Need help deciding on whether or not a fish is right for your tank? Post here and we'll help!

[scardall]

I'm thinking about adding a" dragon face pipe fish " to my mixed Reef. ( to control red bugs if any) I do not have a anemone in my tank. I do have SPS, LPS Clam , Zoa's and Blasto's. I have a bare bottom tank with plenty of arthropods/copeapods as well. Fish wise I have a mated pair of black saddleback Clowns ,a Tamini Tang and a Juvenile Emperor Angel (Size: A little smaller than a 50 cent piece) Tank is a 75g reef.

ANY Opinions here?? Would a dragon face pipe fish work in this tank????????

 

[Naiad]

ANY Opinions here?? Would a dragon face pipe fish work in this tank????????

What kind of LPS? Sorry I am new to owning pipefish myself but I will try to share what I've learned.

 

[scardall]

What kind of LPS? Sorry I am new to owning pipefish myself but I will try to share what I've learned.

Duncan,Frogspawn,Hammer, Lobo , Acan and Pearl Bubble coral

 

[Naiad]

If you get a full grown one it should be ok with those guys. I am sure you already knew the angel will become an issue in a 75. The only other thing to watch for is agression from the tang and angel and too high of flow from powerheads. At least from what I was told to watch. Hopefully a more experienced pipefish keeper can pipe up so we both can learn more [emoji6]

 

[scardall]

Yes I do know that the Angel will become an issue. My Main reason for having this particular pipe fish is to rid my SPS of any red bugs that may be there. so If I have this guy for a year or more this will be ok.

 

[cheezybuda]

Tags should be added together for best results. I don't see anything wrong with the three listed but is there anything else in the tank?

Bartlett 's anthias
Pearly or blue spot jawfish
Bellus angel
Bipartitus pair
CBB

 

[Naiad]

Bartlett 's anthias
Pearly or blue spot jawfish
Bellus angel
Bipartitus pair
CBB

Everyone else is peaceful so as long as the three listed previous are the last in there generally there will be no problems. There is always some trial and error due to individual fish having different attitudes.

 

[Chris Palm]

Hi guys, I am fairly new to the hobby and have recently setup a new 90 gallon tank which is currently cycling. I live on Curacao, which is an island in the Caribbean, and although you can freely collect fish out of the ocean, there is limited supply of other fish in the trade from our local fish stores. Over the course of recent months, I bought a few fish which my local fish store had available. As it is not often that saltwater fish are sold here on the island, I had to buy what I could get my hands on. As a result, I ended up buying a number of fish, which I know from reading on the internet do not particularly match well. I currently have 3 tanks (30g, 36g, 20g) in which I am holding these fish until the 90 gallon is ready to go.

To sum up, I plan to put the following fish in the 90 gallon (I mention how I currently house these fish so you guys can get an idea of their current interaction. PS. the 30g and 36g have been running with these fish in them for approx. 2 months, and I have not had any issues. Only issue is that the maroon sometimes is territorial with the other two clowns in the 30g):
2 ocellaris clowns (30g)
1 snowflake clown (36g)
2 percula clowns (90g, cycling)
1 maroon clown (30g)
1 powder blue tang (30g)
1 hippo tang (36g)
1 french angel fish (juvenile/tiny) (collected locally) (currently in 20g)
1 wrasse (collected locally) (currently in 20g)

 

[scardall]

Hi guys, I am fairly new to the hobby and have recently setup a new 90 gallon tank which is currently cycling. I live on Curacao, which is an island in the Caribbean, and although you can freely collect fish out of the ocean, there is limited supply of other fish in the trade from our local fish stores. Over the course of recent months, I bought a few fish which my local fish store had available. As it is not often that saltwater fish are sold here on the island, I had to buy what I could get my hands on. As a result, I ended up buying a number of fish, which I know from reading on the internet do not particularly match well. I currently have 3 tanks (30g, 36g, 20g) in which I am holding these fish until the 90 gallon is ready to go.

To sum up, I plan to put the following fish in the 90 gallon (I mention how I currently house these fish so you guys can get an idea of their current interaction. PS. the 30g and 36g have been running with these fish in them for approx. 2 months, and I have not had any issues. Only issue is that the maroon sometimes is territorial with the other two clowns in the 30g):
2 ocellaris clowns (30g)
1 snowflake clown (36g)
2 percula clowns (90g, cycling)
1 maroon clown (30g)
1 powder blue tang (30g)
1 hippo tang (36g)
1 french angel fish (juvenile/tiny) (collected locally) (currently in 20g)
1 wrasse (collected locally) (currently in 20g)

In general I would trust what you are reading. I have a mated pair of true black Saddle back Clowns and was told not to add any other clownfish such as the designer clowns. Maroon clowns are very territotial and the one I had bit me all the time. Remember Stress is real bad for a powder blue. This tank should be a fish only if want that Wrasse and you will be on borrowed time with the french angel if you go reef. Their are some exceptions under very specific conditions, not that many. I have a 75g mixed reef.

 

[Chris Palm]

Hi Scardal. Many thanks for your reply. So if I understand correctly I should not add the both tangs and only a pair of clownfish or the Maroon right? I did see some tanks with 5 clownfish of the same kind. Is the mixing of the types of clownfish the problem?

