Not even sure how to proceed. Advice

fernalfer · Nov 17, 2016

So i have a 120 gallon tank that has been up and running for 6 months now. I have a variety of corals all thriving. I originally stocked my tank first with a Lemon Peel Tang.... YES i know he should not of been the first in the tank but he was. I love him he works the tank and has great personality. Eats right out of my hand. I then put in 2 Occellaris Clown fish about 8 weeks later because all my fist are put in QT with 2 rounds of prazipro and then 3 weeks of cupramine. My Tang could care less when the clowns were put in. Then 8 weeks later in go a Bangaii Cardinal fish and A starry Blenny. Now my tang chased the Cardinalfish maybe once but harrased the Starry Bleeny for about 3 days. The Starry didn't seem to care at all, would just duck for cover and come back out immediately. After the 3 days my Tang only chases him every once and awhile when they are close.

Now about 5 days ago 1 of my clowns jumped out of the tank and died. The very next day my other clown jumped but when found was just barely alive. I threw him in the tank and he lived for 3 more days and has now become clean up crew lunch. My Bangaii is now not looking good because he does not ever eat unfortunately i was not able to get a captive bred Bangaii. I have a feeling he does not have much time left.

This brings me down to 2 fish My Lemon Peel tang and My Starry Blanny who do not obviously like each other but tolerate each other. Now how do i move forward stocking fish. My tang has been in the tank 4 months out of the last 6. Is he going to bully every new tank mate moving forward? I don't want to be stuck with just 2 fish either. Also if i buy 1 fish at a time that means a new fish goes in the tank only every 8 weeks. Or should i buy 3 to 4 at once.

Any suggestions on how to move forward with putting more fish in the 120 would be greatly appreciated.

stevo01 · Nov 17, 2016

@eatbreakfast @Humblefish @melypr1985

That should do it ;)

stevo01 · Nov 17, 2016

Also, im very sorry for your fish losses! I too am preparing to stock a similar size tank and been wondering a couple points you touched on.

Anirban · Nov 17, 2016

I may suggest trying few things. First you can take every fish out and introduce them together with other new fishes. Or you can rearrange the aquascape to reduce territorial aggressiveness.

psirex · Nov 17, 2016

Frozen mixed with fresh migjt work for the Cardinals my lemon peel and my blennies couldn't care less about each other. Just make sure the is enough hoding space for everyone

stevo01 · Nov 17, 2016

Anirban said:
I may suggest trying few things. First you can take every fish out and introduce them together with other new fishes. Or you can rearrange the aquascape to reduce territorial aggressiveness.

Rock rearrangement is common in a Cichlid community tank, but with these two particular fish I dont know if that would help. Maybe tho.

psirex · Nov 17, 2016

1 lemon peel
2 fire fish
1 Starry Blennie
5 yellow clown gobies
1 Flame angel
All living peacefully in my 120

Anirban · Nov 17, 2016

stevo01 said:
Rock rearrangement is common in a Cichlid community tank, but with these two particular fish I dont know if that would help. Maybe tho.

It does not work all the time with highly aggressive fish but sometime this works well. The only problem is how feasible to do it....

Rybren · Nov 17, 2016

9 wrasses
2 clowns
2 YWG
1 yellow tang
1 coral beauty
1 royal gramma
1 azure damsel

in my 120. They all get along.

melypr1985 · Nov 17, 2016

Hi there! I'm very sorry for your losses :( You've got a bit of a conundrum here. You might try putting the tang in the sump when you introduce the next group of fish. OR.. A social acclimation box would probably help as well. As far as introducing groups of fish instead of one at a time, you would need to have a QT large enough to handle the group your attempting. As long as your QT and the filter for said QT is good enough to handle it (and the fish themselves will get along), I don't see any problems introducing a few fish at a time.

Brew12 · Nov 17, 2016

As is sounds like the OP knows, the problem isn't the type of fish, it is with the order added.

This was written from a Tang on Tang aggression point of view, but I'm sure many of the lessons still apply.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.215698/

fernalfer · Nov 17, 2016

psirex said:
1 lemon peel
2 fire fish
1 Starry Blennie
5 yellow clown gobies
1 Flame angel
All living peacefully in my 120

But how were they introduced in order. My downfall is putting the Tang in first. I think he feels he owns the whole tank now.

Anirban said:
It does not work all the time with highly aggressive fish but sometime this works well. The only problem is how feasible to do it....

Heres my scape. love it and would try to avoid touching it if possible.

Tom Blevins · Nov 17, 2016

Sorry for your losses ,After I quarantine I use this to get them use to one another, I float this for 4 days with the new fish in it and works great, I have never had issues with new fish well on exception one time with a 6 line wrasse I had that guy would chase 8" fish around, he is now gone thank goodness!

fernalfer · Nov 17, 2016

melypr1985 said:
Hi there! I'm very sorry for your losses :( You've got a bit of a conundrum here. You might try putting the tang in the sump when you introduce the next group of fish. OR.. A social acclimation box would probably help as well. As far as introducing groups of fish instead of one at a time, you would need to have a QT large enough to handle the group your attempting. As long as your QT and the filter for said QT is good enough to handle it (and the fish themselves will get along), I don't see any problems introducing a few fish at a time.

The problem i foresee is catching the Tang. I may look into an acclimation box. Maybe if i buy another pair of Occelaris clowns the tang will just think it was the same ones that were there before that he did not bother. Just have to get a top on the tank before doing so.