PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[thompson2224]

Really? A Clownfish, coral beauty, and a goby can't be in a 20 gallon tank? Everything I've heard has said they can be. The only one I've been told that can't is the tang

[KCD1803]

blnk

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by thompson2224

Really? A Clownfish, coral beauty, and a goby can't be in a 20 gallon tank? Everything I've heard has said they can be. The only one I've been told that can't is the tang

I cannot say what you have heard and it may or may not be right. However, a clownfish (pair) really needs a 25 gallon tank and a single will become female over time. A hepatus tang needs a 240 gallon 8 foot tank, and dwarf angels really need a 75 gallon tank. But if you knew the tang needed a larger tank, why ask?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by KCD1803

I am planning a build, 92 gallon corner, had hopes of having a small school of 5 little COLORFUL fish - it would appear green chromis are not going to work for long, what would you recommend long term? FOWLR, all fish are friendlies

No fish will school in your sized tank. As those who follow this thread know, I do not provide recommendations for a variety of reasons. I am, however, always happy to analyze any stocking plan provided you supply tank size and maturity.

[thompson2224]

Originally Posted by snorvich

I cannot say what you have heard and it may or may not be right. However, a clownfish (pair) really needs a 25 gallon tank and a single will become female over time. A hepatus tang needs a 240 gallon 8 foot tank, and dwarf angels really need a 75 gallon tank. But if you knew the tang needed a larger tank, why ask?

I like the tangs and I know that they tank almost 5 years to get to the size of needing a large tank. Ive heard of people having success with them in a 30 gallon tank for 5 years with other fish. Ive also seen and heard of people having a 10 gallon reef tank with clowns as well and having no problems. What about the mandarin goby he can't be in a 20? What can I have in a 20 in your opinion?

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by thompson2224

I like the tangs and I know that they tank almost 5 years to get to the size of needing a large tank. Ive heard of people having success with them in a 30 gallon tank for 5 years with other fish. Ive also seen and heard of people having a 10 gallon reef tank with clowns as well and having no problems. What about the mandarin goby he can't be in a 20? What can I have in a 20 in your opinion?

I think you should ask the folks that you heard all this stuff from what to do. However, I think I am not going to be able to provide useful answers to you. Best of luck.

[KCD1803]

You guys are great, thanks for the quick reply.

It makes sense not to make recommendations come to think of it.

Would 5 Threadfin Cardinalfish play friendly together in 92 gallon corner?

[SilverAvia]

how does this sound for a stocking list for a 180 (72" x 24" x 24") gallon reef tank?

Purple Fire fish Goby (Nemateleotis Decora) x2

Tribal Blenny (Atrosalarias Sp.) x1

Heniochus Black and White Butterfly (Heniochus Acuminatus) x1

Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphipron Ocellaris) x2

Orchid Dorryback (Pseudochromis Fridmani) x1

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus heptus) x1

Yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) x1 or 2 (plaaced at the same time)

Green Mandarin (Synchiropas slendidus) x1

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by KCD1803

You guys are great, thanks for the quick reply.

It makes sense not to make recommendations come to think of it.

Would 5 Threadfin Cardinalfish play friendly together in 92 gallon corner?

Initially they will group together but then will pair off and "hide". The closest fish to what you are looking for (I think) is Apogon Parvulus but that is on the difficult side as they require frequent feeding with less than common foods.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by SilverAvia

how does this sound for a stocking list for a 180 (72" x 24" x 24") gallon reef tank?

Purple Fire fish Goby (Nemateleotis Decora) x2 unless a bonded pair, only one will survive long term

Tribal Blenny (Atrosalarias Sp.) x1

Heniochus Black and White Butterfly (Heniochus Acuminatus) x1

Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphipron Ocellaris) x2

Orchid Dorryback (Pseudochromis Fridmani) x1

Blue Tang (Paracanthurus heptus) x1 needs a longer and larger tank. Length is more critical than gallons.

Yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) x1 or 2 (plaaced at the same time) Well, maybe. Zebrasoma can be paired but the prognosis longer term would be better in a longer tank.

