JBJ 45 Rimless Macroalgae Tank

I'm not an expert on the fish, but your tank is looking great. I think a puffer with some gobies would look nice -- I'm a fan of more selective fish stocking. I find many saltwater tanks tend to be more like: I'll have one of everything.

I'd prefer stockings be more intentional -- e.g., for my tank I'm going with a school of chromis and some mandarin's. Low bioload for a macro tank.
 
I am pretty sure I am down to gobies, but would be open to other options if they came up. I'm planning on a group of 5 or 6 Green Banded Gobies and probably 10 Masked Gobies at this point. I was able to pick up a few inverts/clean up crew/corals at the swap this past weekend. I found two different colored Caribbean finger sponges (red and yellow), two flower anemones (red and green and a lined black and gray), 3 different Gorgonians (purple blade, black and a smaller one that I'm not sure about yet, 5 Astreas (should have got a bunch of these because I can't seem to come up with any Ceriths locally, 5 Nassarius, 1 arrow crab, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 caribbean vareity sea cucumber and then picked up 5 crimson hermit crabs yesterday. Everything looks great. I'll try to get some more photos soon.
 
That sounds great! You're stocking is coming along nicely. Keep an eye on the arrow crab. I've read some horror stories…

Pics!
 
I am pretty sure I am down to gobies, but would be open to other options if they came up. I'm planning on a group of 5 or 6 Green Banded Gobies and probably 10 Masked Gobies at this point. I was able to pick up a few inverts/clean up crew/corals at the swap this past weekend. I found two different colored Caribbean finger sponges (red and yellow), two flower anemones (red and green and a lined black and gray), 3 different Gorgonians (purple blade, black and a smaller one that I'm not sure about yet, 5 Astreas (should have got a bunch of these because I can't seem to come up with any Ceriths locally, 5 Nassarius, 1 arrow crab, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 caribbean vareity sea cucumber and then picked up 5 crimson hermit crabs yesterday. Everything looks great. I'll try to get some more photos soon.
I like the sounds of the direction your tank is going. You will enjoy those gobies, they are fun. The RFA will give you nice color. Ricordia or St Thomas shrooms are another way to get caribbean coral with color. I am planning on both of those for my tank. I will be anxious to see those pics!
 
I was a bit worried that my arrow crab would get after my small skunk cleaner shrimp. Seems like they hardly even know they are sharing a tank. Excited to have some actual movement in the tank between the gorgonians, crabs, snails and shrimp.

Does anyone have experience with cherub angels in a harem? That might be a cool addition after I get the green banded gobies in and established.
 
Alright, I promised photos, so here they are. Not the greatest shots, but gives you an idea at least. Would still love any feedback if any of you know anything about my questions from the last two posts. I love the idea of a trio of cherubs in my tank, but I don't want them to be a problem for my gobies or my macroalgaes.
FTS.jpgFTS Close.jpgArrow Crab.jpgBlade Gorgonian.jpgRed Sponge.jpg
 
Yellow Sponge.jpg

Red Serpent Star.jpg

Feather Duster.jpg

Red and Green Rock Flower.jpg

Large Rock Flower.jpg

Picked up a few other additions this weekend. A large rock flower anemone (about 5 inches across), a feather duster and a red serpent star.
 
Great pics and your tank looks great too!

I looked into a cherub angel harem. I decided they were just too mean for my peaceful community.
 
The tank is looking good, lots of diversity there. Keeping multiple pygmy angels can be challenging from what I've read. I've done it with three different species (potters, flame and heralds), and they got along. I haven't done it with multiple members of the same species though. I'm curious, if you do this, how it would go. They're cute fish though, and will keep your entertained. I'd worry more about damsels being aggressive to your other fish choices more than I would angelfish. I guess the best thing is to do your research before making the investment. Maybe try a post on the reef fishes board?
 
Been doing tons of research on every fish I see that I'd consider. I am sure about the green banded gobies, but not sure if the Cherubs would put up with them or leave them be because they don't swim in the water column. Can't seem to find any experience from others with the two in the same tank or even similar species.
 
