Stocking for 29 gallon

[Acros]

Hi, I have a 29-gallon tank. I started with live sand and live rock. It is a standard 30' long 29-gallon tank. I have a 10-gallon sump refugium.

Last week, I added some fish to the tank. Below listed fish are peacefully coexisting at the moment. They are all out and swimming around.

• Yellow Coris Wrasse (4' long).
• Longfin Fairy Wrasse (2' long).
• 6-line Wrasse (1' long).
• Lawnmower Blenny (4' long).

I have observed the Longfin Fairy Wrasse flaring his fins at the other two wrasses. There is no chasing around happening in the tank. I have provided a lot of caves for all of them to hide in. I also have the below clean-up crew. They have been in the tank for almost 2 months.

• 2 Blue Legged Hermit Crabs.
• 6 Banded Trochus Snails.
• 4 Bumble Bee Snails

Am I overstocked? My water parameters are all good. I use API test kit for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I use Hanna checkers for phosphates, alkalinity, and calcium. The tank mostly has LSP and SPS. No Acropora yet.

I would like to add another fish (if I can) soon. I am thinking 1 more fish and stop. Is that a good idea? Below are the fish I am considering.

• Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse, or
• Carpenter's flasher wrasse or any smaller flasher wrasse, or
• Melanurus Wrasse.

I do 10% water changes every week. I plan on cutting down on the water change to 10% every 2 weeks once the chaeto takes off.

 

[HuduVudu]

Skimmers can help with gas exchange if it is O2 you are worried about.

Territoriality is another game altogether though.

 

[Acros]

Skimmers can help with gas exchange if it is O2 you are worried about.

Territoriality is another game altogether though.

I was mostly worried about territory and bio load.

 

[HuduVudu]

I was mostly worried about territory and bio load.

Bio load is part of gas exchange. Your biological filter requires oxygen to convert to ultimately nitrate.

 

[Acros]

Bio load is part of gas exchange. Your biological filter requires oxygen to convert to ultimately nitrate.

That is interesting. So using a skimmer should help me with that. I guess the skimmer will have to go into a chamber before the refugium, if I am to use one.

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

I would advise against adding any more wrasses, the melanurus certainly gets too large, and you have one of the most aggressive fairy wrasses and a general pain already (six line and longfin) and so adding any more most likely isnt going to work. Things may be peaceful now, but i imagine in that size of a tank the peace wont last between them all for very long. It may work out, but if im being honest i dont believe that tank size is very suitable for any of them but maybe the blenny. I hope it does work out however.

 

[Acros]

I would advise against adding any more wrasses, the melanurus certainly gets too large, and you have one of the most aggressive fairy wrasses and a general pain already (six line and longfin) and so adding any more most likely isnt going to work. Things may be peaceful now, but i imagine in that size of a tank the peace wont last between them all for very long. It may work out, but if im being honest i dont believe that tank size is very suitable for any of them but maybe the blenny. I hope it does work out however.

I now realize that the tank size is not very suitable for any of them. I have plans to upgrade to a 75/125 as soon as this time next year.

How do I decide to re-home a fish before that? Should it be based on aggression or something else? Are there some other signs I can looks for?

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

I now realize that the tank size is not very suitable for any of them. I have plans to upgrade to a 75/125 as soon as this time next year.

How do I decide to re-home a fish before that? Should it be based on aggression or something else? Are there some other signs I can looks for?

If they are small for now and they dont seem stressed and their growth looks normal then it should be fine. But if their growth looks stunted, they become increasingly agressive or their swimming is crampt looking it may be time to move them on.

 

[Acros]

I will keep an eye out for those.

 

[HuduVudu]

That is interesting. So using a skimmer should help me with that. I guess the skimmer will have to go into a chamber before the refugium, if I am to use one.

Skimmers work two ways to help gas exchange. First they pull DOCs (Dissolved Organic Compounds) before they can be broken down by the biological filter, and Second more obviously they aerate the water.