Can I add another fish?

[inedukated]

I'm looking to get another fish for my tank. I have a 55gal.

I currently have:

Yellow Tang 4"

2 Cinnamon clowns (2" each)

2 Green Chromis (1.5" each)

Lawnmower blenny 3"

 

Plus tons of cleaners, coral banded, peppermint, hermits, snails, stars...etc

 

I REALLY want another tang, but I know that it's probably a bad idea. Can 2 tangs work out in a 55 gal tank?

 

Any fish suggestions?

I'd like to get something reef-safe, of course, and that would be beautiful to look at.

 

-Ben

[Charlie97L]

ben... negative on the tang. i'm hesitant to put 2 in a 90.

 

as far as i can see... people might disagree, but i think you're ok to put another fish in there, as long as your params are good, and stay good. watch your nitrates carefully.

 

what are you looking for? active swimmer?

 

any bottom dweller you get will quarrell with the blenny and likely lose. another tang won't happen, and anything like a firefish will probably be harassed to death.

 

you could look at a fairy wrasse, those are great. a bit on the aggressive side with some individuals, but i love them, and they should be able to hold their own as a late addition to the tank with some already aggressive fish. the only downside is you WILL need a lid/cover on your tank, as they love to jump. i just lost my ruby to jumping, i didn't have my eggrate weighted. sucks.

 

also, i'd recommend lights out for the remainder of the day once you put the new fish in, to give him time to get used to the surroundings.

 

edit: i think with that, you'd be totally completely maxed out, with the caveat that when your fish grow, you'll have to upgrade or remove some.

Edited November 3, 2006 by Charlie97L

[inedukated]

 

what are you looking for? active swimmer?

 

Well, I was actually thinking about getting a flame angel. I am just afraid of nipping at corals, or eating zoa. It's not that big of a fish either, and looks fancy.

 

Honestly, I am looking for an eye-opener. The clowns aren't so colorful, my chromis blend into the background, the blenny looks like a rock... the only fish that stands out is my tang.

 

But yes, an active swimmer.

 

Another question, perhaps I should start a new thread:

I noticed my coral banded is like 4-5". He's huge. What's sad is that where he hangs out (left side of the tank), NONE of the fishes go there. I've heard that they can eat the fish right out the water, so maybe that's why they are avoiding that side of the tank? Only my tang has the guts to go over to that side of the tank.

[Charlie97L]

Well, I was actually thinking about getting a flame angel. I am just afraid of nipping at corals, or eating zoa. It's not that big of a fish either, and looks fancy.

 

Honestly, I am looking for an eye-opener. The clowns aren't so colorful, my chromis blend into the background, the blenny looks like a rock... the only fish that stands out is my tang.

 

But yes, an active swimmer.

 

Another question, perhaps I should start a new thread:

I noticed my coral banded is like 4-5". He's huge. What's sad is that where he hangs out (left side of the tank), NONE of the fishes go there. I've heard that they can eat the fish right out the water, so maybe that's why they are avoiding that side of the tank? Only my tang has the guts to go over to that side of the tank.

 

ben-

 

few things... with pygmy angels, you always take a chance with it being reef safe. i think that plus the yellow tang is asking for trouble. those are both fish that would want to be in charge of the tank, and may fight.

 

i do know that the one thing you can do to help with a pygmy angel is to have all of your coral in place before you add them. often they ignore established coral, but new additions are considered treats. i don't *think* they're prone to eating zoas, as much as sps/lps/clams. also, i believe you have a better chance of them not going buffet if you have a larger system. I'm not sure on that though.

 

if your coral banded is that big, i'd see if you can trade him in somewhere. it's a female, and hyper aggressive at that size... i had one that big that would chase my fish across the tank. she never got any, but it was only a matter of time.

 

i'd say a flame angel will be pushing it. they're always a risk, and i think that it might upset your balance.

 

back to my wrasse suggestion... there are MANY absolutely gorgeous reef safe wrasses that really are eye openers, and they won't bother anything. just check out the one Raf got at the meeting. my ruby was a gorgeous purple, pink and blue. they come in all colors, and are very active, and would fit your tankmates well.

 

here are some ideas

 

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/melanarus-w...h--wrasses.html

 

they need a 2" or deeper sandbed to sleep in. may bother your cleaners, but likely not.

 

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/carpenters-...h--wrasses.html

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/exquisite-w...h--wrasses.html

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/red-parrot-...h--wrasses.html

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/scotts-mult...h--wrasses.html

 

anything in the cirrhilabrus genus is great for reefs, super active, and colorful. definitely the show fish you are looking for.

