Can I add more fish?

[Giek]

The title is quite self explanatory.
Here is some info about my reef tank. The volume is 30ish gallons, dimensions 32”x14”x16”h. There's plenty of space for fish to hide and to create territories, but still a good amount of open water to swim from side to side, I'll add a photo below.
Current stocklist is: pair of regular clowns, 3 blue/green chromis, 1 sixline wrasse, 1 Bengai cardinal (planning to add another to complete the couple as soon as I discover the sex of mine).
Latest ATI ICP reports NO2 at 0, NO3 at 0.something, PO4 at 0,03, so very low nutrients. At the moment I run biological media (A LOT) and a chaeto fuge set at 7 hours during the night. I feed 1 to 2 frozen cubes daily + hikari pellets sporadically during the week. I'm soon adding a protein skimmer (bubble Magus curve 5), mainly to add a soda lime filter → increase pH to help the acros (and general benefits of a skimmer for the corals). I plan to run it only a few hours during the night to not strip even more the tank.

I realise that's already a quite stocked tank, but looking at it it feels “empty” of moving fish. Clowns live very close to the euphyllia in the right corner, the cardinal is stationary in the left under the torch, sixline scouts all the caves and the rockwork, especially the back, never getting far from it or exposed in the water column. The 3 chromis are really the only ones to swim in the open all the time and seem to fill the place a little.
I'm fully aware that in such a small space overcrowding can be very easy, but I was wondering whether, considering my very low pollutants, I could increase the fish stocklist, and bioload. I feel like a tang or a bigger fish, a “centerfish” always swimming would be the best solution to the eye, but for obvious reasons I can't add anything like that.

Any suggestions? What would you do?

Watching closely, you can spot all the fish I mentioned, doing exactly what I described:face-with-tears-of-joy:

 

[Sdoutreefer]

The title is quite self explanatory.
Here is some info about my reef tank. The volume is 30ish gallons, dimensions 32”x14”x16”h. There's plenty of space for fish to hide and to create territories, but still a good amount of open water to swim from side to side, I'll add a photo below.
Current stocklist is: pair of regular clowns, 3 blue/green chromis, 1 sixline wrasse, 1 Bengai cardinal (planning to add another to complete the couple as soon as I discover the sex of mine).
Latest ATI ICP reports NO2 at 0, NO3 at 0.something, PO4 at 0,03, so very low nutrients. At the moment I run biological media (A LOT) and a chaeto fuge set at 7 hours during the night. I feed 1 to 2 frozen cubes daily + hikari pellets sporadically during the week. I'm soon adding a protein skimmer (bubble Magus curve 5), mainly to add a soda lime filter → increase pH to help the acros (and general benefits of a skimmer for the corals). I plan to run it only a few hours during the night to not strip even more the tank.

I realise that's already a quite stocked tank, but looking at it it feels “empty” of moving fish. Clowns live very close to the euphyllia in the right corner, the cardinal is stationary in the left under the torch, sixline scouts all the caves and the rockwork, especially the back, never getting far from it or exposed in the water column. The 3 chromis are really the only ones to swim in the open all the time and seem to fill the place a little.
I'm fully aware that in such a small space overcrowding can be very easy, but I was wondering whether, considering my very low pollutants, I could increase the fish stocklist, and bioload. I feel like a tang or a bigger fish, a “centerfish” always swimming would be the best solution to the eye, but for obvious reasons I can't add anything like that.

Any suggestions? What would you do?

Watching closely, you can spot all the fish I mentioned, doing exactly what I described

I mean, why not?? You do have a decent stock for a 30gal but I don't see any issues with it... As long as you're not adding some big trigger or angel :p

 

[Giek]

I mean, why not?? You do have a decent stock for a 30gal but I don't see any issues with it... As long as you're not adding some big trigger or angel :p

Seems legit:rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:. What would you recommend / consider adding?

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Seems legit:rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:. What would you recommend / consider adding?

I'm a big fan of sand dwelling gobies. Maybe a pistol shrimp+goby pair? Maybe some sort of blennie?

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Your tank looks very healthy and clearly in a stable state. Its tough with open swimmer selections that are not too big but will also not be an aggressive prick.

The yasha/pistol combo is good. You get great personality and something you can see.

Damsel are about is close as you can get with open swimmers. But really not. But they can be a*holes.

 

[Giek]

I'm a big fan of sand dwelling gobies. Maybe a pistol shrimp+goby pair? Maybe some sort of blennie?

Great input. I considered putting a goby/shrimp pair months ago while setting up the tank but then never did.
Here in Italy they're quite rare to see in LFSs so I forgot about their existence lol.

 

[littlefoxx]

The title is quite self explanatory.
Here is some info about my reef tank. The volume is 30ish gallons, dimensions 32”x14”x16”h. There's plenty of space for fish to hide and to create territories, but still a good amount of open water to swim from side to side, I'll add a photo below.
Current stocklist is: pair of regular clowns, 3 blue/green chromis, 1 sixline wrasse, 1 Bengai cardinal (planning to add another to complete the couple as soon as I discover the sex of mine).
Latest ATI ICP reports NO2 at 0, NO3 at 0.something, PO4 at 0,03, so very low nutrients. At the moment I run biological media (A LOT) and a chaeto fuge set at 7 hours during the night. I feed 1 to 2 frozen cubes daily + hikari pellets sporadically during the week. I'm soon adding a protein skimmer (bubble Magus curve 5), mainly to add a soda lime filter → increase pH to help the acros (and general benefits of a skimmer for the corals). I plan to run it only a few hours during the night to not strip even more the tank.

I realise that's already a quite stocked tank, but looking at it it feels “empty” of moving fish. Clowns live very close to the euphyllia in the right corner, the cardinal is stationary in the left under the torch, sixline scouts all the caves and the rockwork, especially the back, never getting far from it or exposed in the water column. The 3 chromis are really the only ones to swim in the open all the time and seem to fill the place a little.
I'm fully aware that in such a small space overcrowding can be very easy, but I was wondering whether, considering my very low pollutants, I could increase the fish stocklist, and bioload. I feel like a tang or a bigger fish, a “centerfish” always swimming would be the best solution to the eye, but for obvious reasons I can't add anything like that.

Any suggestions? What would you do?

Watching closely, you can spot all the fish I mentioned, doing exactly what I described:face-with-tears-of-joy:

Have you thought about a blenny?? They dont swim much like you mentioned but their goofy and cute little personalities make up for it! A cherub angel might be okay, they are super small but thats the only angel I would consider adding. Theres always damsels to add, and since its the last fish the six line would keep it in check. Or a dottyback, mine hid for a little when she was small but once she got to be a good size she was always out swimming around.

 

[Giek]

Have you thought about a blenny?? They dont swim much like you mentioned but their goofy and cute little personalities make up for it! A cherub angel might be okay, they are super small but thats the only angel I would consider adding. Theres always damsels to add, and since its the last fish the six line would keep it in check. Or a dottyback, mine hid for a little when she was small but once she got to be a good size she was always out swimming around.

The cherub angel is a really really nice fish:D. I'll do some research about!