Changing directions with my tank

[Ryan22]

hi all,

After a mishap with a broken heater in my hospital tank resulted in the loss of my Dog faced puffer, I'm thinking that I might want to take my tank in a different direction.

I now have 2 blue damsels, a maroon clown and a coral beauty in my 72 gal bowfront. I am in the process of building a new stand and sump for the tank and after that I'll start to add some more fish. I currently have about 65lbs of live rock a turbofloater 1000 skimmer and a 3-5 inch sandbed sloped from 3 inches in the front of the tank to 5 inches in the back. I will be making the new sump out of a 29 gal tank and plan to use it as a sump/refugium with a 4-6 inch sand bed depending on how much southdown I have left in my closet. I can't find anymore right now.

So my real question is, with the two damsels and the maroon clown, I have some fairly aggresive fish in the tank already. What I would like to do is add some fish that stay about 3 inches or under that could hold their own against the damsels in particular, as the clown so far is very dosile. I am interested in some of the pseudocromis species, grammas, assessors and possibly a gobie, a jawfish or a pair of banggai cardinals. I have scott Michael's book, but it is a little vauge at times about compatablity between these species or multiples with in the same species/genius. What are your suggestions as possible tankmates for the fish I have? What works for you, or what has not worked for you. Feel free to add to the list, this is just research at this point, I won't be adding anything new for at least three weeks, probably longer.

TIA,

Ryan

[ November 09, 2001: Message edited by: Ryan22 ]</p>

 

[SteveP]

Based on a compatibility chart I have Tangs and Angels would be your best bet. You didn't mention if this was a reef tank. If it is I'd go with the Tangs.

Steve
8{I

 

[Ryan22]

Thanks for the reply Steve,

I actually am trying to stay away from tangs. I think the real solution to this might be that the damsels might have to live in the refugium, but I'd rather not.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Anonymous]

Unfortunatley there are no hard and fast rules here. Almost any fish you add could get beat up in this situation - or it might be fine. The best thing to do considering the fish you already have is move them (maybe just the damsels) temporarily and let the new guy get situated, then reintroduce them. I have to do this myself next week.
Huma huma triggers grow VERY slowly in captivity, so you could get a small one and he'd do just fine. A sixline wrasse would work, P. friedmani is an excellent choice as well.
hasta
Jim

 

[naesco]

Steve his tank is too small for tangs.

You can buy tank raised dottybacks which tend to swim amongst the rocks out of the realm of the clown. I have had both of them together with no problem but the dottybacks are jumpers.
Fairy wrasses are another beautiful fish.
In both cases make sure they are eating,active, plump and free of spots before you buy them.

 

[danmhippo]

For his tank, I am steering away from tangs as well. I am thinking more in terms of wrass, gobies, or blennies.

 

[Anonymous]

Pseudochromis and the grammas can usually hold thier own against those guys I would think.

Glenn

 

[Ryan22]

Thanks guys,

That's exactly the stuff I was looking to hear about. I like the idea of the fairy wrasses. Have any of you ever had a problem with multiples of a particular species together? I know that your not supposed to keep psuedos together, are there any others of concern? Does anyone have any experience with assessors?

Thanks again,
Ryan

 

[Katspaw]

I had a dottyback (orchid) and a jardin wrasse in my old tank for over a year, in the tank with them was 5 damsels and two maroon clowns along with a yellow tang. I didn't have any problems housing them together. The dottyback is a very aggressive fish and should be on eof the last fish in your aquarium. They do not back down at all. My last fish into that tank was the tang. Boy did the dottyback tell him what was what. and the size difference was alot tang 4" and dottyback about 2". The sunrise dotty is a cool looking fish by the way. But they have the yellow cheeked wrasse available occassionally and it looks just like the sunrise dottyback. So be careful in what you buy.

Tracey