Second fish

fishlife1 · 08/06/2014, 07:51 PM

Hi,

I just upgraded to a 30 gallon reef, and the only fish is a yellow watchman goby. The tank is cycled and ready to go, but the nitrates are a bit high at 20. I am trying to decide on a second fish to get because I am going to be at the store tomorrow. I know that the tank can handle one more fish easily right now, but I wanted to get either a royal gramma, which I think could be aggressive to newcomers if I get it this early, or a pair of clowns, which I am worried could overwhelm the bacteria in the tank if added this early. Would I be okay to get the clowns, or could this cause the nitrate to go crazy?

Rob6311 · 08/06/2014, 08:06 PM

I would defiantly do a small water change and then get the clowns, because if you do the quick water change it'll lower the nitrates and then when you get the clowns the nitrates will go back up a little but the goby and clowns are hardy fish and will be able to handle high nitrates, to an extent of course so don't let them get too high, but I would defiantly add the grama last

fishlife1 · 08/06/2014, 08:14 PM

Yeah I may do a 3 gallon water change before getting them. That would probably get the job done.

shesacharmer · 08/07/2014, 07:04 AM

My experience with the RG is that they find a small spot they like in the tank and they defend that little area. The chase off interlopers by opening their mouth as large as they can to intimidate others. They don't actually harrass other fish in my experience.

thegrun · 08/07/2014, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shesacharmer

My experience with the RG is that they find a small spot they like in the tank and they defend that little area. The chase off interlopers by opening their mouth as large as they can to intimidate others. They don't actually harrass other fish in my experience.

+1, you will have a lot more trouble with the Clowns than the Royal Gramma, especially after the Clowns begin to mate. Clowns generally get along or ignore Watchman Gobies, but once they get established in the tank they will not allow you to add more fish. If you had the 4th fish in the tank before you add the Clowns you would have a better chance of them all getting along. Consider a Flasher Wrasse or a Firefish.

08/06/2014, 07:51 PM	#1
fishlife1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 35	Second fish Hi, I just upgraded to a 30 gallon reef, and the only fish is a yellow watchman goby. The tank is cycled and ready to go, but the nitrates are a bit high at 20. I am trying to decide on a second fish to get because I am going to be at the store tomorrow. I know that the tank can handle one more fish easily right now, but I wanted to get either a royal gramma, which I think could be aggressive to newcomers if I get it this early, or a pair of clowns, which I am worried could overwhelm the bacteria in the tank if added this early. Would I be okay to get the clowns, or could this cause the nitrate to go crazy?

08/07/2014, 07:04 AM	#4
shesacharmer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Central NH Posts: 1,241	My experience with the RG is that they find a small spot they like in the tank and they defend that little area. The chase off interlopers by opening their mouth as large as they can to intimidate others. They don't actually harrass other fish in my experience. __________________ 75 gal, LR w/refugium, 79 deg, PH 8.0, sg 1.025, amm 0/nit 0/nit 0, Calcium 420, dKH 8.3, mag 1300, Phos 0 Current Tank Info: A work in progress...

08/06/2014, 08:06 PM	#2
Rob6311 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 704	I would defiantly do a small water change and then get the clowns, because if you do the quick water change it'll lower the nitrates and then when you get the clowns the nitrates will go back up a little but the goby and clowns are hardy fish and will be able to handle high nitrates, to an extent of course so don't let them get too high, but I would defiantly add the grama last

08/06/2014, 08:14 PM	#3
fishlife1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 35	Yeah I may do a 3 gallon water change before getting them. That would probably get the job done.