Need help deciding on whether or not a fish is right for your tank? Post here and we'll help!

[ScottJ]

Planning on adding a Springer's Damsel to a 55 gallon reef. Current inhabitants are YWG, Carpenter Flasher Wrasse, Blackline Fang Blenny, Springer's Dottyback, and a Firefish. Anyone see any problems?

 

[BlueWhistler]

Hi everyone, New to R2R and to saltwater tanks. Working on setting up a 25G IM lagoon. When cycled I am going the build out a softie tank with the following livestock. Please let me know if I am being too ambitious or if I'm on the right track.
going to start off with a pair of Picasso clowns, then a sailfin Blenny, I was thinking a pistol shrimp and goby pair next (if bio load is to much I may pass on this). I want a out here colorful fish so I was thinking a flame angle or royal grama(one of them not both). and finally a 6 line wrasse. Thoughts concerns?
Thanks

 

[Slocke]

Hi everyone, New to R2R and to saltwater tanks. Working on setting up a 25G IM lagoon. When cycled I am going the build out a softie tank with the following livestock. Please let me know if I am being too ambitious or if I'm on the right track.
going to start off with a pair of Picasso clowns, then a sailfin Blenny, I was thinking a pistol shrimp and goby pair next (if bio load is to much I may pass on this). I want a out here colorful fish so I was thinking a flame angle or royal grama(one of them not both). and finally a 6 line wrasse. Thoughts concerns?
Thanks

Cut the sixline. Add the goby shrimp pair early. Angel is too big and the royal gramma is pushing it with too many fish. May work though.

 

[BlueWhistler]

Cut the sixline. Add the goby shrimp pair early. Angel is too big and the royal gramma is pushing it with too many fish. May work though.

so will the goby and blenny be good together. I was reading back on the other post and it sounds like they are not compatible.

 

[Slocke]

so will the goby and blenny be good together. I was reading back on the other post and it sounds like they are not compatible.

Depends on the goby but most shrimp gobies are fine. The issue is open swimming gobies like firefish

 

[BlueWhistler]

ok cool. I figured the 6 line would be the first to go. I have read and heard they can be jerks. Kind of disappointed hearing no to the flame angel but I get that its a small tank and I don't want it to outgrow the tank. thanks for the advice I figured I was being to ambitious for that size tank. Sometimes your just need to be talked off the ledge.

 

[Slocke]

ok cool. I figured the 6 line would be the first to go. I have read and heard they can be jerks. Kind of disappointed hearing no to the flame angel but I get that its a small tank and I don't want it to outgrow the tank. thanks for the advice I figured I was being to ambitious for that size tank. Sometimes your just need to be talked off the ledge.

Royal gramma are stunning honestly

 

[SallyWho]

Yesterday I learned about Allen's damsels and now I'm convinced my tank needs a splash of electric blue! It's a mature 90g with a clown pair, dwarf flame angel, kole tang, foxface, cleaner shrimp, and various snails. Could I add a damsel? After some reading up, I was thinking an allen's, starcki, or springeri. And would you add just one, or a small group of 3-5 to spread out any potential aggression? Thanks!

 

[eliaslikesfish]

Yesterday I learned about Allen's damsels and now I'm convinced my tank needs a splash of electric blue! It's a mature 90g with a clown pair, dwarf flame angel, kole tang, foxface, cleaner shrimp, and various snails. Could I add a damsel? After some reading up, I was thinking an allen's, starcki, or springeri. And would you add just one, or a small group of 3-5 to spread out any potential aggression? Thanks!

i’d flush the damsels down the toilet.

devil of a fish

 

[SallyWho]

i’d flush the damsels down the toilet.

devil of a fish

I know there are species that are definitely aggressive, but I thought some were less so?

 

[eliaslikesfish]

I know there are species that are definitely aggressive, but I thought some were less so?

yeah you are correct. allen’s are a pretty good bet i’d say, just proceed with caution. maybe start with 1 or 2? and since you have a tank with a bunch of fish already settled in it could be just fine.

 

[SallyWho]

yeah you are correct. allen’s are a pretty good bet i’d say, just proceed with caution. maybe start with 1 or 2? and since you have a tank with a bunch of fish already settled in it could be just fine.

Thanks!

