Help me pick

[AUSXMD]

Hi. I have a 230 gallon FOWLR tank. I do have 3 anenomes. My Physical Therapist keeps giving them to me (she has many that split frequently) - just had both knees replaced. Anyway, in the tank now are 2 chomis, 2 clowns, a large melanuras wrasse, large foxface, bicolor blenny, small flame angel, and a large Koran angel that has yet to change from its juvenile pattern. That's it. Since it's FOWLR Im just looking for recommendations for the next 2 or 3 fish. I dont want any overcrowding. I dont like the way crowded tanks look or the issues associated with, obviously. I had a Tessalata eel before and am open to that, as well as a porcupine puffer. Not interested in triggers. Tangs would be nice too. I have no CUC and would love to have all of the critters that come along with that. I know that knocks out some options. So, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! Scott

 

[DanP-SD]

CUC is really helpful to keep the tank clean. Without it the live rock just seems to get brown and unappealing. One issue you’ll run into is the Melanurus wrasse eating your snails. I have one now and it’s a great fish in every way except that. I add snails at night and give them a head start. I also keep conchs and urchins because the snails still disappear.

One downside to adding a CUC is that you can’t treat the tank with copper if you introduce a parasite. You already have nems so you’re already there. Just underscores the importance of good quarantine practices.

I think tangs could be a good next addition but with two cautions:

One, if you haven’t strictly quarantined everything going in to date, there’s a chance you have crypto in the tank even if it’s not showing. Adding tangs, which are parasite magnets, could turn an asymptomatic low presence into a full blown outbreak. Treating the tangs (or buying pre-treated or captive bred) and introducing them with an acclimation box to minimize aggression and stress will help but is no guarantee.

Second, tangs can be absurdly aggressive. A school of small captive bred yellows won’t bully your existing fish but a large blue tang (or any acanthurus species) likely will want to be the alpha. I find two solutions to that - either let it be the alpha and make sure it’s your biggest fish and the last you add or put a true alpha in above it on the peck order. I recently put my 6” alpha mimic tang in his place by adding an 8” emperor angel and it seems to be working well. I’m not sure that would work with a true bully like a clown or sohol tang.

Other fish to consider for a fish only are puffers and triggers. They can eat your CUC but some triggers like blue jaws, crosshatch or Niger triggers are pretty safe. Small puffers like Valentinis are a small risk but a big dogface would likely make short work of the CUC and nems.

I think you can also add more angels but with some risk of aggression between them. If you want to add one more, I’d go with a larger adult that won’t be bullied by your large juvenile Koran.

Butterflyfish would look great without taking up much space or creating major aggression issues. The risks with them are they might be bullied by similar sized tangs or angels and you need to pick species carefully. There are a lot of bfs that are notoriously difficult in captivity and really shouldn’t be tried or should only be tried in a reef tank with corals you’re ok with them eating. Good species for your tank would be burgess, declevis, tinkeri, raccoons or semilarvatus if you can find them. The first three are hardier and stay smaller. You should also read up on the species before buying to get a handle on how likely they are to eat your nems. A copperband would likely make quick work of them. The burgess, declevis and tinkeri should be safe. Not sure about the raccoon or semilarvatus.

With any new addition, I’d highly recommend slow introduction. If you have room, after quarantining, I’d give them a few days in an acclimation box so the other fish get used to seeing them before they can interact.

 

[AUSXMD]

Thank you so much for your time, insight and advice! The tank has been running about 2 years, but 9 months of that was fallow because I had brook or velvet. No one could ever really come together on a consensus.

Anyway, its been doing great the past 14 months or so. I did have a ton of snails and, you're right, the wrasse made short work of them. I guess I need to decide if I want to keep the wrasse or trade him for a CUC. I have a sandsifting star that I didnt mention before that seems to do a decent job. I do a approximately 20% water change once a week. During that, I siphon the sand and get some crud out and turn the sand over some. I don't have a deep sand bed. My sump has the filter bags(might switch to roller), a big octo skimmer, chaeto fuge and then water passes thru purigen before heading back up.

I'll look at some butterflies. I'd have yellow tangs in there now if they'd come down in price just a bit more. I've kept pink square anthias before and liked those a lot. I guess I can't have it all. Puffers I like are out of the question if I want the CUC. So you've led me in the right direction, and given me some fizh options I had not thought of. The Koran angel just keeps growing and growing, but it's juvenile coloration/stage has not changed at all. It started out the size of my flame angel and is now the sane size as my foxface. As long as it remains healthy, Im not too concerned. Thanks again! Appreciate it!

Scott

 

[AUSXMD]

Thought I'd add a couple pics. The one thing I know I'm good on is space for a couple additions.

 

[AUSXMD]

My camera does not do the tank justice. I did the w/c and cleaning yesterday and it looks pristine in person. It comes thru the camera as a little unkempt, but it's not.

 

[PhishEDELIC]

Having a FOLWR tank can be so freeing sometimes! It’s almost the best of both worlds. You get the benefits of the reef without the constant disappointment of finding out the Angel you want is gonna nip at your corals. I’d look into some hardy butterfly fish or a nice tang in the Naso or Acanthurus family.