Overstocked or Not, need your thoughts and suggestions

95harley

Active Member
I thought I was fully stocked, but the longer I watch the tank the more I think I have room for 1-2 smaller (under 9" max) fish.
I would like your 2 cents.
Tanks is a 240g Long (8'x2'x2').
300lbs LR
Amiracle Maxi Reef 400 Wet dry w/ 10lbs Bio-balls.
Aqua C EV-240 Skimmer running a Mag 12 pump
Dual Powerheads
Sequence Dart return pump with dual overflows.
Current stock list is:
Volitan Lionfish
Queen Angel
Blond Naso Tang
Yellow Tang
Aust Harequin Tusk
Maroon Clownfish
Large Snowflake Moray
CC Star
In my growout 75g and hopefully soon to be added:
Golden Moray Eel
Red Coris Wrasse aka Clown/Gaimard Wrasse
All fish are 6-9" long currently.
Is there room for 1-2 smaller fish (I'm thinking Flame Angel, or a Chevron Tang, or other smaller fish)
Anyone have any thoughts, good idea? Or leave it be?
 

rcoultas

Member
IMO you should not add more to that - the harlequin alone will eventually outgrow that tank. if it were not on your list I'd be more inclined to say you could add a couple more as you mentioned.
 

95harley

Active Member
Originally Posted by rcoultas
IMO you should not add more to that - the harlequin alone will eventually outgrow that tank. if it were not on your list I'd be more inclined to say you could add a couple more as you mentioned.

I think your thinking about something differnt a Tusk maxes out around 9-10". If he outgrows a 240g tank I will be the evny of the ENTIRE WORLD!
I also considered an Atlantic Blue Tang, but I need to find out more about them as I have heard they do not do well out of a group.
I'd Love a Hippo Tang, but I will NOT keep a fish that will be a constant source of ICH. So if I add something else I want hardy and healthy.
 

rcoultas

Member
Current stock list is:
Volitan Lionfish
Queen Angel
Blond Naso Tang
Yellow Tang
Aust Harequin Tusk
Maroon Clownfish
Large Snowflake Moray
CC Star
You're right I was thinking of another - sorry
Even so - with that list you may have a tough time justifying putting in any more fish - the smaller species could become snack foods and the larger would certainly lead to overcrowding. I think that when all of these are full grown you are already pushing it.
 

aquaknight

Active Member
Depends, small fish really don't add much of a lot, esp. as one helpful as a bristletooth tang, might even count to lower the bioload IMO. However a couple of those fish, the v. lion in particular seem risky with small, new fish.
FWIW, I would look into a bigger pump for that EV240. I think minimum suggested is a Mag24?
 

95harley

Active Member
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
Depends, small fish really don't add much of a lot, esp. as one helpful as a bristletooth tang, might even count to lower the bioload IMO. However a couple of those fish, the v. lion in particular seem risky with small, new fish.
FWIW, I would look into a bigger pump for that EV240. I think minimum suggested is a Mag24?
Recommended is a Mag 12 or a Mag 18. I have one of each on different tanks, but I called Aqua C and spoke to their Tech Support and they told me the Mag 12 works good and the 18 would be better but you would have to throttle it back and the difference of a wide open 12 and a cut back 18 would be minimal.
 

aquaknight

Active Member
Interesting, I will have to take a second look. I run a Mag 18 on my EV180 wide open.
The EV240 has the 1" injector, right?
 

lesleybird

Active Member
Originally Posted by AquaKnight
Depends, small fish really don't add much of a lot, esp. as one helpful as a bristletooth tang, might even count to lower the bioload IMO. However a couple of those fish, the v. lion in particular seem risky with small, new fish.
FWIW, I would look into a bigger pump for that EV240. I think minimum suggested is a Mag24?
A fish counting to lower the bioload? Only in your dreams!
I use two mag 9.5's on my 200 gallon tank. They are on different circuits and if one circuit pops, or one pump goes out I still have circulation. Lesley
 

stdreb27

Active Member
Wait a second, green moray in a 220? With those fish. I think you are temping fate with that eel. I'd hate for your 200 dollar tusk become a meal. But other than that, and your starfish, I'd really suggest putting a puffer in there.
 

95harley

Active Member
Originally Posted by stdreb27
Wait a second, green moray in a 220? With those fish. I think you are temping fate with that eel. I'd hate for your 200 dollar tusk become a meal. But other than that, and your starfish, I'd really suggest putting a puffer in there.
1st. Golden NOT Green, read again and look at my avitar.
2nd. No puffers as you see a Volitan Lionfish in there.
3rd. Its a 240 not a 220.
Did you even read the post?
 

kjr_trig

Active Member
Hey Harley you said you have a Mag 12 on one of your Aqua C's, and and 18 on the other...Do you notice much difference?...I have that skimmer coming, and currently have it ordered with a 12, but the 18 is only like $15 more, I just figured it was overkill.
 

95harley

Active Member
My 18 is a return pump on a FW tank. My 12 is my Skimmer pump. For the $15 Id go 18 on the skimmer.
But as far as difference, not really.
 

kjr_trig

Active Member
Originally Posted by 95Harley
http:///forum/post/2449802
Anyone thing an Atlantic Blue Tang might fit well in this mix?
Probably a good choice as you don't have any Acanthurus tangs yet, and would be one of the smallest and least aggressive from that family.
 

95harley

Active Member
I'm still on the fence with this fish as I read they don't do well in captivity as well as I'm sure my Yellow tang will attack him and stress him immediately.
Any other colorful suggestions?
I'm starting to look into a small school of Anthias...wonder how they would fair?
 

aquaknight

Active Member
LOL, first, my bad Harley, I'm a complete moron. But on the positive (for me at least), I just found a pretty sweet surprise. My EV-180 isn't actually an EV-180, but an EV240!
 
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