18" Sps cube stocking

[Kaedious]

Hey Guys & Girls

Would just like some feedback on my planned stock list.
(SPS dominate reef w/ Zoas)

Fish
1x Cherub Angel or Potters Angel
1x Orchid Dottyback
1x Bi colour Blenny ​
1x Green Dragonet​

Inverts
1x Redline Cleaner Shrimp
1x Short Spine Urchin
3x Nassarius Snails
?x Turbo Snails​

Cheers!

 

[Greybeard]

Hi...

I have a 24" cube, finished cycling a month or so back. Do you have a top on your cube? Orchid Dottybacks are known jumpers, so be aware on that one. The Bi color Blenny is a good choice. I have a Smith's blenny. The dragonette won't hurt anything, but many of them won't take prepaired foods. Make sure the tank is well established and populated with lots of little critters so that it doesn't starve. Any of the dwarf angles may one day decide that your corals are tastier than the foods they're offered, luck of the draw, really.

I have a skunk shrimp, great addition. Short spine urchins eat coraline algae, which I'm trying to grow, but if that doesn't bother you, they're interesting creatures, and will help with some other algae control. I'd increase the number of nassarius snails somewhat, great cleanup critters. I'm not much on turbo snails, but there's nothing wrong with them.

Enjoy

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Most dottybacks are very aggressive fish.

I also don't recommend a Cherub Angel for a 24" cube because they like to take off swimming distance and I've got mine in a 40b and even it could be too small with a 36" length. This is just my opinion as mine likes to swim distance sometimes going back and forth, but most of the time it's just pecking and hunting the lr.

 

[CedzAquAddictio]

If the tank is new, I'd hold off on the dragonet until you have an established copepod population. It'll pick through every pod in a tank that size in less than a day, so it'll probably be necessary to have a refugium as well so the pods have somewhere safe to populate and keep the dragonet fed...

Edit: Most dottybacks are agressive, and your other fish will likely catch hell. Perhaps a roayal gramma, or some type of goby???

 

[FishyFishy69]

I think the Cherub would be just fine. I've had three in the past and not a single one swam the full distance of the 24" or 36" length tanks they were in.

Dottybacks are probably not the greatest idea for a tank that size, as they are very territorial.

What about a tailspot blenny? They add great personality to the tank.

 

[Spartanman22]

I have an 18" cube with a potters, and although its doing well it will outgrow this size tank. Mines maybe 2.25" at this point. They are pretty active grazers. I am upgrading in 6 months so I was able to justify grabbing this guy when I found him, but IMO an 18' cube is too small for any of the dwarf angels, including the cherub.

 

[DopeCantWin]

Even once the tank is established, unless there's a humongous fuge, I doubt it will have enough pods to feed a Mandarin.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I think the Cherub would be just fine. I've had three in the past and not a single one swam the full distance of the 24" or 36" length tanks they were in.

Dottybacks are probably not the greatest idea for a tank that size, as they are very territorial.

What about a tailspot blenny? They add great personality to the tank.

And yet I've had just one Cherub and it constantly swims the 36" length all day long unless he's hunting the rocks for pods. Hmmm didn't I say this earlier? Oh and I'll add that my Cherub is only an inch and a half long

 

[ilikefish34]

I would skip the Dragonet unless you plan on supplementing their feedings or add pods on a regular basis--they are best suited for well-establised, and large, reef tanks or a slow paced seahorse tank.

I see varying opinions but I think the Cherub would work. Mine used the complete length of the 125 gallon but after seeing them while diving, I doubt he was impressed with my 6' tank... it comes down to what you think is morally right and I won't judge either way, being that we all take fish from the ocean and put them into something much smaller than they prefer. Is any Emperor Angel truly happy in a 400 gallon aquarium?

I do like fishyfish69's idea of a Tailspot to get a similar type of fish but one that'll stay smaller to decrease your bio-load. However, if you just really want the Bi-color get it. I had one in my 75 that did show aggression towards my 1.5" Jewel Damsel but had no issues with my Orchid Dottyback--keep in mind that was a much larger tank.

Dottybacks are typically pretty aggressive but I would say that the captive bred Orchids are about as chill as they come. Also, the pygmy angels don't take any crap and can show aggression themselves--my 1.5" one liked to pick on my 3" yellow watchman goby.

If you end up with the Cherub, Orchid and either blenny, I would add them at the same time. To be able to keep your levels in check by adding that many in a small tank, I would stock it with 3-4 Damsels and swap them out when the time comes.

Good luck
Mike

 

[Kaedious]

Hey guys thanks very much for all the swift replies!
I actually already have the green mandarin in another tank, had him for 6 months eating pellets and frozen food.
Was mainly worried about the dottyback aggression.
Would love a tailspot but I can find them
In Australia!
Still in the air about the bi colour, my favourite fish but my last one nipped my sps .

 

[DopeCantWin]

I actually already have the green mandarin in another tank, had him for 6 months eating pellets and frozen food.

That's awesome, you should document it.

 

[ilikefish34]

That's great that he's eating pellets and frozen foods--that changes my take on that fish completely and would also like to see some documentation... not for proof, but to aid myself, and others, of getting theirs to do the same. What brand and size are the pellets, what frozen foods, does the food need to move a little with the current or does it sit motionless in a feeding station, what are the other inhabitants, was this started in a QT system or in the DT? Anything and everything would be very helpful.

I understand your reservations about the aggression from the Orchid Dottyback so if you try one I suggest finding a small captive-bred specimen. If you end up with both that fish and Bicolor, you may see more problems with the Blenny towards the Dottyback than you do the other way around (size will play a factor as well). Again, this Dottyback isn't nearly as aggressive as others in the family but I'm sure there are plenty out there with stories to tell.

 

[Mark426]

I run nano tanks and my take on fish is.... have lots of very small fish. Like gobies, small blenny species, etc. Its a matter of scale. I personally dont like the look for larger fish in small tanks.

I have never had much luck with any of the comb-toothed blenny's around SPS. They all tended to nip them. Too bad, they are one of my favorite fish.

 

[StAiden]

May I suggest some alternates that will be happy in an 18 without fear of aggression?
Helfrichi goby
Purple fire goby
Tail spot blenny
Scooter blenny (after some serious pod growth)
Yellow clown goby
Jester goby
Tiger anthias
Pearly jaw fish (lid mandatory)
Maybe a pair of interesting designer clowns? Although when they start breeding they may become a little nippy.

I am not a fan of damsels. Yes they are cheap. Yes they are hardy. They can take on a fish 10 times their size and win. For me, they are the pit bulls of the reef tank. No offence to pit bulls, or to damsels, this is just my opinion.