Wrasse help in 40breeder

[aquaknox]

I have a 40 breeder reef tank with mostly soft corals and I'd like to add a wrasse that's active, peaceful, and pest control all in one. So I was thinking Cirrhilabrus (fairy), Paracheilinus (flasher), or the Halichoeres genus.

Current livestock:
2 clowns w/rbta
Royal Gramma
Green Mandarin
Lawnmower Blenny
Diamond Watchman goby
2 Cleaner Shirmp

I like the way a lot of the Halichoeres look but I have a feeling that they might outgrow my tank and get aggressive before I upsize in 2015. So I was thinking the Paracheilinus or Cirrhilabrus would be a better route. If you have experience with any of these in a 40 breeder, all advice is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Ptyochromis]

For your tank size I would say Halichoeres chrysus or Halichoeres leucoxanthus, but it's iffy with that mandarin.

Fary and flasher wrasses don't do much in the way of pest control, they eat mostly from the water column. Both of these would do much better in a larger tank.

Edit: any wrasse that actively grazes is going to ruin your pod population, keep that in mind so you don't starve your mandarin.

 

[Marshall O]

Given the livestock you already have and the size of the tank, I would not recommend adding any Wrasses. The tank is too small (IMO) for almost all but the smallest Fairy Wrasses. While most smaller Flasher Wrasses would likely be fine, they would be competing for food with the Mandarin, which is not a good situation in a smaller tank. I think the tank is too small for any Halichoeres as well, especially given the fact that the tank is not lightly stocked.

 

[aquaknox]

Given the livestock you already have and the size of the tank, I would not recommend adding any Wrasses. The tank is too small (IMO) for almost all but the smallest Fairy Wrasses. While most smaller Flasher Wrasses would likely be fine, they would be competing for food with the Mandarin, which is not a good situation in a smaller tank. I think the tank is too small for any Halichoeres as well, especially given the fact that the tank is not lightly stocked.

It's covered in liverock plus 40 breeder sump/refugium with skimmer. I thought about the competition with mandain. I'd rather not risk that. IYO what fish would you add to make the tank have some more activity?

 

[aquaknox]

For your tank size I would say Halichoeres chrysus or Halichoeres leucoxanthus, but it's iffy with that mandarin.

Fary and flasher wrasses don't do much in the way of pest control, they eat mostly from the water column. Both of these would do much better in a larger tank.

Edit: any wrasse that actively grazes is going to ruin your pod population, keep that in mind so you don't starve your mandarin.

I love my mandarin too much, maybe wrasse isn't such a good idea. Any other suggestions fish wise? Or possibly culturing copepods?

 

[sponger0]

Honestly, Id say no more fish. Id say you are fully stocked.

I did have a fairy wrasse in my 40 breeder when I had it and her did fine but there was alot of swimming room and he was fairly small

 

[Marshall O]

It's covered in liverock plus 40 breeder sump/refugium with skimmer. I thought about the competition with mandain. I'd rather not risk that. IYO what fish would you add to make the tank have some more activity?

Good choice IMO. A 40 is borderline for a Mandarin as it is, so no need to risk it. As far as another active fish, that is a little tough. Most of the smaller fish I would normally recommend would not do well in your tank do to your existing livestock, or are not all that active (a Firefish or Assessor would likely do well in your tank, but are not "active"). So, you would need a smaller fish that can stand its own against the clowns and LMB, but now be overly aggressive and also not compete with the Mandarin. The only one that quickly comes to mind is an Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani). Again, I do think your tank is already well stocked and this may push it over the edge.

Another option that may be better would be to add a cleaner Goby (Elacatinus oceanops). They stay much smaller, are not bothered by any fish since they are cleaners, stay somewhat active, and provide a valuable service to the other livestock.

 

[aquaknox]

Good choice IMO. A 40 is borderline for a Mandarin as it is, so no need to risk it. As far as another active fish, that is a little tough. Most of the smaller fish I would normally recommend would not do well in your tank do to your existing livestock, or are not all that active (a Firefish or Assessor would likely do well in your tank, but are not "active"). So, you would need a smaller fish that can stand its own against the clowns and LMB, but now be overly aggressive and also not compete with the Mandarin. The only one that quickly comes to mind is an Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani). Again, I do think your tank is already well stocked and this may push it over the edge.

Another option that may be better would be to add a cleaner Goby (Elacatinus oceanops). They stay much smaller, are not bothered by any fish since they are cleaners, stay somewhat active, and provide a valuable service to the other livestock.

I've had my mandain for almost two years in the 40g and he only eats pods. But I'll just be patient, part of the hobby, and wait till I get my big tank set back up next year. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ptyochromis]

I've had my mandain for almost two years in the 40g and he only eats pods. But I'll just be patient, part of the hobby, and wait till I get my big tank set back up next year. Thanks for the advice.

Anything that actively grazes the rock/sand will compete too much with your mandarin for food. A blue-green chromis would be a good choice if you are dead set on adding something.