First Fish to new build

[Susan Edwards]

I'm thinking of ordering 3-5 lemon chromis and 2-4 yellow tail damsels

Tank Info:
New 125 build. Started Feb 9th. Cycled with biospira and added ammonia.

Livestock from another tank:
1 yellow tail damsel (adding 2-4 keeps it an uneven number)
1 Yellow head sleeper goby

I'd like a couple more yellow tail damsels to go with the one I have. Think the lemon chromis is nice looking and different than the blue-green. These are hardy fish so with the tank settling, and with possible swings in numbers, should weather it. Also like the look of the Tracy Damsel but not sure if they'd go okay with the yellow tails. If yes, could save the chromis for later.

Fish will go into a 39 gal QT tank with old original water, thin layer of sand (live) and may add back into tank a piece or 2 of live rock until or unless I treat with meds for added filteration.

Future fish for the 125
Anthias--later
Wrasses--Maybe and later
3 tangs--later
blenny or two
royal gramma and or firefish--maybe
Hawkfish if I don't add shrimps

Right now I want fish movement with hardy fish. Can add them from the QT to the display in groups when ready like the chromis first, then after a couple weeks, the damsels to not overload the tank.

 

[glb]

Damsels tend to get pretty aggressive over time. I’d double check to make sure your other fish are compatible. I like chromis too, but never had much luck with them. Good luck!

 

[Susan Edwards]

This is on my wish list. * is a def. ? is a maybe. I really am an anthia fan but know a new tank not good. Reason I've chosen damsels or chromis first is they are hardy and I don't have to wait. Read that yellow tails are not so aggressive as others. Anthias and tangs have to wait. Royal gramma and blennies might be okay right away as will a pair of clowns.

* Royal Gramma
? Goby spike fin--maybe if I can have 2 gobies
*Goby Gold Head--have 1 already
* Blenny bi color
? Angel Flame--thinking
* Pair of clowns
* Anthia Cariberryi or other anthias
* Damsels-Have 1 and want a small group for tank movement
* Chromis Lemon--or other.
* Kole or Yellow or Tomini. Prob 1 of ea
* Anthia Bartletts
? Barnacle Blenny--maybe. So tiny for a large tank
? blenny lawn Mower depending on algae needs
? Goby/shrimp pair--depending on other goby plus tank might be too big to enjoy
? Coral Beauty maybe
? Wrasse-Lubbocks
? Wrasse Whip Fin

 

[Maritimer]

Add the royal gramma earlier, rather than later - and consider a small "harem" group of 'em. I've found small singles to be shy.

Lemon "Chromis" are, IIRC, an Amblyglyphododon - albeit one of the more peaceful ones - rather than a true Chromis.

I've got a trio of azure damsels, and a pair of Talbot's - and have only one complaint between 'em - the Talbot's are diggers. Both are in the same genus as yellowtails; Chrysiptera.

If you can, add all three tangs together - and last. The kole, in particular, may be aggressive toward the tomini, which is in the same genus.

Gobies - if they're small, you should be able to keep several species, or pairs of smaller species. Real charmers!

Bartlett's anthias - I found them to be aggressive, causing the death of a couple of flasher wrasses. All the Bartlett's turned male, and then it was like the old "Highlander" films ... "There Can Be Only One".

Lubbock's fairy wrasse should be a go - charming, small, bright and gentle. Whip-fin fairy is a whole other kettle of cold cod, and can be much more aggressive. Think seriously about that one, research well, and add late in your order.

~Bruce

 

[Susan Edwards]

@Maritimer what is IIRC? Going to check out a couple fish stores tomorrow. Have to drive 60 miles so hope the places have some fish! Will see if I can get the RG's and a couple other fish. 39 gal qt tank is ready

The lemon chromis I'd have to order from live aquaria. Def. on adding the 3 tangs together and toward the end. Will maybe trade one so all three are different genus. And thanks for the heads up on the bartlett's and whip fin. I'll find another anthia and wrasse. How long to wait for the wrasse to be added? My fuge does have some pods. Am ordering a new supply to really seed tank. Some of my rocks added to the fuge had lots of amphipods, plus I harvested some of my culture of pods as well

 

[Daltrey]

I ordered 2 lemon chromis from live aquaria. One was doa but the other one is so tiny. I would say the size of a nickel. He eats well and stays out in the open toward the top of my tank. Very peaceful and I plan on adding more so he will have some friends to swim with.

