Next fish purchase... need opinions.

srcfoo · 02-01-2006, 08:23 PM

I want to get another fish now that my first fish (stewie) was a success.

I would like a little variety, but it seems that I'm pretty limited due to the fact that the fish needs to be reef safe and the relatively small size of my tank.

I was looking on liveaquaria.com and they say yellow tangs should have a 50G or larger tank. Someday in the next 3 years I hope to get a larger tank, but for now would a tang be OK in my tank? Would this need to be the last fish I add if I did get one due to their aggressive behavior?

I will also be getting a pair of clowns, but I thought I should wait until I have something for them to host in. Otherwise, if they'll be fine without anything to host in, I would like to get them now. Opinions?

I was also thinking about getting a pair of blue-green chromis. I just want something that swims a little more.

How many fish is reasonable load on this tank?

I hope to purchase some corals soon, but I need to upgrade my lighting before that becomes a reality.

Thanks!
-SRCfoo

Tim224DT · 02-01-2006, 08:32 PM

What size tank do you currently have right now? I would say nothing less than a 70gallon for tangs.........Even at that its kinda pushing it becuase they like lots of swimming room.

Other nice reef safe fish are Gobies and bleenies.

Clowns dont need anything to host in. I have two clowns in my tank without a host for them.

Tim

Chris86 · 02-01-2006, 08:36 PM

What size tank do you have? I would wait on the tang in till you get a bigger tank in my opinion. The clownfish you can do. I bought my tomato clown before i got a host and now he love it. The blue-green chromis is another good fish to get. How many fish you allow in the tank depends on the size of the fish and the size of the tank you have right now.

gitsumpottery · 02-01-2006, 08:37 PM

I really love both my chalk bass and sixline wrasse. Both are cool swimmers although I have to say that the sixline is CONSTANTLY swimming. He's always darting around. Plus he's good to have since he eats flatworms. I know that for a fact since I have put several frags with them on there in the tank, and he would hover over the coral until he completely devours them.

Zac

DaveL · 02-01-2006, 09:00 PM

I looked through some of his old post.. I believe he has..

46 Gallon tank
80 lbs. live rock
Sand bottom

xtopher · 02-01-2006, 09:13 PM

the clowns are fine w/o a host. as far as swimmy fish go the chromis dart around quite a bit the clowns not so much but a bit. maybe some chalk bass would be nice

srcfoo · 02-01-2006, 10:43 PM

I'm really sorry. I must have deleted my tank size on accident. It is 46G and I cleaned out some live rock because it was consuming my tank. I'm probably around 50-60 lbs. now.

I'll probably get some of the blue-green chromis. Do you think two would be a good number considering I want two clowns down the road?

Thanks.

Geoff · 02-01-2006, 11:09 PM

how about a bi-colour blenny and a firefish. both are very easy to take care of and full of personality, the bi-colour anyway. firefish are just pretty.

G~

srcfoo · 02-01-2006, 11:35 PM

Thanks G. My first fish (Stewie) is a firefish. He/She was a great first fish. I thank this forum for helping me get him.

Geoff · 02-01-2006, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srcfoo

Thanks G. My first fish (Stewie) is a firefish. He/She was a great first fish. I thank this forum for helping me get him.

sorry, did not see that anywhere.

ok, then how about a royal gramma. since it will be one of the last fish introduced it should be fine with the firefish and a blenny.

i am trying to stick with the fish i can keep alive. they are the easy ones.

G~

mtfatwork · 02-02-2006, 12:58 AM

Yellow tangs fairly docile as far as tangs go, but I agree they need more space than you have now. Clowns are good, and hardy, the chromis you kinda have to watch out for because some types will get fairly aggressive as they grow, or if they feel too crowded, much like you would if you lived in a closet!!! lol. How long has your reef been set up? IMO no tank is complete without a mandarin, they are beautiful little creatures that perch on rocks. What about a wrasse of some sort, there are wrasses like the scotts fairy wrasse for example that are truely exquisit, I think that one gets to big, but there are some small wrasses.

srcfoo · 02-02-2006, 12:52 PM

My tank has been setup since August. I just recently added my first fish. My rock was from an established tank so everything has been stable for many months (about 6 months).

I'd love to get a mandarin, but have heard they are really difficult to keep.