 

[sam2216]

I have a mixed reef (only softy and LPS) 29 gallon with 2 clowns, and a dottyback. The inverts: a turbo snail and an astrea snail. I plan to add two more fishes, valentini puffer for sure and either a midas blenny or a canary blenny. Which one is a better suited option? I've seen that both blennies don't survive that long? Also planning to add 3 rock flower anemones. I will upgrade to 75g or 125g sometime in the future.

 

[Slocke]

I have a mixed reef (only softy and LPS) 29 gallon with 2 clowns, and a dottyback. The inverts: a turbo snail and an astrea snail. I plan to add two more fishes, valentini puffer for sure and either a midas blenny or a canary blenny. Which one is a better suited option? I've seen that both blennies don't survive that long? Also planning to add 3 rock flower anemones. I will upgrade to 75g or 125g sometime in the future.

It will be hard to add anything with a dottyback. The puffer may work as they often get immunity but dottybacks are very aggressive.

 

[sam2216]

It will be hard to add anything with a dottyback. The puffer may work as they often get immunity but dottybacks are very aggressive.

My dottyback's territory is a little arbitrary. He lives inside a cave I made, and he is not like what I've heard people describe as nightmares.

 

[Brisk]

My tank is 5x2x2 and I need help with my list of fish I'd like to add. Will this work? Is it too much fishes for the tank? Can I add more tangs or wrasses? Thank you!

In Tank
2x Clownfish
Yasha Goby
Pintail Fairy Wrasse
Randal's Pistol Shrimp
Cleaner Shrimp
Snails

Wanting
Yellow Tang
Purple Tang
Hippo Tang
Gem Tang (Maybe another tang?)
White Tail Bristletooth Tang
Regal Angelfish
Flame Angelfish
Copperband Butterfly
Foxface (Maybe)
Firefish Helfrichi
Royal Gramma
Midas Blenny
McCosker's Wrasse
Carpenter Wrasse
Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse Blue Star

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

My tank is 5x2x2 and I need help with my list of fish I'd like to add. Will this work? Is it too much fishes for the tank? Can I add more tangs or wrasses? Thank you!

In Tank
2x Clownfish
Yasha Goby
Pintail Fairy Wrasse
Randal's Pistol Shrimp
Cleaner Shrimp
Snails

Wanting
Yellow Tang
Purple Tang
Hippo Tang
Gem Tang (Maybe another tang?)
White Tail Bristletooth Tang
Firefish Helfrichi
Royal Gramma
Midas Blenny
McCosker's Wrasse
Carpenter Wrasse
Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse Blue Star

I can't help with the wrasses, however, I'd stick to 2-3 tangs in your tank. They are big fish and I don't think 5 would work well. Definitely don't do the hippo, choose either a yellow, purple or gem tang but id only do one since they are all in the same family and could cause serious aggression problems. Definitely don't do all 3, and if you do decide to do 2, make sure that you are prepared for aggression issues, and have a back up tank or acclimation box ready. The bristle tooth tang should work well in your tank. Every other fish besides the wrasses(which hopefully someone will help you out with those) will be fine in your tank. Happy reefing!

 

[Slocke]

My tank is 5x2x2 and I need help with my list of fish I'd like to add. Will this work? Is it too much fishes for the tank? Can I add more tangs or wrasses? Thank you!

In Tank
2x Clownfish
Yasha Goby
Pintail Fairy Wrasse
Randal's Pistol Shrimp
Cleaner Shrimp
Snails

Wanting
Yellow Tang
Purple Tang
Hippo Tang
Gem Tang (Maybe another tang?)
White Tail Bristletooth Tang
Regal Angelfish
Flame Angelfish
Copperband Butterfly
Foxface (Maybe)
Firefish Helfrichi
Royal Gramma
Midas Blenny
McCosker's Wrasse
Carpenter Wrasse
Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse Blue Star

None of those wrasse handle tangs well. Maybe if you add them long before

 

[Brisk]

None of those wrasse handle tangs well. Maybe if you add them long before

Did you mean add the tangs or wrasse first? Which wrasses would handle tangs?

 

[Slocke]

Did you mean add the tangs or wrasse first? Which wrasses would handle tangs?

Wrasse first. Halichoeres can do alright then many of the not reef safe ones.