Thoughts on my Fish stock

[LagunaGlide]

I wanted to throw out my planned fish for my 240gal with sump that holds around 50gal. Will be a mixed reef with fish and inverts. I wasn't sure on the order in which to put fish in, and how everyone would get along. I will list in order I have planned at this time. Appreciate opinions.

Current fish are 1 large sailfin tang, 1 large purple tang, 1 medium yellow tang, 2 black and white clowns, 1 normal clown. The clowns all stay together no fighting.

3 Purple firefish.
Starry Blenny
Watchman Goby (unsure which) and pistol shrimp
Royal Gramma
Flame or Coral Beauty angel
Dottyback (unsure on this one due to temperament. purple stripe, Dilectis, or neon.)
Mandarin Dragonette (must have)
3-5 Carberryi Anthias (unsure if anthias are worth the trouble)
Mystery Wrasse OR 2-3 other wrasse 1 Leopard, 1 fairy, 1 flasher

I have always liked the mystery wrasse, but I hear they can be jerks to other wrasse, and I think I would like more than one.

 

[Dan I]

If your tangs are fine with each other, hopefully they keep that temperament after the transfer. Dottybacks are notorious for their aggression. Everything else looks fine. I have a mystery wrasse and love the guy, fish is everywhere and very colorful.

 

[LagunaGlide]

If your tangs are fine with each other, hopefully they keep that temperament after the transfer. Dottybacks are notorious for their aggression. Everything else looks fine. I have a mystery wrasse and love the guy, fish is everywhere and very colorful.

What do you mean after the transfer on the tangs? They are all in the tank and doing ok. Little bit of bumping here and there, but nothing serious.

I thought the dotty backs were kind of jerks, but wasn't for sure.

Thanks

 

[Dan I]

Oh haha, I thought you were transferring to a 240 gallon. Must of misread. Yeah, Neon Dottybacks think they decide who you add to the tank once they are established.

 

[Radman73]

If you do the dotty back, I'd do it last. Personally, I'd pick a colorful fairy wrasse and skip the dotty back. Not 100% positive but believe your mystery wrasse will try to eat any shrimp, at least any small ones, in the tank. Plenty of other options, like you listed, with fairy and flasher wrasses.

Grouping firefish is hit or miss, largely miss from what I've read. Perhaps in a 240 they'll coexist, especially if you have a lot of rock and hiding spots. I'd also consider a yellow coris(actually a haliochoeres) as it's an excellent pest eater while also being completely reef safe.

 

[LagunaGlide]

If you do the dotty back, I'd do it last. Personally, I'd pick a colorful fairy wrasse and skip the dotty back. Not 100% positive but believe your mystery wrasse will try to eat any shrimp, at least any small ones, in the tank. Plenty of other options, like you listed, with fairy and flasher wrasses.

Grouping firefish is hit or miss, largely miss from what I've read. Perhaps in a 240 they'll coexist, especially if you have a lot of rock and hiding spots. I'd also consider a yellow coris(actually a haliochoeres) as it's an excellent pest eater while also being completely reef safe.

Thank you. I thought the Mystery would only eat smaller ornamentals. I may have to look into that a bit more. I was thinking about maybe a melanrus/hoevens. Curious if you would suggest the yellow over that since they eat the same pests.

The firefish will kill each other?

 

[Radman73]

Thank you. I thought the Mystery would only eat smaller ornamentals. I may have to look into that a bit more. I was thinking about maybe a melanrus/hoevens. Curious if you would suggest the yellow over that since they eat the same pests.

The firefish will kill each other?

I don't have any direct experience with the mystery wrasse. And small shrimp is somewhat subjective. I doubt it would bother a full size cleaner, and probably not your pistol, but not sure about juvenile sized shrimp. It is also known for being intolerant of other wrasse in general. I'm just not a fan of limiting my stock like that as it could have year's long implications of what else I can stock. They're pretty fish, but there are plenty of other pretty wrasse that don't have the same limitations.

You could absolutely add a melanarus/hoeven's in addition to the chrysus(yellow coris). They aren't exclusive. Must have a sand bed for them though.

I wouldn't say they WILL kill each other, just that it's possibility. But again, in a 240, they may be just fine. If you try it, add all at the same time. Might also see if you can get them locally where you can see several that hang out together. Hopefully someone who's attempted multiple can chime in with how they were successful, or not successful lol! I only kept one because I read multiple times they'd fight. But that was also when I had a 60 cube.

 

[LagunaGlide]

Oh I forgot! Blue Throat Trigger.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Even in 800+g aquaria I have had multiple firefish not work out. 2 pr up and kill the others 1-by-1.

Dottybacks can be problematic, but some species are better behaved than others, and a 240g provides a lot of space to diffuse aggression.

Mystery wrasses can be problematic with other wrasses. However, in larger tanks with more wrasses(10 or so) they calm down a lot.