish. I think that might be pretty cool to have another bonded pair. Any thoughts on a pair of cardinals with my clownfish pair? Getting ready to pull the trigger on my fish purchase. Thanks!

 

[aandfsoccr04]

go for it. hopefully the mystery wrasse doesn't terrorize the new inhabitants.