12g tank load?

chrisstie · 05/27/2006, 11:14 AM

Well, our 12g is just about cycled and we are getting ready to prepare our cleanup crew.

Since the tank is still relatively new and there isn't too much visable stuff to clean up, I don't want to overload the tank so I was thinking 6-8 blue leg hermits, 1 smaller turbo snail -more as needed, tank is still looking relatively clean(astrea its called? Still learning all of the scientific names!)..

And we are hoping to make this a home for just one clownfish in the future. Would it be system overload if I were to get a shrimp to go with like a peppermint? They are *so* cute I would love to have one of the more colorful and interesting crustaceans with our display but want to keep a very balanced and healthy load on the 12 gallon.

I will post more pics to my original aquapod post too once we select our new guys

Thanks for answering yet another newb question too!!!

funman1 · 05/27/2006, 11:17 AM

That may be abit much on the hermits. I bought 10 for my 12G and ended up trading most them away because they got big and I needed less of them..
everything you listed should have no problems with regular water changes and carbon filtering.

chrisstie · 05/27/2006, 11:19 AM

Please forgive my ignorance but could you explain why I would want to use carbon filtering for that kind of setup? And yeah from what I understand you want few hermits so they don't starve.

hairymushroom · 05/27/2006, 11:24 AM

CArbon removes various toxins and metals from your water , it prevents your water from having a 'yellow' tint to it, and also removes chemicals produced by some soft corals like leathers. you might want to add a few more snails as well. shrimp should be fine.
HTH

chrisstie · 05/27/2006, 11:53 AM

From what I have raid using carbon is more of a personal preference- if you wait long enough for your tanks eco system to stabalize and become really balanced you wouldn't need it.

My setup will let me use it.. hmm not sure if i want to or neet do

hairymushroom · 05/27/2006, 12:37 PM

If iT will bEnefit your system, why not use it?

Sk8r · 05/27/2006, 12:48 PM

You might go to a site like Live Aquaria.com and look at nanofish...as in...really small fishes. They will have a choice of types you might not know exist.

chrisstie · 05/27/2006, 09:54 PM

I got home from a really nice LFS and I ended up with 3 margarita snails (great for the holiday weekend right?!) 3 red legged hermits, and 3 of the little turbo snails that dive under the sand.

They said I could probably get a peppermint shrimp too if I wanted (i'll get pics up as soon as i take them) but didn't have any in stock.

I liked the look of the skunk shrimp - there are any large differences? Guess I have to do some shrimp homework for the coming weeks ahead

hairymushroom · 05/28/2006, 01:33 AM

I wouldnt sUggest putting a shrimp in a 'almost cycled' tank. give it a month or two. LFS arent the best sources of info IME

lessans · 05/28/2006, 02:15 AM

Like hairymushroom said, wait until the tank is completely cycled to put any animals in. I don't know how 2 different species of shrimp will act together, but I do know that a clownfish and a skunk cleaner shrimp is alright. Skunk cleaner shrimp are so cool. Whenever I get my hand close enough to the shrimp in the tank the shrimp crawls all over my hand and arm scavenging. It's such a weird sensation.

a4twenty · 05/28/2006, 05:02 AM

go with the skunk cleaner, IME the peppermints tend to hide by day and usually end up in the overflow ( or smashed down in the sump ). cleaner shrimp have lots of character and as lessans said become quite accustomed to human contact. ( mine does the same, whenever my hand does in the tank he / she tries to give me a good cleaning )

oh yeah, i agree with both of them wait for a month or two after the tank is fully cycled.

chrisstie · 05/28/2006, 09:50 AM

We are planning to wait a month or so to do this so no worries! We know to go slow and Sea in the City in orlando is as awesome as they say

05/27/2006, 11:14 AM	#1
chrisstie Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,727	12g tank load? Well, our 12g is just about cycled and we are getting ready to prepare our cleanup crew. Since the tank is still relatively new and there isn't too much visable stuff to clean up, I don't want to overload the tank so I was thinking 6-8 blue leg hermits, 1 smaller turbo snail -more as needed, tank is still looking relatively clean(astrea its called? Still learning all of the scientific names!).. And we are hoping to make this a home for just one clownfish in the future. Would it be system overload if I were to get a shrimp to go with like a peppermint? They are so cute I would love to have one of the more colorful and interesting crustaceans with our display but want to keep a very balanced and healthy load on the 12 gallon. I will post more pics to my original aquapod post too once we select our new guys Thanks for answering yet another newb question too!!!

