Help me pick out a new fish.

[rookie07]

Like the title states, I am looking to get a new fish or 2.
My tank has been going for about 5 months now)
34 gl Solana(I transferred from my 24 gl aquapod w/out any loss)
Hang-on Refugium
150W MH
30(soon to be 40)lbs LR
50 lbs LS
Tank dimensions are 20x20x20

Fish in tank currently:
1 Swalesi Basslet
2 black/white clowns
1 Mandarin(please dont debate the Mandarin in this thread)

Inverts:
2 fire shrimp
2 sexy shrimp
15 nassarius snails
3 turbo Grazers
1 electric hermit
2 or 3 blue leg hermits
Fighting Conch
4+ inch crocea clam(jade/blue coloring)

Corals:
Many zoas(not going to list unless im asked to)
Torch
Frogspawn
Hammer
Duncan
Dendro
green toadstool
leather(not sure what kind)
1 ric(soon to be 3)
Sun polyp
Candy cane
Elegance(Green)

OK, now.
I really want a dwarf flame angel and a mystery wrasse.
I know the wrasse might eat my sexy shrimp, and might jump from tank(I will have a cover before I get him)
And, I know the flame might eat my zoas/clam

With that said...
IM LOOKING TO ADD A LOT OF COLOR AND A LOT OF ACTIVITY INTO MY TANK WITH THE NEW FISH. Clowns havent hosted anything yet, and basslet hides most of the day, and mandarin is very small(get the picture?)

What do you guys/ladies think?????

 

[rookie07]

 

[rookie07]

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Dude I love that tank when you are ready for an upgrade I WANT IT!!!!!

 

[rookie07]

Chief,
Are you talking about My tank, or just the solana in general.
I would love to think that my first reef was envied by a Moderator(and not just the tank I bought)

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

It's beautiful Dude

 

[KathyC]

IMO a Mystery Wrasse will be too large for your tank with an adult size of 5", not to mention the competition with the Mandarin (not bothering to debate...) for Pods. As an adult that wrasse may think of your shrimp as expensive tasty treats.

What kind of Basslet do you have? The size & can type make a difference in any suggestions you may receive here!
Basletts prefer subdued lighting and while your tank looks very nice, it may be too bright for keeping a Basslet. Good chance he's out and about doing a happy dance while you're sleeping !!

The Flame gives you a 50/50 chance of having to replace your zoas...my 2 pygmy angels don't bother my corals, but I overfeed the snot out of my tanks..and you can't have mine

When considering any additional fish always figure their adult size into your planning!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I would try to think about the bioload you have now and the amount of water you have as well. I have a 24 with 2 clowns a Royal Gramma and a goby in it with a cbs and a fire shrimp and a mess of snails and hermits. That's alot of bioload for a tank that small. I think your tank is nicely stocked right now but if you were to add anything I would only add one more nano sized fish if I were you.

Again that is a beautiful tank!

 

[rookie07]

Kathy,
I thought I had considered adult(Full) size.
I thought the flame might be alittle on the big side(but Ive seen 30 gallons as min tank size many places), and the wrasse I thought was OK for sure(aside from jumping which is a non-issue b/c ill have a cover).
I see your poont about the basslet, he does like to hide under things often shading himself(I thought that would change as he became comfortable)
This sucks. Everytime I find a fish I want, im told I cant have it.
I feel like a jewish Kid in a toy store around christmas, everyone is getting cool stuff except for me. 8 days of gifts my ass, I got socks and dradels and books.
what other info do you need.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

What about a cardinal fish?

 

[rookie07]

Spotted Cardinal is nice---just saw they like to hide, i hate being jewish
or maybe a catalina Goby(found on live aquaria), but still kinda small

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Catalina's are a colder water fish not good to keep in a warm water tank.

 

[KathyC]

A 5" Mystery Wrasse is too big for a 34g tank. I wouldn't suggest looking at anything that gets bigger than 3" (with a 'regular' type fish-shaped body..if you know what I mean!)
An Angel with their round body is a lot of mass to add to your bioload.

Have you considered a Banded Pipe fish? Colorful, great movement when they swim. Perhaps an Orangspotted Shrimp Goby with his partner shrimp (if you can find them already paired off).
Go take a look at what the folks with nano tanks here are keeping

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Kath with the mandarin the goby/shrimp pair may be a problem

 

[rookie07]

Justtook this pic(with night lights/flash only)

 

[rookie07]

pipe fish is an interesting idea. As last week I was re-watching blue planet I noticed that a mated pair(is that possible in my setup) of pipe fish have a interesting mating ceremony(am I confused on this, they are related to sea horse correct?).

awesome show if you havent seen it/them

 

[KathyC]

Kath with the mandarin the goby/shrimp pair may be a problem

In what way Chief?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Same level dwellers the pistol may get a little aggro to the mandarin and so might the goby Swimming around the hole of the Goby pistol pair. .

 

[KathyC]

pipe fish is an interesting idea. As last week I was re-watching blue planet I noticed that a mated pair(is that possible in my setup) of pipe fish have a interesting mating ceremony(am I confused on this, they are related to sea horse correct?).

awesome show if you havent seen it/them

I don't believe they are related though they are often kept together in tanks and compliment each other well in their non aggressive tendencies & diet.
I'm sorry I'm not familiar enough with them regarding mated pairs...I think JH has a couple but not sure if they are a pair.

 

[drperetz]

pipefish and anemone is not a good idea... Plus u have to account that u will feed them with live brine daily multiple amounts...