what should i add to my tank?

[jweed9379]

Ok guys and gals im in need of some opinions here, ive got a 65 gallon tank with a condy, 3 turbo snails, 9 damsels, and 2 fancy ocellaris...i want to add a few more fish to the tank after i add a bubbletip and and couple corals as well as more live rock, i have an arrow crab i ordered that is due to be in next week sometime in hopes of it keeping my bristleworms under control. My wife wants to get a green mandarin which i do like and would like to have as well but what are yalls suggeations as far as some others i can add to give the tank more life, color, and an exotic kind of feel to it?

 

[3dees]

how old Is the tank. mandarins need a very mature tank with loads of pods. the damsels will probably kill each other off til your left with one or two. a flame hawk will give you a brilliant red peaceful fish as long as you don't have small shrimp. not a swimmer but I love watching mine hop from rock to rock. firefish and dartfish are great but may not survive with the damsels. many colorful wrasses but again those damsels may be trouble with any new additions.

 

[wildcrazyjoker81]

+1 to what 3dees has posted. Get rid of those damsels and then start to get some better fish. How about adding some bottom dwelling sand sifting gobies to the mix and maybe even a pistol shrimp for it to pair with. Please do not put a mandarin in a newly established tank (under 1-2 years). Also make sure to add your more peaceful fish first but if you want some more color add a dwarf angel of some type. Flames are pretty and good in reefs typically.

 

[jweed9379]

Ive had the tank running for close to 2 years now, and since then i have added my juvenille fancy ocellaris i had my female alone since i got the tank running, honestly the damsels dont really pester eachother i know they can be aggresive when it comes to feeding but for the most part the really one mess with eachother if they get to close to eachothers territory

 

[wildcrazyjoker81]

Ive had the tank running for close to 2 years now, and since then i have added my juvenille fancy ocellaris i had my female alone since i got the tank running, honestly the damsels dont really pester eachother i know they can be aggresive when it comes to feeding but for the most part the really one mess with eachother if they get to close to eachothers territory

2 years is good, but do you see a copepod poplulation at all or eggs on the glass? I can almost 95% guarantee those damsels will pester any fish you add relentlessly until they either die and or get sick from being pestered. Your best bet is to get something that sticks to the bottom of the tank and will likely stay out of the damsels territory.

 

[jweed9379]

Im probably going to part with the damsels and either sale them or give them away, how can i tell about the pods or eggs? What should i look for? And i do want some sand sifters but i also want some swimmers as well

 

[wildcrazyjoker81]

Im probably going to part with the damsels and either sale them or give them away, how can i tell about the pods or eggs? What should i look for? And i do want some sand sifters but i also want some swimmers as well

I know it is tough to get rid of fish, but you won't regret getting rid of those. As far as pods go google "copepod on glass" and it will give you an idea of what your looking for. Getting a fuge running will help your population thrive as well.

 

[jweed9379]

How can i get a refugium going? Im new to reef tanks, i have done predatory before but they are a lot less care than a reef

 

[wildcrazyjoker81]

How can i get a refugium going? Im new to reef tanks, i have done predatory before but they are a lot less care than a reef

Either add an area in an sump or buy a HOB fuge. The fish you have now won't do much damage to the copepod population you have currently. But as soon as you add a dragonette, pipefish, seahorse, etc your population will crash as they will too many in the DT for them to keep up with reproducing.

 

[jweed9379]

I dont have a sump setup yet but where can i find that fuge?

 

[jweed9379]

And from what i can tell i do have copepods and seems to be a really good amount of them

 

[mainereefer]

+1 get rid of the damsels or just go with a mix of damsels they are cheap and come in every color...

list of some of my favorite small tank fish
starry blenny
pink streak wrasse, possum wrasse... but if you have a mandarin make sure you have a healthy supply of pods
fire fish (I like helfrichi)
small dwarf angel (research one that will get along with your corals they all end up finding one coral they like to snack on...)
gold assessor
prawn gobys