Help with Livestock

[Jfinn]

Hi everyone! I’m on the fence for what more (fish) I can add without upsetting the balance of my reef. I’m wondering how other “heavy stockers” evaluate this and what quantity fish versus tank size reefers are having success with.

The new reef (Red Sea Reefer 350) is coming along very nicely - even faster than I expected. I am really only 3 months in and have reached where I expected to be with livestock in half the time.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-ii-finally-doing-a-build-thread.656192/

I think the biggest factor has been the boosts in biological filtration. From dosing Dr Tim’s and Microbacter 7, seeding copepods (bought and from charro clippings), and using rock from the 20 gallon display, the new reef had a great foundation with a very brief ugly stage. This, and the fact that much of the livestock was coming from my other tank.

All the fish are small and have settled in after some initial aggression. I’m practicing heavy in - heavy out and that has curbed much of what I think was causing stress initially while I was trying to manage algae - food scarcity.

Feeding now 3x per day.
Numbers look like this:

Current Stock List (in order of addition):

5 Blue-Green Chromis
1 Tail Spot Blenny
1 Royal Gramma
1 Copper Banded Butterfly
1 Diamond Goby
1 Kole Tang
1 Black Ocellaris Clown (paired)
1 Snowflake Clown (paired)
1 Rainbow Anenome (hosting)
1 Mandarin

I’m wanting to add 2-5 more to the system but am unsure -

Yellow Tang (from 20 gallon)
Powder Blue Tang
1-3 Evansi Anthias

Does anyone have a similarly stocked tank and can you offer any pointers on feeding, nutrient control, etc?

 

[Jmas4]

Imo you are stocked. Of course, every tank is different and your tank might be ok with the extra fish. A powder blue tang however needs a bigger fish tank (6')
I hope this helps

Good luck and happy Reefing

 

[Dragon52]

The yellow needs to be moved out of the 20gl but eventually even the 350 wont be big enough either.
After that I would stop adding until you do go bigger if that's even in your plans.

 

[Jesterrace]

The Yellow Tang and Powder Blue would be by far the most aggressive fish in that tank and you would need something to keep their attitude in check. I would worry about the copperband butterflyfish and possibly the existing Kole Tang with them (similar body shape). You should be fine with the Anthias provided you don't go with something nasty (ie Bartlett's).

 

[Jfinn]

Imo you are stocked. Of course, every tank is different and your tank might be ok with the extra fish. A powder blue tang however needs a bigger fish tank (6')
I hope this helps

Good luck and happy Reefing

Yeah was thinking the same but I need to get the YT moved or rehomed. He’s still small - 3” tip to tip. I’m already looking at larger tanks but was aiming for 5’ max for the space I have and around 120 gallon.

 

[Jfinn]

The yellow needs to be moved out of the 20gl but eventually even the 350 wont be big enough either.
After that I would stop adding until you do go bigger if that's even in your plans.

Agree. Yes planning on larger already. I got a steal on this tank or might have gone larger with this build.

 

[Jfinn]

The Yellow Tang and Powder Blue would be by far the most aggressive fish in that tank and you would need something to keep their attitude in check. I would worry about the copperband butterflyfish and possibly the existing Kole Tang with them (similar body shape). You should be fine with the Anthias provided you don't go with something nasty (ie Bartlett's).

Thanks. I was looking to add similar size PBT when adding the YT. That said, sounds like I may be at max already for my tank. I actually removed 2 Bangai Cardinals in anticipation of adding the Tangs but maybe need to rethink. Everything is very small - the CBB is the largest fish at under 4” tip to tip.

Maybe I’m wrong to think the juveniles will be okay for a season before I upsize.

???

 

[Dragon52]

Thanks. I was looking to add similar size PBT when adding the YT. That said, sounds like I may be at max already for my tank. I actually removed 2 Bangai Cardinals in anticipation of adding the Tangs but maybe need to rethink. Everything is very small - the CBB is the largest fish at under 4” tip to tip.

Maybe I’m wrong to think the juveniles will be okay for a season before I upsize.

???

Tangs put out way more waste than Cardinals do because they are always gazing.