Need help selecting last few fish

[DeanoL]

Hi,

As the title says, I am trying to figure out what should be the last few fish that I add to my tank and would appreciate any advice!

It is a Waterbox 90.3 60g tank, and I have a 15g sump with Red Sea Skimmer and ReefMat.

Current inhabitants:
1 x Chocolate Goby
2 x ocellaris clowns
1 x vanderbilt chromis
1 x melanurus wrasse
1 x Striped Blenny
1 x Bicolour Blenny

Plus a bunch of snails, a couple peppermint shrimp, tuxedo urchin and sand sifting starfish.

I have about 8 decent sized pieces of live rock which provide a lot of caves and hiding spots. Corals include a number of softies and LPS: leather corals, torch, hammer, acan, blasto, firework polyps, green star polyps, zoas, sinularia, desh, fungia plate corals.

I am looking to add some fish that will out active and provide some colour to the tank. There is a bit of blue/purple colours thanks to the wrasse, bicolour blenny, and chromis. And orange from the clowns. So, i guess i'm looking for reds/whites/pinks/yellows.

Would like to add around 4ish more fish to finish the tank off.

Here's what I am thinking:

• Royal Gramma
• Firefish goby (either normal red/white or decora) - would this be ok with the blennies in there?
• A couple of wrasse - maybe a fairy (eg lubbocks, pintail or exquisite) and flasher. I have always liked the h.chrsyus due to bright yellow and always active or the h.iridis potentially - but not sure if i should leave it at just one sand sleeper
• Something to stay near the top of the tank perhaps? Like a bangaii cardinal or maybe a single anthias (dispar, bartletts?) or single damsel (talbots?). Just thinking maybe this would bring the chromis out a bit more to have something to swim with)
• Dwarf Angel as last addition and centrepiece fish - i know the risk with corals, but have read that maybe the african flameback is best option

My LFS doesn't always get fish in regularly, so it would also be good if it didn't matter too much which order to put the last fish in as I could just do it based on when they have stock.....but i do know something like the angel should go last of the ones above.

I know i just listed more than 4 fish, but they are ones that I have considered. Will probably only look to get around 4 more as I don't want to overcrowd the fish and thinking about fish that will not compete with others for certain space in the tank.

Of those I mentioned, what would you suggest?

Or any others I haven't thought of?

Thanks!

 

[DeanoL]

Oh also a mandarin is cool, have had one before.

But not sure about having one with the melanurus.

Tank has been running over 2.5 years and I have seeded with pops a few times but I've read the halichoeres wrasse can be tough on pods.

 

[W31Olds]

I like my Royal Gramma. Fierce little guy. My bangaii cardinal pretty much stays in one place and they seem more active as the lights dim. Bellus Angels are supposed to be reef safe or maybe a Regal but they are difficult to source and acclimate.

 

[DeanoL]

I like my Royal Gramma. Fierce little guy. My bangaii cardinal pretty much stays in one place and they seem more active as the lights dim. Bellus Angels are supposed to be reef safe or maybe a Regal but they are difficult to source and acclimate.

Yes, I really want to get a Royal Gramma, but they can be a bit pricey here where I am.

Do you think it would go ok with the fish I already have and any of the suggested fish?

 

[W31Olds]

I would do your research on the wrasses before you decide as some can be aggressive. Firefish can be reclusive. I have one and he likes his cave and doesn't come out all the much and never swims more than a foot from his home.

 

[tymo92]

Various fairy or flasher wrasses would fit what you are looking for (active, often at top of tank, peaceful). Carpenters/McCoskers flasher, exquisite or pintail fairy would be a great fit. Make sure you have a lid or they will jump.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I love my Banggai Cardinal. It adds a quiet grace. Don't expect too much movement from it, though.
For Angels, consider the Cherub (a.k.a. Atlantic Pygmy) Angelfish. I love mine and it hasn't caused any trouble at all.
I like the Anthias for movement and color.
I'd probably stay away from the Damsels. Pretty, but mean.

 

[DeanoL]

Various fairy or flasher wrasses would fit what you are looking for (active, often at top of tank, peaceful). Carpenters/McCoskers flasher, exquisite or pintail fairy would be a great fit. Make sure you have a lid or they will jump.

Thanks. Yes definitely have a lid.

