Stocking a 30 gallon?

[Randyp79]

Okay, I am new to this hobby and I can already tell I am hooked for life! I have a 30 gallon FOWLR that has about 40lbs. live rock and 30lbs. live sand. Before anyone asks, the rock came from an established tank less than 1 mile away. It came right out of that tank and into mine. Needless to say, that really sped up the cycling process. However, I wanted to give the tank a little longer to mature, so even after water parameters were fine I still waited 2 weeks longer before adding any fish. Last week I added 2 Clarki Clowns, and I was wondering if 30 gallon is big enough to add anymore fish? Here's what I would like to have...

FISH
2-Clarki Clowns (already in tank)
1-Yellow Watchman Goby (maybe? depends on what you guys have to say)
1-6 line wrasse (maybe? depends on what you guys have to say)

INVERTS (These are the INVERTS that are already in the tank as well)
1-Emerald Crab (LR has plenty of algae for it to pick on)
1-red legged hermit
5-blue leg dwarf hermits
15-various snails

Would this be too big of a bio-load on a 30 gallon tank? Will I be doing water changes 1x or 2x a week? Thanks for your feedback...

[Toddrtrex]

To Reef Central

I would skip the 6 line, they get fairly aggressive, and even more so in a small tank.

As for the goby, I am on the fence about that one. Clarkiis can/will get very aggressive, even more so when they start spawning. It could work for a while, but I would say the odds are 50/50 that the Clarkiis won't take kindly to sharing their (( yes, it will be their )) tank after a while.

[Randyp79]

The only reason I thought the Goby would work is because he occupies a different water level than the Clarki Clowns. I have the LR stacked prettry high and the Clarkis spend the majority of their time in the middle to upper part of the water column. I was thinking they wouldn't pay much attention to the goby in the bottom half of the water column.

Any other suggestions on what would work with 2 Clarki Clowns in a 30 gallon?

[Toddrtrex]

Back when I had my pair of Clarkiis, they would chase a 3 stripe damsel (( granted closer looking to a clown then a goby )), all over my 75, to the point where it couldn't eat -- had to sell it.

It might work, but just would have to be prepared if it doesn't.

[mthomp]

I dont think it will be too much stress on the bio load but that will be about all you can put in there and you will have to do it over a period of time to give your tank time to adjust. As for your fish selection, those clarkis are going to be masters of the tank. You may want to try some fish that are a little bigger then they are and compensate for the bioload.

[footballdude2k3]

i have heard that clarkis are one of the more aggresive clowns, whatever you choose good luck.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Clarkiis are very mean and very territorial. Once they get themselves comfy in that tank, there's a very good chance that they will attack any other fish you try to add.

[mutateddogbone]

i would ditch the clarkii's. they get decent sized and are extremely aggressive. a great fish for a small tank but a bit on the pricey side is helfrich's firefish

they are awesome little guys and go great with other very non aggressive fish normally found in nano tanks

[Mr. Fish]

The clarkii's are very aggressive and other fish with them in a 30 gallon is a mistake. However if you do decide to remove them, because they limit you too much look into: hawkfish, firefish (helfrich's firefish are nice but over $100 regular fire fish are $20 and look almost as pretty), gobies, and blennies.

Your invert list is mostly ok, I would get more than one red legged hermit because they are a social animal and I would get fewer snails maybe 5-10.

[ashtroid]

want my honest opinion instead of clarkiis i would get papua new ghinea true percs awesome sauce..... other fish 6 line is great choice but me i like tangs here come the tang police i had a achilles in my 29 gallon and he did great he did not die until the move from stress........but a yellow tang is a great choice

[jenjen]

I agree with previous posters - if you choose to keep the Clarkii's, let them be the only fish in the tank. If you trade them in for something else (ie: Ocellaris or Black clowns are a good alternative) you should be fine to add the YWG. I'd skip a sixline in a tank that size, but a different wrasse may work, or one of the smaller blennies (ie: tailspot).

I have a pair of Clarkii's in my 55g and they rule the roost. I wouldn't want them sharing any smaller of a tank, and the jury is still out as to whether this one is going to work long-term. They're very agressive fish.

[Mr. Fish]

Originally Posted by ashtroid

want my honest opinion instead of clarkiis i would get papua new ghinea true percs awesome sauce..... other fish 6 line is great choice but me i like tangs here come the tang police i had a achilles in my 29 gallon and he did great he did not die until the move from stress........but a yellow tang is a great choice

A yellow tang would only be suitable if it was very small and you could return it to the store once it got over 3 inches or so. I doubt there are very many people on here that would think that it would be ok for a full grown tang to be in a 30 gallon.

[mutateddogbone]

there is no suitable aquarium for a tang under 75g PERIOD