PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[Carl T]

I have a 4 gal Nano with LR, 2 heads Duncan, Xenia, and Frogspawn.
Also a couple Nass and Nerite snails. I really would like to add a "swimming" Goby such as a Court Jester or Hectors. I say "swimming" because I seem to see these guys moving more in the water column rather than dug-in under the rocks. Am I correct about this and would a small goby be OK in a 4g?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Carl T

I have a 4 gal Nano with LR, 2 heads Duncan, Xenia, and Frogspawn.
Also a couple Nass and Nerite snails. I really would like to add a "swimming" Goby such as a Court Jester or Hectors. I say "swimming" because I seem to see these guys moving more in the water column rather than dug-in under the rocks. Am I correct about this and would a small goby be OK in a 4g?

A swimming goby really needs a 10 gallon tank. Sorry.

[Empty Bottles]

I'm in the process of setting up a 60" 90 gallon FOWLR. It's going to have +/- 100 lbs of live rock and a 1" sand floor. There is also a 20 gallon wet/dry filter attached. I'm pretty sure that this is going to be too heavy of a bioload. I'm trying to get an idea of what I can have so I can plan accordingly. I'm not sure of the specific species if they aren't named.

Foxface
Tang - either a Kole or a Bristletooth
Butterfly
Pair of ocellaris clowns
flame angel and possibly another dwarf angel in they can coexist in a 90
starry blenny
Jester or clown goby or maybe a jawfish
fairy or flasher wrasse
mandarin once and if I can sustain a copepod population

Inverts

Chocolate chip star
Serpent star
fighting conch
cleaner shrimp
2-3 peppermint shrimp
decorator crab
mix of snails

Please let me know if that's going to be too many fish and if there's too many grazers. Also I'd like to know if anything is going to stress the copepod population, I'd really like to get a mandarin.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Empty Bottles

I'm in the process of setting up a 60" 90 gallon FOWLR. It's going to have +/- 100 lbs of live rock and a 1" sand floor. There is also a 20 gallon wet/dry filter attached. I'm pretty sure that this is going to be too heavy of a bioload. I'm trying to get an idea of what I can have so I can plan accordingly. I'm not sure of the specific species if they aren't named.

Foxface
Tang - either a Kole or a Bristletooth
Butterfly
Pair of ocellaris clowns
flame angel and possibly another dwarf angel in they can coexist in a 90
starry blenny
Jester or clown goby or maybe a jawfish
fairy or flasher wrasse
mandarin once and if I can sustain a copepod population

I do think you will have too many grazers. And I am a bit skeptical about a mandarin.

Inverts

Chocolate chip star
Serpent star
fighting conch
cleaner shrimp
2-3 peppermint shrimp
decorator crab
mix of snails

Please let me know if that's going to be too many fish and if there's too many grazers. Also I'd like to know if anything is going to stress the copepod population, I'd really like to get a mandarin.

[Empty Bottles]

Thanks for the response. I plan on cycling sometime within the next month. Once I'm ready to add fish I'll run a revised list by you. Why are you skeptical about the mandarin?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Empty Bottles

Thanks for the response. I plan on cycling sometime within the next month. Once I'm ready to add fish I'll run a revised list by you. Why are you skeptical about the mandarin?

Well in a tank that is close to where I feel the minimum size for copepod production (75 gallon reef), with no refugium, and a butterfly which may pick, I can not say for certain if there copepod supply will be adequate.

[Eman79]

Current setup:

55gal. 2" sand bed. 80+ lb live rock. Wet/dry sump ~ 10 gal, w/chaeto. 5 mos. old

Current inhabitants: 2 b+w clowns ( juvenile )
2 RBTA ( it recently split)
2 leather corals
75-100 blue/green mushrooms
Handful of zoas
3 turbo snails
About 8 small hermits
Countless small snails
1 emerald crab. (picked him up to eat bubble algae, but he doesn't eat it)
1 peppermint shrimp (have only seen him once since adding a month ago and not in 2+ weeks. A good hider or dead? No ammonia spike)

I'd like to add some more playful fish.

I'm thinking of a 6 line wrasse ( ive got some flat worms)
2 pajama cardinals
1 Banded or fire shrimp
1 more peppermint shrimp

Down the road I'd like a dwarf angel, bicolor, pigmy, or flame
And a mandarin. Will the mandarin and wrasse compete for copepods? Should I stock with them first to ensure a healthy population before adding either of these fish?

Thanks!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Eman79

Current setup:

55gal. 2" sand bed. 80+ lb live rock. Wet/dry sump ~ 10 gal, w/chaeto. 5 mos. old

Current inhabitants: 2 b+w clowns ( juvenile )
2 RBTA ( it recently split)
2 leather corals
75-100 blue/green mushrooms
Handful of zoas
3 turbo snails
About 8 small hermits
Countless small snails
1 emerald crab. (picked him up to eat bubble algae, but he doesn't eat it) I would remove since they can take fish when larger
1 peppermint shrimp (have only seen him once since adding a month ago and not in 2+ weeks. A good hider or dead? No ammonia spike) superb hider, more nocturnal than diurnal

I'd like to add some more playful fish.

