New to the Hobbie

[rread16]

I've been doing my due diligence with research and reading everything i possible can about setting up a new tank. I currently have the tank in place and in the process of building the sump and acquiring the different piece of equipment I will need. I have my live rock curing and will ready to fill the tank and begin the cycling process. My question to the forum is about stocking the tank. I understand how to stock, never double the amount of fish and wait a month or so and until water parameters are back to steady to add more. My question is what to add.

I have a 46 Gallon Bow Front:

The only fish I'm set on is a Clown fish pair, preferably a clarkii or tomato clown, after that I'm pretty open. Id also like to have a shrimp and gobby pair, but its not a necessity. So here is what i was thinking:

2 clarkiis
3 pajama cardinals
1 yellow tail damsel
1 neon damsel
2 fire fish
1 shrimp and gobby pair

Is this to much for this size tank? any all recommendations are welcome thank you.

 

[scooter31707]

In 46 gallon tank, I wouldn't recommend a Clarkii or Tomato Clown pair. They will become pretty aggressive and take over that whole tank. You might want to look at some of the smaller and less aggressive clowns. I don't have any experience with Damsels, but I hear they can be aggressive also. Maybe take the Damsels off the list and focus on something like a Midas/Starry Blenny. Personally, I don't like Pajama cardinals because they really didn't swim at all, they just sat there so something to consider. Chalk Bass would be a good fit along with a small reef-safe wrasse. Go to www.liveaquaria.com and look at some fish and read about their tank requirements and behaviors and get a good idea. You have some more choices than you think for that size tank.

 

[A.Astore]

I have heard mixed reviews of damsels. I had one that was just flat out crazy in a 55 and then had a yellow tail that was placed last and by far smallest so it took a while before it started to terrorize the tank mates; but, low and behold it eventually did start. They generally do well in larger tanks from what I have read. And I agree with the above comment about the clowns. If you are set on them you may have to settle for a nice, large set with only like a goby/shrimp pair that they likely not bother as much due to where the goby/shrimp will stay often. Just my opinion and I am sure some will have other thoughts on them being in the system.

A wrasse could be a good addition in place of the damsels. Royal Grammas are another fish that would add movement to your tank without tanking a large amount of water need. Firefish are interesting fish and generally pretty easy to keep. One of the problems with this hobby is that every person will have different experience so you just never know. I have some fish that should not have worked with others be perfect tank mates and others that should work well be little devils (and even worse to try to get out then!).

I guess decide how important it is to have the pair you mentioned of clowns and then build around that decision. If you are willing to try it out with them and other fish I would just make sure to have a back-up plan for moving either the clowns or other fish to avoid sick/dead fish.

 

[blkhwkz]

I have a 45 gallon rimless and have:
mated pair of clowns
Lyretail anthias
Bartlett anthias
yellow tail damsel
Midas blenny
neon dottyback
cleaner goby

The damsel was extremely tiny when I added it, still the 2nd smallest in the tank behind the goby. So far no issues, when I got the Bartlett he tried to boss it around and that didn't work out and he left it alone after a few hours. Luck of the draw with damsels though and I wouldn't be shocked to see it get meaner when it gets larger. All the fish are pretty behaved, the dottyback can be a bully every so often, but loses interest in picking on any of the fish quickly. Midas blenny is an awesome fish, lot of personality and fun to watch after it gets settled in the tank. I had considered a firefish, but thought there might be some issues with other fish I had at the time.

Planning a larger tank for later this year so if anything gets to big for this tank I will move them to that one.

 

[thegrun]

Beyond the issue with the clowns I would advise that you keep the total fish count to a maximum of seven and six would be better. If you were to go with a heavier bio-load even a small issue could cause your tank to crash.

 

[rread16]

Thank you for the responses. After hearing about these clown fish, I guess I'm not as attached to them as I thought, what I'm more attached to is getting a pair that will eventually mate.

 

[gigamanx]

Hello, I have a 55g bow front tank with two ocellaris clowns, a six line wrasse, and a cardinal fish. They all get along great. I've also had two green chromis, a larger dwarf angel, a goby, and a hawkfish. All of these fish seem to get along great but they are also all choosing certain parts of the tank to hang out in. 55 gallons is really pushing it with about 7 fish. I've noticed more maintenance is required and there are no "territories" left for the fish that need their space. Right now I'm down to 4 and the tank is pretty much self sufficient at that bio-load. The wrasse goes everywhere but the cardinal fish, chromis and clownfish all kind of have their homes that they hang out in all day.

Can I ask why you are so set on a mating pair? You may want to do some research on how difficult it can be to raise fry. Even if you are able to, you're going to end up with 20 clown fish in no time with nowhere for them to live and grow. From my own research, raising fry is difficult and requires it's own special treatment and equipment.

 

[rread16]

OK so I've Upgrade from the 46 to 65 gallon tank. It is in the cycling process and have a few weeks left. I don't plan on putting any fish in though until i get back from vacation at the end of March. Once my tank is cycle should i start to add a few snails and shrimp? or just let it flow until i'm ready for fish?


Also this is where im at with my plan for stacking.

1 Clown Goby Citrinis
2 Ocellaris Clownfish
1 Orange Spotted Goby
3 Pajama Cardinalfish

Any additional suggestions or substitutions are welcomed

 

[Sk8r]

clarkiis or tomatoes will demand the whole tank as territory. They will defend about 50 gallons, and can be lethal to other inhabitants. They have teeth, and will bite the owner. I had clarkiis in a 100, and they were pretty, but they beat up on my other fish, and I had to find them a new home with a breeder. Your second stocking list sounds much more workable. The citrine gobies are fragile re water conditions, and MAY disappear down the drain slots in some tank designs. Pretty, though.