Question on compatibility and bioload

[danelam]

I was wondering if it's possible to add more fish to my 55 gallon or if it's at its limit.

I have currently:
2 ocellaris clowns
2 banggai cardinals
1 royal gramma
1 onespot foxface

Is that enough? If not, how would the compatibility be between the gramma and a pair of McCosker Flasher wrasses?

Thanks for the advice,

Dane

 

[NYreefNoob]

more than likely the gramma will beat them down. and the more fish question is a tricky one. what skimmer do you have ? how often do you do water changes and how large ? id catch the gramma and toss it

 

[danelam]

Skimmer is CPR backpak 2R. Water changes are fortnightly about 10%. That's a shame about the gramma, it hasn't been aggressive yet. But you think it will be to wrasses?

 

[Killerdrgn]

wrasses and gramma can be aggressive, but not every fish is the same, so some are highly agressive some are only mildly.

 

[danelam]

anyone else have experience with this?

 

[prattreef]

In general I think you would be fine with the Gramma, but there are other concerns:
1) have you kept any other wrasses before? Flasher wrasses are pretty delicate and not exactly beginner fish.
2) Is your tank well ( I mean well ) covered? If not they will jump, not might, will jump.
3) Do you feed meaty planktivore suitable foods (Mysis etc) 2-3 times a day?

 

[danelam]

In general I think you would be fine with the Gramma, but there are other concerns:
1) have you kept any other wrasses before? Flasher wrasses are pretty delicate and not exactly beginner fish.
2) Is your tank well ( I mean well ) covered? If not they will jump, not might, will jump.
3) Do you feed meaty planktivore suitable foods (Mysis etc) 2-3 times a day?

1) Never kept a wrasse before, but have (and will) research a fair bit

2) It's covered, I don't know about well covered. There is a full canopy, but there are parts cut out of the back to house equipment and those holes are well bigger than fish size. I suppose I could screen it with mesh though.

3) I do feed Mysis/Brine Shrimp/Live Baby brine every day, but not 3 times. I tend to do one feeding of meaty food, and another two with various flakes (formula 1, formula 2, prime reef.) Every few days I also chop up some fresh shrimp or squid for the banggais, gramma and anemone. Foxface eats some too though I have a vegetable click with nori on it each day for it.

 

[DevIouS]

Royal Grammas are all bark, no bite.
They'll be fine.

In my opinion, McCosker wrasses are hardy & should be no problem (as long as you have an healty established tank....of course).
I don't feed that much.
Tank should be well covered though.

 

[h20 freak]

I had a 6-line wrasse and a royal gramma get along great but since then I have heard that was a stroke of luck.

 

[ellebelle]

my gramma leaves my fairy wrasses alone.

 

[basiab]

There really is no way to tell. It would have been better to put the wrasses in before the gramma. But it still has a good chance to work.