Questions About My Reef

[Aaron P]

Hello, I have some questions about what to do next with my reef.

Firstly, I am having some trouble with the two wrasses in my tank. I have a carpenters flasher wrasse and a Melanurus wrasse in a 40 breeder. I’m aware that a 40 is too small for a full grown Mel. but he is small and will be removed if he grows too large. The carpenters wrasse was added to the tank first. When the Mel. was added everything was fine but after a while, aggression began. At first it appeared to be a dominance thing but it has gotten worse. I can’t get rid of the Mel. For reasons other than size as he controls my red flatworms. I am considering moving the carpenters into a frag tank that will be built soon but would prefer him in the display.
So I guess my question is, can I add another small wrasse to spread out aggression or is moving the carpenters the only option? I am also open to any other suggestions.

My second question is what fish I should add next. The fish in the tank are
- Carpenters Wrasse
- Melanurus Wrasse
- 2x Ocellaris Clownfish
- Tailspot Blenny
- Randall’s Goby
The main fish I want to add is a pair of spotted mandarins but don’t really know what else to do especially if I move the carpenters wrasse. This is assuming that I could do more fish if I can’t that is fine.

My third and final question is what this is

It was sold to me as a fire Phoenix monti but the colors don’t match the online photos. The colors are slightly off, it is a little more pink. Just wondering what it is.

 

[Subsea]

How mature is your reef tank? Dragonets require a lot of live food.

IMO, you already have too fish in your 40G tank. Not because of bioload, but beause of social interaction between fish. You have introduced stress between the two wrasses. Remove one of them to quarantine.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Welcome to R2R!

On the monti, it could very well be a Flaming Phoenix and just not coloring up. If you look around at the posts on the forum, many people can't seem to hit the colors they see online in their own tanks/lighting for the yellow variety of monti's, despite higher lighting, lower lighting, more flow, less flow, etc. They can be tough. You could try moving it up slowly and see how the color responds each week.

Wrasses I can't speak to, but on the mandarins don't underestimate the amount of pods and maturity of the tank required to keep these fish long term. My personal opinion is two mandarins in a 40 is pushing it unless your tank is very well established with lots of live rock. Don't forget that the wrasses are foraging pods as well. Not saying people haven't done it, just not sure how successful long term it may be. Good luck!

 

[Aaron P]

Thank you for the advice
With the wrasses I am going to move the carpenters unless he is killed by the other before I get a chance to.
The mandarins won’t be added at this point as the tank is only just over a year old so I will hold out. However if I can get it on a live baby brine feeder will one work?
I will try moving the monti slowly to different light levels and see how the colors change.
Thank you for your advice.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

Thank you for the advice
With the wrasses I am going to move the carpenters unless he is killed by the other before I get a chance to.
The mandarins won’t be added at this point as the tank is only just over a year old so I will hold out. However if I can get it on a live baby brine feeder will one work?
I will try moving the monti slowly to different light levels and see how the colors change.
Thank you for your advice.

A feeder would be a huge help. Here's a link to Paul B's great brine feeder article: http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/diy-target-feeder-mandarinfish-pipefish-2804/

 

[Aaron P]

Thanks for the link but I actually already have one from my time with Ruby Red Dragonettes. All of which sadly decided that the overflow would be a good place to hang out. 3 of them dead, poor little fish.