Are these the right starter fish?

Dundermifflin · 03/18/2015, 03:18 PM

Just cycled a 20 gallon QT (Ammonia good, nitrates/nitrites are zero). Just started cycling a 110 FO tank. LFS suggested putting a couple Chromis in QT to get started. Said to keep them in there for 3-4 weeks and put in DT after if they look good. Said from there can start adding other fish to QT.

Is this the right approach? Are two Chromis enough for this size tank?

julie180 · 03/18/2015, 03:38 PM

3-4 weeks is not quite enough time. Head over to the disease forum and learn all about the diseases/parasites and treatments you could be dealing with and proper QT procedures.

Reef Frog · 03/18/2015, 04:07 PM

Chromis can get pretty big as adults. For the long term, I wouldn't add that species to a 20g. I'd be thinking basslets, some gobies, maybe a firefish. There are others. Check out Live Aquaria dot com for ideas. Plus, you can find some interesting & colorful fish in these groups.

pyithar · 03/18/2015, 07:36 PM

i think op said 20G is a qt. if it's a qt, two chromis will be ok in that tank.

Dundermifflin · 03/18/2015, 08:45 PM

Yes, this is for a 20 gallon QT. The QT is cycled and ready for fish. My question is for these starter fish that will go into the QT are Chromis (2) what I should be considering. Eventually I'll want a snowflake eel, dog face puffer, porcupine puffer, tangs, triggers, clowns, etc., but I shouldn't add any of those now as starter fish, correct?

Stevenliu9 · 03/18/2015, 09:30 PM

So.... the chromic are basically doomed either way? if they survive the QT they'll eventually be food for what you eventually want? honestly if you are going to be keeping all these aggressive fish why bother sacrifice chromic? Personally I think puffers and triggers are some of the toughest fish, at least none have ever died on me so once you are ready you should just start with those instead of having to kill (and waste) unnecessary life/money.

Dundermifflin · 03/18/2015, 10:33 PM

LFS said not to start with any of those (the ones I ultimately want in the DT) so this is why I'm asking. I'm not looking to get starter fish just to kill them off or waste them. I'd want them to live a full life. Knowing what I want the tank to ultimately house what would be the best line of fish to start with?

Azedenkae · 03/18/2015, 10:52 PM

Yes, it should be. Most LFS suggests otherwise because despite their explanations, many customers do things wrong anyways (I know because I work at one). I am not saying you will, but many would, and it is just basically if the customer is going to mess up, at least it is cheap fish. More importantly, hardy fish that has a higher chance of surviving mistakes. Damsels are the other species, but they are very aggressive. Chromis aren't.

Dundermifflin · 03/18/2015, 11:37 PM

Thanks all for the feedback.

03/18/2015, 03:18 PM	#1
Dundermifflin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 272	Are these the right starter fish? Just cycled a 20 gallon QT (Ammonia good, nitrates/nitrites are zero). Just started cycling a 110 FO tank. LFS suggested putting a couple Chromis in QT to get started. Said to keep them in there for 3-4 weeks and put in DT after if they look good. Said from there can start adding other fish to QT. Is this the right approach? Are two Chromis enough for this size tank?

03/18/2015, 07:36 PM	#4
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	i think op said 20G is a qt. if it's a qt, two chromis will be ok in that tank. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

03/18/2015, 09:30 PM	#6
Stevenliu9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Madison WI Posts: 795	So.... the chromic are basically doomed either way? if they survive the QT they'll eventually be food for what you eventually want? honestly if you are going to be keeping all these aggressive fish why bother sacrifice chromic? Personally I think puffers and triggers are some of the toughest fish, at least none have ever died on me so once you are ready you should just start with those instead of having to kill (and waste) unnecessary life/money. __________________ Steven Liu See More at: bluemarineart.com Current Tank Info: 180 Mix Reef + 28G Seahorse Species Tank

03/18/2015, 03:38 PM	#2
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	3-4 weeks is not quite enough time. Head over to the disease forum and learn all about the diseases/parasites and treatments you could be dealing with and proper QT procedures.

03/18/2015, 04:07 PM	#3
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	Chromis can get pretty big as adults. For the long term, I wouldn't add that species to a 20g. I'd be thinking basslets, some gobies, maybe a firefish. There are others. Check out Live Aquaria dot com for ideas. Plus, you can find some interesting & colorful fish in these groups.

03/18/2015, 08:45 PM	#5
Dundermifflin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 272	Yes, this is for a 20 gallon QT. The QT is cycled and ready for fish. My question is for these starter fish that will go into the QT are Chromis (2) what I should be considering. Eventually I'll want a snowflake eel, dog face puffer, porcupine puffer, tangs, triggers, clowns, etc., but I shouldn't add any of those now as starter fish, correct?

03/18/2015, 10:33 PM	#7
Dundermifflin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 272	LFS said not to start with any of those (the ones I ultimately want in the DT) so this is why I'm asking. I'm not looking to get starter fish just to kill them off or waste them. I'd want them to live a full life. Knowing what I want the tank to ultimately house what would be the best line of fish to start with?

03/18/2015, 10:52 PM	#8
Azedenkae Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,196	Yes, it should be. Most LFS suggests otherwise because despite their explanations, many customers do things wrong anyways (I know because I work at one). I am not saying you will, but many would, and it is just basically if the customer is going to mess up, at least it is cheap fish. More importantly, hardy fish that has a higher chance of surviving mistakes. Damsels are the other species, but they are very aggressive. Chromis aren't.

03/18/2015, 11:37 PM	#9
Dundermifflin Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 272	Thanks all for the feedback.