PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!
- Thread starter Sk8r
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One person said dwarf lions were fussy eaters, wanting shrimp...I think it was on page 2.
lol---the only 'impossible' eater I ever had (ghost eel) was easy for me to feed---it ate most of the fish in my tank and was very happy...I was new to salt, stupid, and thought it was pretty. Until it ate 300.00 worth of fish. So I figure---every appetite can be pleased---for a price.
Understand what you're getting into with the red clowns, tomato or maroon, or cinnamon---they max out quite large (5" max) and have a large, zealously defended territory.
jerome: nothing can catch a chromis (except a ghost eel) and they're canny. I'd recommend the yellow watchman as personable and capable of hiding if things go bad.
inachu, that's not a stocking list: it's a recipe for fish stew.
firefish, outside of hating each other, get along fine with other species. Like chromis, they kill each other if they think the tank is overcrowded with their species. Mine is very happy as king of a 54 g.
other dartfish: the barred, the blue gudgeon, the scissortail, all insane jumpers (screen your overflow) but very neat fish.
And to my surprise I've heard good things lately about the chalk basslet, that it's quite mild-dispositioned. They're beautiful fish who look as if they have water-ripple emblazoned on their heads.
lol---the only 'impossible' eater I ever had (ghost eel) was easy for me to feed---it ate most of the fish in my tank and was very happy...I was new to salt, stupid, and thought it was pretty. Until it ate 300.00 worth of fish. So I figure---every appetite can be pleased---for a price.
Understand what you're getting into with the red clowns, tomato or maroon, or cinnamon---they max out quite large (5" max) and have a large, zealously defended territory.
jerome: nothing can catch a chromis (except a ghost eel) and they're canny. I'd recommend the yellow watchman as personable and capable of hiding if things go bad.
inachu, that's not a stocking list: it's a recipe for fish stew.
firefish, outside of hating each other, get along fine with other species. Like chromis, they kill each other if they think the tank is overcrowded with their species. Mine is very happy as king of a 54 g.
other dartfish: the barred, the blue gudgeon, the scissortail, all insane jumpers (screen your overflow) but very neat fish.
And to my surprise I've heard good things lately about the chalk basslet, that it's quite mild-dispositioned. They're beautiful fish who look as if they have water-ripple emblazoned on their heads.
One of the best ways to fish-shop is to go to a site like liveaquaria.com (first on the list) and then go down the sites of our various sponsors. They tell you a lot about the fish and may show you some you had no idea existed.
My own tank is all tiny fish: highfin goby pair (yes, you can do two for the biomass of one: it's not how many fish you have: it's how much they add to the tank) My two largest fish: a yellow watchman and a starry blenny. A firefish. A blue phase green chromis, a very fat mandarin (fuge!), 4 obnoxious but interesting peppermint shrimp, a pearly yellow-headed jawfish, and a (thank goodness!) FAT rainford goby. I don't recommend the rainfords to new tanks: I watch this guy eat and can't tell what he's eating. He's an inch long, goes here and there pulling at the base of any algae he can find (I've deliberately let my tank be dirty to bring this fellow along, because most starve to death). His diet will change as he grows, I hope, because I really want to clean up my tank, and I know my corals will appreciate it. But so far so good, for this minuscule fish that will max out at 2". I've been unable to interest him in anything but what grows in the tank. The starry---an escape artist: it took my lfs the better part of an hour to catch him. Don't even ask about his affinity to overflows. But he's one of the most wonderful of combtooth blennies: changes colors almost as fast as a squid.
Note: re that, it's not the number, it's the biomass; sandsifters don't really count heavily in your fish count; they process what's there that otherwise would rot in your tank, so they're almost zero. Algae eaters are zero UNTIL you have to supplement their food with nori or spirulina: then they count double, and are bringing unwanted phosphate into your tank hand over fin. Meat eaters are the worst/heaviest hitters in the biomass contest, and messy meat eaters who don't clean up after themselves are the worst of the worst for hitting your sandbed hard. Plus those rascals often eat all the cleanup crew for appetizers. So there you are with a food-scattering meateater with no bristleworms, no snails, no crabs---and you pretty well have to use a particulate filter to get rid of the excess, which sort of dooms you always to have a little nitrate at your very best. Unfortunately these bad boys encompass some beautiful fish, but, ouch, if only they didn't eat the cleanup crew.
