Need stocking feedback on new 5 gal setup

[npeters1989]

Hi everyone,

Just starting up a 5 gallon nano system, and have some stocking questions. Attached are photos of the tank now(Day 5)

I've got a 90 gallon reef setup and basically god-fathered everything in from that: Tonga live rock, small ball spaghetti algae + a few copepods, established bag of carbon in the filter, Blue mushroom, green button polyp, small kenya tree, 1 astrea, 1 small hermit. All has been doing fine for 2 days it's been in there and these few corals have mostly opened up now.

I know that is a very rushed establishment, but I've done the same thing before with success twice, so I *think* I can pull it off (about to move back to an apartment in a couple weeks for physical therapy school).

Here's my stocking rough draft (in addition to what's already there) done gradually over the next couple weeks (I know months would certainly be advisable but I'm taking a gamble here!):

-small pulsing xenia frag
- 1-2 small hermits
-peppermint shrimp (to take care of a few small aiptasias)
-banded coral shrimp?
- 1-2 small (clownfish size or smaller) fish -probably just 1 I'm thinking???

Any recommendations on this stocking plan???

I have an Aquaclear hang-on filter on the tank, but am not using a nano-skimmer. Plan to do ~ 30% water changes weekly to maintain nutrients and water quality.

Thanks!
-Nick P.

 

[npeters1989]

Try #2....

 

[sponger0]

Just 1 fish is all you can put in there.

But it still maybe a little small for a clown. And the coral banded might kill a peppermint in 5 gallons of water.

 

[reefscape15]

I would avoid the clown. In a tank that small you will benefit from having some type of fish that will help out in tank maintenance. I had a small yellow watchmen goby in mine and it constantly helped to keep the top layer of sand stirred up, and would also pick at any small patches of algae in the tank. A small 6 line wrasse may also be an option to help control any pest worms. Clownfish are a great aquarium addition, but they do nothing to benefit the tank

 

[FTDelta]

Clown goby would be the perfect fish with a single shrimp. No on the CB shrimp though.

 

[npeters1989]

Just 1 fish is all you can put in there.

But it still maybe a little small for a clown. And the coral banded might kill a peppermint in 5 gallons of water.

Thanks for the advice I was debating over both of those things.

 

[npeters1989]

I would avoid the clown. In a tank that small you will benefit from having some type of fish that will help out in tank maintenance. I had a small yellow watchmen goby in mine and it constantly helped to keep the top layer of sand stirred up, and would also pick at any small patches of algae in the tank. A small 6 line wrasse may also be an option to help control any pest worms. Clownfish are a great aquarium addition, but they do nothing to benefit the tank

Ahh...sweet I was actually thinking about a sixline wrasse! They are awesome fish. Thanks!