Suitable additions to my nano reef?

Castaway6 · May 27, 2018

I have a 30 gallon red sea max, been running for about 2 years now after I had the inhabitants in a 10 gallon for a couple years.. so it's pretty well established.
I have 2 clowns, a yellow watchman, TONS of pulsing xenia, a small acan "colony", and a duncan coral. + small cleaner crew. I'll attach a photo--sorry for the algae spots etc, didnt fancy it up for this![emoji38]

I would like to add some new fish and coral after holding off for so long! Some plans I have are to add rock to the back wall, or somehow suspend rock in the open space top back left for more coral space.

Here's what I am interested in, any tips/suggestions on which to keep together or which will be troublesome helps..
Fish
• Pajama cardinal
• Purple firefish (had a pair a while back, absolutely loved them)
• Royal gramma
• Blue chromis
• Coral beauty angel
• Fairy wrasse

Coral (this is where I'm open to all suggestions)
• The clowns are happily "hosting" the mess of xenia all around, but I'd love to try to get a leather coral in the mix. (I dont want anemones!)
• Any Lps, mushrooms and Zoas of course..
• Riskier side- gorgonian or a bird's nest
• I'd also like to give a Maxima clam a shot.

Inverts
I dont really want anything that may cause problems but a pistol to possibly pair with my goby or a brittle star to sift a bit could help.

Please let me know any coral, inverts, fish that would be well suited for my tank.

P.S.- I've been in the hobby for years but I'm young and still learning, open to suggestions but also constructive criticism. I have family that wants more color, more fish! Blah!

Thank you!

NY_Caveman · May 27, 2018

For the fish, the angel and fairy wrasse would probably need larger tanks to be happy despite their small size. Dwarf angels often show more aggressiveness in small tanks. A possum or pink-streaked wrasse would definitely work. They are both peaceful and colorful.

Is this the AIO Red Sea or with the sump? I ask because a 30 gallon AIO probably has a 20 gallon display and not actually 30 gallons. I am no Red Sea expert.

For corals, that Xenia will keep taking over everything. Some zoas or mushrooms could definitely add color and may keep the Xenia at bay. Any you mentioned could probably work.

What light are you using? A clam needs lots of light and they use up a lot of calcium.

Tank is looking nice!

REEFIN RIOS · May 27, 2018

I’d go for the clam, I started out with a 5gallon and I had a maxima clam 3 months in to the hobby still have it till this day 2 years later, hasn’t grown much but it lives in my dads jbj 45. I would go with a Pygmy angel, a possum wrasse would def look good. I’d honestly sell of that Xenia, and replace it with some euyphilla corals( hammers, torch, frogsprawm). Depending on u some nice Yuma’s and rhodactis mushrooms to give it some more color pop! Remember to add the corals slowly don’t fill the tank to fast u can cause a crash.

Hope that helps.
Lucas
Happy reefing!

Castaway6 · May 27, 2018

It's the AIO, so give or take about 28-29 gallon display and the rest in back with skimmer and ato. Not sure the exact dimensions anymore.

I'm running an AI Prime LED and it's been doing great, albeit only having easy corals. I can post the settings I have if it would help.
I dont want to risk anything and am in no rush, I'll wait on the clam.
I'll also wait on the fish I think..

So could I get away with a birds nest on the top of the tank somewhere with that light? And then maybe a brain coral on the sand bed, miscellaneous zoas/shrooms on the big rock to control the xenia.. leaving a toadstool leather for my clowns elsewhere. Not all at once, what do you think?

Castaway6 · May 27, 2018

REEFIN RIOS said:
I’d go for the clam, I started out with a 5gallon and I had a maxima clam 3 months in to the hobby still have it till this day 2 years later, hasn’t grown much but it lives in my dads jbj 45. I would go with a Pygmy angel, a possum wrasse would def look good. I’d honestly sell of that Xenia, and replace it with some euyphilla corals( hammers, torch, frogsprawm). Depending on u some nice Yuma’s and rhodactis mushrooms to give it some more color pop! Remember to add the corals slowly don’t fill the tank to fast u can cause a crash.

Hope that helps.
Lucas
Happy reefing!

I think I'll hold off on a clam for a bit.. that's the one I have in mind though

I really like the possum wrasse you both mentioned. I'll be keeping those mushrooms in mind too!

I kinda want to stay away from euphyllias for now as I dont know much about which ones sting and what can be close together etc..later on for sure because they are beautiful.

I'm in no rush, just looking for ideas now. Thank you!

NY_Caveman · May 27, 2018

Those corals should be fine with an AI Prime. I definitely agree on moving slowly.

Castaway6 · May 27, 2018

Would it be better to add the coral or the fish first at this point?

uhgster1 · May 27, 2018

Get rid of as much of that xenia as you can. It will take over. Honestly, trim it down to one or two polyps. After you trim it down then start looking at your scape. I made the mistake of keeping my xenias in the front like you have. They actually break off pieces of themselves and colonize behind your rocks and befor you know it the population explodes and chokes off some of the coral you really care about. If you plan to add more rock do that before you add more fish to give your rock time to establish it’s bacteria level again. Just because you buy “live rock” doesn’t mean it will be able to handle the extra bioload of fish. You’ll end up experiencing a mini-cycle. And if you use dry rock you will definitely have to wait for it to catch up. I wish some would have warned me a few years ago when I was starting, it cost me some nice fish and coral back then.

