Long Shallow Damsel Tank?

[Darth_Tater]

I am planning a long shallow build and finding fish is becoming as much a struggle as I had feared. Here are specs:

Long shallow display tank - 67" X 17" X 12" (L X W X H) = 60 gallons
75 gallon sump
40 gallon fuge

The display will be bare bottom because it is so shallow. The tank will be mainly SPS so flow will be pretty high. The tank won't be completely full so that water turbulence doesn't flood the living room, so maybe 11" of actual water.

Sk8R's recent posts about damsels have me thinking I may try a damsel tank. I know there are compatibility issues so I'll have to do research on which species won't flat out murder each other. I also know some Damsels get big, so stay away from them. But how would Damsels that stay under, say, 4-ish inches do long term in 11" of water?

 

[Sk8r]

THat's pretty shallow, but if you hype the flow extremely, and provide some (actually a lot of) mazy rock, they should enjoy it. I'd recommend you get one slightly larger species, a dascyllus, a bit nicer-mannered than the neoglyptodon, that will grow about 4.5" max in the tank---THAT will keep the others mannerly and break up disputes. I've been able to have more than one of: Fiji blues; yellowtail; blue stars are quite pretty under LED, not under regular lighting. Just do not put chromis in with the damsels: particularly the dascyllus hate them. And jump screen, because they can get rowdy. You can mix in various other species like blennies and gobies---damsels ignore them. When adding new fish later, keep them in a net and lower it deep into the rockwork before you release, then surround the site with nets standing with the handles in the air. Dominants will hate the nets, focus on them, and the new fish can then establish 'their' caves in greater safety. You'd be better off with a 100 gallon, but the length may establish zones and safety. A LOT of rock, arranged with some 'spires' to define territory, and arranged in a spine down the middle, much as you can: it'll become a Roman racetrack.

 

[Darth_Tater]

Interesting, I was planning on the classic 2 island setup, but I like the idea of a bunch of small ones. That would help keep encrusting Montis in check!

Thanks for the suggestions! I now have to decide whether to keep setting up this tank or go with a deeper one that I'm not sure my floor will hold. Or just stick with the 40 Breeder.

How do you think my current fish would hold up in this kind of a setup?

Banggai Cardinal Pair
Royal Gramma
Possum Wrasse

I suspect the Cardinals won't do well in the kind of flow I'm envisioning. I don't know how the Gramma will interact with damsels, and will damsels ignore the possum like Gobies and Blennies?

 

[Sk8r]

If you start them all as babies together, likely they will accept all the fish. Introduce one later, and you may have a little to-do. Being damsels, the dominant will chase all the other damsels because he's mad about the intruder. He has to reinforce that he's boss fish. You may also find his number one rival has to have an independent go at the intruder. If you can keep this calmed down, a couple of days may make them forget the new guy is new. They do not have a real great memory.

 

[Darth_Tater]

Ok, thanks again! I will probably revive this thread in a couple weeks (if Deepwater Aquatics ever ships more pumps) for some more specific questions if you don't mind. As common as damsels are in the LFSs there sure isn't much useful information about them.