 

[DeanoL]

I love my Banggai Cardinal. It adds a quiet grace. Don't expect too much movement from it, though.
For Angels, consider the Cherub (a.k.a. Atlantic Pygmy) Angelfish. I love mine and it hasn't caused any trouble at all.
I like the Anthias for movement and color.
I'd probably stay away from the Damsels. Pretty, but mean.

I'll have a look at the cherub, but dont think I've ever seen that at my LFS.

Is there a particular anthias you'd recommend?

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I'll have a look at the cherub, but dont think I've ever seen that at my LFS.

Is there a particular anthias you'd recommend?

The Cherub, officially Centropyge argi, is common in our corner of the world, but they are from the Caribbean. Ask your local stores if you can special order one (if you want one).
My tank is too small for Anthias, so I've never had one. It just seems to me that they fit your needs for color, motion, staying in open water and peacefulness. You will still need one of the smaller ones in your tank size, though. The two you mentioned are probably good choices. I've looked at those a number of times and always just wish I had a larger tank. Maybe someone with direct experience can weigh in.

 

[tymo92]

I’ve never kept anthias singly - group dynamics is part of the appeal for me. I’ve seen hawk anthias (Serranocirrhites latus I think is the scientific name) often kept singly, as well as borbonius anthias but those are quite pricey.

 

[DeanoL]

I’ve never kept anthias singly - group dynamics is part of the appeal for me. I’ve seen hawk anthias (Serranocirrhites latus I think is the scientific name) often kept singly, as well as borbonius anthias but those are quite pricey.

Yes i think the sunburst anthias is good solo but it's very expensive whenever it occasionally appears in my LFS.

I had a pair of dispar previously which I really liked.

Always wondered if I could do a trio of individual anthias.... like one bartletts, one dispar, one lyretail for instance

 

[Mike.]

long nose hawk fish? mine has so much personality

 

[Naso180!]

Speckled or flame hawk. Gramma is a great choice. Any of the Centropyge angels are great.

 

[DeanoL]

long nose hawk fish? mine has so much personality

I had a longnose before and loved it. Would it be ok with the fish I have and those I suggested?

 

[Mike.]

I had a longnose before and loved it. Would it be ok with the fish I have and those I suggested?

I have a mandarin, 2 clowns and a lawn mower blenny. The Hawk pays it no mind. I think they only would be aggressive towards shrimp, but mine doesn't bother my shrimp. I have a very mild mannered one.

I don't think you would have a problem but there is always the exception.

 

[DeanoL]

Speckled or flame hawk. Gramma is a great choice. Any of the Centropyge angels are great.

Have your angels eaten your corals at all? Do you have one you think is most peaceful or reef safe? I like the African flameback i think, but dont see them often. Mainly see coral beauties or bicolour

Yes, think im locked in for a royal gramma. And I have always loved the red of a flame hawk but never sure how it would go with my tank mates and CUC

 

[Naso180!]

Definitely stay away from the Bicolor. Ive had 2 in my 30 plus years and both ate coral and ended up in my Fowlr. Ive had decent success with most of the other angel with the 2nd exception being Eibli angel. Not to say they all wont nip at thing especially clams. But if well fed the others have been alright. Flame, Coral beaty, Lemon peel, Flame back. The hawk will definitely eat shrimp as will most hawks. Usually fine with hermits and snails, cucumbers ect.

 

[DeanoL]

Definitely stay away from the Bicolor. Ive had 2 in my 30 plus years and both ate coral and ended up in my Fowlr. Ive had decent success with most of the other angel with the 2nd exception being Eibli angel. Not to say they all wont nip at thing especially clams. But if well fed the others have been alright. Flame, Coral beaty, Lemon peel, Flame back. The hawk will definitely eat shrimp as will most hawks. Usually fine with hermits and snails, cucumbers ect.

Noted about the bicolour, thanks for the info!

At the moment I'm leaning towards:
Royal Gramma
Bangaii cardinal
Wrasse of some sort - lubbocks perhaps
Flame or longnose hawk
African flameback dwarf angel

 

[PointerReefs]

Oh also a mandarin is cool, have had one before.

But not sure about having one with the melanurus.

Tank has been running over 2.5 years and I have seeded with pops a few times but I've read the halichoeres wrasse can be tough on pods.

My Melanarus is about that life never stops combing through my entire tank. Will even try and eat small inverts. Luckily I culture pods though. No wonder It’s so fat.