Fish Suggestions?

[NaCl_H2O]

I am going to rework my system in the near future. The demands of the job are getting a bit tough, and going away from SPS dominant tanks to more LPS and fish. Plans are to rework the rock in all the tanks to give more swimming room. I'll probably stay mostly with Tangs in the big tanks, just more of them. Maybe an extra CBB in each for the Aptasia control.

However, in the corner tank (Pentagon, about 60g, 29"h) I am thinking I want some colorful fish - Angels, Butterflies, or Triggers. This tank is interconnected with the rest of the system, so other than phisical size of the tank, the bio-load, etc. isn't a problem.

So, tell me your favorite "Cluster" of beautiful fish for this size tank? This is the tank that is the most prominant when you walk in the door, so I want some striking colors!

[villjr]

A flame angel. I have one and you can't miss him.

[scuba_steveo]

I have alway thought that would be a cool lion tank.
Maybe an eel too???
Or a frog fish.
Or a seahorse tank.

[hammondegge]

seahorse and pipefish tank

[PeeperKeeper]

The cast of the dentist's tank in Finding Nemo: perc, royal gramma, YT, puffer (okay, maybe not in that tank), starfish, Moorish Idol ... nah nevermind. Bad idea.

How 'bout a flame angel, a royal gramma, ...is it big enough for a red choris wrasse? ... flame hawk, either a clown or blue line trigger (would he eat the gramma and flame hawk?)

*trying to think of other colorful fish that wouldn't have a problem with the group I already mentioned*

I just looked over at SaltWaterFish.com and noticed the Mystery Wrasse they have there for $180! Wow, beautiful fish. I'd never seen one before. When I first saw it, I thought it was actually some kind of wrasse they didn't know the name of, but they put the scientific name to it, so I guess the common name is Mystery wrasse.

[GaryP]

Steve,

I think you may be somewhat limited in your selection of fish for the corner tank because of the size of the tank. I am referring to horizontal swimming room more then the volume. Because it is a high tank, its almost like you have something more like a big nano. Some of the butterflies may do OK, because they are not real active swimmers. Maybe Larry can jump in here and make a suggestion. I like the idea of a SH/pipefish tank, especially if you can cut back the flow. It could be planted with macro that would make a nice home for them, and at the same time act as an extra fuge. The macro would also help sustain a pod population so the tank would be at least partially self supporting.

I did a quick check and some of the butterflies have a recommendation of at least 50 gal. All of the large angels are out. Most of the dwarf angels would be perfect. The triggers are all definitely out. They are active swimmers and even a small one would eventually outgrow the tank.

I think that you might want to sit down and flip through Scott Michael's fish handbook and come up with a wish list of appropriate fish and then from that work out a compatibility chart and stocking levels. You have plenty of filtration so water quality is not an issue, but rather crowding, aggresion, and swimming room would be the criteria you might want to use to make your decisions.

[Mr_Cool]

Take a look at this! It's a Helfrich's firefish.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=171

Pretty expensive, but you did say you wanted colorful fish. This one may be hard to beat. Don't need a whole lot of room for this one, either. They say that firefish do well in groups, too. So go ahead. Break the bank and get a few!

(I saw that Luis, at Aquatic Warehouse, had one on his list of livestock that arrived on Friday. Don't know what his price is, though.)

[scuba_steveo]

So SteveR, what are you going to do???

[GaryP]

So SteveR, what are you going to do???
He told me last night that he was going to give all of his corals to you and then just stock the tanks with mollies.

His corals will look real good on the 3 square inches of live rock you have left in your tank. :)

[blueboy]

how about a small school of anthias?

[Andrew]

10 blue chromis (Chromis cyanea?) - caribean
5 yellow Halichoeres chrysurus wrasse
7 dispar anthias
pygmy hawk
Clown tang
black long nosed tang (Zebrasoma sp.)
Bodianus sp. candy cane hogfish
Calloplesiops altivelis "marine beta"
Crosshatch trigger
in the 215


Seahorses and pipefishes in the corner tank

for 140 - several lionfish; Antennata, Radiata, Fuzzy etc. added at the same time.

[NaCl_H2O]

10 blue chromis (Chromis cyanea?) - caribean
5 yellow Halichoeres chrysurus wrasse
7 dispar anthias
pygmy hawk
Clown tang
black long nosed tang (Zebrasoma sp.)
Bodianus sp. candy cane hogfish
Calloplesiops altivelis "marine beta"
Crosshatch trigger
in the 215


Seahorses and pipefishes in the corner tank

for 140 - several lionfish; Antennata, Radiata, Fuzzy etc. added at the same time.
I thought this was my tank :P but not a bad suggestion at all :)

[NaCl_H2O]

Steve- what about a harem of flashers?
:o OMG, remember Karen reads this stuff! ;)

That's a different idea ... I'll have to consider that :)

[NaCl_H2O]

Ok, as we all know, the only "suggestion" that matters comes from the Mrs. :roll

So ... I have "decoded" that the corner tank is gonna get a small Porcupine Puffer :)

I already checked with the local puffer expert - Thanks Donnie!

Pics ... someday ...........