PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Patrick Cox

Hi,
I have a 36x24x20 (75G), primarily SPS tank and I am trying to increase my fish load to increase nutrients in the tank. I would also like one or two fish to graze algae. Here is my current fish load...

2 Percula Clowns (mated) (They can also be aggressive with some fish.)
yellow assessor (mainly hides in rocks)
possum wrasse (mainly hides in rocks)
Kaudern's Cardinal
Flasher Wrasse
Neon Goby

I am considering a Lawnmower Blenny and then maybe also a dwarf angel like a Potters, Flame or Coral Beauty. dwarf angels are not reef safe; the lawnmower blenny is an excellent fish and is reef safe

Or I could add one of the above and then another wrasse as I like that it is out in the tank more than the other fish. (Clowns are in open as well but most of my fish hide during the day.)

Thanks for your thoughts/recommendations.

[fearyaks]

Hi Steve, thanks as always for this thread. As usual, the tank is a bit of a moving target and wanted your advice on some fish.

Would love to see if these would get along (I like a peaceful tank) but I'm also concerned that this might be too many fish?

125 Gallon tank.
Current residents:
X2 Skunk Shrimp
X3 Chalk Bass
X2 Hybrid Gobies (ORA)
X1 Starry Blenny
Various Hermit crabs

Planned additions (in no particular order)
X1 purple firefish
X3 Zebra barred dartfish
X2 Clowns (ocellaris)
X2 (if I can find a bonded pair) of Kaudern's Cardinals (Banggai)?
Possibly a Kole

Thanks again!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by fearyaks

Hi Steve, thanks as always for this thread. As usual, the tank is a bit of a moving target and wanted your advice on some fish.

Would love to see if these would get along (I like a peaceful tank) but I'm also concerned that this might be too many fish?

125 Gallon tank.
Current residents:
X2 Skunk Shrimp
X3 Chalk Bass
X2 Hybrid Gobies (ORA)
X1 Starry Blenny
Various Hermit crabs

Planned additions (in no particular order)
X1 purple firefish
X3 Zebra barred dartfish
X2 Clowns (ocellaris)
X2 (if I can find a bonded pair) of Kaudern's Cardinals (Banggai)?
Possibly a Kole

Thanks again!

It is a bit on the busy side but I do not see obvious behavioral issues.

[Patrick Cox]

Originally Posted by snorvich

Originally Posted by Patrick Cox View Post
Hi,
I have a 36x24x20 (75G), primarily SPS tank and I am trying to increase my fish load to increase nutrients in the tank. I would also like one or two fish to graze algae. Here is my current fish load...

2 Percula Clowns (mated) (They can also be aggressive with some fish.)
yellow assessor (mainly hides in rocks)
possum wrasse (mainly hides in rocks)
Kaudern's Cardinal
Flasher Wrasse
Neon Goby

I am considering a Lawnmower Blenny and then maybe also a dwarf angel like a Potters, Flame or Coral Beauty. dwarf angels are not reef safe; the lawnmower blenny is an excellent fish and is reef safe

Or I could add one of the above and then another wrasse as I like that it is out in the tank more than the other fish. (Clowns are in open as well but most of my fish hide during the day.)

Thanks for your thoughts/recommendations.

Thanks. Could I add the blenny and another wrasse? Which Wrasse would you consider?

[Greendarwin19]

92 Gallon Corner


compatibility check ...

1x Diamond Watchman Goby

+

Male/Female pair Mandarin Dragonet


(will these new to the scene red dragonets cross breed with mandarins, spotted or greens?)

[fearyaks]

Thanks again for your advice!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Patrick Cox

Thanks. Could I add the blenny and another wrasse? Which Wrasse would you consider?

A female flasher wrasse of the same existing species. I would not add a second blenny but one is fine.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Greendarwin19

92 Gallon Corner


compatibility check ...

1x Diamond Watchman Goby

+

Male/Female pair Mandarin Dragonet Your tank is not large ehough to sustain two dragonets; one is fine if there are no other copepod eaters.


(will these new to the scene red dragonets cross breed with mandarins, spotted or greens?) No.

[Greendarwin19]

but the watchman and the single mandarin would be good, right?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Greendarwin19

but the watchman and the single mandarin would be good, right?

You did not provide your entire stocking plan so I cannot assess whether that would work. Certainly, if the tank was mature and these were the only fish, no issue. On the other hand, if, for example, you had a sixline wrasse, it would not work.

