Help me pick some fish

dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
I have a 180 gal with live rock and some soft corals. I move it about 6 week ago and it is now testing perfect.
Currently it has:
1 - 5" yellow tang
2 - yellow tail blue damsels
2 - Clown fish
1 - coral banded shrimp
3 - turbo snails
3 - emerald crabs
3 - peperment shrimp
I would like to beef up the clean-up crew....Sugestions?
I would also like to add some more fish. Would a Copperband Butterfly fish be ok?
How many more fish could I add and what kinds? All sugestions welcome...tia
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
You have a lot of room to add to that tank. A copperbanded butterfly would be fine in that tank, but they are known to be sensitive to acclimate and will sometimes pick at corals.
There are many options for more fish. You could do a school of chromis or cardinals. You could get another tang as well. I like a lot of the gobies as well, especially the firefish. Because of the tank size, you have a lot of options.
As far as cleanup crew goes, I would start by getting a bunch more snails. Get a mixture of cerith, nassarius, and turbo. They all eat different things and will cut down on the how much cleaning you have to do. I would start by adding 10-15 of each type of snail. Add more as you get more and more bioload in the tank. Hermits are a toss up, some run them some don't. Just realize that if you have both snails and hermits, you will eventually be buying more snails because the hermits will kill some of them.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member

Originally Posted by cmaxwell39
http:///forum/post/2964953
You have a lot of room to add to that tank. A copperbanded butterfly would be fine in that tank, but they are known to be sensitive to acclimate and will sometimes pick at corals.
There are many options for more fish. You could do a school of chromis or cardinals. You could get another tang as well. I like a lot of the gobies as well, especially the firefish. Because of the tank size, you have a lot of options.
As far as cleanup crew goes, I would start by getting a bunch more snails. Get a mixture of cerith, nassarius, and turbo. They all eat different things and will cut down on the how much cleaning you have to do. I would start by adding 10-15 of each type of snail. Add more as you get more and more bioload in the tank. Hermits are a toss up, some run them some don't. Just realize that if you have both snails and hermits, you will eventually be buying more snails because the hermits will kill some of them.

So I can add a copperbanded butterfly and another tang?
I would like to get the cb butterfly and a blue hippo tang. Would I need to get large/XL (4"-6") or would smaller ones be ok?
 
C

cmaxwell39

Guest
Depending on your filtration and mantaince routine I would say that you could add both of those.
 
keith burn

keith burn

Active Member
Originally Posted by dffhogs
http:///forum/post/2965874
So I can add a copperbanded butterfly and another tang?
I would like to get the cb butterfly and a blue hippo tang. Would I need to get large/XL (4"-6") or would smaller ones be ok?
cool fish but...
imo you need to have fish that will help you have a balanced tank as well as beautiful tank.
look in to a Diamond Goby for the sand it will help keep it clean.
a nice one for the l/r look at Lawnmower Blenny.
the butterfly is a nice one for aiptasia but imo not for a new tank...
and try the 55-100 gal reef pack on swf.com it will go a long way to a balanced tank.
if you go with the fish and live stock that will help you have a beautiful tank
it will be eazy to have one for the long run.jmo
 
dreamweaver

dreamweaver

Member
You also might want to check out a wrasse of some sort.... Beautiful fish! Quite an array of colors and designs.......
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
I got a few things last week, they are all doing well.
Currently it has:
1 - 5" yellow tang
2 - yellow tail blue damsels
2 - Clown fish
1 - coral banded shrimp
6 - turbo snails Added 3 more
3 - emerald crabs
3 - peperment shrimp
1 - Cleaner shrimp New
1 - Royal Gramma New
2 - Scooter Blenny's New
10 - Blue leg hermits New
When I added the Royal Gramma the damsel terrorized it for about an hour and a half. It finally made it to a cave like overhang in the rock and the damsels dont bother it anymore. It stays close to the cave but will swim with the rest of the fish, espcially during feeding time.
I would like to get several more smaller fish but am concerned about the damsel's behavior. Will they always go after new fish that are there size and smaller? What other kinds of small fish can I add that will add color and movement to the tank?
I would also like to add 1 or 2 larger (5"-10" when full grown) fish. There are so many beutiful fish to pick from, just cant decide! Any suggestions?
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
My vote is a Pinktail or a Niger trigger, I have both in my reef and IMO so amazing and are hardy. Also add some sort fairy wrasse, and another tang IMO.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member

Originally Posted by reefaholic33
http:///forum/post/2980783
My vote is a Pinktail or a Niger trigger, I have both in my reef and IMO so amazing and are hardy. Also add some sort fairy wrasse, and another tang IMO.
I was looking at a Blue Throat Trigger. Would this be a good fit?
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by reefaholic33
http:///forum/post/2980936
*Also one of the few considered reef safe. But that's not 100% but prolly 9 of 10 won't but anything IMO
I think I will take the chance of it being reef safe. Will the yellow tang leave it alone long enough to get comfortable in the tank?
 
crypt keeper

crypt keeper

Active Member
It should. You could add a couple more bigger fish with no problems. You may need to do like 1 more water change a month but your 180 isnt near its limit. You have small fish and 1 fish that gets big but isnt. Id get a male female pair of Blue throats and then toss in a flame angel. They may nip at some corals but generally are reef safe.
PUT SOME FISH IN THAT TANK!
 
reefaholic33

reefaholic33

Member
Originally Posted by dffhogs
http:///forum/post/2980975
I think I will take the chance of it being reef safe. Will the yellow tang leave it alone long enough to get comfortable in the tank?
Should be a small chance on being reef safe, and will be fine with the yellow might even be the dominant one.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
OK, I ordered three Pajama Cardinal's, one Mandarin Fish and one male Blue Throat Trigger.
The Trigger did not ship so my current list is:
1 - 5" yellow tang
2 - yellow tail blue damsels
2 - Clown fish
1 - coral banded shrimp
6 - turbo snails
3 - emerald crabs
3 - peperment shrimp
1 - Cleaner shrimp
1 - Royal Gramma
2 - Scooter Blenny's
10 - Blue leg hermits
3 - Pajama Cardinal's New
1 - Mandarin fish New
I hate it that the blue throat was out of stock. It will be a couple of weeks before I order again so they may have one by then. It also gives me some more time to find new things....Any more sugestions???
 
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