05/27/2006, 11:17 AM	#2
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	That may be abit much on the hermits. I bought 10 for my 12G and ended up trading most them away because they got big and I needed less of them.. everything you listed should have no problems with regular water changes and carbon filtering. __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO

05/27/2006, 11:19 AM	#3
chrisstie Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,727	Please forgive my ignorance but could you explain why I would want to use carbon filtering for that kind of setup? And yeah from what I understand you want few hermits so they don't starve. __________________ You lookin' at my wrasse? Current Tank Info: I find it odd that there are children starving in this country and yet we euthanize millions of stray dogs and cats every year and then incinerate the bodies. Not only that, but we make it illegal to butcher the meat. -MarkS

05/27/2006, 11:53 AM	#5
chrisstie Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,727	From what I have raid using carbon is more of a personal preference- if you wait long enough for your tanks eco system to stabalize and become really balanced you wouldn't need it. My setup will let me use it.. hmm not sure if i want to or neet do __________________ You lookin' at my wrasse? Current Tank Info: I find it odd that there are children starving in this country and yet we euthanize millions of stray dogs and cats every year and then incinerate the bodies. Not only that, but we make it illegal to butcher the meat. -MarkS

05/27/2006, 12:48 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You might go to a site like Live Aquaria.com and look at nanofish...as in...really small fishes. They will have a choice of types you might not know exist. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/27/2006, 11:24 AM	#4
hairymushroom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 315	CArbon removes various toxins and metals from your water , it prevents your water from having a 'yellow' tint to it, and also removes chemicals produced by some soft corals like leathers. you might want to add a few more snails as well. shrimp should be fine. HTH

05/27/2006, 12:37 PM	#6
hairymushroom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 315	If iT will bEnefit your system, why not use it?

05/27/2006, 09:54 PM	#8
chrisstie Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,727	I got home from a really nice LFS and I ended up with 3 margarita snails (great for the holiday weekend right?!) 3 red legged hermits, and 3 of the little turbo snails that dive under the sand. They said I could probably get a peppermint shrimp too if I wanted (i'll get pics up as soon as i take them) but didn't have any in stock. I liked the look of the skunk shrimp - there are any large differences? Guess I have to do some shrimp homework for the coming weeks ahead __________________ You lookin' at my wrasse? Current Tank Info: I find it odd that there are children starving in this country and yet we euthanize millions of stray dogs and cats every year and then incinerate the bodies. Not only that, but we make it illegal to butcher the meat. -MarkS

05/28/2006, 01:33 AM	#9
hairymushroom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 315	I wouldnt sUggest putting a shrimp in a 'almost cycled' tank. give it a month or two. LFS arent the best sources of info IME

05/28/2006, 02:15 AM	#10
lessans Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 913	Like hairymushroom said, wait until the tank is completely cycled to put any animals in. I don't know how 2 different species of shrimp will act together, but I do know that a clownfish and a skunk cleaner shrimp is alright. Skunk cleaner shrimp are so cool. Whenever I get my hand close enough to the shrimp in the tank the shrimp crawls all over my hand and arm scavenging. It's such a weird sensation. __________________ "Oh, Mother, I come baring a gift. I'll give you a hint. It's in my diaper and it's not a toaster" -Stewie Griffin Current Tank Info: current tank: 20 gal reef; former tanks: 65 gal reef, 10 gal freshwater

05/28/2006, 05:02 AM	#11
a4twenty Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,603	go with the skunk cleaner, IME the peppermints tend to hide by day and usually end up in the overflow ( or smashed down in the sump ). cleaner shrimp have lots of character and as lessans said become quite accustomed to human contact. ( mine does the same, whenever my hand does in the tank he / she tries to give me a good cleaning ) oh yeah, i agree with both of them wait for a month or two after the tank is fully cycled.

05/28/2006, 09:50 AM	#12
chrisstie Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,727	We are planning to wait a month or so to do this so no worries! We know to go slow and Sea in the City in orlando is as awesome as they say __________________ You lookin' at my wrasse? Current Tank Info: I find it odd that there are children starving in this country and yet we euthanize millions of stray dogs and cats every year and then incinerate the bodies. Not only that, but we make it illegal to butcher the meat. -MarkS