Nanofish in a Big Tank

[rlpardue]

Hi guys,

I've never posted in the nano forum before, but I thought I should check with you guys on a question I had.

I'm nearing the completion of a 5-foot 150g SPS tank and I'm pondering my fish list. I want the tank to have as low a bioload as possible to keep my filtration simple.

So far I have the following list:
-1 Zebrasoma tang (either Desjardini or Scopas)
-2 Banggai cardinals (breeding pair)
-2 Tiger Wardi gobies (bonded pair)
-2 Lubbock's wrasses
-2 Halichoeres wrasses (either the common yellow ones or Iridis if I get a raise)
-2 pipefish (not yet acquired)

As you can probably tell, I GREATLY prefer keeping my fish in pairs or harems if at all possible. It's just kind of fun. Since gobies are relatively easy to pair up, I thought it would be sweet to add like 3 pairs of nano-gobies to the tank. They have small poops so they wouldn't burden the bioload. They would add some movement, flitting between the Acroporas.

My main concern is whether I would ever see them. I'm OK with fish that don't move much or fish that sit in one small location; I just don't want a fish that will never come out if I have a Zebrasoma tang in there. Do any of yall have experience with nano-gobies in a larger aquarium?

I was thinking of:
Elacatinus multifasciatum (green-banded goby)
Rainford's goby (Amblygobius rainfordi)
Red-striped goby (Trimma cana)
Red-head goby (Elacatinus puncticulatus)
Red-spotted goby (Trimma rubromaculatus)
Hi-Fin goby (Stonogobiops nematodes)
Jaguar goby (Astrabe sp.)

(hint- googling the scientific name with copy/paste lets you see pics fast)

Any thoughts guys?

 

[Samurai Jack 77]

With my goby. He seems not to notice the firefish and crabs that scamper about around him while he sits and watches. Only if a crab bumps him or if the firefish swims to close does he hop about or scamper back to his cave. But he always comes back out again.

 

[rlpardue]

What kind of goby is it?

I think it would be cool to get a pair or small group of green-banded gobies and have them all flitting around the corals...

 

[sharkks]

I will say my orange spotted shrimp goby seemed pretty intimidated by my yellow tang and large starry blenny and it took a long time before he would poke his head out if the tang was within sight. Eventually he seemed to realize it was safe as he will now sit completely out of his cave even if the tang comes up to him.

I think it is honestly pretty indifferent large tank vs nano...if it is a shy species it will take some time to acclimate regardless of tank mates (provided they are not being harassed of course).

 

[Shaun v]

I picked p a Hector's goby (Amblygobius hectori) about a month ago. He is out a lot and is a neat fish to watch. He hides really well at night to sleep but he is really active picking around the sand and rocks.

 

[Samurai Jack 77]

What kind of goby is it?

I think it would be cool to get a pair or small group of green-banded gobies and have them all flitting around the corals...

Orange Spotted Shrimp Goby.

 

[rlpardue]

Anyone else have some tiny fish in a big tank?

 

[rlpardue]

Would nano gobies hide all the time if I added a pair of small blue-jaw triggers?

 

[rlpardue]

I think I ought to ask a better question than I did earlier:

What nano-fish would you recommend to go into a 5-foot 150?

(are some less shy than others?)

(Only big fish are Desjardini tang, a couple of yellow "coris" wrasses, and a pair of Banggais). One of my Tiger Wardi gobies was found on the floor...can't believe she fit through that gap in the canopy