PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[AdamSabina]

Originally Posted by snorvich

yes

Thanks again.

[Chosmic]

Originally Posted by snorvich

You have too many fish, all of which are potentially aggressive, in too small a tank. Your problem sounds like over feeding (by the way)

Okay thank you also should I bring my dottyback back? He's seems a bit aggressive and overcrowding could be it also.if I wete to get rid of the dotty and get the lawnmower blenny would I be good then?

[shesacharmer]

I'm getting a 75 gal setup with sump and live rock/sand which has been cycled (although I'm moving it two hours away so planning to be cautious and test, test, test before adding anything.)

I'm trying to research the fish I want to keep, plan ahead, and stick to my list as closely as possible.

I know I want Bengaii Cardinal, Pajama Cardinal, Blue Green Chromis, and some sort of Clown, so I'm trying come up with something compatible that won't grow to be more than 6" as an adult. I see the Fairy Wrasse couple as lovely, peaceful, and only 5" max. Could a pair be content in a 75 gal reef setup with these tank mates?

I would like a yellow tang but don't think it would really be happy.

All suggestions considered!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Chosmic

Okay thank you also should I bring my dottyback back? He's seems a bit aggressive and overcrowding could be it also.if I wete to get rid of the dotty and get the lawnmower blenny would I be good then?

Well, better but not "good". If you want to have the lawnmower blenny (which is a fun fish) remove any two of the existing, but preferably one being the dottyback.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by shesacharmer

I'm getting a 75 gal setup with sump and live rock/sand which has been cycled (although I'm moving it two hours away so planning to be cautious and test, test, test before adding anything.)

I'm trying to research the fish I want to keep, plan ahead, and stick to my list as closely as possible.

I know I want Bengaii Cardinal, Pajama Cardinal, Blue Green Chromis so I'm trying come up with something compatible that won't grow to be more than 6" as an adult. I see the Fairy Wrasse couple as lovely, peaceful, and only 5" max. Could a pair be content in a 75 gal reef setup with these tank mates?

that would work, but a pair of flasher wrasses would be more interesting and less potentially territorial

I would like a yellow tang but don't think it would really be happy. that would require a larger tank

All suggestions considered!

[shesacharmer]

Did you have a variety of Flasher in mind?

[shesacharmer]

Do corals add to the bio load when considering the optimum number of fish a given size tank can support? (75 gal reef w/sump & LR)

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by shesacharmer

Did you have a variety of Flasher in mind?

Behaviorally, they are all similar except the Red Sea eight line flasher wrasse (which is aggressive). So it depends on personal appeal. I personally like them all.

[Chosmic]

Originally Posted by snorvich

Well, better but not "good". If you want to have the lawnmower blenny (which is a fun fish) remove any two of the existing, but preferably one being the dottyback.

Okay thank you so much, ill keep my favorite two which are the puffer and clownie (: thank you so much means a lot

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by shesacharmer

Do corals add to the bio load when considering the optimum number of fish a given size tank can support? (75 gal reef w/sump & LR)

No. Corals and inverts do not contribute to bioload. However behavior is always the binding constraint on tank stocking rather than bioload. That is one of the reasons this thread has tens of thousands of questions (the thread was split three times) and hundreds of thousands of views.

[shesacharmer]

I'm seeing a huge disparity in opinion regarding these particular shrimp. Some say they are great for beginners and others say they wish they never got them. Can anyone offer me a basic list of pros and cons and/or suggest a "better" variety of shrimp?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by shesacharmer

I'm seeing a huge disparity in opinion regarding these particular shrimp. Some say they are great for beginners and others say they wish they never got them. Can anyone offer me a basic list of pros and cons and/or suggest a "better" variety of shrimp?

this thread is only about marine fish compatibility so this type of question is not one I normally answer here. However, since you are new ... the disparity of answers may come from the fact that some LFS sell camel shrimp as peppermint shrimp and those are not coral safe. Some of the knocks about shrimp in general come from the fact that people who feed LPS corals find that shrimp steal food from the coral. That is easily remedied with a tupperware (or equivalent brand) dome with holes drilled for water circulation that protects eating corals from theft due to shrimp stealing food. Peppermint shrimp (true ones not camel shrimp) are also known to eat aiptasia which is one of the pests most despised by aquarists. I personally keep cleaner shrimp pairs in my tanks. Good scavengers, and more visible than peppermints which hide.

[shesacharmer]

I appreciate your help Steve.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by shesacharmer

I appreciate your help Steve.

always a pleasure. Check back with any marine fish compatibility issues.

[AgentCaramel]

I have a Diamond spotted goby, a Javanese Damsel, a Pink Smith Damsel, a Maroon Clownfish, a cleaner shrimp, and a green Bubble Tip Anemone.

Put my first 3 corals in this week and im excited to see where they go, A Green Hammer Coral, a Christmas Favia and a Purple People Eater polyp.

