I could use some suggestions

[Salsa777]

Hey all,

I have an 80 gallon deep blue reef, mostly Sps. I will admit I know far more abou coral than I do fish. But I was at the LFS the other day looking at fish, and I kinda got the bug. I may want to add a fish or two to my system sometime in the next six months.

My current stock list:

Chevron tang
Melanurus wrasse
pair of clowns
lawnmower blenny

So I have Five fish, which was my original plan, because I didn't really want to have nutrient issues, the tank is mainly focused on keeping stony corals. So far my skimmer and fuge have had no trouble keeping us with the bioload, and my nutrients have been almost too low, but that's all just back story.
My problem is I usually play on the safe side of things. and I have heard "only one pair of clowns," "one tang in a smaller tank," and "dwarf angels can eat stoney corals." All of these things have deterred me. I really love lemon peel angels, but I would hate to see one eat an acro frag I have that is difficult to find.

Any one have any suggestions of fish that would do well in my system? I don't really like damsels, cardinals, or fire fish. Anything really small is not for me.

 

[Irsug1]

You could add another tang or wrasse of different species.

 

[tom reilly]

If you choose tangs I would add two so you can spread the aggression the existing one will have for newbys.

 

[Diesel]

80 gallon and you have already a Chevron............... I would stay away from another one.
Wrasses yes, with SPS you would like the smaller kind that can swim throught the branches like the Leopard wrasses.
A dwarf angel is that bad either but get a small one to start out and it will get used to the corals.
The Melanurus may chase the new wrasses for a few days but it will calm down.
Remember to always QT, especially with a nice tank.
Any pictures of your current tank?

 

[clownsrcool]

How about a flame hawkfish, various anthias, basslet, marine beta, or copperband butterfly?

 

[Wilsoni]

I agree with Diesel, Leopard Wrasse are a great additon. Even mixing Macropharyngodon species can be fun. I have a Meleagris, Bipartitus along with an Ornate Leopard Wrasse housed together. None of which are males but they seem to coincide well with each other.

Also +1 the Melanurus, I'm guessing it's established dominance in the tank and will be a bit of a bully at first. If you do choose to go the route of adding Leopards, I'd say once they've gone through a proper QT period, introduce them at night once your Melanurus is asleep. It will make the transition a lot smoother.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Dwarf angels are usually pretty safe with sps, nipping more at fleshy lps and zoas.

More wrasses is always an option, but as mentioned use a social acclimation box to reduce potential aggression.

Flame or longnose hawkfish, a group of zebra or scissortail dartfish, purple tilefish.

 

[Wilsoni]

Assessor Basslets are pretty neat as well but they're on the smaller side.

If you want to add a ton of happy (in your face) swimming action, a Midas Blenny is a great candidate. They win the unofficial, "Best Personality Award" every single year.

 

[Paul B]

I would go with the copperband, one of my favorite fish

 

[Wilsoni]

I would go with the copperband, one of my favorite fish

All I see are stripes

 

[Salsa777]

First of all, wow this is a great sub forum, so many good response so quickly. thank you all for that.
here a picture of the tank

80 gallon and you have already a Chevron............... I would stay away from another one.
Wrasses yes, with SPS you would like the smaller kind that can swim throught the branches like the Leopard wrasses.
A dwarf angel is that bad either but get a small one to start out and it will get used to the corals.
The Melanurus may chase the new wrasses for a few days but it will calm down.
Remember to always QT, especially with a nice tank.
Any pictures of your current tank?

I don't think I will get another tang. One thing about the Chevron, I read an article that they were okay in an 80 gallon, then after I bought it I did more research and it said hey could out grow an 80 gallon, but I had already bought it. I have noticed different sources report different max sizes on tangs, so I get kinda confused sometimes. Yeah, like I said, I love lemon peel angels, so pretty. I have a 40 gallon breeder for QT, that is up and running, so that is not a problem. I might just look into a leopard wrasse sounds like a cool fish. thanks for the response.

