PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by meegwell

Im new and getting ready to start my cycle. Im primarily choosing fish on tank size, "common" or easy to find, and then "beauty" - I have four young kids so Im keeping in mind what might get them excited.

Tank: 90g (48 18 24) 30g sump. Minimalist aquascaping (more open space than normal) will have mixed corals, would like a clam, maybe a crab.

Havent decided a CUC yet (input welcome!)

Fish Selection (Round 1)

Foxface - 1 (like the one spot)
Angel - (I like flame, coral beauty, bicolor) - 1 of these or would more than one work? You could do two, the first two would be the better pairing but they should be introduced concurrently for best behavioral adaptation
Hi Fin Goby - 1
Midas Blenny - 1
Ocell clowns - pair
purply dottyback 1 pretty but overly aggressive

Can I do more than 1 of any of the smaller fish? In general, no. Exceptions would be a true male female pair; this is difficult to accomplish, however.

what is a good very small fish that I could have a school of (I dont know if school is the correct term but I'm picturing a pack of little guys that cruise together...you know, a gang)

In your sized aquarium, unfortunately, that will not happen. Many people suggest cardinals, but while they will initially aggregate, in the longer term they will simply pair off. The other downside is they are primarily nocturnal.

I'm looking for size variety and color variety w/ some extra yellow. Any suggestions not on my list would be greatly appreciated.

I never provide recommendations for a variety of reasons, however I am quite willing to reanalyze your stocking list with revisions

Thanks!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by ALR

So, if I decided to get "nemo" for the kids, what other small fish is compatible with a clownfish since they are semi aggressive?

One that would not be perceived to occupy the same ecological niche. Probably a shrimp/goby commensal pair would work IF you have sand.

[ALR]

Originally Posted by snorvich

One that would not be perceived to occupy the same ecological niche. Probably a shrimp/goby commensal pair would work IF you have sand.

I do have sand, so I will heed your advice and go that route. Thank you for all your help and quick responses.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by ALR

I do have sand, so I will heed your advice and go that route. Thank you for all your help and quick responses.

The question you will invariably have is whether or not the goby will find the shrimp. In fact, they always do, and in fact you can have a pair of shrimp bonded with one goby.

[meegwell]

Thanks so much. Ok i'll ax the small gang idea. Can i get a tang in here maybe a yellow tang?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by meegwell

Thanks so much. Ok i'll ax the small gang idea. Can i get a tang in here maybe a yellow tang?

A bristletooth or Kole Tang would do well.

[meegwell]

Thanks so much.

Round 2 list...90 gal minimal aquascape 30 sump mixed coral, clam

Foxface - 1 (like the one spot)
Angel - 2 (flame, coral beauty)
Spotband butterfly 1
Bristletooth tang 1
Hi Fin Goby - 1
Midas Blenny - 1
Ocell clowns -pair
Carpenters flasher wrasse 1



How do i determine whether im high on bioload or not? I.e. too many fishies....
This is fun......thanks again.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by meegwell

Thanks so much.

Round 2 list...90 gal minimal aquascape 30 sump mixed coral, clam

Foxface - 1 (like the one spot)
Angel - 2 (flame, coral beauty)
Spotband butterfly 1 not reef or clam safe
Bristletooth tang 1
Hi Fin Goby - 1
Midas Blenny - 1
Ocell clowns -pair
Carpenters flasher wrasse 1 prolific jumper, 1/4 inch holed mesh required



How do i determine whether im high on bioload or not? I.e. too many fishies....
This is fun......thanks again.

Unfortunately it is art rather than science. If it were science I would be redundant. But you are bordering on too many fish in the same ecological niche, that is algae grazers. I would remove either the tang or the foxface. Although you could have both if you religiously feed Nori on a clip.

[meegwell]

Ive had in my head it must be a science.....x of fish size y etc....makes me feel better that its an art. OK, ax the tang, some day i might have a bigger tank and have the tangs i realy want. Ax the butterfly my bad on not catching the non reef safe aspect.


Round 3

Foxface - 1 (like the one spot)
Angel - 2 (flame, coral beauty) introduced at the same time
Hi Fin Goby - 1
Midas Blenny - 1
Ocell clowns -pair
Neon blue goby 1
Catalina goby 1

Thanks so much!

meegwell

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by meegwell

Ive had in my head it must be a science.....x of fish size y etc....makes me feel better that its an art.

Many people try to make it such. In fresh water there are "guidelines" but those too are not really correct.

OK, ax the tang, some day i might have a bigger tank and have the tangs i realy want. Ax the butterfly my bad on not catching the non reef safe aspect.