[GoBigGuy]

Hi,

I am finishing up my 180 gallon build and wanted to get some feedback on the fish my wife and kids like. This will be a mixed reef tank, (no SPS). My wife loves her inverts,(which is why I can't have my blue jaw trigger), and the kids love their clown fish.

Let me know your thoughts:

Fish I already have in my 90 gallon (no sump, built in back filter)
1x Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris)
1x Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
1x Male Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
1x Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)
2x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
2x Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora)

Fish I am thinking of adding to the new 180 gallon (48x18x18 sump)
1x Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
1x Kole Yellow Eye Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
1x Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
1x Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)
1x Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
1x Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
1x Engineer Goby (Pholidichthys leucotaenia)
1x Lineatus Fairy Wrasse
1x Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
1x Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)
1x Pacific Redstripe Hogfish (Bodianus sepiacaudus)
1x Purple Tilefish (Hoplolatilus purpureus)
1x Red Mandarin (Synchiropus cf. splendidus)
1x Schooling Bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes)
1x Yellow Prawn Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

Here are the inverts my wife likes
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)
Debelius' Reef Lobster (Enoplometopus sp.)
Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus)
Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
Sexy Anemone Shrimp (Thor amboinensis)
Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus sp.)
Trapezia Pocillopora-Acropora Crab (Trapezia sp.)

Thoughts?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by GoBigGuy

Hi,

I am finishing up my 180 gallon build and wanted to get some feedback on the fish my wife and kids like. This will be a mixed reef tank, (no SPS). My wife loves her inverts,(which is why I can't have my blue jaw trigger), and the kids love their clown fish.

Let me know your thoughts:

Fish I already have in my 90 gallon (no sump, built in back filter)
1x Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris)
1x Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica)
1x Male Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)
1x Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)
2x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
2x Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) Your three firefish are not long term stable; you will end up with just one

Fish I am thinking of adding to the new 180 gallon (48x18x18 sump)
1x Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) needs a larger (longer tank)
1x Kole Yellow Eye Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) five tangs won't work long term; pick three excluding P. hepatus with the zebrasoma ones added last
1x Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
1x Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)
1x Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
1x Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula) not coral safe
1x Engineer Goby (Pholidichthys leucotaenia)
1x Lineatus Fairy Wrasse
1x Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) not compatible with fair wrasses or mandarins
1x Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)
1x Pacific Redstripe Hogfish (Bodianus sepiacaudus) not shrimp safe
1x Purple Tilefish (Hoplolatilus purpureus)
1x Red Mandarin (Synchiropus cf. splendidus) not with a sixline wrasse
1x Schooling Bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes)
1x Yellow Prawn Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

Here are the inverts my wife likes
Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) can take fish
Debelius' Reef Lobster (Enoplometopus sp.) can take fish
Emerald Crab (Mithraculus sculptus) can take fish when mature
Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
Sexy Anemone Shrimp (Thor amboinensis)
Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus sp.)
Trapezia Pocillopora-Acropora Crab (Trapezia sp.)

Thoughts?

[Spyderturbo007]

Tank information:

55g Mixed Reef with sump

Current Inhabitants:

2 x Banggai Cardinalfish
1 x Snowflake Clownfish
1 x 2-Spot Bristletooth Tang

There is currently 0 aggression in my tank. I've never seen one fish even look at another cross-eyed and I really want to keep it that way.

Candidates:

ORA® Gold Assessor (Assessor flavissimus)

Splendid Dottyback (Manonichthys splendens)

Florida Keys Pearly Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons)

Red Stripe Tilefish (Hoplolatilus marcosi)

I would actually like to get all 4, but I don't think I can do that all at once. I was thinking 2 now and then 2 more in a few weeks after the biological filter catches up with demand.

[lkoechle]

Getting my first non-nano tank and forming a stock list. Don't want to get over excited and go overboard about being able to have more than 3 fish! lol

Tank: 85 gallon long (80 gallon display, 48"x24"x17")
Sump: 40 gallon

We're picking up the tank today, so it's not ready yet. but our long term plans is a mixed reef.

Proposed fish:

2x occy clowns
2x target mandarins
1x blue flasher wrasse
1x sunburst anthias
1x prawn goby (and his shrimp)
1x scribbled rabbitfish (may pick at corals)
1x flame angel (may pick at corals)

Most of these fish are fairly small, so am I good? Will the flame or rabbitfish possibly go after clam mantles as well?