I was originally wanting a borbonius anthias but settled on the lemon chromis instead. I just couldn’t bring myself to pay $300 to $550 for a fish.

I added a powder blue and yellow tang to my 40 breeder qt and they swim around together all day and are best of friends.

Also I wish I would have added the flame angel last. Mine is kind of a bully. He is still small enough that the other fish just let him have his space but I’m afraid when he gets bigger he may become even more territorial.

 

[Susan Edwards]

If I go a flame angel, and I know I will, will remember to add among the last. Really eager to add tangs but know they need to wait a bit. Going to a couple lfs today and will see what is available. Might still add the lemon chromis order. They'll all go into the acclimation tank and observed. Got the 39 tall ready last night. Left a thin layer of sand for bio filtration, added some fake plants and some pvc towers. Tangs will (when I get to them) will be treated for sure with either copper or CP!

how long to wait for anthias or wrasses?

 

[PatW]

I have a Kole tang and a yellow tang. They get along pretty well in a 6’ tank. They will spar at times. They threaten each other with their tangs and then think the better of it. It happens once or twice per day.

 

[Daltrey]

My tangs are in a 40 breeder going thru qt now.

 

[Maritimer]

@Maritimer what is IIRC?

IIRC = If I Recall/Remember Correctly. Sorry 'bout that.

When to add a wrasse depends greatly on the wrasse. Some (leopards come to mind) really want a mature tank with plenty of 'pods, while others - like the Lubbock's you mentioned above, or just about any of the flasher wrasses - could be added at any time. Those guys aren't especially interested in 'pods most of the time, and happy to feed in the water column.

~Bruce

 

[Susan Edwards]

Cool, thanks for the imputs. No luck at the 2 lfs's for fish. Came home with 10 coral frags though . Guess I'll be ordering from online for fish.

 

[Susan Edwards]

what about royal gramma and yellow assessors? Can they be added and coexist together? Maybe 2-3 RG's and 2-3 YA's? Will 4 of those and 3 lemon chromis do okay in QT together? WAnt to put my fish order in by Mon am or mon night

 

[Maritimer]

I haven't worked with assessors, but I would tend to shy away from that pairing. @eatbreakfast would know better than I, though . . .

~Bruce

 

[Susan Edwards]

sheesh, all the fish I want to add are out of stock! Might look at a couple wrasses. Are they best with just one in a species or a group of 3. I like the ruby head fairy, mccoskers and or carpenters. What is the general rule on adding these type of wrasses? If I go wrasses I might add 1 or 2 blennies as well.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Okay, am ording from Liveaquaria. Never done this...
Ruby Head wrasse
Carpenters wrasse
Lubbocks wrasse
2 percula clowns

any concerns?

Waiting on a couple of blennies until there is algae. Not quite there yet. Will add royal grammas with the blennys next buy and maybe the yellow lemon chromis

 

[cmcoker]

Okay, am ording from Liveaquaria. Never done this...
Ruby Head wrasse
Carpenters wrasse
Lubbocks wrasse
2 percula clowns

any concerns?

Waiting on a couple of blennies until there is algae. Not quite there yet. Will add royal grammas with the blennys next buy and maybe the yellow lemon chromis

Couple of good reads on wrasses:
http://www.reefedition.com/cirrhilabrus-complexes-inferiority-need-not-apply/
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/all-about-reef-safe-wrasses-in-aquaria.28/

 

[Susan Edwards]

I've glanced thru those on the google search--need to read over again. Do you see any issues with the 3 I mentioned? The tank only has one yellow tail damsel and a sifting goby

 

[Susan Edwards]

Well, I finally got brave enough to hit the "buy" keys. QT tank is ready for thur arrival. Added stability just in case and will add for a few days. Will prob. add some prime tomorrow. This used to be my display refugium. Took out most of sand--left just a thin layer for filtration and some pods--removed all live rock and maybe a third of water so it should be a well seasoned tank. Still has some trochus snails which I need to remove and I'm not sure if the egg crate top is "wrasse safe". Might add some bridal veil netting on top of it.