60g Cube stocking...

[gveng]

right now i'm in the cycling phase of my 60g cube build. so i want to start planning for future potential livestock. i want the tank to start out as FOWLR and then slowly move into corals (it's my first SW tank). the aqua scape is very open just one large island w/ caves in the middle of the tank and thats it.

what i like:
- dwarf lionfish
- clowns

and i'm open to anything else suggestions w/ pictures if you have them.

P.S. unfortunately a hippo blue tang will end up in this tank or dori fish as my g/f puts it. yes, i've told my g/f that these fish need bigger tanks but it's not working.

 

[jbell370]

I have a 60g cube, 24x24x24 and have 2 Clarkie Clowns, 1 Pacific Blue Pygmy Angel and a Dotty Back. I have wanted to add another fish, but to be honest it just does not look like it would fit. I have a center island as well, now more coral than I thought but in no way would I put a Hippo tang in a 2 foot cube, that is like putting your kid in a closet.

 

[gveng]

I have a 60g cube, 24x24x24 and have 2 Clarkie Clowns, 1 Pacific Blue Pygmy Angel and a Dotty Back. I have wanted to add another fish, but to be honest it just does not look like it would fit. I have a center island as well, now more coral than I thought but in no way would I put a Hippo tang in a 2 foot cube, that is like putting your kid in a closet.

trust me, i know! but the best i could do is raise it as a small fish until it gets too big for the tank and then trade it in and tell the g/f it died. =)

 

[duncantse]

If your gf really wants a blue tang, you can buy a juvenile one then every 6months-1year, give it back to your lfs and exchange for another juvenile.

 

[gillies]

Man up and grow a pair, dude. Explain to her that the fish she likes isn't suitable for that size tank. Or is she just ruthless?

 

[Tabasco]

I LOVE TANG THREADS! hahah. You can always collect all the comments that you are gonna get about the hippo tang in a very undersized tank and show that to her that you are not just being unreasonable on a whim and that you would be glad to get that fish if she want to foot the bill for a much larger tank.

In all honesty when tangs are placed into tanks that are too small it is not just a matter of outgrowing. They tend to show stress in the form of ich and die.

Not that I am RECOMMENDING the trade in program, but it could work, not a great plan, but I'd say that you would need a good bit of experience. A more disk shaped tang would fare better for the trade in program like a yellow.

 

[Tabasco]

Oh and regarding the lion and the clown, just make sure that your clown is too large to fit in the lions mouth. Otherwise it will be a very $$ snack.

 

[gveng]

Man up and grow a pair, dude. Explain to her that the fish she likes isn't suitable for that size tank. Or is she just ruthless?

are you single? you sound like your 15. in every relationship especially if you live together their has to be compromises. unfortunately for me, i made the mistake of taking my g/f to the fish store. haha, now she knows where to buy fish and it's not unlike her to come home w/ a new fish every once in a while. usually small but w/ that stupid "finding nemo" movie all hell broke loose. :furious:

 

[gveng]

and again, i'm not saying i'm getting a blue hippo tang. but i wouldn't be surprised if one ended up in my tank in the near future. that or i can just buy her something to take her mind off the fish tank. hmmmm... that could work.

 

[Tabasco]

What about nemo? He is super cute I am sure she would understand, it would be like having a horse in a pen and no way to let him out to exercise. But they really really are prone to ich if they are kept in small tanks and stressed, especially hippos. Which just equals death. I don't think she wants that.

Royal grammas are super colorful and would be great for that size tank. I'd also stay away from electric blue damsels as a substitute as they get nasty.

 

[gveng]

what about a flame angel?

 

[duncantse]

A flame angelfish can work but all angelfish are prone to lip on corals.

 

[Tabasco]

Flame angel would to totally fine in that size tank. I might not add it as the first fish though. Pretty much any of the dwarf angels would be fine in that size tank. I don't have experience with, but I have heard the bi-color can be a challenge to keep so I would stay away from that one, but warning your girl will probably gravitate toward that one because it is so striking.

Also keep in mind that dwarf angels may or may not be reef safe if you are planning to add corals later. The flame angel and the coral beauty are two of the more colorful angels that have a better track record of not turning in a reef tank. The coral beauty is probably a hardier fish as well.

 

[gveng]

ok, so far i've got a fuzzy dwarf lion, clown and flame angel. anything else?

 

[duncantse]

Get a wrasse, they add a lot of movement in the tank.

 

[Tabasco]

The dwarf lion is very cool. I would love to have one myself, but it will really limit what you can have in the tank to whatever will not fit in it's mouth, which unfortunately quite alot. Since your tank is 60g, the list is kindof small of things that A) won't fit in the lions mouth B) will not be too big for a 60. Since you would like to move over to corals later you also have to be mindful of what will be reef safe which is also a limiting factor.

If you get the lion you will also have to stock with most things at their adult size, such as the clowns. A juvenile clown will easily fit in a fuzzy lions mouth.

 

[Tabasco]

+1 on the wrasse, fairy or flasher, make sure you have a covered top!

 

[Jadams]

Get a wrasse, they add a lot of movement in the tank.

+1

I have a Solar Fairy Wrasse in my 60cube and love it. Totally my favorite fish!

:fish1:

 

[gillies]

are you single? you sound like your 15. in every relationship especially if you live together their has to be compromises. unfortunately for me, i made the mistake of taking my g/f to the fish store. haha, now she knows where to buy fish and it's not unlike her to come home w/ a new fish every once in a while. usually small but w/ that stupid "finding nemo" movie all hell broke loose. :furious:

In the hobby more than 15 years, married 12 and both still going strong. All because of wise decisions. Good luck, sparky.

 

[AugustWest]

How about a Flame Hawkfish ? Very cool fish IMO. Take a stand on the Blue Tang now dude, there's lots more inappropriate fish for her to take a liking to. I had to do that with my wife and daughter years ago........thats my advice.

GL either way !