Maxed out or could I add another?

Hey Everyone,

Wanted to see what you thought about my current tank inhabitants and my tank being maxed out.. First a little about the tank.

120 Gallons Reef Tank
15 Gallon Sump with Cheato
140-150 lbs of live Rock
100 lbs of Carib Sea live Sand
Mag 1200 Return pump
2 MP40W Vortech Impellers
Aqua Controller 3
Bermuda BPS-3C skimmer
Phosband 150 Reactor with Carbon
2 X 150 MH Current light fixture
2 X 50 watt Current Actinic Fixture

Now some of the fish I have in here get quite large and will eventually be a problem. Keep in mind that I would like to do a larger tank at some point in the next year or so so by the time they become an issue I should be ready to move them.

Right now I have the following:

Hippo Tang 3 inches
Naso Tang 4 inches
Sailfin Tang 4 inches
Oscillaris Clown Fish
Six Line Wrasse
Algae Blenny
Diamond Goby
Spotted Green Mandarin

What I was thinking of adding was a Mystery Wrasse. What do you think?

 

you probably could. I would be more worried about bullying and food source than parameters. The six line and mystery may not get along. Also, the six line, mystery, and mandarin will all be competing over the same food (pods).

 

my understanding remick has always been 1" per 5 gallons. others go by 1-3. which in your case is a huge difference. looks like youve got good eqipment that you might be able to get away with another. but with that , does the mystery wrasse get big also? if so , you could be pushing it in your current tank.

 

I would just be sure you have a really big pod populaion first.

 

Very Good point on the Pods I did not think of that. See that's why I love you guys and gals!!!

I don't think mystery wrasse get that big. I think the Big dogs of the tank are the tangs..

Ok so other then the pods comments. It sounds like I'm close but could likly make it work given my plans to do a bigger tank.

 

I wouldn't go any less than 1 inch per 3 gallons. I try to do 1 inch per four to five gallons.

 

Inches per gallon is really pretty worthless as a "rule of thumb". Know the limits of your fish as individuals. A measure of mass per gallon would be better but still not a set in stone rule.

Keep in mind the fish you have will get bigger, some of them much bigger. Consider the mature adult size of the fish, not their juvenile size.

Also, take into account the displacement of the live rock and it's affect on water volume. And still more, make sure that each fish can have its own defined territory based on their observed behavior. Some fish are happy to share territory, others will fight to the death over a cave or corner of the tank.

Personally I think you have a decent collection in a good sized tank and should consider it moderately well stocked as is, but of course only you know the actual limits of the tank and your ability to maintain it. From a purely technical stand point assuming you have enough filtering and husbandry skills of course you COULD add more fish, but would they thrive or linger in a stressful environment for years?

...just my 2¢. I am simply a book learned noob when it comes to reef tanks, but have years of experience with FW tanks.