Of course---the thing to do is have a fuge supporting these guys, a big fuge with a fullblown cleanup crew in there, large as you can manage. And THEN you can still get rid of the filters.
My own tank is all tiny fish: highfin goby pair (yes, you can do two for the biomass of one: it's not how many fish you have: it's how much they add to the tank) My two largest fish: a yellow watchman and a starry blenny. A firefish. A blue phase green chromis, a very fat mandarin (fuge!), 4 obnoxious but interesting peppermint shrimp, a pearly yellow-headed jawfish, and a (thank goodness!) FAT rainford goby. I don't recommend the rainfords to new tanks: I watch this guy eat and can't tell what he's eating. He's an inch long, goes here and there pulling at the base of any algae he can find (I've deliberately let my tank be dirty to bring this fellow along, because most starve to death). His diet will change as he grows, I hope, because I really want to clean up my tank, and I know my corals will appreciate it. But so far so good, for this minuscule fish that will max out at 2". I've been unable to interest him in anything but what grows in the tank. The starry---an escape artist: it took my lfs the better part of an hour to catch him. Don't even ask about his affinity to overflows. But he's one of the most wonderful of combtooth blennies: changes colors almost as fast as a squid.
Note: re that, it's not the number, it's the biomass; sandsifters don't really count heavily in your fish count; they process what's there that otherwise would rot in your tank, so they're almost zero. Algae eaters are zero UNTIL you have to supplement their food with nori or spirulina: then they count double, and are bringing unwanted phosphate into your tank hand over fin. Meat eaters are the worst/heaviest hitters in the biomass contest, and messy meat eaters who don't clean up after themselves are the worst of the worst for hitting your sandbed hard. Plus those rascals often eat all the cleanup crew for appetizers. So there you are with a food-scattering meateater with no bristleworms, no snails, no crabs---and you pretty well have to use a particulate filter to get rid of the excess, which sort of dooms you always to have a little nitrate at your very best. Unfortunately these bad boys encompass some beautiful fish, but, ouch, if only they didn't eat the cleanup crew.
Of course---the thing to do is have a fuge supporting these guys, a big fuge with a fullblown cleanup crew in there, large as you can manage. And THEN you can still get rid of the filters.
CraigSlice
New member
75g reef tank, sumpless
octopus bh-300f skimmer
90+ pounds of LR
100 pounds of sandbad
tank 4-5 months old
Currently have:
2 O. clowns
1 blue/green Chromi
1 Lawnmower blenny
2 cleaner shrimp
CUC: 15 nass snails 15 hermits 12 astraea snails 1 fighting conch
Thinking of what fish to add next, and i think ive narrowed it down between 2: Diamond Goby or Yellow Tang
I have dirty sandbed that i would love to be clean, but also have some calputera(sp?) growing on my rocks that i am trying to control and i believe that the tang would help some in that battle.
Both are one my fish list (also on list is a flame angel that i am reconsidering since i dont want it to eat my corals)
Ive also considered a firefish, but heard they are known jumpers
octopus bh-300f skimmer
90+ pounds of LR
100 pounds of sandbad
tank 4-5 months old
Currently have:
2 O. clowns
1 blue/green Chromi
1 Lawnmower blenny
2 cleaner shrimp
CUC: 15 nass snails 15 hermits 12 astraea snails 1 fighting conch
Thinking of what fish to add next, and i think ive narrowed it down between 2: Diamond Goby or Yellow Tang
I have dirty sandbed that i would love to be clean, but also have some calputera(sp?) growing on my rocks that i am trying to control and i believe that the tang would help some in that battle.
Both are one my fish list (also on list is a flame angel that i am reconsidering since i dont want it to eat my corals)
Ive also considered a firefish, but heard they are known jumpers
Firefish should be born with wings.
Nope. Even if a flame angel starts out well, there's no guarantee over time...nosh!
And it will always be your priciest!
I'd say the yellow tang might be good. Another option---and check this out--I think the purple tang is the same size class, and is another color variant for your tank. The purples have a rep for temper, bu they're perfect gentlemen around cigarshaped fish: just pancake fish that set them off. Like other tangs, angels, etc. The only risk is the clowns pushing a tang, but that could be either tang, and clowns don't make the kind of movements that usually get a tail slap from the tang.
Nope. Even if a flame angel starts out well, there's no guarantee over time...nosh!
And it will always be your priciest!
