PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[Pm5k]

It's a pretty long thread so I'm afraid to say I haven't followed it. I understand though. It's supposed to be I have this kind of fish, can I add one of these. Wasn't sure if I should post it on newbies, here, or nano tanks.

Your response confused me a bit though.

Couple more question, where would be a good place to ask? Ideally I'd like someone to say something like: two of this kind of fish, and four of any of these inverts. Or pick any two of these fish from this list, and any four inverts from this one.

Also, what is it about clowns that makes them no good for pico tanks? The size and or the bio load? Like should I be looking for fish that grow to a certain size max? Like the clown goby grows to less than an inch and a half, but a clown to three inches.

Tia!

 

[snorvich]

It's a pretty long thread so I'm afraid to say I haven't followed it. I understand though.

Your response confused me a bit though.

One of the reasons I do not make recommendations is I want you, the user, to develop research capabilities. There is no definitive behavioral guide however, hence the popularity of this thread. The secondary reasons include budget, appearance, taste of the fish.

Couple more question, where would be a good place to ask? Ideally I'd like someone to say something like: two of this kind of fish, and four of any of these inverts. Or pick any two of these fish from this list, and any four inverts from this one.

You can always establish your own thread in the New to the Hobby forum. However, the range of expertise and experience varies from none other than reading knowledge up through expert so you will need to evaluate their opinions as well as their level of expertise.

Also, what is it about clowns that makes them no good for pico tanks? The size and or the bio load? Like should I be looking for fish that grow to a certain size max? Like the clown goby grows to less than an inch and a half, but a clown to three inches.

Each fish has an territorial imperative which is similar to human beings need for personal space. If you ignore that, long term the fish will become agitated or possibly worse. An "unhappy fish" may jump, as an example. Clownfish, depending on species need a minimum of about 20 gallons up to a maximum for GSM clowns of about 50 gallons. Single clownfish will eventually become females.

Tia!

 

[Pm5k]

Your response about the green goby and the fire shrimp confused me.

There seem to be a large variety of
Gobies, would I need to ask about
comparability for all of them?

 

[Pm5k]

Just for the record I'm not the type to ask everything, I've already done a ton of reading and research to learn about raising a freshwater turtle. I've also done a lot of reading about saltwater. I also have a list from nano-reef as far as what should be ok in my sized tank. I do appreciate your assistance though, and obviously you don't want to pick fish for people, that takes out all the fun.

 

[Neptune 555]

Wanting some feedback on my fish wish list for my upcoming 75 gallon fowlr + inverts + some coral.

First question : I am going to build my 75 gallon from my existing 48 fowlr gallon that has been running for 15 years... Do I consider my tank new or established? I propose established??

Here is my fish wish list

Existing fish:
1. 2 percula clowns
3. Yellow goby
New fish
4. Kole tang
5. Yellow long nose butterfly fish or thread pin butterfly fish - i am unclear the suitability of these w inverters and / or some corals? I keep getting conflicting information on both ability to thrive and if they do or don't eat inverts? Or the Blue stripe butterfly fish.
6. Flame angel
7. Rainbow wrasse thalassoma lucasanam / Scott's fairy wrasse cirrhilabrus / solar fairy wrasse cirrhilabrus. I keep seeing different data re tank size and eating of inverts. Can you clarify the suitability of the different wrasse i have identified?
8. Redbelted anthias\ lyre tail anthias / red cheek anthias
9. Mandarin
Existing inverts:
Cleaner shrimp
Fire shrimp
Emerald crab
Shrimp / crabs clean up crew
Existing coral
Mushroom explosion 100+ ( would not mind a fish who ate them!)
New coral
Zoe??

If i could have another fish in A 75 gallon i would like to get two butterfly fish or a Bengali cardinal fish . Is that possible??

Thank you
Neptune

 

[Pm5k]

Could I do say two clown gobies like a green and yellow, or one and also a green banded or Catalina goby, as far as tank size and getting along with each other?

 

[snorvich]

Your response about the green goby and the fire shrimp confused me.

There seem to be a large variety of
Gobies, would I need to ask about
comparability for all of them?

No fire shrimp would be compatible with all gobies.

 

[snorvich]

Could I do say two clown gobies like a green and yellow, or one and also a green banded or Catalina goby, as far as tank size and getting along with each other?

catalina gobies require cool water which you cannot provide. Two clown gobies will not get along, especially in a nano tank

 

[snorvich]

Wanting some feedback on my fish wish list for my upcoming 75 gallon fowlr + inverts + some coral.

