Fish Compatibility Questions

numbr1westsida · 11/09/2008, 05:58 PM

So. my tank currently houses 3 perc clowns, 2 b/w damsels, purple dottyback. i house softies and some sps, and a couple lps. its a 55gallon with a 20gal sump/refugium that has chaeto and l/s. also have a fluval 405 and gamma 25 watt uv. the main tank has about 130 pounds of l/r and 3 inches of l/s. i am looking to buy a Scopas Tang, mandarin goby, lawnmower blenny, and a flame angel. any problems with compatibilty? i understand the requirements for the goby, and am ready for that. i have a bunch of hair algae growing in the main tank, due to indirect lighting i cant do anythin about it, for the lawnmower blenny.

reefworm · 11/09/2008, 06:52 PM

Sorry to be something of a downer, but...
a smallish tank for the tang, the flame angel is a crap shoot as far as nipping and harassing corals, the mandarin needs a mature system with lots of pods [the dottyback may out-compete]. Plus those damsels could go after anything. You might even consider removing them to open up other possibilities.

numbr1westsida · 11/09/2008, 06:58 PM

tank is 18-20 months old. damsels seem to juz go after each other. all day.

numbr1westsida · 11/09/2008, 06:58 PM

tank is 18-20 months old. damsels seem to juz go after each other. all day. also, im about to upgrade to a 75 gal in the next 4 weeks

reefworm · 11/10/2008, 12:17 PM

75 would be better for the scopas, still a might early for the mandarin. you might consider setting up a refugium to grow a good population of 'pods - that would help a great deal. I would say a year after the transfer to the 75 minimum to make sure it's really a mature system. the damsels will tend to occupy each other, but that's not to say that they always will. just a thought, that while you're doing the transfer, it would be the best opportunity to catch them, and perhaps trade with the LFS. if you like the damsels, and they really are keeping to themselves you may be just fine. my $.02

IslandCrow · 11/10/2008, 12:53 PM

Please tell me you're kidding. Are you already have 5 damsels and a dottyback in the tank and you want to add 4 more fish. Personally, I think you're overstocked already, plus you're going to have compatibility issues as it is with all of those damsels in one tank.

By the way, I think your hair algae problem has more to do with your bioload than your sunlight. I try to get direct sunlight into my tank. It only fuels algae if other conditions in your tank are ripe for growing algae (i.e. high nutrient levels).

Dave & Monica · 11/10/2008, 01:14 PM

Perc's will defend their own, Iâ€™m concerned about two things (2) the b/w (black and White?) damsels as when they get bigger, will terrorize the tank, believe me. The mandarin goby is your biggest problem as they are peaceful and I would guess it would not last, even with all the pods. My 2 cents at least. The purple dottyback may get aggressive with new fish, depending on how much rock work you have. The Tang (buy it small and use it as an excuse to buy a bigger tank later) should do fine. -- good luck

numbr1westsida · 11/10/2008, 03:18 PM

only 2 damsels, and when i upgrade the tank, i believe they are not going to be included in the upgrade. i guess it comes down to the mandarin, 3 percs, tang, dottyback and lawnmower blenny. rock is from the bottom to the top with archs. wife has limited me to 75. anybigger and she gets another dog! to add to our 3 already. so i think ill juz have to get creative in upgrading. add a larger sump, larger fuge, etc. but main tank can only b 75. there arent 5 damsels, some1 misread. there r two. also about 2 years old, so im assuming they r full grown at about 2.5 inches. i recieved them from a buddy breakin down a nano tank.

Slakker · 11/10/2008, 03:23 PM

2.5 inches is nowhere near full grown for most damsels.

And you have five. Clownfish are damsels. You should get rid of one of the clowns, for sure.

