Really quick question

[ahud]

I am getting a 40 breeder tomorrow and I won't be running a sump or a skimmer.

I know this is a broad question, but how many fish would I be able to add and still be fine without running a skimmer? Right now the only thing I really know that I want is a goby/pistol shrimp pair.

Am I pretty close in estimating that I can have 2-4 fish in the 2-3" range and still be understocked enough to get by with small weekly water changes?

Other inhabitants besides the fish would be a pistol shrimp, few hermits, and a cleaner shrimp.

Thanks guys

 

[PiXieCath]

How many fish you can get really depends on what kind of fish you put in it...add your fishes carefully, one by one, do your water changes weekly and keep and eye on your parameters, that should be fine as long as you follow those simple rulls.;-)

 

[ahud]

Well, I want fish that are hardy and forgiving. I also want to stock the tank light enough that if I miss a water change one week I won't run into any major issues.

I'm still researching fish, so don't have any idea yet.

 

[tcmfish]

Depends, if you want coral. You can keep plenty of fish in that size tank, with a Hang On the Back (HOB) filter, and an airstone or preferrably a sponge filter. It won't be pretty, but... since most people on this site want display tanks, less is probably better.

 

[ahud]

I want to do coral, but I was going to research super easy corals. I had a Kenyi tree that went through heck and back and still did great. I have read pulsing Xenias and Zoas were easy as well.

I am fine with only having a few fish. If I could do four I would be satisfied.

 

[ahud]

How about this:

Yellow watchmen goby/pistol shrimp pair
3 Blue/green chromis
pair of clowns
cleaner shrimp

To much?

 

[Crabber]

Multiple chromis usually dwindles down to one.

 

[ahud]

I have not decided about the filter. Ofcourse I will have live rock and powerheads, but what else should I use?

I have a few HOB and canisters laying around, which would work out the best?

 

[ahud]

double post

 

[ahud]

Why do I need to add a canister or HOB? If the live rock is doing all of the biological filtering, could I not just run a canister from time to time with a sponge pad to do a little mechanical filtration?

Assuming I feed properly and I have a CUC.

 

[ahud]

I will look into the HOB skimmers. I'm just confused about what the benefit of using a canister or HOB filter is?