Stocking a 30 Gallon

[snailpoo]

My set-up currently consists of a 30 gallon tank, 10 gallon sump, protein skimmer, Fluval 304, 40? (50?) pounds of live rock, lots of macro algae, wall to wall corals (my friends are threatening an intervention if I go to another frag swap).

The current occupants are a pair of Occelaris, a pair of skunk cleaners, and a mandarin. I know, I know, but the mandarin is a year old, and fat. In addition to the rockwork in tank, there's algae and rock in the sump, the algae in the overflow that's serving as an in tank refugium, and the rock and filter media of the Fluval. I think the Fluval might be the secret horde of copepods if the numbers of Amphipods living there are any indication.

Anyway, can I fit another fish or two, and if so, what are my options?

I'm leaning towards a midas blenny, a firefish, or a flame angel. Will one or two of these be acceptable?

And, (risking the anger of the other half of the board) I was considering temporarily borrowing a juvenile yellow tang to help with the red algae that has grown in all the difficult to reach spots (I'll return the tang before I add any other fish, of course).

Thoughts? Suggestions? Criticisms?

Thanks!

 

[h20 freak]

Don't get the tang to clean up your algae, I did that in my old 20 and it didnt help.They aren't a cure, you have to first eliminate the cause of the algae, then the algae.What are your paramaters?(Phosphates and Nitrates cause algae)

You didnt mention your current cleanup crew. If you don't have anything like that then get like 30 or more snails, a sand sifter star and an urchin,they will do more then a tang.Be warned, they will knock over small frags and rocks so make sure everything is in place.

most urchins and lettuce cucumbers are known to be algae lawnmowers so try those, But urchins may also eat you corraline.

As for the fish, any one of those should be fine, the only thing I have to say is that you will want a cover with that firefish.DONT get a wrasse or simialer fish,they will also eat your pods and may cause your mandarin to not get his share.

PS: any tank pics?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I would go for a Golden Angel even though some people say it needs a 50G but I found that they take patrol less area than the flame which people say 30G is good. Golden Angel is more peaceful and classier to me than the Flame Angel.

Consider a sea hare if you go the "live worker" route and let go of it when it finish his job. As long as you acclimate him right, sea hare is not as hard to keep as most people think.

 

[snailpoo]

Don't get the tang to clean up your algae, I did that in my old 20 and it didnt help.They aren't a cure, you have to first eliminate the cause of the algae, then the algae.What are your paramaters?(Phosphates and Nitrates cause algae)

Low nitrates, high phosphates. There's a RO/DI filter on the way (wife saw the medicated tap water news stories. Thank-you pharmecutical companies!).

The irony is that the red algae in the tank looks a lot like the Gracilaria some stores sell for tangs.

I would go for a Golden Angel even though some people say it needs a 50G but I found that they take patrol less area than the flame which people say 30G is good. Golden Angel is more peaceful and classier to me than the Flame Angel.

Ooooo... beautiful. I know with Flame Angels, there's a good chance that they're not reef safe. Do Golden Angels carry as great a risk, or are they more likely to behave?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Low nitrates, high phosphates. There's a RO/DI filter on the way (wife saw the medicated tap water news stories. Thank-you pharmecutical companies!).

The irony is that the red algae in the tank looks a lot like the Gracilaria some stores sell for tangs.


Ooooo... beautiful. I know with Flame Angels, there's a good chance that they're not reef safe. Do Golden Angels carry as great a risk, or are they more likely to behave?

My golden angels, never gave me problems in hostility nor nipping of corals. They do eat purple, yellow and orange sponges once awhile. Arrgh not the purple sponge man. I love them. Most reefers do not care about sponge anyway, so I would say very low risk.

 

[chazertis]

dwarf angels

 

[jackson6745]

Put the money toward a better skimmer and some phosban.

Your filtration/maintenance is failing with your current stock. Adding more fish is not the right thing to do at the moment.