Am I nuts -2 more fish

hkgar · 04/07/2016, 03:06 PM

Stop me before I do something insane. I would like to add a Melanrus Wrasse and another tang. I am leaning towards a Tomini. Maybe just the Wrasse.
See my signature line for the 19 fish already in my 180.

I do a pretty good jobe of nutrient export with a skimmer (LifeReef), GFO, carbon dosing and an ATS. I do auto water changes of about 4.5 gallons/day

insomniac2k2 · 04/07/2016, 03:15 PM

Idk. I have 4 cardinals, 1 purple tang, 1 yellow tang, 2 court jesters, 1 royal gama, 1 chromis, 1 Dispar Anthia in a 200DD......Who am i kidding. That's a lot of fish!

That said, I want about 3 more in mine.

addictedreefer · 04/07/2016, 03:36 PM

IME, every tank is different and can handle different bio-loads. If your nitrates/phosphates are low and stable and you go slow, I wouldn't hesitate to add new compatible fish. If those numbers start to rise, either increase water changes or remove some fish.

heathlindner25 · 04/07/2016, 04:55 PM

As long as your nutrients are in check and there's no aggression, I like to pack fish in until they're bumping into each other.

borderreef · 04/08/2016, 08:12 AM

I am not a fan of stocking my tanks heavily. I feel that, to keep my fish happy, they all get their own space. I picture myself on a packed commuter rail car. Do I love this and want to spend all my time in there? Or do I want to get the heck out of there at my first chance. Like I said, it is only my preference, but I give my fish plenty of swimming room.

addictedreefer · 04/08/2016, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borderreef

I am not a fan of stocking my tanks heavily. I feel that, to keep my fish happy, they all get their own space. I picture myself on a packed commuter rail car. Do I love this and want to spend all my time in there? Or do I want to get the heck out of there at my first chance. Like I said, it is only my preference, but I give my fish plenty of swimming room.

Have you ever seen a densely populated wild reef teeming with a multitude of fish? Of course there are limits, but a heavily stocked tank can be more natural.

heathlindner25 · 04/08/2016, 09:45 AM

When there's only a couple fish swimming around the reef, that usually means there's a large Predator around and fish will get scared

04/07/2016, 03:06 PM	#1
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Am I nuts -2 more fish Stop me before I do something insane. I would like to add a Melanrus Wrasse and another tang. I am leaning towards a Tomini. Maybe just the Wrasse. See my signature line for the 19 fish already in my 180. I do a pretty good jobe of nutrient export with a skimmer (LifeReef), GFO, carbon dosing and an ATS. I do auto water changes of about 4.5 gallons/day __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

04/08/2016, 08:12 AM	#5
borderreef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: east brookfield, ma Posts: 572	I am not a fan of stocking my tanks heavily. I feel that, to keep my fish happy, they all get their own space. I picture myself on a packed commuter rail car. Do I love this and want to spend all my time in there? Or do I want to get the heck out of there at my first chance. Like I said, it is only my preference, but I give my fish plenty of swimming room. __________________ There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want. Calvin and Hobbs Current Tank Info: 40b mixed reef with 20g sump. Mg 9.5 return pump running GFO and GAC. Reef Octopus DNW-150 protein skimmer. DIY stand and canopy with 2x 250w MH and 4x 39w vho t5s. Reefkeeper elite controller.

04/07/2016, 03:15 PM	#2
insomniac2k2 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: concord Posts: 1,280	Idk. I have 4 cardinals, 1 purple tang, 1 yellow tang, 2 court jesters, 1 royal gama, 1 chromis, 1 Dispar Anthia in a 200DD......Who am i kidding. That's a lot of fish! That said, I want about 3 more in mine.

04/07/2016, 03:36 PM	#3
addictedreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 965	IME, every tank is different and can handle different bio-loads. If your nitrates/phosphates are low and stable and you go slow, I wouldn't hesitate to add new compatible fish. If those numbers start to rise, either increase water changes or remove some fish.

04/07/2016, 04:55 PM	#4
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	As long as your nutrients are in check and there's no aggression, I like to pack fish in until they're bumping into each other.

04/08/2016, 09:45 AM	#7
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	When there's only a couple fish swimming around the reef, that usually means there's a large Predator around and fish will get scared