[Patrick Cox]

Originally Posted by snorvich

A female flasher wrasse of the same existing species. I would not add a second blenny but one is fine.

Hi,
My current male Flasher Wrasse is a Carpenter's and I can only find female McCosker's. Would it be OK to mix the two? Thanks.

[Long Time Beginner]

54g corner tank. Barebottom, live rock, a dozen or so corals of various types

Current fish: Ocellaris Clown pair, 3x Pajama Cardinal

I'd like to add a lawnmower blenny to help control algae. Would he be compatible with my current fish and barebottom tank?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Spyderturbo007

Tank information:

55g Mixed Reef with sump

Current Inhabitants:

2 x Banggai Cardinalfish
1 x Snowflake Clownfish
1 x 2-Spot Bristletooth Tang as an algae grazer this fish needs a larger tank

There is currently 0 aggression in my tank. I've never seen one fish even look at another cross-eyed and I really want to keep it that way.

Candidates:

ORA® Gold Assessor (Assessor flavissimus) this will work

Splendid Dottyback (Manonichthys splendens) this will not work

Florida Keys Pearly Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons) this will work

Red Stripe Tilefish (Hoplolatilus marcosi) this will work

I would actually like to get all 4, but I don't think I can do that all at once. I was thinking 2 now and then 2 more in a few weeks after the biological filter catches up with demand.

If you do the three that work, your tank will be a bit crowded.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Long Time Beginner

54g corner tank. Barebottom, live rock, a dozen or so corals of various types

Current fish: Ocellaris Clown pair, 3x Pajama Cardinal

I'd like to add a lawnmower blenny to help control algae. Would he be compatible with my current fish and barebottom tank?

Yes, however s(he) will need other foods as well as algae

[mpderksen]

Been following along, reading dozens of pages in the last year. Learning a lot (sometimes after my own mistakes), so thanks in advance.

75 gallon with 20 gallon sump. No macro aglae or pods in the sump. Reef Octopus INT-110 skimmer. Mixed reef with SPS, LPS and various softies.

Current stocking:
Maroon clown
2 PJ Cardinalfish
Blue-green chromis
Dwarf Flame Angel
Yellow-eyed Kole tang
One-spot FoxFace

I do understand I'm heavy on grazers, and doing my best to feed accordingly.

The "compatibility" question is this:
I am moving in a month. I will be redoing all the rocks which are currently cycling in a separate tank. You often mention there are fish that need to be added last for territorial reasons. Given a currently light bio-load, if the tank is completely torn down and reset, will these issues still be present? Or would this give me the opportunity to introduce a few more?
The trick would be the need to QT any new fish, so territories could be reestablished during that period.

If I can add, I will look for recommendations on the general forum.

Cheers,
Michael

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by mpderksen

Been following along, reading dozens of pages in the last year. Learning a lot (sometimes after my own mistakes), so thanks in advance.

75 gallon with 20 gallon sump. No macro aglae or pods in the sump. Reef Octopus INT-110 skimmer. Mixed reef with SPS, LPS and various softies.

Current stocking:
Maroon clown
2 PJ Cardinalfish
Blue-green chromis
Dwarf Flame Angel
Yellow-eyed Kole tang
One-spot FoxFace

I do understand I'm heavy on grazers, and doing my best to feed accordingly.

The "compatibility" question is this:
I am moving in a month. I will be redoing all the rocks which are currently cycling in a separate tank. You often mention there are fish that need to be added last for territorial reasons. Given a currently light bio-load, if the tank is completely torn down and reset, will these issues still be present? Or would this give me the opportunity to introduce a few more?
The trick would be the need to QT any new fish, so territories could be reestablished during that period.

If I can add, I will look for recommendations on the general forum.

Cheers,
Michael

The biggest issue will be the maroon clownfish. The second biggest will be the kole tang. You can probably add a few small non-aggressive fish that do not overlap the ecological niche of the algae grazers if the clownfish will allow it.

