schooling anthias..

[brooklyn johnny]

As I said it is impossible to tell when each tank's bioload will be too much for the tank to handle, but generally you will see a low level of nitrates in tanks that are overstocked before things become too much of a problem. With that said, you cannot just add as many fish as you want if your nitrates are zero. Plan for the future of your tank even though it will take years for your blue tang to grow considerably...

 

[mr. tuna]

Ya, i know that it will take a few years for the blue tang to get big, but i dont want to worry about the future. What im trying to say is, i might get rid of my damsels, because all the fish i will have in my tank now, i dont want to get rid of in the future; worrying from if my tank can handle it, or not. So if i will not be able to keep all these fish until their max size, then i will have to stop adding now, or get rid of my damsels, to maby add another 3 fish to replace the 3 damsels i have. So what should i do?
THanks,
Adam__

 

[mr. tuna]

So reffering to what i said on my previous post,
Can i add something, or should i get rid of something,
Or just stay as i am?
* i looked into the bartlett anthias, and since you have both species, which one do you think is more entergetic, and more of a schooling type. Also, would the bartletts take up less space?
Thanks.

 

[mr. tuna]

?

 

[brooklyn johnny]

Due to their eventual aggresion, I would get rid of the damsels if I were you. Both anthias species do well and are active, but the Bartlett's have a maximum size that is a little bit smaller, so you may want to go with them.
Anthias don't really school... they shoal... they form loose aggregations that are groups, but not a school as we think of it. Either way they are excellent fish...
With Bartlett's the difference between male and female is not as evident as it is with squamipinnis... here is my male...

 

[brooklyn johnny]

And female...

 

[mr. tuna]

WoW! Those are beautiful fish that you have there! :yes:
Would i be able to keep a coral beauty, 2 perc clowns, 1 sand swifting goby, 1 mandarine, 1 blue tang, and 3 bartlett anthias for their whole lives with out worrying that when this gets big, my nitrates will not be low..ect. So if i were to get 3 bartletts, would i be able to keep them with all my other fish forever.
Thanks.

 

[brooklyn johnny]

That sounds like a good stocking plan and will offer a nice mix of color...

 

[mr. tuna]

Ok.
Thanks sooo much for your help this whole thread!!

I really appreciate it.
Adam

 

[mary]

Unless our blue tang, {Regal}, is unique, it overgrew it's tank within two years. Became very large and very stressed. Had to sell him back to the LFS. If eventually your fish grow too large it is heartbreaking to have to take them out of their "home" and sell them. For me anyway. It's a pet, and I always feel like an irresponsible hobbiest when it was my ignorance in purchasing a fish that will become so large. Find that I am much more relaxed that nothing now will become too large. Those anthias are truly beautiful!!!! I have heard that they nedd pristine conditions, no nitrates whatsoever. I guess just certain ones. Pays to know.