Castaway6 · May 27, 2018

uhgster1 said:
Get rid of as much of that xenia as you can. It will take over. Honestly, trim it down to one or two polyps. After you trim it down then start looking at your scape. I made the mistake of keeping my xenias in the front like you have. They actually break off pieces of themselves and colonize behind your rocks and befor you know it the population explodes and chokes off some of the coral you really care about. If you plan to add more rock do that before you add more fish to give your rock time to establish it’s bacteria level again. Just because you buy “live rock” doesn’t mean it will be able to handle the extra bioload of fish. You’ll end up experiencing a mini-cycle. And if you use dry rock you will definitely have to wait for it to catch up. I wish some would have warned me a few years ago when I was starting, it cost me some nice fish and coral back then.

Ok I'll take care of it. The xenia started as only a few heads on a frag..whole tank is covered now even the glass. I like it but I see how it's becoming a problem. I plan on getting cured live rock.

REEFIN RIOS · May 27, 2018

Castaway6 said:
I think I'll hold off on a clam for a bit.. that's the one I have in mind though

I really like the possum wrasse you both mentioned. I'll be keeping those mushrooms in mind too!

I kinda want to stay away from euphyllias for now as I dont know much about which ones sting and what can be close together etc..later on for sure because they are beautiful.

I'm in no rush, just looking for ideas now. Thank you!

Glad I could help! Just do your research and keep posting question that u can’t answer your self! This fourm is def the best!
Happy reefing
Lucas

Castaway6 · May 27, 2018

Recommendations for live rock online? I live in Florida, and have heard good reviews about Tampa Bay Saltwater (practically within walking distance) and Gulf Live Rock which I believe is Fl based as well. I usually go to my local reef store but cant get to it so easily since I moved.
I like TBS because they ship in water.

Edit: coral online as well? Although this I will most likely drive for.

REEFIN RIOS · May 27, 2018

Um not to sure on that, I use Carib sea dry rock. Haven’t used live rock since my first tank. I really have no experience ordering live rock. But I know there has to be people on this fourm who has. Just gotta find them! Lol

Lucas

Castaway6 · May 28, 2018

I was messing around earlier and created this with photoshop, what do you all think?
"Added" a toadstool leather and mushrooms on the bottom left rock, rearranged my acan and duncans and added green zoas up top..pretty cool right?
For fish- royal gramma, purple firefish and possibly the possum wrasse.

[emoji848]

REEFIN RIOS · May 28, 2018

That’s pretty cool! Never thought to do that! I think all that would be great. Just a suggestion for your rock scape I’d add some taller rocks in the back or build it up, a place for sps and more rocks for the gramma and possum to hide in. See the royal grammas hang out mainly in the rocks, they don’t like to swim around to much. The possum wrasse is an active swimmer but at night they take refuge in the rocks.

Castaway6 · May 28, 2018

REEFIN RIOS said:
That’s pretty cool! Never thought to do that! I think all that would be great. Just a suggestion for your rock scape I’d add some taller rocks in the back or build it up, a place for sps and more rocks for the gramma and possum to hide in. See the royal grammas hang out mainly in the rocks, they don’t like to swim around to much. The possum wrasse is an active swimmer but at night they take refuge in the rocks.

I was thinking the gramma would be the active swimmer! Darn. The possum wrasse will be active during the day so i might go with that and bag the gramma. For fish i want small bioload but a sight worth to see during the DAY. Maybe I'll go with a couple wrasse or a couple pajama cardinals[emoji848] any other ideas?

I actually have a "future" idea with a mag rock for sps. I cropped that out because I'm going to do that down the line (pic will be included). With and without a birds nest. Just some ideas.

I didnt know how to add more rock without taking up too much space or putting them right up against the back glass, i don't want dead spots

I appreciate all the quick feedback, great community!

REEFIN RIOS · May 28, 2018

I think a flasher wrasse would be great to add to your tank! And that mag rock is a pretty good idea! I like that! One thing for wrasse it’s 1 wrasse or 3, or 4 they will end up pairing up soon but, never put only 2 of the same kind of wrasse. Cardinals are pretty cool.
Look at the blue Reef chromis a trio would go nice in ur tank and they are active swimmers, they are a nice dark blue with black edges on there fins.
Also a Midas Blenny, they are pretty active and they love algae!

Castaway6 · May 28, 2018

I think I will get the possum wrasse, easier than the flasher and still just as nice to look at.
The mag rock is cool, I hope it wont be a let down!
As for the blenny, it looks a lot like my yellow watchman and I'm happy with that guy-my first fish and he owns the tank [emoji41] sits right up front all day. I dont want to add another goby that will mess with him or take his hiding spots! (Besides a replacement firefish)
You might be on to something with those chromis. I was interested in the green/blue ones but never saw those! [emoji7]

Now I'm thinking: 1 purple firefish, 1 possum wrasse, 3 reef chromis.

REEFIN RIOS · May 28, 2018

Okay, that list sure sounds good to me! Now to clarify, a blenny is not a goby, they are 2 different fish. Just to clarify, u can always tell by the shape of their heads. A blenny is much boxier, a goby has more of a round head. And blennies hide in the rocks never in the sand. Just wanted to clear that up.

Lucas