Stocking Suggestions

moongoddesss007 · 06/30/2006, 07:31 PM

I'm looking for suggestions on compatble fish for my 29 gallon tank. My inhabitants at this point include a blenny, tomato clown and a damsel plus a bubble coral and a small leather. Also, since we are in an algae breakout, what are your thoughts on emerald crabs? I would like to get one/two but I want to be sure they will be a good selection for my tank. Thanks

kevensquint · 06/30/2006, 07:53 PM

snails are better than crabs, your tank will have alot less algae. In a small tank the damsel and clown may chase any newcomers. So normally you would get something like a yellow tang, but in a 29 gallon it is too small for a YT. Kind of a catch 22

tcb7019 · 06/30/2006, 09:32 PM

Be careful with emerald crabs. They are fine when they are small, but when they get big, I find they do cause problems. The bigger the claws, the more concern IMO.

Tom

NCreefwannabe · 06/30/2006, 09:35 PM

get rid of the damsel, and go for another clown maybe? and at most a gobie of some type. not much room for many fish in such a smalll tank.

McCrary · 06/30/2006, 09:39 PM

I have an emerald crab in my 27 and he seems to do fine, but he is on the smaller side. I stocked my 27 with a maroon clown, royal gramma, sixline wrasse and a bicolor angel. For your setup I would throw in a few turbo snails and a little centropyge angel, like a cherub or fireball.

ACBlinky · 06/30/2006, 09:45 PM

What kind of algae are you combatting? There are different critters that will tackle different algaes. Overall, lowering PO4 and NO3 is the best fix, but having a diverse cleanup crew helps as well. In a 29g I might try:
1 turbo - handles hair algae, film algae and sometimes cyano
3 cerith - stir the sand a bit, eat film algae on rocks and glass
3 Astraea - spend time on the glass and rocks, eat hair & film algae
1 trochus - fast, hungry snails that eat film algae, diatoms, possibly hair
5 nassarius - if you have a sandbed, these guys are great for stirring it up and keeping the surface clean. They don't eat algae, just meaty stuff
3 blueleg hermits - stir the top of the sand, eat hair algae & leftovers
2 scarlet hermits - sometimes lazy, but good cleaners when they feel like it
1 female emerald crab - stays much smaller than a male, eats hair, bubble, coralline, leftovers, fish poop, cornpops, hotdogs... j/k, but honestly there's nothing these guys won't eat IME

emilese · 06/30/2006, 10:03 PM

I love my blackcap basslet - beautiful fish. He's not agressive but will stand his ground if challenged.

moongoddesss007 · 07/01/2006, 05:41 AM

wow thanks for all the advice! we were thinking about getting a shrimp goby but i'm not sure about pistol shrimp. i've been reading they can be a little aggressive, maybe i'm wrong. i know we have a small tank, but i'm trying to only select one more fish, and of course, something on the small side. who knows we might upgrade in the next little while.

06/30/2006, 07:31 PM	#1
moongoddesss007 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sunny St. Petersburg Posts: 831	Stocking Suggestions I'm looking for suggestions on compatble fish for my 29 gallon tank. My inhabitants at this point include a blenny, tomato clown and a damsel plus a bubble coral and a small leather. Also, since we are in an algae breakout, what are your thoughts on emerald crabs? I would like to get one/two but I want to be sure they will be a good selection for my tank. Thanks

06/30/2006, 09:39 PM	#5
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	I have an emerald crab in my 27 and he seems to do fine, but he is on the smaller side. I stocked my 27 with a maroon clown, royal gramma, sixline wrasse and a bicolor angel. For your setup I would throw in a few turbo snails and a little centropyge angel, like a cherub or fireball. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

06/30/2006, 09:45 PM	#6
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	What kind of algae are you combatting? There are different critters that will tackle different algaes. Overall, lowering PO4 and NO3 is the best fix, but having a diverse cleanup crew helps as well. In a 29g I might try: 1 turbo - handles hair algae, film algae and sometimes cyano 3 cerith - stir the sand a bit, eat film algae on rocks and glass 3 Astraea - spend time on the glass and rocks, eat hair & film algae 1 trochus - fast, hungry snails that eat film algae, diatoms, possibly hair 5 nassarius - if you have a sandbed, these guys are great for stirring it up and keeping the surface clean. They don't eat algae, just meaty stuff 3 blueleg hermits - stir the top of the sand, eat hair algae & leftovers 2 scarlet hermits - sometimes lazy, but good cleaners when they feel like it 1 female emerald crab - stays much smaller than a male, eats hair, bubble, coralline, leftovers, fish poop, cornpops, hotdogs... j/k, but honestly there's nothing these guys won't eat IME __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

06/30/2006, 07:53 PM	#2
kevensquint Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: new york Posts: 2,277	snails are better than crabs, your tank will have alot less algae. In a small tank the damsel and clown may chase any newcomers. So normally you would get something like a yellow tang, but in a 29 gallon it is too small for a YT. Kind of a catch 22

06/30/2006, 09:32 PM	#3
tcb7019 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 63	Be careful with emerald crabs. They are fine when they are small, but when they get big, I find they do cause problems. The bigger the claws, the more concern IMO. Tom

06/30/2006, 09:35 PM	#4
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	get rid of the damsel, and go for another clown maybe? and at most a gobie of some type. not much room for many fish in such a smalll tank.

06/30/2006, 10:03 PM	#7
emilese Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Taiwan (formerly, Atlanta area) Posts: 199	I love my blackcap basslet - beautiful fish. He's not agressive but will stand his ground if challenged.

07/01/2006, 05:41 AM	#8
moongoddesss007 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sunny St. Petersburg Posts: 831	wow thanks for all the advice! we were thinking about getting a shrimp goby but i'm not sure about pistol shrimp. i've been reading they can be a little aggressive, maybe i'm wrong. i know we have a small tank, but i'm trying to only select one more fish, and of course, something on the small side. who knows we might upgrade in the next little while.