How about a flame hawkfish, various anthias, basslet, marine beta, or copperband butterfly?

Anthias fascinate me, I have seen some beautiful ones at the LFS. there was a trio at the shop the other day one male and two females I believe; they were like cream orange, pink and white. So beautiful. Would a group like that be suitable for a tank like mine?

I had a copper banded back in the day and I loved it. that might be a good option, I read they need a well established tank to survive.

 

[Paul B]

Leave out the pipefish and there won't be as many stripes.

 

[clownsrcool]

Yes a group of anthias would work in any tank. Peaceful fish and very interesting to watch.

 

[meir]

Hey all,

I have an 80 gallon deep blue reef, mostly Sps. I will admit I know far more abou coral than I do fish. But I was at the LFS the other day looking at fish, and I kinda got the bug. I may want to add a fish or two to my system sometime in the next six months.

My current stock list:

Chevron tang
Melanurus wrasse
pair of clowns
lawnmower blenny

So I have Five fish, which was my original plan, because I didn't really want to have nutrient issues, the tank is mainly focused on keeping stony corals. So far my skimmer and fuge have had no trouble keeping us with the bioload, and my nutrients have been almost too low, but that's all just back story.
My problem is I usually play on the safe side of things. and I have heard "only one pair of clowns," "one tang in a smaller tank," and "dwarf angels can eat stoney corals." All of these things have deterred me. I really love lemon peel angels, but I would hate to see one eat an acro frag I have that is difficult to find.

Any one have any suggestions of fish that would do well in my system? I don't really like damsels, cardinals, or fire fish. Anything really small is not for me.

Dwarf Angels ime haven't eaten sps try Pygmy Angels

 

[spartanman22]

I have he same setup as you. SPS dominant with the following stock:

Yellow tang
Male Spotbreast Angel
Multicolor Angel
Picasso pair
Red Velvet Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse
Valentini Puffer (impulse buy)
Mandarin

I feed 4-5 cubes of frozen food a day and still have to dose aminos to keep acros from paling too much.

I'm a huge fan of dwarf angels and always have at least 2-3 in a tank.

I had a Potters, Multibar, and golden in this tank, along with a female Spotbreast, until a velvet outbreak wiped out everything. In my experience Potters Angels are pretty safe with SPS. I've had 4 multi bars in my feeding history and only one nipped SPS noticeably. I've not seen any nipping from my multicolor, and my golden never nipped in the time I had it.

I have had a lemon peel in the past that nipped a bit. If you'd like an angel but don't want the risk of nipping go with the genicanthus species. They're almost a sure bet since they're planktivores in the wild.

 

[lewis.maryann08]

Are they safe with corals

 

[eatbreakfast]

Are they safe with corals

Yes.

 

[Salsa777]

I have he same setup as you. SPS dominant with the following stock:

Yellow tang
Male Spotbreast Angel
Multicolor Angel
Picasso pair
Red Velvet Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse
Valentini Puffer (impulse buy)
Mandarin

I feed 4-5 cubes of frozen food a day and still have to dose aminos to keep acros from paling too much.

I'm a huge fan of dwarf angels and always have at least 2-3 in a tank.

I had a Potters, Multibar, and golden in this tank, along with a female Spotbreast, until a velvet outbreak wiped out everything. In my experience Potters Angels are pretty safe with SPS. I've had 4 multi bars in my feeding history and only one nipped SPS noticeably. I've not seen any nipping from my multicolor, and my golden never nipped in the time I had it.

I have had a lemon peel in the past that nipped a bit. If you'd like an angel but don't want the risk of nipping go with the genicanthus species. They're almost a sure bet since they're planktivores in the wild.

That's good news, thanks for the tips. I know some of my corals struggle because my nutrient levels are too low. I figure early on I would rather have this problem than the opposite. I have cut back on the photoperiod on my fuge and also I have began to feed more. multicolor angels are beautiful.

 

[spartanman22]

Yes it's easier to add nutrients than it is to try and take hem away! I've had my multicolor for about 3 months now and haven't noticed any signs of nipping.