Advice on stocking a 30G

[Terje Utne]

I have a 30G reef that's about 4 months old now. My main focus is SPS corals, but also have some zoas, mushrooms and a tridacna. There's plenty of live rock and a lot of small critters in it. Waterflow is moderatly strong.

Currently, I only have a pair of ocellaris clowns and a cleaner shrimp (L. amboinensis). My wish list is:

1. Dragonface pipefish or a mandarin
2. Goby and pistol shrimp (preferably a high fin red banded goby, S. nematodes)
3. A dwarf angel
4. Firefish (N. magnifica)

What's your thoughts about the pistol shrimp and goby? I'm really fascinated by their symbiosis, but don't want a killer in my tank. Is it safe to keep them, or should I just skip it? Which shrimp is most likely to pair up with the high fin red banded goby? Any other suggestions on a goby and shrimp pair that will fit better in this setup?

The clowns aren't essential to keep, so if they don't fit in with any of the other fishes i introduce, I'll just sell them. But I guess they won't make to much trouble.

 

[small alien]

Shrimp goby with a pistol shrimp would be the perfect final addition to your tank. I think the clown would pester the firefish. And the tank is too small for a dwarf angel imo. Further, mandarins and pipefish are quite challenging especially in such a small tank. I would suggest you skip those until you have more experience and a larger tank. Good luck.

 

[small alien]

If you skipped the clowns, you could do the goby/pistol shrimp and a firefish (sometime firefish will actually share a burrow with a goby/pistol combo. But clowns are very fun and active. I would keep them.

 

[Terje Utne]

And the tank is too small for a dwarf angel imo.

I agree with you that in the long run it would be to small, but when I'm done as a student in a couple of years I'm planning to get a bigger tank. Would a small specimen still be to big?

Further, mandarins and pipefish are quite challenging especially in such a small tank. I would suggest you skip those until you have more experience and a larger tank. Good luck.

I know they are challenging, but I'm prepared to set up another tank just for the pipefish if it doesn't work out in the reef. As for the experience part: I have more than 5 years of experience with a 95G mixed reef, but didn't keep any of those fishes I want to try with this tank.

 

[small alien]

I see. I suppose you could try a Cherub. I've seen them in smaller tanks. I don't know about long term.

Your call on the pipe. It's a crap shoot.

Good luck.:bounce2:

 

[treylane]

You'd be fine with some of the smaller damsels rather than pygmy angels - they're less aggressive, less likely to nip corals, and don't get as big. Chrysiptera hemicyanea would be great.

 

[small alien]

Good suggestion.

 

[Terje Utne]

Thanks for input, alien and treylane! Appriciate the advices.
Guess I'll wait with a dwarf angel for a while.

You'd be fine with some of the smaller damsels rather than pygmy angels - they're less aggressive, less likely to nip corals, and don't get as big. Chrysiptera hemicyanea would be great.

Have had both Chrysiptera hemicyanea and the C. taopou, and the first one was a lot more aggressive than the taupou, so I'll rather go with one of those. But I guess it's all about the individual.

Your call on the pipe. It's a crap shoot.

Would you say a mandarin would be a less crappy shot?
I also have a smaller tank with just live rock, macro algae and lots of pods. Was planning to move some rocks back and forth to replenish the pods in the 30G as they get eaten (in addition to using it as a quarantine tank). If buying a mandarin or a pipe (wont get both), I'm also planning on not having any other pod-eating fish such as wrasses who would compete with the pipe or the mandarin.