Restocking strategy

ScoobyJ · Oct 15, 2020

Hi all,

It's been a while, my tank got hit with a massive algae spike (from a feeding incident) a few months ago and I'm finally recovering from that. Unfortunately not all my tank mates made it out ok.

I was wondering how do you go about restocking a tank? I've typically gone peaceful working towards aggressive. But now I am left with my 2 clowns and a 6-line wrasse.

I feel like anything I'd like to introduce would quickly be bullied by the wrasse.

My tank is a 40gal NUVO AIO. It's not huge but it does have plenty of hiding spaces. The wrasse though is a sneaky guy and was always testing the other fish.

I was hoping to bring back some standard guys, a blenny, a goby, and maybe one other. Nothing too fancy.

thoughts? suggestions?

Thanks everyone!
J.

ichthyogeek · Oct 16, 2020

Hmm....so you could buy a few planter baskets that Lowes and other garden stores sell for ponds, and stick the fish in there (the clowns in one, the wrasse in another) while the other more peaceful fish get acclimated to the tank.

Another thing you could do, is rescape the aquascape every time a new fish is added, which mixes up the territories quite well. A serious rescape, not just "let me move this one small rock here", like, "let me make my tank look completely unrecognizable".

OrionN · Oct 16, 2020

I would rehome the Sixline, then stock your tank as you see fit. There is no way you can stock anything in a 40 gal with a Sixline in there without the danger of the small fish get kill by the Sixline wrasse. You (at least I) will not be stockign any big fish in a 40 gal.

Zionas · Oct 16, 2020

Remove the 6-Line, I agree.

I would do no more than 6-7 small fish in a 40-gallon. I wouldn’t keep any angels, not even a Pygmy angel as I wouldn’t be comfortable putting them in anything less than a 55.

Here’s a possibility:
x2 Ocellaris Clowns
x1 shrimp and goby pair (Yellow Watchman, Randall’s, etc.)
x1 basslet or assessor type fish (Royal Gramma, Blackcap Basslet, Swissguard Basslet, Yellow Assessor, McNeill’s / Randall’s Assessor)

And 3 other small fish of your choice.

You could consider:
-A blenny
-A Firefish
-A Bangaii / Pajama or some other kind of Cardinalfish
-Small Fairy / Flasher Wrasses
-Pink Streak / Possum Wrasses

Or if you are OK with the D word among fish, you could even consider one or a pair of Chrysiptera damsels: Yellowtail, Azure, Talbot’s, Springer’s, Rolland’s.

ScoobyJ · Oct 16, 2020

Thanks everyone! ( @Zionas , @OrionN , and @ichthyogeek )

I agree I'm going to re-home the 6-line during the restock. I have a 10gal for this.

I can't really re-scape my tank. The coral spread overlaps a lot of my pieces which would take a lot of work. . . . Maybe I upgrade my tank?

I appreciate all your suggestions. Definitely no angels in a 40gal.

cheers all!
J.