Three clownfish = one dead clownfish shortly after the other two pair up.

numbr1westsida · 11/10/2008, 03:37 PM

how long until they pair up? they all share an anemone and should be near maturity now. correct?

jthao · 11/10/2008, 03:50 PM

two percs
the dottyback
scopas
lawnmower blenny

you'll be fine with this combination of fish.

numbr1westsida · 11/10/2008, 03:59 PM

wut about addin the mandarin, wife really has her heart set on it

IslandCrow · 11/10/2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

only 2 damsels

Clownfish are damsels, so you have 5 damsels. Percs and Ocellaris will usually tolerate 3 members of the species for awhile. Eventually, the third fish is usually terrorized into submission and often times dies of starvation because it's not allowed to eat.

I guess you're actually serious about this, so I should tell you what else is wrong with your plan. Dave & Monica already pointed out the problem with the mandarin. Tangs of any type and practically any size are inappropriate for a tank your size. They require a lot of swimming room and have a high bioload. The lawnmower blenny may also not be as appropriate as you might think. They don't always readily accept prepared foods, so once they take care of your hair algae, it could potentially starve. Flame angels are fine, but they will occasionally nip at corals. Then of course, there's the number of fish. Compatability aside, I probably wouldn't put more than 4, maybe 5 of any of those fish in a 55g tank. You just can't have it all in this hobby, especially with a small tank.

Slakker · 11/10/2008, 04:47 PM

I wouldn't attempt a mandarin, but if you absolutely must I would wait several years and add an absolutely enormous refugium.

numbr1westsida · 11/10/2008, 06:29 PM

ic, thanks...but u think those fish, minus the angel and the eventual mandarin, wuld do fine in a 75?

numbr1westsida · 11/14/2008, 08:31 PM

well...i put in a small scopas, a small lawnmower, and a yellow target mandarin. the mandarin was already eating pellet food (spectrum) and i saw it ate. so far soo good. my large clown initially went after the scopas and bit a small piece off his spine, but doesnt bother him now (48hrs later). all the fish have eaten well, and the scopas is now swimming right next to the large clown, and the dottyback doesnt bother any1. when i first got the goby, my coral banded shrimp went over to him and picked him up, and spun him around. kinda scared me, but i turned off the lights for 2 hours after adding the fish (after30 min temp acclimation, and 1 hr drip acclimation). so all is good. thanks for all your input, it did make me decide to stay away from the flame angel. the scopas is considered a small one, mayb 1.5 inches long. all looks great. cant wait to move these guys into my new 75 gal

11/09/2008, 05:58 PM	#1
numbr1westsida Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: East Bay, Ca Posts: 445	Fish Compatibility Questions So. my tank currently houses 3 perc clowns, 2 b/w damsels, purple dottyback. i house softies and some sps, and a couple lps. its a 55gallon with a 20gal sump/refugium that has chaeto and l/s. also have a fluval 405 and gamma 25 watt uv. the main tank has about 130 pounds of l/r and 3 inches of l/s. i am looking to buy a Scopas Tang, mandarin goby, lawnmower blenny, and a flame angel. any problems with compatibilty? i understand the requirements for the goby, and am ready for that. i have a bunch of hair algae growing in the main tank, due to indirect lighting i cant do anythin about it, for the lawnmower blenny.

11/09/2008, 06:52 PM	#2
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	Sorry to be something of a downer, but... a smallish tank for the tang, the flame angel is a crap shoot as far as nipping and harassing corals, the mandarin needs a mature system with lots of pods [the dottyback may out-compete]. Plus those damsels could go after anything. You might even consider removing them to open up other possibilities. __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

11/10/2008, 12:17 PM	#5
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	75 would be better for the scopas, still a might early for the mandarin. you might consider setting up a refugium to grow a good population of 'pods - that would help a great deal. I would say a year after the transfer to the 75 minimum to make sure it's really a mature system. the damsels will tend to occupy each other, but that's not to say that they always will. just a thought, that while you're doing the transfer, it would be the best opportunity to catch them, and perhaps trade with the LFS. if you like the damsels, and they really are keeping to themselves you may be just fine. my $.02 __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

