How much fish is to much fish?

[AxelG]

I am thinking of getting a Foxface Lo (to help with my algae problem) and eventually a breeding pair of Banggai Cardinalfish for the kids. Currently in my 55 gallon tank I have a Yellow Tang, a Percula Clown and a Diadema. My tank has 35 pounds of live rock, hopefully adding another 20 pounds within the next month, and a three inch Aragamax substrate, no corals except some shrooms, so the actual water amount is closer to 40 gallons. Will I be overloading my tank with to much fish? I really would like to get the Foxface, I can live without the Banggai Cardinalfish. TIA

[horge]

Hi Axel,

Overloading your tank?
There's more risk of overloading your Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)

Adding a Foxface Rabbitfish (Lo vulpinus)can incite territorial aggression in many tangs. But, that depends on a lot of things.

If you were to ask, say, Bob Fenner, he would probably say you can still add fish, but would add the same caution about territoriality among tangs and rabbitfishes.
I'm much more conservative when it comes to stocking rates. (See Alice's comments in the next post!)

Banggai cardinals (Pterapogon kauderni) are in reality an endangered species due to over-harvesting for the hobby, so consider the choice of obtaining them carefully.

If you haven't read it yet, click this for Frank's article:

My notes and observations on Raising and Breeding the Banggai Cardinalfish - F.Marini

hth,
horge


[This message has been edited by dark horge (edited 02-17-2001).]

[Alice]

One tang in a 55 is pushing it; in the near future you're going to have to upgrade to a larger tank or move the yellow tang to another home. A Foxface is basically a tang with venomous spines (ok not really a tang but close enough) and you may have a battle on your hands between the foxface and the yellow. Even if they get along there isn't going to be enough space for them to be healthy.

I have a small yellow tang, he's still a baby, in my 55. He did a good job eliminating a nasty macro algae that I always called "the green menace" and Doug, who was unfortunate to get some on a coral frag I gave him, calls "reef kudzu." Now that the macro is gone, I'll be moving the yellow to a new home. I'm also considering removing my large female Maroon clown and getting a pair of Percula clowns and possibly a green clown goby. The only other fish in the tank are a bicolor blenny and a C. argi dwarf angel. A 55 just isn't a very big tank for SW or reefs.

~Alice

------------------
Reefkeeping is my life; I can't afford a hobby too! My specs: www.thereeftank.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000029.html

[AxelG]

Wow! Glad I asked. I really like my Tang and don't want to stress him/her out. I think I'll keep things status quo.