Many people make that mistake or delude themselves. Note well, however, that all dwarf angels are not really reef safe either towards meaty LPS corals


Round 3

Foxface - 1 (like the one spot)
Angel - 2 (flame, coral beauty) introduced at the same time
Hi Fin Goby - 1
Midas Blenny - 1
Ocell clowns -pair
Neon blue goby 1
Catalina goby 1 No. Requires cool temperatures for long term survival

Thanks so much!

meegwell

[Rembee]

I've had my tank up and running for just over a year now. I have a 90G DT, 4" DSB with a 45G sump w/refugium below the DT. It has about 60 lbs. of live rock with mostly Leathers, Mushrooms and some SPS corals.
I'm looking to add a Kole tang, 2 Ocellaris Clown's and maybe a Randall's Goby with a Tiger Pistol Shrimp. As with my present fish, I will be adding these slowly over the next year and I do Quarantine all my fish for atleast 4 weeks. This would complete my fish list.
I am also thinking about a Flame Angel but I'm not sure how it would do with my Coral Angel Beauty fish. The jury is still out on the Flame Angel.

My present fish are as follows,
2- Pajama Cardinals
1- Coral Angel Beauty
1- One Spot Fox Face
1- Diamond Goby
1- Scooter Blenny

My question is, will I be able to have the 2 Gobies (Diamond & Randall's Goby) with the pistol shrimp?
And also, how is my overall fish selection for my size tank?

Thanks in advance

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Rembee

I've had my tank up and running for just over a year now. I have a 90G DT, 4" DSB with a 45G sump w/refugium below the DT. It has about 60 lbs. of live rock with mostly Leathers, Mushrooms and some SPS corals.
I'm looking to add a Kole tang, 2 Ocellaris Clown's and maybe a Randall's Goby with a Tiger Pistol Shrimp. As with my present fish, I will be adding these slowly over the next year and I do Quarantine all my fish for atleast 4 weeks. This would complete my fish list.

I am also thinking about a Flame Angel but I'm not sure how it would do with my Coral Angel Beauty fish. The jury is still out on the Flame Angel.

concurrent introduction would have been much better. If you get an acclimation box, maybe, otherwise there will be a lot of chasing.

My present fish are as follows,
2- Pajama Cardinals
1- Coral Angel Beauty
1- One Spot Fox Face
1- Diamond Goby
1- Scooter Blenny

My question is, will I be able to have the 2 Gobies (Diamond & Randall's Goby) with the pistol shrimp?

No. Two fish of this nature occupying the same exact ecological niche is not going to work long term. One goby, one or more pistol shrimp

And also, how is my overall fish selection for my size tank?

Acceptable but I would not have selected two largish grazers especially with smaller grazers

Thanks in advance

[Rembee]

Ok...so I'll stay with the one goby and maybe add a tiger pistol shrimp sometime in the near future.

Will my diamond goby pair up with the pistol shrimp?

And what about the introduction of the Kole Tang?

I know you said you would not have selected two largish grazers especially with smaller grazers, but my Coarl Beauty Angel does not really graze my reef. He mostly eats the Rods' blend or flakes and Nori seaweed that I feed the tank.

Plus I have plenty of live mysis shrimp, (atleast I think they are mysis's) and lots of pods of all kinds. My refugium is loaded with them, both the pods and these small lil shrimp.

I also run a ATS scrubber that is working great for me. And it is a pod farm! I also feed the tank with some of the alga from my ATS before I clean it and/or when ever needed. The ATS provides me with unlimited amounts of green Alga for my grazing fish and they love it. They go crazy for it when I feed them small amounts from my ATS.

Thanks Snorevich for your replies and advise. You have been very helpful over the past year or so that I have been into my reefing journey.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Rembee

Ok...so I'll stay with the one goby and maybe add a tiger pistol shrimp sometime in the near future.

Will my diamond goby pair up with the pistol shrimp?

Always. How, I am not sure, but it always happens. You can have multiple pistol shrimp but only one goby.

And what about the introduction of the Kole Tang?

A largish grazer. Remember that with an ATS, you will likely have less algae for your Foxface, tang, and dwarf angels. Foxfaces, when hungry are not reef safe.

I know you said you would not have selected two largish grazers especially with smaller grazers, but my Coarl Beauty Angel does not really graze my reef. He mostly eats the Rods' blend or flakes and Nori seaweed that I feed the tank.

Nori, as well as ATS algae solves the grazer problem for this fish and the ones mentioned above, but make sure that is daily.

