Well I realize it wont start growing corals, but things like sponges or mushrooms? Things that would grow on the undersides of the rock out of the light, do those grow naturally or what?
Sadly, no
-as for the cardinal maybe a Pajama or a Banggai
Banggai- Fine, single, or mated pair
Pajama- Fine, a small group is preferred, maybe 3 for your tank.
What other fish would I be able to add besides the clown(s) and cardinalfish
I want to have about 4-5 fish in the tank preferably. I heard damsels are a pain in the butt and aggressive and chromis are pretty cool, but not big enough tank to have a school.
Also how is my aquascaping? Is this a good layout? Is it safe? I did the poke test firmly on each rock and none budged so I assume it is, but some diggers can really dislodge stuff easily I hear.
Looks good, and I'd get some more rock, to spice things up a bit and allow more hiding places, try getting rocks that has texture similar to this, and put them on top of your rocks that you have now, to give your tank more texture. Though, it's up to you of course
You could go for any of these fish, with an approximate total of 5 fish max, before you do though, let me know the fish you pick (whether on this list or not) so I can determine if aggression will occur, for example you couldn't have a Bicolor Blenny and a Tailspot Blenny together.
Fish
•Pair of Ocellaris Clownfish - Amphiprion Ocellaris
•Pair of Percula Clownfish - Amphiprion Percula
•Royal Gramma - Gramma Loreto
•Black Capped Basslet - Gramma Melacara
•3 Pajama Cardinalfish - Sphaeramia Nematoptera
•Bonded pair of Banggai Cardinalfish - Pterapogon Kauderni
•Bonded pair of Yellow, Macneill's, or Blue Assessor - Assessor Flavissimus, Assessor Macneilli, or Assessor Randalli
•Black Combtooth Blenny - Ecsenius Namiyei
•Bicolor Blenny - Ecsenius Bicolor
•Tailspot Blenny - Ecsenius Stigmatura
•Two-Spot Bimaculatus Blenny - Ecsenius Bimaculatus
•Black Axil, Limbaughi, Blue/Green, Agile, Blue, Paletail, Vanderbuilt, Black Bar, Half Black, Lighting Double Bar, Purple Reef Fish, Yellowtail Reef Fish, Yellowtail, Acares Midget Reef Chromis - Chromis Atripectoralis, C. Limbaughi, C. Viridis, C. Agilis, C. Cyaneus, C. Xanthura, C. Vanderbuilti, C. Retrofasciata, C. Margaritifer, C. Opercularis, C. Scotti, C. Enchrysura, C. Flavicauda, C. Acares
•Bonded pair of Firefish, Purple Firefish, Exquisite Firefish, Helfrichi Firefish - Nemtealeotris Magnifica, N. Decora, N. Exquisita, N. Helfrichi
•Bonded pair of Neon Gobies or Yellowline Gobies - Elacatinus Oceanops, Elacatinus Figaro
Mobile Inverts
•Pair of Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp - Lysmata Amboinensis
•Pair of Fire Shrimp - Lysmata Debelius
•Red Tuxedo Urchin - Mespilla cf Globulus
•Blue Tuxedo Urchin - Mespilla Globulus
•Small group of Nerite Snails - Nerita Sp
•Group of Zigzag Periwinkles - Littorina Ziczac
•Group of Dwarf Cerith Snails - Cerithium Sp
•Small group of Florida Cerith Snails - Cerithium Sp
•Small group of Nassarius Snails - Nassarius
Vibex
•Small group ofBanded Trochus Snails - Trochus Sp.
•
Brittle Star with a small central disk - Ophiocoma Wendtii, Ophiomastix Annulosa, Ophiure Protoreaster, Etc.
-Sorry if this list overwhelms you!
Here's what I'd do in your situation of filtration- unless you are already doing this, doing something si=milar to this, or already know this
Do NOT replace the cartridges every month, that is basically throwing away biological filtration. The companies put carbon in the cartridges on purpose, so you have to replace them every month and give them more money, carbon leeches the contaminants that it absorbed back into the water after a month or so. Get some filter floss (look for 100% Polyester Quilt Batting at Walmart, they have huge bags for $8 and $13), biological media in a media bag (such as Seachem Matrix or Fluval Biomax), and filter sponge/s (click
here for examples). Replace the filter floss as needed, which is usually 3-7 days, don't touch the biological media, and wash the filter sponge in the water you take out from a water change. Put the biological media in with your cartridges for a month or so, then you can discard the cartridges. Or you can get a sump, protein skimmer, filter socks, etc. which would be better. I think your flow is fine, but I don't know what brand of powerhead it is. What kind of lights do you have?