I'm thinking of a 6 line wrasse ( ive got some flat worms) will preclude any future mandarin
2 pajama cardinals
1 Banded or fire shrimp coral banded can take fish, fire or cleaner shrimp are fine
1 more peppermint shrimp

Down the road I'd like a dwarf angel, bicolor, pigmy, or flame

One of these, but this precludes meaty LPS corals

And a mandarin. Will the mandarin and wrasse compete for copepods? Should I stock with them first to ensure a healthy population before adding either of these fish?

If you do a six line, no mandarin, if you want to try a mandarin (your tank size is marginal) no six line

Thanks!

[Fish Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Fish Biscuit
Thanks Steve for the good advise as usual. I think I'll skip the clown all together & go w/ the other 3 unless I find a firefish pair I can't say no to. I'm leaning towards the Helfrichi.

I have Helfrichi in one tank, purple in the other. Both are pretty tough but the purple is tougher. Easy to keep, easy to feed.

& if you can recommend a LFS in IL to find that sugar daddy at, feel free to PM me that information

Unlikely to find one at an LFS . . .

**
Thanks for the additional info on the purple & the Helfrichi, I think I'll see what Old Town has when I'm ready for them. I should've know there would be no sugar daddies at the LFS, you guys spend all your $$ on fish & corals. Oh well, I guess that means there will be a six line in my future

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Fish Biscuit

Originally Posted by Fish Biscuit
Thanks Steve for the good advise as usual. I think I'll skip the clown all together & go w/ the other 3 unless I find a firefish pair I can't say no to. I'm leaning towards the Helfrichi.

I have Helfrichi in one tank, purple in the other. Both are pretty tough but the purple is tougher. Easy to keep, easy to feed.

& if you can recommend a LFS in IL to find that sugar daddy at, feel free to PM me that information

Unlikely to find one at an LFS . . .

**
Thanks for the additional info on the purple & the Helfrichi, I think I'll see what Old Town has when I'm ready for them.

Hi Michele, Old town is the ultimate. Lots of rare and interesting fish, not so great corals.

I should've know there would be no sugar daddies at the LFS, you guys spend all your $$ on fish & corals.

Not necessarily so . . .

Oh well, I guess that means there will be a six line in my future

I HOPE not!

[Fish Biscuit]

Originally Posted by Fish Biscuit
Originally Posted by Fish Biscuit
Thanks Steve for the good advise as usual. I think I'll skip the clown all together & go w/ the other 3 unless I find a firefish pair I can't say no to. I'm leaning towards the Helfrichi.

I have Helfrichi in one tank, purple in the other. Both are pretty tough but the purple is tougher. Easy to keep, easy to feed.

& if you can recommend a LFS in IL to find that sugar daddy at, feel free to PM me that information

Unlikely to find one at an LFS . . .

**
Thanks for the additional info on the purple & the Helfrichi, I think I'll see what Old Town has when I'm ready for them.

Hi Michele, Old town is the ultimate. Lots of rare and interesting fish, not so great corals.

I should've know there would be no sugar daddies at the LFS, you guys spend all your $$ on fish & corals.

Not necessarily so . . .

Oh well, I guess that means there will be a six line in my future

I HOPE not!

I love Old Town, been there twice & fish are insane there. Sometimes it makes me contemplate selling the horse to end up with a nicer tank. I agree about the corals, I have some good resources closer to home & there's always online too.

[CRC88]

Hey! I have a 55g that is going to be upgraded into a 125g possibly a 180g. Let's plan on a 125 to be safe. 100+lbs of live rock, 30g sump w/ fuge.

Current inhabitants:
2 Ocellaris Clowns
1 BiColor Blenny
1 Scopas Tang
1 Blue/Green Mandarin (10 months in and only getting fatter!)
1 Peppermint Shrimp
Various snails (Nassarius, Astrea, Turbos)

Future inhabitants:
Small:
1 Purple Firefish
1 Royal Gramma
1 Kauderns Cardinals
Medium:
1 Flame Angel
3 Anthias or a Flasher Wrasse
3 Blue/Green Chromis
Large:
1 Hippo Tang
1 Naso Tang
1 Powder Blue Tang

I know I'm pushing it with all those tangs in there, and the Hippo and Naso especially will get large, but how close can I get to that "wish list" of tangs in a 125? What about a 180?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by CRC88

Hey! I have a 55g that is going to be upgraded into a 125g possibly a 180g. Let's plan on a 125 to be safe. 100+lbs of live rock, 30g sump w/ fuge.