First question : I am going to build my 75 gallon from my existing 48 fowlr gallon that has been running for 15 years... Do I consider my tank new or established? I propose established?? Well, sort of. The issue is populating the live rock with bacteria colonies, and for anyh copepod eaters, establishing a colony of copepods.

Here is my fish wish list

Existing fish:
1. 2 percula clowns
3. Yellow goby
New fish
4. Kole tang
5. Yellow long nose butterfly fish or thread pin butterfly fish auriga butterfly fish are not reef safe - i am unclear the suitability of these w inverters and / or some corals? I keep getting conflicting information on both ability to thrive and if they do or don't eat inverts? Or the Blue stripe butterfly fish. there are two species of long nose butterfly; one is reef safe, the other nearly so. Blue stripe butterfly fish are not reef safe
6. Flame angel not reef safe
7. Rainbow wrasse thalassoma lucasanam / Scott's fairy wrasse cirrhilabrus / solar fairy wrasse cirrhilabrus. I keep seeing different data re tank size and eating of inverts. Can you clarify the suitability of the different wrasse i have identified? fairy wrasses are reef safe, but the two you selected are aggressive towards similars and the other wrasse is not reef safe
8. Redbelted anthias\ lyre tail anthias / red cheek anthias
9. Mandarin after 9 months
Existing inverts:
Cleaner shrimp
Fire shrimp
Emerald crab
Shrimp / crabs clean up crew
Existing coral
Mushroom explosion 100+ ( would not mind a fish who ate them!) large angels will, but your tank is not suitable plus they eat other desirable inverts and corals
New coral
Zoe??

If i could have another fish in A 75 gallon i would like to get two butterfly fish or a Bengali cardinal fish . Is that possible??

butterfly fish will not be reef safe; a tank raised bangaii cardinal would be fine

Thank you
Neptune

 

[Neptune 555]

Steve thanks for the feedback....

Re the flame angel not being reef safe... Can I keep it with inverts and some corals? I was thinking Zoe's and mushrooms not hard corals.

How do I tell the reef safe long nose from other?

Of the three wrasse listed i only want one.. Of the three what is most suitable? I have read Scott's fairy wrasse are fine in 50 gallons however other sources indicate that is not the case??

I like all three anthias of the three is now more desirable for my set up?

The multiple choices were provided for your feedback on best choice between the fish selected. I only want one per species... Given one per species can my 75 gallon w sump and frequent water changes work?

 

[snorvich]

Steve thanks for the feedback....

Re the flame angel not being reef safe... Can I keep it with inverts and some corals? I was thinking Zoe's and mushrooms not hard corals.

zoanthids are tempting to many angelfish. Mushrooms are pretty safe from most fish although they can be lethal for other corals.

How do I tell the reef safe long nose from other?

Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish (Forcipiger flavissimus) is reef safe with caution and requires a larger tank while Forcipiger longirostris is reef safe but it also requires a larger tank. The Yellow Longnose species has a shorter snout with a larger mouth at the end than its Big Longnose Butterflyfish counterpart. The two species can also be separated by counting their dorsal spines. This fish usually has 12 spines and from 22 to 24 soft rays, while the Big Longnose usually has 12 spines and from 25 to 28 soft rays.

Of the three wrasse listed i only want one.. Of the three what is most suitable? I have read Scott's fairy wrasse are fine in 50 gallons however other sources indicate that is not the case??

I cannot recommend any of these three wrasses as all three are aggressive. The thalassoma lucasanam is the most aggressive and most perilous to inverts

I like all three anthias of the three is now more desirable for my set up? Your tank is suitable for one anthias, but remember that all anthias do best if fed multiple times per day; the lyretail is the easiest of the three.

The multiple choices were provided for your feedback on best choice between the fish selected. I only want one per species... Given one per species can my 75 gallon w sump and frequent water changes work?

 

[Wilrok]

Great thread Sk8er ! Saving people from heartbreak and make them look at the hobby realistically , because the LFS wil sell you anything !

 

[snorvich]

Great thread Sk8er ! Saving people from heartbreak and make them look at the hobby realistically , because the LFS wil sell you anything !

Actually, Sk8er has not been involved with this thread for a very long time and in fact it has been split multiple times since she started it. A great idea, however.

 

[PirateToast]

Okay snorvich... let me run mine past you...