I'd say the yellow tang might be good. Another option---and check this out--I think the purple tang is the same size class, and is another color variant for your tank. The purples have a rep for temper, bu they're perfect gentlemen around cigarshaped fish: just pancake fish that set them off. Like other tangs, angels, etc. The only risk is the clowns pushing a tang, but that could be either tang, and clowns don't make the kind of movements that usually get a tail slap from the tang.
Currently have 2 ocellaris clowns and 1 cleaner shrimp, plus multitude of snails. Just getting into corals. Most other details should be below (size, sump, LR ect.)
My goal = Mandarin, big reason for the tank being set up the way it is with all that rock.
Fish that I'm looking at: idea being color, color, color and small
1-2 Flasher/Fairy wrasse:Labout's Fairy Wrasse (or the like)
1-2Dart fish- fire goby
2-PJ Cardinal Fish
1-Royal gramma
1-Chalk Bass
1-Black Sailfin Blenny
Any goby on substrate (small in size): like Gold Neon Eviota Goby
Fish that I like but probably out due to LR insertion on top of sand (not secured for digging).
Jawfish
shrimp gobies
My problem really is competition for food. I'm finding it hard to determine who will be competition for the pods. I'm pretty sure Royal gramma, PJ cardinal would be fine. However it is the wrasses and dartfish and gobies that I can't determine with any confidence. Some say no wrasses others say flasher/fairy are fine because they occupy a different niche (i.e. not on substrate) on the reef.
Any help, alternative fish to look into, what to look for in the research, heck even a place to continue reasearch would be cool. As an FYI I have crossed reference all fish (wrasses, gobies, ect.) on wetwebmedia with fishbase.org (which if you aren't a marine biologist is almost totally pointless to me).
I'm sure there's more, but thanks for any info, if any info.
My goal = Mandarin, big reason for the tank being set up the way it is with all that rock.
Fish that I'm looking at: idea being color, color, color and small
1-2 Flasher/Fairy wrasse:Labout's Fairy Wrasse (or the like)
1-2Dart fish- fire goby
2-PJ Cardinal Fish
1-Royal gramma
1-Chalk Bass
1-Black Sailfin Blenny
Any goby on substrate (small in size): like Gold Neon Eviota Goby
Fish that I like but probably out due to LR insertion on top of sand (not secured for digging).
Jawfish
shrimp gobies
My problem really is competition for food. I'm finding it hard to determine who will be competition for the pods. I'm pretty sure Royal gramma, PJ cardinal would be fine. However it is the wrasses and dartfish and gobies that I can't determine with any confidence. Some say no wrasses others say flasher/fairy are fine because they occupy a different niche (i.e. not on substrate) on the reef.
Any help, alternative fish to look into, what to look for in the research, heck even a place to continue reasearch would be cool. As an FYI I have crossed reference all fish (wrasses, gobies, ect.) on wetwebmedia with fishbase.org (which if you aren't a marine biologist is almost totally pointless to me).
I'm sure there's more, but thanks for any info, if any info.
I had a filamented fairy wrasse that did in a rainford and a highfin goby. I have a mandarin, no trouble with the wrasse with her, and I also have a starry blenny, much like the black sailfin. No problems. Firefish no problem.
Of shrimp gobies the yellow watchman himself doesn't dig much: paired with a tiger pistol shrimp, major digging.
I'd recommend for a jawfish the pearly: very small, minimum disturbance: mine nests in the gsp.
I'd say you're good with that. 20g fuge, you can support a mandarin right now if that's in full flower. The ONLY problem will be the wrasse eating some of his/her pods. the 6 line wrasse is a pita in that department.
Of shrimp gobies the yellow watchman himself doesn't dig much: paired with a tiger pistol shrimp, major digging.
I'd recommend for a jawfish the pearly: very small, minimum disturbance: mine nests in the gsp.
I'd say you're good with that. 20g fuge, you can support a mandarin right now if that's in full flower. The ONLY problem will be the wrasse eating some of his/her pods. the 6 line wrasse is a pita in that department.
greggnyce
New member
They have to be fed gut loaded ghost shrimp or sm-med size freeze dreid shrimp. Mine never ate frozen foods or pellets. It will eat anything that it thinks will fit in its mouth. IMO I would only keep it with larger aggressive fish. It is a very cool fish to observe and feeding it was fun (if you have the time). It also create alot of waste eating the shrimp so for beginers it may be hard to keep your water parameters in check. I would keep one in a FOWLR system, but too many things for it eat in a reef system.