I’ve kept cherubs in the past and they’ve always been model citizens, but I’ve never kept a harem. Also mine eats my C. ashmeadii on occasion
 
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I've kept cherubs in the past and they've always been model citizens, but I've never kept a harem. Also mine eats my C. ashmeadii on occasion

Ever kept them with smaller gobies or blennys? I'd be ok with some Caulerpa consumption, as long as they don't wipe it all out.
 
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you hadn't done any research on your fish choices. Just that at some point, you have to either go for it or play it safe. Fish aren't cheap, so each direction is understandable.

I've kept larger pygmy angels with blennies before, never a problem. But, cherubs could have a different personality. I would think they'd leave gobies alone. I think the biggest question would be how would the harem get along with each other? But, who knows until you try, right? Maybe, if you pull off a harem of cherubs successfully, others will look to your thread in their research as inspiration. There are a lot of opinions out there about what will work and what will not, and some of those opinions are just rehashing other people's opinions and not based on actual experience.

I did a ton of research on blennies, in general, about keeping multiple blennies together, and multiple blennies within a species together. The standard answer is that you can, but you need a huge tank, or the fish will be too stressed. And, none of the fish could be too similar, much less the same species. Now, what was said could be true in some instances, with some species, etc. But, not all experiences apply universally.

About a year and a half ago, I collected several local juvenile 1" long blennies, all the same species, and they've done just fine. In fact, now, they're all adults, 4 males (each 3.5-4.5" long) and a female (3"), and they're breeding. Each blenny has their territory around their oyster shell, about 8" in diameter. And, all of this is happening in a 20g long. There are several skilletfish and gobies in the tank as well, a pretty heavy bioload for that size tank. Anyway, as it turns out, my tank mimics the population density in the wild of all three species of fish. They'll all get a larger home, a 100g build that I'm working on, but for now, everyone is happy. So, for all the research that I did prior to collecting these fish, none of it was relevant, as it turned out. Anyway, best of luck!
 
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you hadn't done any research on your fish choices. Just that at some point, you have to either go for it or play it safe. Fish aren't cheap, so each direction is understandable.

I've kept larger pygmy angels with blennies before, never a problem. But, cherubs could have a different personality. I would think they'd leave gobies alone. I think the biggest question would be how would the harem get along with each other? But, who knows until you try, right? Maybe, if you pull off a harem of cherubs successfully, others will look to your thread in their research as inspiration. There are a lot of opinions out there about what will work and what will not, and some of those opinions are just rehashing other people's opinions and not based on actual experience.

I did a ton of research on blennies, in general, about keeping multiple blennies together, and multiple blennies within a species together. The standard answer is that you can, but you need a huge tank, or the fish will be too stressed. And, none of the fish could be too similar, much less the same species. Now, what was said could be true in some instances, with some species, etc. But, not all experiences apply universally.

About a year and a half ago, I collected several local juvenile 1" long blennies, all the same species, and they've done just fine. In fact, now, they're all adults, 4 males (each 3.5-4.5" long) and a female (3"), and they're breeding. Each blenny has their territory around their oyster shell, about 8" in diameter. And, all of this is happening in a 20g long. There are several skilletfish and gobies in the tank as well, a pretty heavy bioload for that size tank. Anyway, as it turns out, my tank mimics the population density in the wild of all three species of fish. They'll all get a larger home, a 100g build that I'm working on, but for now, everyone is happy. So, for all the research that I did prior to collecting these fish, none of it was relevant, as it turned out. Anyway, best of luck!

I knew you didn't mean anything by your comment. I'm a "research entirely too long and then discourage myself enough not to pull the trigger" kinda guy. In most cases I'm sure that's what is best for the fish anyway. In some cases it has probably limited my experiences a bit because I give up too easy. This one I'm 99% sure on, but I've said that before and still decided against it. I think I may just pull the trigger here shortly though. Looking forward to trying something that isn't done too often. I think what I like most about my livestock choices at this point is that they are pretty inexpensive compared to other options, and they should make a beautiful tank if it all works out. If it doesn't I do have two other small tanks that I could move things to if needed.
 
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