Am I Making a Stocking Mistake?

[SDReefer]

Hi everyone, I have a 20 gallon nano reef with mostly softies, an anemone, and a few Hardy sps frags. The tank has been running for about a year, but the live rock is more than three years old. It is stocked with one yellowtail damsel and two lemon damsels. I'm thinking about getting a sixline wrasse, but would it be too much bioload? I'm not too concerned about nitrate levels as long as they stay in the 10-13 ppm range. The tank has about 17 pounds of live rock.

Thank you for you time!

 

[KrisReef]

I don't think the bioload addition of a 6 line wrasse is going to be a problem, but aggression over territory is likely. Damsels are territorial, and lots of people have had problems with 6-line "Jerks" and their aggression towards other tank mates.

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

You should be fine. I had a 20 nuvo at one time with two clowns, a yellow tang, and a six line wrasse.

 

[BestMomEver]

Six line would be fine. Keep your pod population high. I pour in a bottle every three weeks or so. My six line stays healthy and occupied. He was the first fish that went into this tank and has never bothered anything. He doesn’t even notice the other fish. All he does is hunt all day long. Here lately I’ve seen him nipping at the nori I put in for the tangs! I love him. There’s a reason why most LFSs keep them in their frag tanks. They are little work horses.

I might be concerned about the damsels. It depends on their size and the size of the Wrasse you purchase..

 

[Jesterrace]

Hi everyone, I have a 20 gallon nano reef with mostly softies, an anemone, and a few Hardy sps frags. The tank has been running for about a year, but the live rock is more than three years old. It is stocked with one yellowtail damsel and two lemon damsels. I'm thinking about getting a sixline wrasse, but would it be too much bioload? I'm not too concerned about nitrate levels as long as they stay in the 10-13 ppm range. The tank has about 17 pounds of live rock.

Thank you for you time!

Normally I would say that a 6 line would be a recipe for disaster, but given that it's tank mates are damsels it might work.

 

[RobberyinCSharp1824]

I had a 6-line wrasse in my 20 gallon without problem. I think you'll be good! I definitely had problems with Damsels being jerks but others have had luck, so don't write it off completely.