Edited November 3, 2006 by Charlie97L

[inedukated]

if your coral banded is that big, i'd see if you can trade him in somewhere. it's a female, and hyper aggressive at that size... i had one that big that would chase my fish across the tank. she never got any, but it was only a matter of time.

 

I'm thinking about throwing her into my girlfriend's tank when she's not looking.... lol

 

 

I will look for a good wrasse.

 

When I first started out in the hobby a few years ago with my FOWLR, I had a wrasse that tried to eat everything... hermits, snails... I've drifted away from them since, but I need to realize that most wrasses are friendly fish!

[Charlie97L]

I'm thinking about throwing her into my girlfriend's tank when she's not looking.... lol

I will look for a good wrasse.

 

When I first started out in the hobby a few years ago with my FOWLR, I had a wrasse that tried to eat everything... hermits, snails... I've drifted away from them since, but I need to realize that most wrasses are friendly fish!

 

hahah sweet.

 

well, i'd say about half. definitely the larger ones are usually massive predators. and some of the coolest looking ones are as well, but there are lots of gorgeous ones that behave.

[davelin315]

Hey Ben, if you're looking to dump the coral banded let me know. We could always use one at school.

 

Also, it can be done in a 55 (the second tang). It's not the best thing in the world, but I had a 55 with absolutely tons of rock work as my first full blown reef and I had a yellow tang and, of course, a pacific blue as well. They did fine together as they were different types of fish. It's not an ideal size tank as they both need more room when they grow, but it worked.

 

As far as additional stocking, it really depends on what you want to do. The problem I see with your current stocking list is the clowns. I have had clowns that became very territorial in my tank and when adding smaller fish if you're not careful they might run out and grab them to stuff them into an anemone. Also, my guess is that with 2 chromis, you'll soon be down to one. It's not a sure thing, but I'm pretty confident that that will happen, so that will open up room in your tank anyway. As far as an angel, each one is an individual. I had in my 125 before 4 different Centryopyge angels. I had a flame, a coral beauty, a key hole, and a lemon peel. They all did fine together and none of them picked at any corals or clams that were in the tank. Of course, I had several hundred pounds of live rock so there was tons of structure to hide in, but they still nonethelesss got along with my pair of yellow tangs and pairs of Pacific blue tangs as well.

 

The key is to observe the interactions. If it works, fantastic, if they can't establish a pecking order, then you need to rethink the combination.

[jamesbuf]

You could always add some anthias. The nyaquatics guy has lyretails for just $12 each. He's getting a new order in this Wednesday and if all goes as planned, I'm trying to have our group order finalized by this Thursday so we can have delivery on Saturday. Check out the group buy section if you're interested.

[inedukated]

Hey Ben, if you're looking to dump the coral banded let me know. We could always use one at school.

Will do... I am going to do some major reworking of the tank soon enough. I'll send you a PM.

 

The problem I see with your current stocking list is the clowns. I have had clowns that became very territorial in my tank and when adding smaller fish if you're not careful they might run out and grab them to stuff them into an anemone.

My clowns are terribly mean. Well, at least the bigger one is. The other is afraid of him too. He's also part of my tank reworking. Are there friendly clowns out there??

 

Also, my guess is that with 2 chromis, you'll soon be down to one. It's not a sure thing, but I'm pretty confident that that will happen, so that will open up room in your tank anyway.

I originally had 4....

 

 

The key is to observe the interactions. If it works, fantastic, if they can't establish a pecking order, then you need to rethink the combination.

 

Is there an easy way to get these guys out of the tank without having to remove all their hiding places?

[Charlie97L]

Will do... I am going to do some major reworking of the tank soon enough. I'll send you a PM.

My clowns are terribly mean. Well, at least the bigger one is. The other is afraid of him too. He's also part of my tank reworking. Are there friendly clowns out there??

I originally had 4....

The key is to observe the interactions. If it works, fantastic, if they can't establish a pecking order, then you need to rethink the combination.

 

Is there an easy way to get these guys out of the tank without having to remove all their hiding places?

 

i use a slim olive jar with the label removed, and fishing line around the top. put pellets or mysis in the jar, and the fish will swim in (may take a few days/attempts to get them trained) once they're in, just haul the jar up. i have all my free swimming fish trained to do this for treats. they line up outside the jar.

[Rascal]

I like the wrasse suggestion, but another good option for you would be a royal gramma. Great fish. Very colorful. Fun to watch. Actually, IMO in your tank you could probably add both a small wrasse and a gramma.