What kind and how many fish can I put in 8g. Nano?
- Thread starter ken1977
- Start date
m0nkie
Well-known member
here are some nano fish you can consider
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15+2124
I'd personally get something like a clown goby and a firefish, or maybe a goby/pistol shrimp pair.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15+2124
I'd personally get something like a clown goby and a firefish, or maybe a goby/pistol shrimp pair.
cougareyes
New member
Check out the tanaka possum wrasse, one of my favs for a small tank.
ken1977
New member
Cadlights 8 gallon
ThRoewer
New member
Yesterday I saw a pair of tiny panda gobies at a local store (Aquatic Collection). They were maybe 8 mm in length.
Those actually need a pico tank not to get lost or taken for a tasty snack by a Mandarin or Pipefish.
Speaking of pipefish, many would be ideal for a 10 gallon tank. The flagtail pipefish of the Doryrhampus (D. excisus, D. janssi) and Dunckerocampus species come to mind as they easily accept frozen foods.
Other suitable fish would be small gobies: clown gobies, neon gobies, the smaller shrimp gobies (with pistol shrimp of course) ...
I would also look into some smaller shrimp: anemone shrimp (accept also mushrooms, zoas or corals), sexy shrimp, the smaller Stenopus species (S. tenuirostris, S. cyanoscelis) ...
Those actually need a pico tank not to get lost or taken for a tasty snack by a Mandarin or Pipefish.
Speaking of pipefish, many would be ideal for a 10 gallon tank. The flagtail pipefish of the Doryrhampus (D. excisus, D. janssi) and Dunckerocampus species come to mind as they easily accept frozen foods.
Other suitable fish would be small gobies: clown gobies, neon gobies, the smaller shrimp gobies (with pistol shrimp of course) ...
I would also look into some smaller shrimp: anemone shrimp (accept also mushrooms, zoas or corals), sexy shrimp, the smaller Stenopus species (S. tenuirostris, S. cyanoscelis) ...
ken1977
New member
I was thinking about two small clown fish and an anemone for the host. Wondering if that would be too much for the clown. I only plan on the one live rock in the tank.
BigBlueTang
Active member
ken1977
New member
I'm wondering if two small clowns would fit, I heard they won't grow to much depending on the tank size. I'm not sure...
BigBlueTang
Active member
Not a good idea. That's only the myth for freshwater, but for saltwater, you really want to have adequate tank sizes...
My clown pair uses every inch of my 75... They are extremely active.
An anemone needs at the minimum 30 gallons, otherwise it could nuke the tank..
ken1977
New member
Dang... That's not what I wanted to hear. Well I guess I have to start looking at alternatives. Something bright colored, any recommendations on bright color fish?
BigBlueTang
Active member
ken1977
New member
I went ahead and followed my lfs suggestions on a high end clown fish; Black Ice Clown Fish. He seems to be doing very well as of this morning swimming the tank happily. My lfs had a 10g that has been going for eight years on her counter and has a clown in her tank as well. I figure this guy will do just well as long as I do not add any other fish to the tank as lfs suggested as well. I feel bad for him as the lights will be off for another three weeks. I do plan on putting softies in the tank when the lights go on.
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BigBlueTang
Active member
Looks good.
Good plan with softies, make sure your parameters are good. Nitrates, Phosphates, Etc.
I don't mean to be rude, but I don't agree with your decision at all. For starters, why not just wait three weeks when the lights go on to put him in? Second, I just realized this post said you were three days into your cycle. IMO that is way too soon to start stocking. Especially without lights. You're going to have a massive algae and diatom bloom when the lights come on. So many things in this hobby are done in haste when they shouldn't. Finally, an 8g tank is too small for a clownfish. An adult clownfish will get at least 3 inches I've seen bigger. Just because you see a fish in a small tank doesn't mean it's happy, and it's only going to cause you more work with water changes. If I were you I would take back the clown for store credit, finish your cycle properly and then stock it with suitable inhabitants
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ken1977
New member
I would say the massive algae and diatom bloom will be worse case scenario. The lfs told me the fish will add extra bacteria to the tank that can have positive effects on the cycle as long as I keep the lights off. For the clown he's going to have to be solo in this one until I start up a bigger tank, I'm already planning on that as well :spin3: I do appreciate the feed back though. Below is a YouTube link with a setup very similar I would say spot on to the setup I did except mine is 8g instead of 16g. Thanks
https://youtu.be/BOkKipb-6D4
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BigBlueTang
Active member
False.
LFS has something to sell you, we do not. You're putting that fish in a toxic environment. The ammonia will burn his gills. I didn't see that you were only three days into cycling. Take the fish back.
ThRoewer
New member
Most of my percula hardly ever leave their anemone, and if, then only for one or two body lengths to get a piece of food and then dart right back into the anemone. This may lead you to believe that they would do fine in a small tank. It actually can work for quite some time, but it is not good for the fish long term as it may stun their growth. I had a pair with a gigantea in a 10 gallon tank for about a year and it worked. But another pair which I got at the same time and which I kept isolated - also with a gigantea - in a much smaller planter basket within a 40B which was part of a bigger system, outgrow them by quite a bit.
Clownfish with an anemone don't actually claim or need much space, but they need the stability of a larger system to thrive.
Maintaining stability in a nano system requires diligence and daily work. I prefer to plumb smaller tanks into a larger system to have more stable water parameters.
A nano or pico tank can work with the right inhabitants, but it will always require a much tighter maintenance schedule than a larger system.
Clownfish with an anemone don't actually claim or need much space, but they need the stability of a larger system to thrive.
Maintaining stability in a nano system requires diligence and daily work. I prefer to plumb smaller tanks into a larger system to have more stable water parameters.
A nano or pico tank can work with the right inhabitants, but it will always require a much tighter maintenance schedule than a larger system.
That worst case scenario algae bloom can be a pain in the @$$ if not taken care of and last month's or more. I had someone try to put a damsel in a 5g and they never fixed their cyano problem. And the fish isn't adding bacteria. He's adding ammonia which the bacteria feed off of. And it's been proven that jump starting a cycle with a fish will work for the cycle but be very cruel to the fish resulting in burnt gills and growth stunts like mentioned above. Again, not trying to be harsh, but you have this forum for a reason. Do your research and listen to the advice given
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