Im thinking 1 maayyyyyybe 2 more fish at most trynna decide what i would put in there. any ideas are welcome

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by AgentCaramel

I have a Diamond spotted goby, a Javanese Damsel, a Pink Smith Damsel, a Maroon Clownfish, a cleaner shrimp, and a green Bubble Tip Anemone.

Put my first 3 corals in this week and im excited to see where they go, A Green Hammer Coral, a Christmas Favia and a Purple People Eater polyp.

Im thinking 1 maayyyyyybe 2 more fish at most trynna decide what i would put in there. any ideas are welcome

You have three aggressive fish already. What tank size? Tank age?

[ACinSV]

New here & to the hobby - thx much for a GREAT site! I have a VERY similar crowd to what shesacharmer proposed just a few posts ago, btw, so that was a helpful coinkydink...

60g peaceful FOWLR, ~20 (?) lbs Pukani dry rock, 2" live sand, Penguin 200 + 350 + 3 heaters (yeah, I like overkill - oops, shouldn't say "kill" !;-), setup & cycled 5-6 mo's, very stable params.

Already have: 2 Ocel. clowns (they seem mated), pistol/antenna-goby pair, 1 Banggai, 1 Halloween hermit, and 1 chromis. (There were 3, but apparently they DO do the Highlander thing: "there can be only one!" ;-).

Tank's been very stable for a couple of months at least - good params - but I know I'm still a newbie and that 'nothing good happens fast', so I'm still cautious about changes, or spending lots on livestock.

So: I'd like to add a few more, up to bioload (and I understand now it's more about elbow-room than chemistry, right?), and my priorities are: compatible, cheap, colorful, and commonly-available (hey, 4 C's!) @ LFS's (mine's pretty good).

Thinking of 2 yellowtail damsels. I'd add 2-3 chromis' back but worry they'd just cull 'emselves down again. I like the Banggai (my only recent addition) and thinking of another. I'd also like a bit more CUC - interested in a seastar but worried about sensitivity - nervous about snails (I like bumblebees for, again, colorfulness) with the hermie, know nothing about other non-hermit crabs, or adding other shrimp. I like a McCosker's or a Pajama -- but don't want to shell out for $30-50 fishies or add things willy-nilly until I feel a little more experienced. ("And all the experts said hallelujah!")

Would LOVE sugg'ns: what to get, and thoughts on remaining available bioload/space.

[AgentCaramel]

Originally Posted by snorvich

You have three aggressive fish already. What tank size? Tank age?

tank is about 6 months old and is 40 gallons

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by ACinSV

New here & to the hobby - thx much for a GREAT site! I have a VERY similar crowd to what shesacharmer proposed just a few posts ago, btw, so that was a helpful coinkydink...

but that tank was larger . . .

60g peaceful FOWLR, ~20 (?) lbs Pukani dry rock, 2" live sand, Penguin 200 + 350 + 3 heaters (yeah, I like overkill - oops, shouldn't say "kill" !;-), setup & cycled 5-6 mo's, very stable params.

Already have: 2 Ocel. clowns (they seem mated), pistol/antenna-goby pair, 1 Banggai, 1 Halloween hermit hermits kill snails. Large hermits are not fish safe , and 1 chromis. (There were 3, but apparently they DO do the Highlander thing: "there can be only one!" ;-).

Tank's been very stable for a couple of months at least - good params - but I know I'm still a newbie and that 'nothing good happens fast', so I'm still cautious about changes, or spending lots on livestock.

So: I'd like to add a few more, up to bioload (and I understand now it's more about elbow-room than chemistry, right?), and my priorities are: compatible, cheap, colorful, and commonly-available (hey, 4 C's!) @ LFS's (mine's pretty good).

Thinking of 2 yellowtail damsels. aggressive, would limit tank mates


I'd add 2-3 chromis' back but worry they'd just cull 'emselves down again. they would


I like the Banggai (my only recent addition) and thinking of another. I'd also like a bit more CUC - interested in a seastar but worried about sensitivity - nervous about snails (I like bumblebees for, again, colorfulness) with the hermie, know nothing about crabs or adding other shrimp. I like a McCosker's or a Pajama -- but don't want to shell out for $30-50 fishies until I feel a little more experienced. ("And all the experts said hallelujah, finally!")

Would LOVE sugg'ns: what to get, and thoughts on remaining available bioload/space.

As those who follow this thread know, I do not provide recommendations for a variety of reasons. However I am always happy to review stocking list for behavioral compatibility with each other and the environment you are providing.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by AgentCaramel

tank is about 6 months old and is 40 gallons

With the fish you have currently, it will be difficult to add additional fish due to their aggressiveness.

