opinions on fish choice and bio-load

[forrestcook]

I've got a 40 breeder with 40-50lbs of live rock and a 3"-4" sand bed. The sump has more live rock rubble and an octopus 110 skimmer with about 10-15 gallons capacity. So far I've got a pair of black ocellaris, a hybrid blue/yellow neon goby, a peppermint shrimp and a diamond goby.

I may or may not have a Rainsford's goby. Bought it last week and havent seen it since.

I'd like to do one or some combination of the following fish (in order of preference)

blue spot jawfish
cherub angel
coral beauty
orchid dottyback
royal gramma

I understand not to mix the angels and dont think i'd have enough space for both anyhow. My concern with the jawfish is the diamond goby. Will they fight over territory constantly or learn to live with each other?

I know the angels are hit and miss for reef safe-ness, but they're worth the risk to try out for me. I don't have expensive corals (yet).

Do you think my current tank can stand more than one of the listed fish? If I do the jawfish he'd be last due to the price. I've also got access to a cherub and coral beauty tomorrow for 45 and 35 respectively. fair price?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

 

[jenjen]

I don't think you want a diamond goby & jawfish sharing a 40g. Personally I feel a 40g is too small for a diamond goby, so I'd be inclined to remove him and put in the jawfish. In either case, make sure you tank is covered!

I think you're fine to add one of the angels. Beyond that, I wouldn't add anything else big. Something little & non-agressive like one of the smaller blennies (ie: tailspot) would likely work.

 

[snorvich]

Well, those clown fish once sexually mature will want to "hold" about 25 gallons of real estate. That may preclude many of your fish except, perhaps the jawfish. But jawfish are prolific jumpers so your top MUST be covered.

 

[forrestcook]

the clowns have definitely already claimed the left side of the tank but don't seem to be bothered by the neon who tries to "clean" them all the time. They were the first residents to the tank and check out all the new arrivals but have never nipped at anything yet. They may just be juveniles though.

Yeah - the diamond goby will probably get too big for my tank. Right now he's pretty small, about half his adult size. He was a product of less than perfect LFS advice. I LOVE the sand sifting he does though... so I'll certainly miss that when he's gone.

as far as a "top" goes to my tank... I've got a canopy on it. And since one of the reasons I started SW in the first place was a jawfish, I've got a lid-sized piece of eggcrate sitting next to the tank for just such an occasion.

I'd never seen a tailspot before... pretty cool looking little fish! A lot of my "permission" for buying all this tank stuff comes from my wife who likes the pretty colorful fish and corals... Maybe I can talk her into a bigger tank down the road to hold more pretty fish...

 

[snorvich]

FYI, egg crate will not keep jawfish in.

 

[forrestcook]

Really? It seems like the holes would be barely big enough to swim through, let alone jump up 4" and fly through.

 

[snorvich]

Really? It seems like the holes would be barely big enough to swim through, let alone jump up 4" and fly through.

Trust me, they will not keep them in. No doubt about it.

 

[forrestcook]

good to know. I guess my plan for a jawfish is on the backburner for now... I don't have any intention of putting a glass top between my lights and water. Maybe down the road a larger biocube will do the trick.

 

[snorvich]

good to know. I guess my plan for a jawfish is on the backburner for now... I don't have any intention of putting a glass top between my lights and water. Maybe down the road a larger biocube will do the trick.

If you want to keep jumpers and do not want a sealed tank e.g. glass, you need to build (or buy) a frame with mesh which is 1/4 inches or smaller. Tank size or shape is irrelevant.

 

[DJPB]

I would suggest not getting the blue spot jawfish at all. They just dont acclimate well and many die within the first 14 days. That's a big risk at $75+ for a fish, not to mention that we reefers keep removing them from the ocean and at least half of them die in captivity. There are other jawfish that are easier to keep.

As for your other pick, you should be fine. Keep in mind that the angels will nip at LPS and devour softies. Also, the dottyback will turn into a terrorist. Maybe look at some small wrasses, for example a Carpenters Flasher Wrasse is stunning, acclimates well, and is in the $30 range.

 

[forrestcook]

All sorts of good advice... I went to the LFS store today and resisted another impulse buy. Left the angels behind (because of the coral nipping thing) and came home with an emerald crab and a frag of pocilliphora.

Also requested a tailspot blenny. Trying to decide what other column swimmer to buy... Wrasses seem to fit the bill so far, I just need to research and decide. I'll check out that wrasse tonight.

Thats why I come here for advice, I think I know what I want and the folks with more experience show me why I don't want that necessarily. Thanks again!

 

[Brickyardgreg]

royal grammas are cool fish and ususally good citizens. plus with theie size it wouldnt affect your biolaod much. they are also really hardy and readily available