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

ihavecrabs · Dec 23, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
A midas blenny is compatible with any jawfish. The midas blenny stay at the rockwork and top of the tank. A jawfish will stay at the bottom, near it's burrow in the sand.

The only foreseeable issue is that BSJ are from cooler waters than most keep their tanks. Warmer temps = shorter lifespan.

Thanks, I have heard of many successful SPS tanks running at cooler temps (76F) and I have also heard of blue spotted jawfish also doing well in this range. Spot feeding is what I hear is key with these fish also.

I was more concerned with the Midas being aggressive with fish the same color/size since he BSJ is quite similar in both.

Thanks for your help!

Bensadork · Dec 23, 2015

I have a 46g bowfront reef tank. So far, 2 black and white clowns (and rbta), a bangaii cardinalfish, firefish goby, lawnmower blenny, emerald crab, peppermint shrimp, and various crabs and snails. I am definitely interested in getting another fish or 2. preferably something that will be a very colorful swimmer. Any suggestions? Or am I hovering around too stocked? Is more fish better for my corals? I was thinking a coral beauty but I was reading they like munching on zoas and other coral. Are there any angelfish or something along those lines that would be appropriate? I wish I had the room for a tang...any kind of tang....I dig them.

eatbreakfast · Dec 23, 2015

Bensadork said:
I have a 46g bowfront reef tank. So far, 2 black and white clowns (and rbta), a bangaii cardinalfish, firefish goby, lawnmower blenny, emerald crab, peppermint shrimp, and various crabs and snails. I am definitely interested in getting another fish or 2. preferably something that will be a very colorful swimmer. Any suggestions? Or am I hovering around too stocked? Is more fish better for my corals? I was thinking a coral beauty but I was reading they like munching on zoas and other coral. Are there any angelfish or something along those lines that would be appropriate? I wish I had the room for a tang...any kind of tang....I dig them.

Determining whether a tank has reached it's stocking capacity varies tank to tank. If your parameters are fine, then you usually could add more.

Any angel that would fit in your tank is a risk to eat coral.

Small fairy or flashers, royal gramma, chalk bass, zebra dartfish would all work.

ihavecrabs · Dec 24, 2015

ihavecrabs said:
Thanks, I have heard of many successful SPS tanks running at cooler temps (76F) and I have also heard of blue spotted jawfish also doing well in this range. Spot feeding is what I hear is key with these fish also.

I was more concerned with the Midas being aggressive with fish the same color/size since he BSJ is quite similar in both.

Thanks for your help!

No issues at all. Moved the BSJ into the tank yesterday. He settled right into the burrow I had intended for him. He does warn off other fish in the near vicinity but everyone is happy.

He is eating like a hog!

bandit1994 · Dec 30, 2015

I want to know if I can get a bicolor dotty back I have a 10gallon long zoa only tank that has a occ clownfish and a yellow watchman goby am I at stock or would it by safe to add one more fish the parameters are in check

eatbreakfast · Dec 30, 2015

bandit1994 said:
I want to know if I can get a bicolor dotty back I have a 10gallon long zoa only tank that has a occ clownfish and a yellow watchman goby am I at stock or would it by safe to add one more fish the parameters are in check

Since the parameters are in check, than I think you should be fine. A bicolor dottyback can get aggressive, but a clown can take care of itself and a watchman goby will be off it's radar, so you should be fine.

bandit1994 · Dec 30, 2015

and are they zoa and solfty safe as that is what I'm going for

eatbreakfast · Dec 30, 2015

bandit1994 said:
and are they zoa and solfty safe as that is what I'm going for

Yes, completely coral safe.

Malarkey · Dec 30, 2015

Hi all, I'm new here but not brand new at the saltwater game. I have had tanks in the past, but need help in deciding what order and which of these fish I can put in a mixed reef. The last tank we had had a yellow tang, a pair of clowns, a mean three spot damsel, and a neon dottyback. I just don't want to do this in the wrong order because I would like to have a few more fish this time. The fish we would like to have are as follows: Midas Blenny, Flame Hawkfish, Royal Gramma, Neon dottyback, Yellow Tang, Kole Tang, I would really like to have a Sailfin Tang but I have heard they will get the size of a dinner plate, some kind of a Dwarf Angel, a well behaved Wrasse, 2 clownfish, and a couple or three anthias. Of course I will have a clean up crew, but I don't see anything in this list that would be hermit crab eaters or ones that would eat snails.
Ok, let me have it. I'm ready for some help and hints as to what I can have from this list and in what order to put it in.
Oh by the way. I am just in my third week of cycling so I have some time to work on this.
Thanks
Malarkey

