Amateur Needs Advice

[Spiderman]

Hi guys!

I have a 25 gallon SW tank that's 2 months old. It has 2 small clowns, a small royal gramma, and a juvenile Banggai cardinal. I also have 3 snails, 2 hermit crabs and a cleaner shrimp. I change the water 10% each week, and all water tests are good. They're all copacetic and everything's perfect. I love it!

My question is: Would it be possible to add just one more fish - a small six-line wrasse - after about a month? My fiancee and I plan to get a 75g tank in a year's time and will move 'em all there. Is the system overstocked? Some experts I asked said that it's totally ok to add the wrasse - assuming they all get along, don't overfeed, and do regular maintenance, I won't have problems.

I get conflicting opinions in terms of fish per gallon. Some say 5 gallons per inch of fish. Michael Paletta's book suggests a loose guideline of 2 gallons per inch of fish. Ideally, the more gallons per fish the better, but I think 5 fish that won't grow more than 2.5" - 3" each in a 25 gallon tank could be reasonable.

Advice, please.

 

[i have crabs]

i have a 20g with a simular deal and i know im way over what i should be wich makes me stress and get a little crazy with maitnence. at least untill the new tank is ready to move half them into. so i would not recomend it cause i know the deal and even if the wrasse is cool dont do it

 

[lando]

First off...WELCOME TO AA!!!
You found the best aquarium advice forum on the internet. I would not add any more fish until you complete the up-grade. Five fish in a 25 gal. would be a bit tight. Good luck...Lando

 

[phases99]

Generally Royal Gramma's and six-line wrasse's will not get along, especially in a small tank. You may want to try when putting together the 75g if you add them simultaneously and have alot of rockwork.

 

[MarineFlake]

Phases99 is correct IMHO. I have a gramma and he is pretty territorial. Thats a pretty small space for 2 fish who are likely to go at it any way. Placing them in the new tank together will help work out the territorial issues. If not, just do what I did, flush the gramma......Ok, jk, but he is a pain in the arse to his neighbors some times, even in my 75G. Check out my pics, you can sorta get the idea.

 

[kjf1705]

sixline wrasse and a pink pseudochromis

I have a 54g corner tank with loads of LR and caves I have an established fullgrown pink pseudochromis. I am about to add a sixline wrasse to help eat mucus off my maxima clams. Will this work or will the pseudochromis harass him too much?

 

[RocketSeason]

I would wait. Patience is the best way to go.

I have a 37 gallon tank which will soon have 5 small fish in it, and thats considered overstocking.

 

[EL Diablo]

I have a six line and a Royal Gramma together in my 72gallon
I added them both at the same time. I have lots of rock work and the 2 never bothered eachother.

 

[BillyZ]

the key to that success Diablo, is the co-introduction to the tank and plenty of room and rock for them to "have their own space"

 

[seafan]

The BIGGEST MISTAKE is adding "just one more fish" that's how I crashed my system. Just get a bigger tank, okay.

Have fun, if you really want, replace your fish, or add corals (w/better lighting). That's why I joined AA so I could learn how to not totally

up.

 

[seafan]

Wait, spiderman didn't you read The New Marine Aquarium. It clearly says not to add an extra fish. You recommended it to me.
BTW thank you, its a great book.

 

[Spiderman]

yes, i agree seafan....i'll stick with the fish i have. i'm happy because they're one happy group of critters.....