Too much for a 30gal?

[A sea K]

Looks like I found a drawback to the downsizing. I like too many fish and don't have the room my old 210 afforded me in the past.

I've come up with a prospective list and would like some insight from small tank crowd on my idea.

System DT is a 30 gallon cubish 24x24x12 and using a 30 gal sump for a little extra total volume.

Now for the fish,er wish list,
1) Blue Reef Chromis
2) Red Stoplight Cardinalfish
1) Tailspot Blenny
2) Shrimp Gobies, either Yasha, Tangaroa, or Hi-fin as they are all pretty small
1) Purple Firefish

Possible options I'm also thinking of are a Possum Wrasse and or Leopard Toby but I'm pretty certain I'm already at or a little beyond my limit for such a small system.

 

[reefgoddess808]

They are all pretty small peaceful fish IMHO and should be fine with what you've got. I would stay away from the toby puffer. They should have a slightly bigger tank as they tend to be aggressive and can nip the other fish.

 

[A sea K]

Thank you for the insight on the Puffer. I did have some concerns about the Puffer even though they are considered peaceful I had no previous experience with them so was unsure. Don't want to upset the balance as I know the rest of the selected livestock are all very peaceful.

 

[reefgoddess808]

I had a blue dot toby in my 56 gallon. He was cool for sure, but every once in awhile I would see the little half moon bites out of the other fishes fins. Sadly I lost him due to over grown teeth. He stopped eating the shrimp I fed him to keep them in check and they over grew pretty quickly.

 

[fishhuman]

Shrimp gobies will kill each other

 

[A sea K]

I had a blue dot toby in my 56 gallon. He was cool for sure, but every once in awhile I would see the little half moon bites out of the other fishes fins. Sadly I lost him due to over grown teeth. He stopped eating the shrimp I fed him to keep them in check and they over grew pretty quickly.

They are interesting little fish for certain but I'll heed your experience and pass for now. Maybe if I go to a slighly larger system bigger in the future.

Shrimp gobies will kill each other

Is this from personal experience? If so which shrimp gobies? I know some will quarrel but the three I've mentioned should all co-exist. They are the some of the smallest and most peaceful.

 

[zooman72]

I would re-consider the blue reef chromis - they can get big and require frequent feedings (more so than the other fishes you have listed). As for bioload, if you have sufficient filtration and keep up with maintenance, you should have plenty of room with what you have listed. I have 8 smaller fish in one of my 40B's, and 11 in the other 40B, each with a 20L sump, so close to what you are planning in water volume. These have been up for over a year with limited issues too...

 

[A sea K]

I would re-consider the blue reef chromis - they can get big and require frequent feedings (more so than the other fishes you have listed). As for bioload, if you have sufficient filtration and keep up with maintenance, you should have plenty of room with what you have listed. I have 8 smaller fish in one of my 40B's, and 11 in the other 40B, each with a 20L sump, so close to what you are planning in water volume. These have been up for over a year with limited issues too...

Thats a bit of a bummer, really wanted one of those just for the color. Can't really think of a suitable replacement either. Do you have any alternative suggestions?

 

[reefgoddess808]

I had a blue sapphire damsel that actually was peaceful with the other fish, but from what I understand damsels are mean in general. Dont know if I got lucky or if it is the way this particular fish is. But they have similar blue coloration to the chromis you wanted. And it stays about 3"

 

[A sea K]

I had a blue sapphire damsel that actually was peaceful with the other fish, but from what I understand damsels are mean in general. Dont know if I got lucky or if it is the way this particular fish is. But they have similar blue coloration to the chromis you wanted. And it stays about 3"

Very interesting and also very similar to the Azure Damsel. I kept a group of 5 of them in my 210 with no issues amongst themselves or any other tankmates. Of course they were some of the smallest fish in there at the time. Not sure if I could trust them in a true peaceful set up though. I'll need to think on that one for a bit.

 

[Betta132]

A yellowtail blue damsel will also work. They stay fairly small, usually under 2", and aren't that aggressive. A bit nippy with smaller fish, but not the kind of fish that stands up to any opposition whatsoever... Cowards. Introduce one last and you should be fine.
Two shrimp gobies in a 29g would probably work just fine if they were the same kind, but I'd stick to one for now. Don't forget a pistol shrimp! I personally suggest a tiger pistol. And add a bunch of small shells and the like for the pistol to use for materials.

Small blue damsel of some kind
Cardinalfish
Tailspot blenny
Small shrimp goby
Pistol shrimp
Purple fire fish

And you could swap one of those for a pygmy possum wrasse, most likely. You also have a slot open for a cleaner shrimp, if you want.
I would add them in this order, after the tank is cycled of course.
Pistol shrimp (pretty hardy)
Goby (if possible, just a day or two after the pistol. Delay is to give the pistol time to establish a burrow)
Firefish (shy, make sure you have plenty of hidey-holes)
Blenny (goby may not like it, but the goby's tunneling habits mean that won't be a problem if the blenny avoids his tunnel entrances)
I suggest getting a smallish damsel. Not a baby, just a smallish one... Maybe one that was subordinate in the LFS. Probably ought to add the cardinal last if you get an especially small or timid damsel, but I don't think it'll matter much.