From 15 - 25 gallon

[Reiner]

I'm getting a 15 gallon tank hopefully by the end of this week from a guy at work.
The tank comes with 2 live rocks (size or pounds unknown) substrate and everything else needed + one 3 stripe damsel that has killed the other 2 tankmates it was housed with (damsels as well).

Now my plan of action is to get the tank to my place and bring all the water and everything else it has with me in buckets and instead of setting it back up I would like to make my 25 gallon tank that I have at home already a Salt tank. (the 15 will be then my quarantine tank).
So will I go through a cycle again if I add extra sand and extra live rock + all the stuff and filtration that was on the 15 gallon tank or should the tank still be fully cycled just with a little more water volume.

Also it was recommended to me to give the Damsel back to the LFS or somebody with a bigger tank if I ever want more tankmates which I would like down the line once I get the hang of things.

So my dream tank would be some snails, hermit crabs and the fish I would like are Coral Beauty (Centropyge bispinosa), Saddle back clown, and a 6 line wrasse. Are those fish compatable and could they live together in the 25 gallon tank (48" x 9" x 13"). Also since I believe that I can't introduce all 3 at once in which order should they be introduced?

 

[Reiner]

I did some reading and found out that I would at least go through a mini cycle again so that answers the first question. Now if somebody could just comment on my future tank stocking that I would like to have that would be great.

 

[Bifferwine]

Clownfish can be pretty territorial, but a pair might be okay in a 25 gallon tank (but that may be all the fish it can take), and the coral beauty needs a lot of space (at least 40 gallons) they may be dwarf angels, but they are still larger than the damsel you've got in there right now and they like to swim around a lot. As for the wrasse, they are relatively hardy (you need to feed it the right kind of food though, they're carnivorous). It can be aggressive and territorial too, so I don't know if you could keep the wrasse and the clown together in a small tank, maybe...

 

[Reiner]

I was really hopeing I could keep 3 fish in that tank since the footprint is 48" x 9" which is only 25% smaller then a standard 4 foot 55 gallon tank (48x12) but just a little less then half the water volume of a 55.

I did some more research and found out that the Ocellaris Clown stays smaller and is more peaceful then the Saddleback clown and maybe a small sand sifting Goby instead of the Wrasse.
So the fish would be Coral Beauty, Ocellaris Clown and a small Goby. With LS and 30 pounds of LR.

 

[angelsj247]

if you are going to chance the coral beauty than the should be added last.. they are the most territorial. and im not sure about wrasses.. never intrested me so never read up on them.
im having 3 fish in my 20 gal so i dont think 4 fish would be a problem for you.

 

[angelsj247]

yes the damsel will beat up on your other fish if you add them. damsels are very territorial.. so you will prob want to give that one back.

 

[Reiner]

Seeing that you have some success with your 20 that gives me some hope. I would only have 3 fish total once I get rid of the 3 stripe Damsel that comes with the tank I would then start with the Goby first and then the Ocellaris clown and then several weeks later when everything is stable the Coral Beauty

 

[snarkes]

You might want to look into the cherub or flameback angels. They are pygmy angels that only get to 3 inches. I've got one with a clown in my 12 and they get along great. That coral beauty is just goin to be way to big for a tank that size, not to mention adding the other two fish.

 

[Reiner]

I read that the Coral Beauty only gets to about 4" is hardy and not as agressive as some of the smaller dwarf Angels.
Thanks for the other 2 types though I'll look into them right away. I really would like this experience to go as smooth as possible so lots of research to do before I buy anything.

 

[snarkes]

I think that the CB can get to 5 inches... I wanted one but I think that 5 inches would be too big for my 55. Of course thats because I want more, smaller fish.