How much can I add to my 30 gallon?

[Ghost25]

I'm wondering how many more fish and inverts I can add to my setup.

30 Gallon tank (36" x 16" x 12")
20Lbs Pukani rock
20Lb sand
Aquaclear 50 HOB filter +added GFO
Aquamaxx HOB-1 skimmer

What I have now:

Fish
(2) clownfish (juveniles)
(1) purple dottyback

Inverts:
(1) Featherduster
(2) Yellow sea cucumbers
(3) Scarlet leg hermits
(10) Cerith snails
(2) Nassarius snails
(1) Trochus snail
(1) Gold ring cowrie

As well as some macro algae and a mix of corals.

I am thinking of adding:
Yellow watchman goby/shrimp pair
Neon goby
Barnacle Blenny
Firefish
Skunk cleaner shrimp/fire shrimp
Sexy shrimp
Porcelain crab
and various other inverts

Does this sound good? Would this be a medium bioload or high? I was looking at the neon goby and barnacle blenny because they are both recommended for small tanks.

My skimmer is over sized so I imagine the fish waste will be mitigated, will territory be an issue?

 

[JonezNReef]

Be careful with adding shrimp because dottybacks are known to eat them as a snack.

 

[Ghost25]

Be careful with adding shrimp because dottybacks are known to eat them as a snack.

Damn, that sucks. Thanks for the heads up. I guess I'll hold off on he shrimp for a while and then decide which I want more.

 

[snorvich]

Be careful with adding shrimp because dottybacks are known to eat them as a snack.

And harass timid fish like firefish

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

Are the yellow cucumbers filter feeding or detritus feeding? If they are detritus feeding, I believe 30 gallons is not enough unless you have a really deep sand bed.

 

[Scurvy Dawg]

I'm wondering how many more fish and inverts I can add to my setup.

30 Gallon tank (36" x 16" x 12")
20Lbs Pukani rock
20Lb sand
Aquaclear 50 HOB filter +added GFO
Aquamaxx HOB-1 skimmer

What I have now:

Fish
(2) clownfish (juveniles)
(1) purple dottyback

Inverts:
(1) Featherduster
(2) Yellow sea cucumbers
(3) Scarlet leg hermits
(10) Cerith snails
(2) Nassarius snails
(1) Trochus snail
(1) Gold ring cowrie

As well as some macro algae and a mix of corals.

I am thinking of adding:
Yellow watchman goby/shrimp pair
Neon goby
Barnacle Blenny
Firefish
Skunk cleaner shrimp/fire shrimp
Sexy shrimp
Porcelain crab
and various other inverts

Does this sound good? Would this be a medium bioload or high? I was looking at the neon goby and barnacle blenny because they are both recommended for small tanks.

My skimmer is over sized so I imagine the fish waste will be mitigated, will territory be an issue?

IMHO you are at about capacity fish-wise right now with 3, maybe one more but that's about it.

 

[Ghost25]

And harass timid fish like firefish

I've noticed my clownfish have developed some pretty ragged fins recently. I've never seen the dottyback bother them but perhaps he is the culprit?

Are the yellow cucumbers filter feeding or detritus feeding? If they are detritus feeding, I believe 30 gallons is not enough unless you have a really deep sand bed.

Filter feeding, I thought as a sea cucumber fan you would be familiar with them.

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

There are some cucumbers with the name yellow sea cucumber that detritus feed.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Dottybacks are notoriously aggressive. You'll likely not be able to put any more fish in because it will probably kill them.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

x2 to what Sugar Magnolia said. I would highly suggest not getting dottybacks if you have many passive fish. It will not end well. Same goes for 6 line wrasse, these will more than likely become super aggressive.

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

My CBS kills the dottybacks BEFORE they kill the other fish Good job Shrimpy

 

[snorvich]

My CBS kills the dottybacks BEFORE they kill the other fish Good job Shrimpy

No, horrible strategy. CBB will take fish.

 

[SeaCucumberFan]

No, horrible strategy. CBB will take fish.

Did you mean CBS or actually meant CBB (copperband butterfly)?

My CBS doesn't bother any other fish cuz they are all much bigger than him and the only small fish is the clownfish which never swims close to the sandbed and my valentini puffer which, um, will blow up if Shrimpy pinches him