overstocked?

[Cheech]

Hi guys, I need some advice.

I have a 90 gallon, with;


1 rock beauty
1 yellow tang
2 yellowtail damsels
1 algae blenny
1 unicorn tang, ( I know I shouldn't have, but I recieved it when I purchased the already established tank. The fish seems always happy, eats well, doesn't show any signs of stress whatsoever)

Then I got some hermits, snails... etc... The tank has about 90 lbs of live rock, and it's on the right track of becoming a full blown reef.

I was speaking to someone, who suggested I get another tang in the tank, probably a hippo tang. I value this person's opinion because he's set up many beautiful reef tanks.

I thought I'd ask for your advice on whether getting another tang wouldn't be such a good idea...

Thanks for your help.,

cheech

[OrionGirl]

I wouldn't. I guess because for me the health of the fish is so important, and by increasing the critters vying for the same space, you're going to end up stressing them. IME, stressed tangs get sick way too often, and that's just not worth it.

[Cheech]

Thanks Orion. I'll let it be then.. Everything looks good now, no need to screw things up.

[gcvt]

Wow, someone actually suggested putting a third tang in your 90g? Amazing.

I'd consider myself lucky if I was able to keep a yellow and unicorn in the same tank for any extended period of time. The unicorn will need a tank twice that size at some point, but the thought of adding a third tang...well, lets just say I strongly disagree with that ;)

I'm very glad to hear you're going to 'let it be'.

[Corax]

myself, I'd replace the unicorn with a hippo cuz as stated above, the unicorn is gonna be a problem down the road...

[Cheech]

As of now, the Unicorn and the Yellow tang get along fine. I never saw any hostility between the two,..

I know I'll have to do something about the Unicorn. He is getting big, (7.5") I'll have to get myself a bigger tank, cause there's no way I'm selling it. It's just got too much character to let go.

Thanks for the advice ....


:)

Cheech

[redpaulhus]

I'd also be very worried about the Rock Beauty (Holacanthus tricolor ) - I've never seen one live more than a year in captivity - they are obligate sponge eaters, very hard to keep them alive even if they are eating other foods...

Hopefully you've got alot of high quality liverock (preferably florida cultured rock loaded with sponges) both in the system and in a sponge refugium (second tank loaded with liverock so you can move small "grazing rocks" covered in sponge into the main tank)...

Ocean Nutrition and Hikari both make frozen foods with sponge for Angels... I've found the ON brand to be easier to feed (solid gelatin cubes rather than the Hikari cubes which fall apart quickly) but I don't think they would be enough for long term health...

More on H. tricolor:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/angels/holacanthus/tricolor.htm

[Cheech]

I try to be diverse on what I feed my fish. I feed my rock beauty formula one food, which is enriched with sponge. The rock beauty has been in the tank for about a year, and it is very active. Eats anything I feed it. For now it's goin well.

Thanks for the advice. :)

[ryan_kearney]

jesus, i think my tank is well over stocked judging by what i just read!