Plus I have plenty of live mysis shrimp, (atleast I think they are mysis's) and lots of pods of all kinds. My refugium is loaded with them, both the pods and these small lil shrimp.

I also run a ATS scrubber that is working great for me. And it is a pod farm! I also feed the tank with some of the alga from my ATS before I clean it and/or when ever needed. The ATS provides me with unlimited amounts of green Alga for my grazing fish and they love it. They go crazy for it when I feed them small amounts from my ATS.

Thanks Snorevich for your replies and advise. You have been very helpful over the past year or so that I have been into my reefing journey.

[Rembee]

Thank you so much Steve for your experience, knowledge and wisdom. You have been a big help. Daily feedings of algae from my ATS will be easy, as it has plenty of growth on it and it is easily accessible to me.

And I will start off with one pistol shrimp in a month or so and see how it goes. I just transferred my Foxface to my DT after 5 weeks of having him in my quarantine tank. So I will wait a few months before any further additions as not to upset the bio-load in my DT.

[snorvich]

You are most welcome. Check back with any marine fish compatibility questions.

[President Evil]

Hi, I have a 55 gallon tank, and I am considering placing the following fish:

you had already commented on this setup, and I reconsidered the "foxface".

1 Percula Clownfish
1 Flame Angel
1 Banggai Cardinal
1 Yellow clown goby

Would I be able to add 1 blue/green chromis to the mix? What about a "lemonpeel angel? would these fish be too much of a bioload for this size aquarium?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by President Evil

Hi, I have a 55 gallon tank, and I am considering placing the following fish:

you had already commented on this setup, and I reconsidered the "foxface".

1 Percula Clownfish
1 Flame Angel
1 Banggai Cardinal
1 Yellow clown goby

Would I be able to add 1 blue/green chromis to the mix? What about a "lemonpeel angel? would these fish be too much of a bioload for this size aquarium?

Bioload is fine, I would not add a second angel in this sized tank

[President Evil]

It's great to have a teacher with you're experience answering all of our questions. For that, I and all the other "noobs" thank you.

My tank is 55 gal with plenty of live rock.

So, do you think it is appropriate to have

1 blue/green chromis
1 Percula Clownfish
1 Flame Angel
1 Banggai Cardinal
1 Yellow clown goby

I am wondering if some of these fish occupy the same ecological niche, (meaning some graze on algae, and others not) would create problems sometime down the road. As of now I am 3 weeks into cycling, and I want to do it as well as i can.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by President Evil

It's great to have a teacher with you're experience answering all of our questions. For that, I and all the other "noobs" thank you.

My tank is 55 gal with plenty of live rock.

So, do you think it is appropriate to have

1 blue/green chromis
1 Percula Clownfish
1 Flame Angel
1 Banggai Cardinal
1 Yellow clown goby

I am wondering if some of these fish occupy the same ecological niche, (meaning some graze on algae, and others not) would create problems sometime down the road. As of now I am 3 weeks into cycling, and I want to do it as well as i can.

No, there is not problem with that. All angels graze but none of your other fish do. If they did occupy the same ecological niche, such as two angels, a larger tank would be required.

[jmifland]

Can a Zebra Lionfish be kept alone in a Coralife Biocube 29? I have read that the minium is 30 gallons and I have experience keeping saltwater aquariums. He would be the only inhabitant of the tank aside from maybe some hermits and corals later down the road.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by jmifland

Can a Zebra Lionfish be kept alone in a Coralife Biocube 29? I have read that the minium is 30 gallons and I have experience keeping saltwater aquariums. He would be the only inhabitant of the tank aside from maybe some hermits and corals later down the road.

Minimum should really be 50 gallons.

[jmifland]

Are there any dwarf lionfish that can be kept in this aquarium? Like I said, I do have experience with fish and from my past experience with lionfish they usually just lounge around. He would be spoiled rotten with live food and water changes to make sure water parameters are perfect. If you don't recommend this being done is there a center piece fish that would be good for this tank. Maybe a loan lemonpeel or something along those lines?

I know Angels require a lot of swim room so I really just said that because I want something that is unique and colorful and a lemonpeel was mentioned earlier.

[snorvich]

Every dwarf lionfish should have a 50 gallon tank unfortunately. However with the dwarf angels, almost all would do well in your sized tank. If I were going that route (angels) I would look for one of the spectacularly colored flame angels.

[jmifland]

Any others? I used to have one of those in an older tank and I'm looking for something new to watch and enjoy I do enjoy the colors of the White Elbi Angel. I am at work so I can only do so much research without getting blocked out so I'm not 100% sure on their tank requirements.