[GoBigGuy]

Showed the wife the new list and she made some changes:

Again, this is for a 180 gallon, (72x24x24), and will be a mixed reef tank, (no SPS)
48x18x18 sump with refugium and Reef Octopus Regal INT200 rated for 400gal

1x Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
1x Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)
1x White Tail Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus flavicauda)
1x Schooling Bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes)
1x Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
1x Male Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) - Current
1x Yasha White Ray Shrimp Goby (Stonogobiops yasha)
1x Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) - Current
1x Yellow Prawn Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
1x Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) - Current
2x Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) - Current
1x Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) - Current
1x Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)
2x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) - Current
1x Red Mandarin (Synchiropus cf. splendidus)

Invert List
4x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) - 2 Current, Adding 2
10x Sexy Anemone Shrimp (Thor amboinensis)
2x Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus sp.)
1x Snapping Shrimp, Red Banded (Alpheus randalli)
2x Trapezia Pocillopora-Acropora Crab (Trapezia sp.)

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by GoBigGuy

Showed the wife the new list and she made some changes:

Again, this is for a 180 gallon, (72x24x24), and will be a mixed reef tank, (no SPS)
48x18x18 sump with refugium and Reef Octopus Regal INT200 rated for 400gal

1x Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) must be last fish added
1x Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) must be last fish added
1x White Tail Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus flavicauda)
1x Schooling Bannerfish (Heniochus diphreutes)
1x Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
1x Male Lyretail Anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) - Current
1x Yasha White Ray Shrimp Goby (Stonogobiops yasha)
1x Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) - Current
1x Yellow Prawn Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) I would not add a second shrimp goby
1x Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) - Current
2x Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora) - Current Only one firefish is long term stable
1x Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) - Current Not shrimp safe, especially small ones
1x Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) Not shrimp safe, especially small ones
2x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) - Current
1x Red Mandarin (Synchiropus cf. splendidus)

Invert List
4x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) - 2 Current, Adding 2 A pair works, more than that is problematic
10x Sexy Anemone Shrimp (Thor amboinensis) not with the wrasses planned or existing
2x Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus sp.)
1x Snapping Shrimp, Red Banded (Alpheus randalli)
2x Trapezia Pocillopora-Acropora Crab (Trapezia sp.)

[GoBigGuy]

1x Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) must be last fish added
1x Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) must be last fish added

Now do you mean last of the tangs added or last of ALL the fish?

1x Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) - Current
1x Yellow Prawn Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) I would not add a second shrimp goby

Just wanted to know why you wouldn't add a second shrimp goby?

1x Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) - Current Not shrimp safe, especially small ones
1x Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) Not shrimp safe, especially small ones

Will the other shrimp be fine if I remove the Sexy Anemone Shrimp?

Invert List
4x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) - 2 Current, Adding 2 A pair works, more than that is problematic
10x Sexy Anemone Shrimp (Thor amboinensis) not with the wrasses planned or existing
2x Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus sp.)
1x Snapping Shrimp, Red Banded (Alpheus randalli)
2x Trapezia Pocillopora-Acropora Crab (Trapezia sp.)

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by GoBigGuy

1x Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) must be last fish added
1x Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) must be last fish added

Now do you mean last of the tangs added or last of ALL the fish?

zebrasoma tangs, once established are highly territorial, and not just towards other tangs; so I recommend they be the last two fish added, ideally at the same time

1x Diamond Watchman Goby (Valenciennea puellaris) - Current
1x Yellow Prawn Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) I would not add a second shrimp goby

Just wanted to know why you wouldn't add a second shrimp goby?

Since shrimp gobies occupy the same ecological niche, it takes a very long tank or they may negatively interact.

1x Hoeven's Wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) - Current Not shrimp safe, especially small ones
1x Yellow Wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) Not shrimp safe, especially small ones

Will the other shrimp be fine if I remove the Sexy Anemone Shrimp?

Maybe, but it is not a guaranteed situation. The anemone shrimp, however, will be toast.

Invert List
4x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) - 2 Current, Adding 2 A pair works, more than that is problematic
10x Sexy Anemone Shrimp (Thor amboinensis) not with the wrasses planned or existing
2x Snapping Shrimp (Alpheus sp.)
1x Snapping Shrimp, Red Banded (Alpheus randalli)
2x Trapezia Pocillopora-Acropora Crab (Trapezia sp.)

[mpderksen]

Originally Posted by snorvich

The biggest issue will be the maroon clownfish. The second biggest will be the kole tang. You can probably add a few small non-aggressive fish that do not overlap the ecological niche of the algae grazers if the clownfish will allow it.

"Small" would rule out a Starry Beenie, I am guessing.
Would 2 neon goby and a Clown goby be fine?

Thank you in advance.