eatbreakfast · Dec 31, 2015

Malarkey said:
Hi all, I'm new here but not brand new at the saltwater game. I have had tanks in the past, but need help in deciding what order and which of these fish I can put in a mixed reef. The last tank we had had a yellow tang, a pair of clowns, a mean three spot damsel, and a neon dottyback. I just don't want to do this in the wrong order because I would like to have a few more fish this time. The fish we would like to have are as follows: Midas Blenny, Flame Hawkfish, Royal Gramma, Neon dottyback, Yellow Tang, Kole Tang, I would really like to have a Sailfin Tang but I have heard they will get the size of a dinner plate, some kind of a Dwarf Angel, a well behaved Wrasse, 2 clownfish, and a couple or three anthias. Of course I will have a clean up crew, but I don't see anything in this list that would be hermit crab eaters or ones that would eat snails.
Ok, let me have it. I'm ready for some help and hints as to what I can have from this list and in what order to put it in.
Oh by the way. I am just in my third week of cycling so I have some time to work on this.
Thanks
Malarkey

You don't mention tank size, as that may affect the success with tangs.

I would suggest the following order.
Clowns,
Well behaved wrasse(perhaps a flasher or fairy)
Group of anthias
Royal gramma
Flame hawk
Midas blenny
Neon dottyback
Dwarf angel (though any dwarf angel is a risk to nip coral)
Tangs(add them simultaneously).

They can be added in groups.

Malarkey · Dec 31, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
You don't mention tank size, as that may affect the success with tangs.

I would suggest the following order.
Clowns,
Well behaved wrasse(perhaps a flasher or fairy)
Group of anthias
Royal gramma
Flame hawk
Midas blenny
Neon dottyback
Dwarf angel (though any dwarf angel is a risk to nip coral)
Tangs(add them simultaneously).

They can be added in groups.

I'm sorry, it is a drilled 90. 48 x 18 x 25

Malarkey · Dec 31, 2015

eatbreakfast said:
You don't mention tank size, as that may affect the success with tangs.

I would suggest the following order.
Clowns,
Well behaved wrasse(perhaps a flasher or fairy)
Group of anthias
Royal gramma
Flame hawk
Midas blenny
Neon dottyback
Dwarf angel (though any dwarf angel is a risk to nip coral)
Tangs(add them simultaneously).

They can be added in groups.

Thank you very much. That will be of great help. Besides, you made my wife's day by saying she should get clowns first.
Our last clowns hosted in a frogspawn. Should we wait until we can put something like that in with them or will they perhaps go to it later if we go ahead and put the clowns in earlier.

eatbreakfast · Dec 31, 2015

Malarkey said:
I'm sorry, it is a drilled 90. 48 x 18 x 25

In that size tank, I recommend going with only one tang, either the kole or the yellow.

Malarkey said:
Thank you very much. That will be of great help. Besides, you made my wife's day by saying she should get clowns first.
Our last clowns hosted in a frogspawn. Should we wait until we can put something like that in with them or will they perhaps go to it later if we go ahead and put the clowns in earlier.

Clowns don't need to host in anything and there is no guarantee that they will host in anything even if there is something in the tank.

Stew18 · Jan 1, 2016

Eatbreakfast and anyone else out there.......

There was a Caribbean Wormfish (Gunnelichthys copleyi) on Divers Den. What can you tell me about these or has anyone ever kept one?

Thanks

eatbreakfast · Jan 1, 2016

Stew18 said:
Eatbreakfast and anyone else out there.......

There was a Caribbean Wormfish (Gunnelichthys copleyi) on Divers Den. What can you tell me about these or has anyone ever kept one?

Thanks

I've never kept the Caribbean wormfish, but I have kept the curious wormfish, and I imagine the care and behaviors will be close if not identical. Wormfish are small, peaceful, reef-safe fish. They aren't picky eaters and are usually swimming around in the water column. They will also bury in the sand if threatened. The only problem I have encountered is that they without fail end up through the teeth of the overflow, sometimes staying in the overflow, other times ending up in the sump.

Stew18 · Jan 1, 2016

Thanks Eatbreakfast - Divers Den has some interesting fish. This next one is too expensive for me but wanted to know if you or anyone had any experience.

Red Sea Yellowfin Soapfish (Diploprion drachi)

eatbreakfast · Jan 1, 2016

Stew18 said:
Thanks Eatbreakfast - Divers Den has some interesting fish. This next one is too expensive for me but wanted to know if you or anyone had any experience.

Red Sea Yellowfin Soapfish (Diploprion drachi)

This is one of my favorite fish.

Here is an article I wrote about it.
http://reefbuilders.com/2015/12/07/diploprion-drachi-drachi-soapfish-red-sea/