-60 gallon tank with ~60-70 lbs of rock
-I currently have 2 ocellaris clownfish

This would be my dream aquarium at this point:
-coral banded shrimp
-longnose hawkfish
-green mandarin
-saddle valentini puffer
-goby/blenny type (e.g. watchman goby, lawnmover blenny, starry blenny)
-1-2X top feeder (e.g. bar goby, dottyback, wrasse)

-CUC of various snails, the shrimp, maybe a starfish?
-Potentially some simple corals (polyps, mushrooms, etc.)

Is this too ambitious from a bioload standpoint? How about my compatibility? I'm guessing the puffer is a major concern... I've heard they can be very hit or miss and prefer shrimp, I'm hoping the coral banded is big enough, and if introduced first, will be safer?

 

[snorvich]

Okay snorvich... let me run mine past you...

-60 gallon tank with ~60-70 lbs of rock
-I currently have 2 ocellaris clownfish

This would be my dream aquarium at this point:
-coral banded shrimp can take fish
-longnose hawkfish can take small shrimp but not a coral banded
-green mandarin marginal in this sized tank
-saddle valentini puffer will nip the fins of tank mates and is NOT invert safe irrespective of their size
-goby/blenny type (e.g. watchman goby, lawnmover blenny, starry blenny)
-1-2X top feeder (e.g. bar goby, dottyback, wrasse) dottybacks are aggressive and will compete with your mandarin for food

-CUC of various snails, the shrimp, maybe a starfish? a starfish will starve in this sized tank
-Potentially some simple corals (polyps, mushrooms, etc.)

Is this too ambitious from a bioload standpoint? How about my compatibility? I'm guessing the puffer is a major concern... I've heard they can be very hit or miss and prefer shrimp, I'm hoping the coral banded is big enough, and if introduced first, will be safer?

bioload, however should be fine

 

[PirateToast]

bioload, however should be fine

Follow up questions!
-You mentioned that the dottyback would compete for food with a mandarin. If I instead went with the bar goby, would they have any conflicts with anything in the goby/blenny category? Or are these okay because one is more of a top feeder vs bottom feeder?
-Do you see any fish that are especially vulnerable to the coral banded shrimp? Would it help to get a smaller coral banded shrimp?
-Are there any types of starfish that might work? (e.g. indian or tile stars?
-Darn puffers, they need to be more friendly!

 

[snorvich]

Follow up questions!
-You mentioned that the dottyback would compete for food with a mandarin. If I instead went with the bar goby, would they have any conflicts with anything in the goby/blenny category? Or are these okay because one is more of a top feeder vs bottom feeder? They are in a different ecological niche;
-Do you see any fish that are especially vulnerable to the coral banded shrimp? Would it help to get a smaller coral banded shrimp? A smaller CBS does not change its behavior. I cannot predict which fish if any might be vulnerable but if any are out in the open at night they may be at risk
-Are there any types of starfish that might work? (e.g. indian or tile stars? Not really. In a large tank, it is not an issue, but in a smaller tank, it is problematic
-Darn puffers, they need to be more friendly!

Well, they aren't. Some are really ornery, the one you are considering is a relative pussycat. Keep in mind that the biological needs of this animal require inverts, ideally ones that will keep its teeth ground down.

 

[PirateToast]

Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

Thanks!

Always a pleasure; check back with any fish compatibility questions/issues.

 

[Mg4life0331]

55 gallon DT. Hob skimmer and refuge. 2 inches of sand in DT and 4 in the fuge

Current Residents
2 Amphiprion ocellaris (Bought them different sizes, bickering already over with/happy campers)
1 Alpheus bellulus
1 Stonogobiops yasha (These two have bonded and don't like my face)
5 Astraea tecta
5 Nassarius sp. (in the fuge)
5 Clibanarius sp in the DT with the Astraea tecta

I've been pushing to keep a mandy but I'm going to drop that because by the time its ready Ill be getting a bigger tank. I didn't really want crabs and snails but I had to get something and no shrimp were available at that time.

Just a reminder I'm as conservative as I can possible be and I'm trying to explore some more symbiosis in my tank. I guess I can't fill every niche in a 55 gallon but I'm going to try. Its hard looking at Live Aquaria sometimes and I value your opinion greatly. Just throwing some out there and please tell me what you think.

Gobiodon atrangulatus?
Ecsenius stigmatura?
Sphaeramia nematoptera?
Pterapogon kauderni?
Nemateleotris helfrichi?

If it were a perfect world I would pick one of each, unless one requires a soulmate, then so be it.

Thanks very much.