First timer, one-week old reef

F

Fiver

Member
Hello,

I just started my first reef a week ago with live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater (I love it!). I'm excited to get going after returning to freshwater about two years ago following a nearly 10-year break.

My tank is a 33-long, no sump or protein skimmer. I plan to stock a pair of ocellaris clowns, a firefish, a tailspot blenny and an orchid dottyback. Do you think I could add one more fish? If so, the white-spot pygmy filefish or a yellowtail damsel are on my list. (I'd really like one blue fish.)

Thanks!
 

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A damsel might be to agressive for the tank, clowns would hold their own but you might never see your firefish, they are extremely timid. If blue is what you want, a couple of green chromis shimmer blue nicely.

Great choice with TBS, I will go with his rock when I upgrade. I would recommend at least a hob skimmer if you will be going sumpless. Decent bioload you will want a skimmer.
 
CafeReef said:
A damsel might be to agressive for the tank, clowns would hold their own but you might never see your firefish, they are extremely timid. If blue is what you want, a couple of green chromis shimmer blue nicely.

Great choice with TBS, I will go with his rock when I upgrade. I would recommend at least a hob skimmer if you will be going sumpless. Decent bioload you will want a skimmer.
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Great tips. Thank you.

I'm really impressed with TBS, and this is just the first half of the package so far. It came with a star fish, serpent stars, a sea cucumber, a few hermits, about a half dozen porcelain crabs and some snails. The rock is full of sponges, barnacles and other life.
 
ditch the dottyback too ive had one kill a firefish and chase a wrasse out of the tank and onto the floor

I'd invest in a sump if you can its easier to clean then a filter

you could do a pygmy angel if you dont have lps corals or clams
 
add the clown and pygmy angel last, if you absolutely must do the dottyback add him last
 
e048 said:
add the clown and pygmy angel last, if you absolutely must do the dottyback add him last
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Thanks for the great advice. What kind of dottyback did you have? I thought the orchid was an exception to the aggressive dottyback reputation. Thanks!
 
ive had a neon, sunrise, and orchid
my sunrise has been surpisingly calm considering he's the smallest thing in the tank atm

even the nicest orchid is a terror when compared to truly peaceful fish (anthias, gobies)
 
e048 said:
ive had a neon, sunrise, and orchid
my sunrise has been surpisingly calm considering he's the smallest thing in the tank atm

even the nicest orchid is a terror when compared to truly peaceful fish (anthias, gobies)
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Darn. I really wanted a solid/mostly dark blue or purple fish, but it seems like everything that fits that criterion is aggressive. Thanks for the input.

So, you think I should probably add the firefish or blenny first? The clowns last?
 
Pygmy or Cherub Angels are not the nicest Angel fish. Absolutely add them last or they won't let you add anymore fish. Mine just tried killing two black mollies I tried to add. I moved them to the sump so they can live.

I'm looking into getting rid of my Cherub and getting something else. It's upsetting because he's a beautiful fish. He does get along with the two Perculas and the Hectors goby. The Perculas were in first then the Cherub Angel was added at the same time as the Hectors goby.

Such a shame a very beautiful fish. :hammer:

View attachment 332606
 
A lot of fish, aggression comes down to tank size. A damsel in a 20 gallon will be a devil, same fish in a 125 could be the nicest fish out there. I too want a dotty, but just from what I've read on here I haven't got one.
 
I know of a pretty purple fish...

Try a black cap basslet they're about 3x as expensive as the dotty back but also a heck of a lot nicer although I wouldn't recommend one to a beginner but it's definitely worth looking into also a heilferichi firefish fit what you want but again the price tag may be off setting
 
Thanks for the great info, everyone. I'll add the black cap basslet, royal gramma and blue assessor are on my list as possible blue/purple fish.
 
A yellowtail damsel (as opposed to the azure, which looks like it) is fairly mild and stays fairly small. Clowns are damsels, and usually get along fairly well with them. The dottyback is the one most apt to bully other fish. I don't know the orchids, but I once took a hundred-gallon tank apart to get out a yellow dottyback before he killed another fish.
 
I have an ORA electric neon dottyback. Specifically cross bread to ease the aggressive behavior of dottybacks. I can honestly say he/she is the most docile fish in my tank. Even the cleaner shrimp scares him back to his hole.
 
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