Current inhabitants:
2 Ocellaris Clowns
1 BiColor Blenny
1 Scopas Tang
1 Blue/Green Mandarin (10 months in and only getting fatter!)
1 Peppermint Shrimp
Various snails (Nassarius, Astrea, Turbos)

Future inhabitants:
Small:
1 Purple Firefish
1 Royal Gramma
1 Kauderns Cardinals
Medium:
1 Flame Angel
3 Anthias or a Flasher Wrasse
3 Blue/Green Chromis
Large:
1 Hippo Tang
1 Naso Tang
1 Powder Blue Tang

I know I'm pushing it with all those tangs in there, and the Hippo and Naso especially will get large, but how close can I get to that "wish list" of tangs in a 125? What about a 180?

I cannot recommend adding any of the large tangs to a 180. A fish that exceeds a foot in length in a six foot tank will not work well. A powder blue might be ok in the 180 but not with another tang in a 125.

[CRC88]

Originally Posted by snorvich

I cannot recommend adding any of the large tangs to a 180. A fish that exceeds a foot in length in a six foot tank will not work well. A powder blue might be ok in the 180 but not with another tang in a 125.

Okay, so my "Tang wish list" will remain a wish after-all. Any comment on the other fish?

[trinidiver]

Can an Imperator angel and queen angel (both about 3-4") be placed in an aquarium together? (over 300gal) I know they will have some squabbles, but i want to know if just like tangs, place them in the same time and give them space.

[joaovieira]

I am about to introduce 3 fishes to my 170 reef tank. It has so far 3 fishes. 1 tailspot blenny 1 salaria and 1 chevron tang.

What do you think ?

Yellow coris wrasse (Helichoeres chorasse)
Radiant wrasse (Helichoeres irídis)
Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis or Cirrhilabrus Aurantidorsalis ?

Thanks

[jacobm]

I have a 55g tank. With Large HOB refugium/skimmer. Lighting is 4 54w t5s. 2 daylight and 2 actinic. i have a 1300gph powerhead and a 750gph head(750 recently shut off, too much flow for hammer corals.)

Livestock:
yellow tang
2 clowns
1 emerald crab
5 red leg hermits
1 blue leg hermit
1 banded serpant sea star
5(probably more) of the small dime size star fish

Coral:
Green candy cane
green finger leather
purple star polyp
green star polyp
Kenya tree
green zoes
palys
pulsing xenia
waving hand xenia
2 diff types of hammer
and 1 hard coral idk what it is

I was looking to get a mandarin goby. I know they feed off of pods mostly, my tank has thousands of munnid isopods in the refugium aswell as my display, and recently have seen amphipods in refugium(all pods just appeared...hitchhikers).

another fish i was interested in was the sixline wrasse, as i have many tube worms.

I think the lunar wrasse is really cool too

please let me know what u think.

thanks

[smokey1]

new to the hobby

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by trinidiver

Can an Imperator angel and queen angel (both about 3-4") be placed in an aquarium together? (over 300gal) I know they will have some squabbles, but i want to know if just like tangs, place them in the same time and give them space.

Those are both tough fish. Iffy in my opinion in the long run unless this is a 10 foot tank. Better odds when they are juvenile/small

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by joaovieira

I am about to introduce 3 fishes to my 170 reef tank. It has so far 3 fishes. 1 tailspot blenny 1 salaria and 1 chevron tang.

What do you think ?

Yellow coris wrasse (Helichoeres chorasse)
Radiant wrasse (Helichoeres irídis)
Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis or Cirrhilabrus Aurantidorsalis ?

Thanks

Those should be fine

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by jacobm

I have a 55g tank. With Large HOB refugium/skimmer. Lighting is 4 54w t5s. 2 daylight and 2 actinic. i have a 1300gph powerhead and a 750gph head(750 recently shut off, too much flow for hammer corals.)

Livestock:
yellow tang Really needs a larger tank
2 clowns
1 emerald crab
5 red leg hermits
1 blue leg hermit
1 banded serpant sea star
5(probably more) of the small dime size star fish

Coral:
Green candy cane
green finger leather
purple star polyp
green star polyp
Kenya tree
green zoes
palys
pulsing xenia
waving hand xenia
2 diff types of hammer
and 1 hard coral idk what it is

I was looking to get a mandarin goby. I know they feed off of pods mostly, my tank has thousands of munnid isopods in the refugium aswell as my display, and recently have seen amphipods in refugium(all pods just appeared...hitchhikers).

Your tank may be ok at about 8 months for a mandarin but not with a sixline

another fish i was interested in was the sixline wrasse, as i have many tube worms.

I think the lunar wrasse is really cool too

please let me know what u think.

thanks

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by smokey1

new to the hobby

Great! Welcome to Reef Central! Did you have a fish compatibility question?

[jacobm]

How long do i need to wait for the sixline? and whatdo u think about a lunar wrasse?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by jacobm

How long do i need to wait for the sixline? and whatdo u think about a lunar wrasse?

A sixline wrasse is aggressive and will limit your options going forward; I do not recommend. A lunar wrasse needs a much larger tank and is aggressive; I do not recommend. Especially in your sized tank.

[jacobm]

thanks! yea i had damsels and donated them. i dont want to get into aggressive fish again