For anthias I recommend a group of 5 dispar or randalls anthias. They are relatively hardy, but less likely to pick each other off like lyretails and bartletts do.I have a 40 breeder with: an occelaris, a kole tang, a solonensis wrasse, and a melanurus wrasse
I am setting up a 5'x2'x2' 150 gallon in the next few weeks. I will have the opportunity to keep both tanks up for a short time, so I could have a specific order of additions. I will be keeping all the current fish.
Fish I would like to add:
-A group of anthias: recommendation on species and number?
-A single Bartlett's anthias
-A purple OR blue Caribbean tang
-Another fairy wrasse (like a Scott's or cyanopleura)
What would you recommend for this species list? Also, what would be the recommended order for adding the new fish with the current fish? I have a 75gallon sump + 55 gallon refugium and a vertex alpha 200, if that impacts bioload thoughts.
If you are keeping a group of peaceful anthias, then I would advise against a bartletts due to aggression.
I have had problems with Caribbean blue tangs becoming aggressive. Go with the purple an add it simultaneously with the kole. Add these last.
Another fairy wrasse would be fine, but skip the scotts. They lose their bright colors and become aggressive. Also skip the cyanopleura. It and the solorensis are closely related, so are more likely to fight. Consider an exquisite, lubbocks, rubrisquammis, or rubrimarginatus. Add fairy wrasses simultaneously if possible. If not, then utilize a social acclimation box when adding a new wrasse to an established one. Add fairy wrasses before adding the melanurus.