RyanDragon
New member
35 gallons FOWLR some mushrooms and polyps
1 clarkii clown
5 damsels,
30 lbs of LR
10 lbs of base rock
30 lbs of nature sea sand( not live)
5 discoroma(spelling) mushroom
1 green button polyps colony
1 green zoa
3 turbo snails
4 nassarius snail
1 bristle worm
2 blue legs hermit crabs
a hang on protein skimmer
Maxi jet 1200 and Maxi Jet 600
Please tell me if that is good ?
1 clarkii clown
5 damsels,
30 lbs of LR
10 lbs of base rock
30 lbs of nature sea sand( not live)
5 discoroma(spelling) mushroom
1 green button polyps colony
1 green zoa
3 turbo snails
4 nassarius snail
1 bristle worm
2 blue legs hermit crabs
a hang on protein skimmer
Maxi jet 1200 and Maxi Jet 600
Please tell me if that is good ?
Well, you're not actually a FOWLR: you're a softie reef.
You ARE going to need a much larger tank very soon: like about 75-100 g to keep those fish comfortably. The clarkii's will hit 3" easily, up to 4" each, and damsels in general run an easy 3" up, except chromis, that usually stop at 2". The clarkii's will want about 30g all to themselves when they start breeding.
My recommendation would be to look for a good used 100g tank/stand and let it be known in the household you have a birthday and would love just to be allowed to buy a tank instead of having present. You could then still use your equipment: nothing you've got requires too high a circulation, maybe get a hangon-downflow and use that 35 for a sump, which would get the protein skimmer out of sight, maybe add one more mj 1200. Ultimately you would need more equipment, but that would keep your current fish in comfort: you'd need to get more rock in there.
Your sand is now live: if washed in discarded salt water would be fine to reuse. You'd need more of it. You'd need more base rock, and if you add it piece at a time, you should escape having a cycle, though you should test water often during this process. These creatures are all quite hardy and should be ok.
Your alternative would be to trade back the damsels and keep just the clarkii's. But if you could upgrade in size you would have a nice rig with a tough crew that would survive the transition ok and leave you with a fullscale setup you could upgrade gradually to larger pumps, more shrooms and zoas, etc. It would probably take some advising along the way, but it would be doable.
You ARE going to need a much larger tank very soon: like about 75-100 g to keep those fish comfortably. The clarkii's will hit 3" easily, up to 4" each, and damsels in general run an easy 3" up, except chromis, that usually stop at 2". The clarkii's will want about 30g all to themselves when they start breeding.
My recommendation would be to look for a good used 100g tank/stand and let it be known in the household you have a birthday and would love just to be allowed to buy a tank instead of having present.
You could then still use your equipment: nothing you've got requires too high a circulation, maybe get a hangon-downflow and use that 35 for a sump, which would get the protein skimmer out of sight, maybe add one more mj 1200. Ultimately you would need more equipment, but that would keep your current fish in comfort: you'd need to get more rock in there.Your sand is now live: if washed in discarded salt water would be fine to reuse. You'd need more of it. You'd need more base rock, and if you add it piece at a time, you should escape having a cycle, though you should test water often during this process. These creatures are all quite hardy and should be ok.
Your alternative would be to trade back the damsels and keep just the clarkii's. But if you could upgrade in size you would have a nice rig with a tough crew that would survive the transition ok and leave you with a fullscale setup you could upgrade gradually to larger pumps, more shrooms and zoas, etc. It would probably take some advising along the way, but it would be doable.
RyanDragon
New member
k thanks Sk8r, hopefully I can get a 100 gallons tank when my brithday come, My budget is limited,
CraigSlice
New member
just another quick question, would a yellow tang and a frogspawn coral be too much to add at once? (i think i'm going to order the tang from liveaquaria, but would need to add something else to justify the cost)
reef3r
New member
Hmm, okay I have a 37 gallon, no sump no skimmer. 55 pounds live rock, the tank has been setup for over a year now.
Fish list is 1 clarki clown, 1 midas blenny, 2 flame hawkfish (mated pair) and one firefish. I have a single ricordia. Does anybody think I can add another fish, if yes, what?
Fish list is 1 clarki clown, 1 midas blenny, 2 flame hawkfish (mated pair) and one firefish. I have a single ricordia. Does anybody think I can add another fish, if yes, what?
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