[AgentCaramel]

Originally Posted by snorvich

With the fish you have currently, it will be difficult to add additional fish due to their aggressiveness.

the pink smith aint so bad...its the Javanese damsel that is pretty feisty. you don't think if i get something of similar aggression but a little bigger would be ok?

the maroon clown is my newest addition, he is kinda shy & he just discovered the anemone last night

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by AgentCaramel

the pink smith aint so bad...its the Javanese damsel that is pretty feisty. you don't think if i get something of similar aggression but a little bigger would be ok?

the one which will be the worst is the maroon clownfish. I do not advocate adding more aggressive fish to a tank to compensate for the aggressive fish already there. Eventually, there will be a loser.

[AgentCaramel]

Originally Posted by snorvich

the one which will be the worst is the maroon clownfish. I do not advocate adding more aggressive fish to a tank to compensate for the aggressive fish already there. Eventually, there will be a loser.

i figured you were gonna say that...i edited my post but i dunno if you saw it... the maroon is the newest addition. been here for about 2 weeks now and so far has been shy & submissive towards the others

[DrBoxedWine]

Hi Snorvich,

I'll be setting up a standard sized 75g mixed reef at the end of summer. I plan on starting with easier corals and an Anemone, but i'm getting the Kessils so I have the options to do more demanding corals in the future. Here is the setup I'll be running

75g tank; LifeReef 600gph overflow, Mag 9.5 return pump, FluidDesigners 30g sump with refugium, Reef Octopus NWB150 skimmer, 2 Kessil A360s (i think, and assuming they don't announce a new line at MACNA), screen top to avoid jumpers. ATO system. 2 Hydor Koralia 750s (have other pumps to increase this, if need be, although i'd like to keep the surface agitation on the lower side so i don't get too much shimmer from the Kessils.

Fish: I'd like to add the top 3, but i'm guessing i'll have to drop at least one of them (i'd drop the flame first, if needed, since it sounds like i'm 50/50 about him eating my corals, anyway). I also enjoy the fish more than corals, so I'd rather sacrifice the corals that need super clean water for another fish or 2.

Kole Tang
One Spot Foxface
Flame Angel
2 Clowns (Occelaris or some black Percula) and their Anemone (A Colorado Sunburst is my plan)
Mandarin (I'll wait the 6 months or however long it takes for Pods to establish)
Midas Blenny
Mccoskers Flasher Wrasse (1 male? or perhaps 1 male and 2 females? I'm thinking only 1 might be a way to keep the total numbers down, also would consider swapping him for an Orange & Black Fairy Wrasse)
Goby and his associated pistol shrimp. (I was thinking Yellow Watchman, but i'd like a personable one that lives with a shrimp, i'm open to suggestions as i hear the Yellow WMs are hit or miss as far as being shy goes)
Flame Hawk (on the fence with this guy, as i don't want him to eat my clean up crew, but i love how personable they are, this is actually one of the fish that initially got me excited to switch to saltwater)
Lawnmower Blenny (I hear they're very personable, but is that too many herbivores? and will he be alright with the Midas?)

CUC - I'll probably do a couple peppermint shrimps and maybe a Fire Shrimp? Also some snails in there.

So, thoughts? Is that too many fish? And as I said, if 3 larger fish is too much, i'm ok with dropping the angel.

Thanks in advance! Much appreciated!

Richard

[ACinSV]

Originally Posted by snorvich

As those who follow this thread know, I do not provide recommendations for a variety of reasons. However I am always happy to review stocking list for behavioral compatibility with each other and the environment you are providing.

(sorry, for some reason couldn't quote the rest of the OP with your replies)

Ah - good to know! (Believe me, I'd've liked to've parsed through the thread first, but w/ 420 screens of posts in this forum...) Anyhow, I fully understand at least some of that variety of reasons. Now that I think about it: stupid question. "Gee, there are a few (and then some) hundred varieties of fish plus all the other factors for a few grazillion possible combinations: tell me what fish to get!"

(And if it goes wrong and someone loses $5k of stock because, to take an extreme example, you said "add a colorful shrimp" and he thought a peacock mantis fit the bill, oh and it caused extreme water damage when his glass tank was smashed, and he blames you unfairly ... OK, a little extreme example, but, yeah: doesn't make sense for you to send people shopping lists and hope it all works out... >;-)

Thanks for the tips, though: I knew about hermies eating snails, so I guess that'll be an either/or. And thanks for confirming that chromis' winnow themselves down; I'll skip that. I'll see how the yellowtails do with the others and how much space they defend -- just got 2 plus one more Banggai.

So, for CUC: I'm thinking of a seastar, would that work? (I can always move the hermie to the QT I'm now setting up, if he's a serious limitation to CUC options.) I'm also thinking about other crabs for CUC (like a lightfoot, or something not looking for a new home to kill for). And a new shrimp or two (haven't settled on the type, but like peppermint, or preferably something that'll stay a little visible). And I just got a really good offer for a Pajama, would that work with the others?

Thanks hugely - your knowledge is exceeded only by your generosity.