Fish Selection

[kross62948]

I have a 180 gallon and 30 gallon sump that has been set up for 5 months. I had problems keeping fish alive but feel like I've turned the corner and currently have a convict tang, coral beauty angel, 2 false percula clowns that IMO are doing very well and a bunch of snails and red legged crabs. There is also a small patch of palythoas that came in on some live rock that I purchased from an established tank. There is approximately 200 lbs of live rock with lots of caves and hiding places for the fish and 2-3 inches of aragonite substrate. I do not currently have refugium so I'm planning on staying away from fish that rely on a pod population. I would also like to keep some easy corals somewhere down the line and wouldn't mind having some shrimp as well.

I'm trying to plan my next fish as soon as the quarantine tank is fully cycled but wanted to get some advice on which way to go and which fish to add in the correct order.

Fish I would like to possibly add:
One or both tangs depending on advice I receive
Orange Shoulder Tang
Lieutenant Tang
Anthias (advice needed on what kind)
Wrasse (advice needed on what kind)
Bangaii Cardinals
Flame Hawkfish (questionable with shrimp?)
Cream Angel (easiest large angel but questionable with corals and aggression?)
2 neon gobies

I'd like advice on the above fish and recommendations on other possible fish that I'm overlooking that are fairly hardy and would do well with the current fish in the aquarium.

Much appreciated

[CrayolaViolence]

Pods will grow in your tank. I have several tanks with no sumps, and they have so many amphipods and copepods I call them roach motels. You simply need the right conditions, and trust me, they will explode in population.

[kross62948]

Originally Posted by CrayolaViolence

Pods will grow in your tank. I have several tanks with no sumps, and they have so many amphipods and copepods I call them roach motels. You simply need the right conditions, and trust me, they will explode in population.

I'll give it a try! Where did you get your pods? I've been looking at some from reefnutrition.com.

[scooter31707]

For as your potential wishlist, I would not choose neither one of those tangs with you already having a Convict. I would go with other options for tangs such as a Yellow/Purple and/or Kole, Tomini, Chevron. Reason I say this, b/c Convict can get bullied very easily and will become stressed easily. Also IME, cream angel was not reef-safe at all. Had 2 and both nipped like crazy. IMO, you probably could do 2-3 reef-safe wrasses.

[kross62948]

Originally Posted by scooter31707

For as your potential wishlist, I would not choose neither one of those tangs with you already having a Convict. I would go with other options for tangs such as a Yellow/Purple and/or Kole, Tomini, Chevron. Reason I say this, b/c Convict can get bullied very easily and will become stressed easily. Also IME, cream angel was not reef-safe at all. Had 2 and both nipped like crazy. IMO, you probably could do 2-3 reef-safe wrasses.

Thanks for your advice! I figured the Cream Angel was a no go. The reason I was looking at the Orange Shoulder Tang was that I read that they were not overly aggressive and a website actually mentioned it as a good addition for the convict.

What wrasses would you recommend?

[anthonys51]

any of the fairy wrasses, i find them easy to keep, tend to swim around a lot and and they get along with everyone.

[scooter31707]

Originally Posted by kross62948

Thanks for your advice! I figured the Cream Angel was a no go. The reason I was looking at the Orange Shoulder Tang was that I read that they were not overly aggressive and a website actually mentioned it as a good addition for the convict.

What wrasses would you recommend?

If you did choose between one of them I would choose the Lieutenant Tang instead. IME, they are very peaceful around other tangs, but I have seen them act out of character with other Acan. species. IME, Orange shoulder can be hit or miss, as they can be jerks. Also, if you do get any tangs, try to get them a smaller than the Convict, letting the Convict be the dominant tang for awhile.

[kross62948]

Originally Posted by scooter31707

If you did choose between one of them I would choose the Lieutenant Tang instead. IME, they are very peaceful around other tangs, but I have seen them act out of character with other Acan. species. IME, Orange shoulder can be hit or miss, as they can be jerks. Also, if you do get any tangs, try to get them a smaller than the Convict, letting the Convict be the dominant tang for awhile.

Thanks for the info. I may just go with the Tomini that was suggested earlier. I really don't want to take a chance and stress out the Convict...he's pretty cool and mild mannered. I'll get a small one when I think I'm ready to add another fish.

Has anyone had any experiences with either the Spotbreast or Lanmarck Angel? How do you think they would do with a Convict Tang, Coral Beauty Angel and the Clownfish?