11/10/2008, 12:53 PM	#6
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Please tell me you're kidding. Are you already have 5 damsels and a dottyback in the tank and you want to add 4 more fish. Personally, I think you're overstocked already, plus you're going to have compatibility issues as it is with all of those damsels in one tank. By the way, I think your hair algae problem has more to do with your bioload than your sunlight. I try to get direct sunlight into my tank. It only fuels algae if other conditions in your tank are ripe for growing algae (i.e. high nutrient levels). __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

11/10/2008, 03:23 PM	#9
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	2.5 inches is nowhere near full grown for most damsels. And you have five. Clownfish are damsels. You should get rid of one of the clowns, for sure. Three clownfish = one dead clownfish shortly after the other two pair up. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

11/09/2008, 06:58 PM	#3
numbr1westsida Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: East Bay, Ca Posts: 445	tank is 18-20 months old. damsels seem to juz go after each other. all day.

11/10/2008, 01:14 PM	#7
Dave & Monica Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 1,255	Perc's will defend their own, Iâ€™m concerned about two things (2) the b/w (black and White?) damsels as when they get bigger, will terrorize the tank, believe me. The mandarin goby is your biggest problem as they are peaceful and I would guess it would not last, even with all the pods. My 2 cents at least. The purple dottyback may get aggressive with new fish, depending on how much rock work you have. The Tang (buy it small and use it as an excuse to buy a bigger tank later) should do fine. -- good luck

11/10/2008, 03:18 PM	#8
numbr1westsida Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: East Bay, Ca Posts: 445	only 2 damsels, and when i upgrade the tank, i believe they are not going to be included in the upgrade. i guess it comes down to the mandarin, 3 percs, tang, dottyback and lawnmower blenny. rock is from the bottom to the top with archs. wife has limited me to 75. anybigger and she gets another dog! to add to our 3 already. so i think ill juz have to get creative in upgrading. add a larger sump, larger fuge, etc. but main tank can only b 75. there arent 5 damsels, some1 misread. there r two. also about 2 years old, so im assuming they r full grown at about 2.5 inches. i recieved them from a buddy breakin down a nano tank.

11/10/2008, 03:37 PM	#10
numbr1westsida Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: East Bay, Ca Posts: 445	how long until they pair up? they all share an anemone and should be near maturity now. correct?

11/10/2008, 03:50 PM	#11
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	two percs the dottyback scopas lawnmower blenny you'll be fine with this combination of fish. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

11/10/2008, 03:59 PM	#12
numbr1westsida Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: East Bay, Ca Posts: 445	wut about addin the mandarin, wife really has her heart set on it

11/10/2008, 04:47 PM	#14
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	I wouldn't attempt a mandarin, but if you absolutely must I would wait several years and add an absolutely enormous refugium. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

11/10/2008, 06:29 PM	#15
numbr1westsida Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: East Bay, Ca Posts: 445	ic, thanks...but u think those fish, minus the angel and the eventual mandarin, wuld do fine in a 75?

11/14/2008, 08:31 PM	#16
numbr1westsida Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: East Bay, Ca Posts: 445	well...i put in a small scopas, a small lawnmower, and a yellow target mandarin. the mandarin was already eating pellet food (spectrum) and i saw it ate. so far soo good. my large clown initially went after the scopas and bit a small piece off his spine, but doesnt bother him now (48hrs later). all the fish have eaten well, and the scopas is now swimming right next to the large clown, and the dottyback doesnt bother any1. when i first got the goby, my coral banded shrimp went over to him and picked him up, and spun him around. kinda scared me, but i turned off the lights for 2 hours after adding the fish (after30 min temp acclimation, and 1 hr drip acclimation). so all is good. thanks for all your input, it did make me decide to stay away from the flame angel. the scopas is considered a small one, mayb 1.5 inches long. all looks great. cant wait to move these guys into my new 75 gal