 

[eatbreakfast]

ANY Opinions here?? Would a dragon face pipe fish work in this tank????????

Pipefish can easily be outcompeted for food, even with plenty of pods available, and sometimes also get stung by corals. But if you are vigilant in making sure it gets food can work out. There are easier to keep species that will eat red bugs, such as small Halichoeres species of wrasses.

Hi Scardal. Many thanks for your reply. So if I understand correctly I should not add the both tangs and only a pair of clownfish or the Maroon right? I did see some tanks with 5 clownfish of the same kind. Is the mixing of the types of clownfish the problem?

Multiple clownfish of the same complex can work if they are all juveniles and added simultaneously. Female clowns do not tolerate other females, and males will fight other males too.

 

[Chris Palm]

Thanks eatbreakfast. And with regard to the tangs, is it specifically the powder blue tang and hippo tang combination that present potential problems? I have noticed other reefkeepers that have multiple tangs in their tank, including the hippo tang.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Thanks eatbreakfast. And with regard to the tangs, is it specifically the powder blue tang and hippo tang combination that present potential problems? I have noticed other reefkeepers that have multiple tangs in their tank, including the hippo tang.

Hippo tangs get to 18", so will quickly outgrow a 90g. Multiple tangs can be kept together, but a 90g is on the small side, especially for the genus Acanthurus, which is what a powder blue is. They can be pretty aggressive toward other tangs.

 

[scardall]

Hi Scardal. Many thanks for your reply. So if I understand correctly I should not add the both tangs and only a pair of clownfish or the Maroon right? I did see some tanks with 5 clownfish of the same kind. Is the mixing of the types of clownfish the problem?

Clowns of different types don't work out well. The Maroon clown more so. will light up others. I would Only have one tang in your 90g. Powder blue needs to be in a docile type tank since it seems to get Ich easily. Fun Time huh?

 

[merlberg]

Right now i Have 6 fish in a 30 gal qt for about a month because I'm upgrading to a 120.

Just want the opionion of others as to the fish i want to keep together. So the current 6 is a porc. Puffer, tomato clown, domino damsel, niger trigger & humu trigger.

I want to add another tomato clown, cowfish, yellow tang, lipstick tang, valentini puffer,bicolor angel. What do u guys think [emoji85]

 

[eatbreakfast]

Right now i Have 6 fish in a 30 gal qt for about a month because I'm upgrading to a 120.

Just want the opionion of others as to the fish i want to keep together. So the current 6 is a porc. Puffer, tomato clown, domino damsel, niger trigger & humu trigger.

I want to add another tomato clown, cowfish, yellow tang, lipstick tang, valentini puffer,bicolor angel. What do u guys think [emoji85]

A cowfish can't handle that group, it is far too passive, is likely to get outcompeted for food, get picked on, and may release it's toxin because of that.

Adding a new tomato clown to an existing one may or may not work, females can get pretty aggressive.

Just add gradually and watch your parameters. There are some gish that get large and produce a lot of waste.

 

[Chris Palm]

Thanks @scardall and @eatbreakfast for the advice. I guess if I had to re-home a few of the fish I would put the following list in my 90 gallon:
- powder blue tang
- maroon clown
- french angel
- wrasse

The snowflake clown and an ocellaris I would put in a 14 gallon biocube in my living room and Dori and the other clownfish would have to find a new home. Would this list work?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Thanks @scardall and @eatbreakfast for the advice. I guess if I had to re-home a few of the fish I would put the following list in my 90 gallon:
- powder blue tang
- maroon clown
- french angel
- wrasse

The snowflake clown and an ocellaris I would put in a 14 gallon biocube in my living room and Dori and the other clownfish would have to find a new home. Would this list work?

Somehow I didn't notice the french angel. A small specimen will be fine for the time being but eventually outgrow a 90. Other than that you will be fine.

 

[Payday]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to get an opinion on this. May be a bit much but that why I'm asking. I currently have a 50 gal cube mixed reef. Current livestock are:
-Pair of midnight clowns
-blue spotted jaw
-Helfrichi firefish
-barnicle blenny

I wanted to add a wrasse, sunbrust anthias, and maybe a small purple tang until it grows a bit and re home it. As far as the wrasse, I would like something that is beneficial and beautiful. Any opinions?

I know the bioload sounds high but I plan on over skimming and frequent water changes and running a reactor.

Let me know what you thing. Thanks!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to get an opinion on this. May be a bit much but that why I'm asking. I currently have a 50 gal cube mixed reef. Current livestock are:
-Pair of midnight clowns
-blue spotted jaw
-Helfrichi firefish
-barnicle blenny

I wanted to add a wrasse, sunbrust anthias, and maybe a small purple tang until it grows a bit and re home it. As far as the wrasse, I would like something that is beneficial and beautiful. Any opinions?

I know the bioload sounds high but I plan on over skimming and frequent water changes and running a reactor.

Let me know what you thing. Thanks!

Even a small purple tang will quickly outgrow a 50g tank. I would recommend against it.

A beneficial wrasse that is size appropriate would include Halichoeres chrysus or a more secretive Pseudocheilinops ataenia. Avoid sixline, four line and and any other wrasses in their genus, they can get nasty.

Sunburst anthias is a fine choice.