Green Mandarin (Synchiropas slendidus) x1

[LotusCaralarm]

Hi, i'm getting a 7ft. 245gal (84" 26" 26") to replace my old 120. will be making it into a reef

1x Dracula goby
1x Greenband goby*
1x Cleaner shrimp
1x Flame angelfish*
3x Pyramid butterflyfish
12x Blue Streak Cardinalfish
6x Lyretail Anthias
1x Purple tang
1x Achilles tang*
1x Green mandarin
2x Pink Skunk Clownfish*

* indicates that I already have the fish in my 120 but I will keep that running untill all the fish are moved to the new tank
any help on compatibility/bioload would be greatly appreciated

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by LotusCaralarm

Hi, i'm getting a 7ft. 245gal (84" 26" 26") to replace my old 120. will be making it into a reef

1x Dracula goby
1x Greenband goby*
1x Cleaner shrimp
1x Flame angelfish*
3x Pyramid butterflyfish
12x Blue Streak Cardinalfish
6x Lyretail Anthias
1x Purple tang add last
1x Achilles tang*
1x Green mandarin
2x Pink Skunk Clownfish*

* indicates that I already have the fish in my 120 but I will keep that running untill all the fish are moved to the new tank
any help on compatibility/bioload would be greatly appreciated

I do not see any issues with behavior or bioload

[Brooke96]

Hi, I have a 125G fowlr tank. No sump. Right now I have 2 Clownfish, a Rock Beauty Angelfish, and a Threadfin Butterflyfish. There's quite a bit of algae growing (mostly cyano) so I was thinking of buying a Foxface to eat some of it. Is the Foxface a good choice? Thanks!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Brooke96

Hi, I have a 125G fowlr tank. No sump. Right now I have 2 Clownfish, a Rock Beauty Angelfish, and a Threadfin Butterflyfish. There's quite a bit of algae growing (mostly cyano) so I was thinking of buying a Foxface to eat some of it. Is the Foxface a good choice? Thanks!

should be good. No personality issues. Rock Beauty Angelfish are difficult to maintain long term.

[lrs183]

Hello all,

I just started what would be considered a nano aquarium this last Saturday. Way to bring in the New Year! lol. But anyways, I don't own any fish as of yet but the cycling process appears to be going very smoothly so the prospects of introducing a critter or two every few weeks is becoming a reality. I am interested in hearing a few ideas of what you all think would be neat to have in the tank. Obviously I know I am limited to at the most 2-3 fish. Here are my tanks parameters:

21G Cube, 20 pounds of live sand and 21 pounds of live rock. Has a protein skimmer along with a power head and the return pump for water/surface water movement. I intend to make this a reef aquarium so I would prefer the fish to be reef safe. As well, I want to have some shrimp in the tank so I'd prefer them to not be shrimp eaters, haha.

Lastly, if there is a such thing as that perfect fish out there, I'd be interested in finding something that not only eats various foods that it is given, but may also work to tame the population of Asterina Stars in the tank or flat worms (I pray that I never deal with them). But I suppose what I am saying is I am interested in finding a tank that looks neat but is also self sufficient to a certain degree in terms of the life going on in the tank.

One fish in particular though that struck my eye was a purple dotty back. And clownfish, of course.

Thank you!

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by lrs183

Hello all,

I just started what would be considered a nano aquarium this last Saturday. Way to bring in the New Year! lol. But anyways, I don't own any fish as of yet but the cycling process appears to be going very smoothly so the prospects of introducing a critter or two every few weeks is becoming a reality. I am interested in hearing a few ideas of what you all think would be neat to have in the tank. Obviously I know I am limited to at the most 2-3 fish. Here are my tanks parameters:

21G Cube, 20 pounds of live sand and 21 pounds of live rock. Has a protein skimmer along with a power head and the return pump for water/surface water movement. I intend to make this a reef aquarium so I would prefer the fish to be reef safe. As well, I want to have some shrimp in the tank so I'd prefer them to not be shrimp eaters, haha.

Lastly, if there is a such thing as that perfect fish out there, I'd be interested in finding something that not only eats various foods that it is given, but may also work to tame the population of Asterina Stars in the tank or flat worms (I pray that I never deal with them). But I suppose what I am saying is I am interested in finding a tank that looks neat but is also self sufficient to a certain degree in terms of the life going on in the tank.

One fish in particular though that struck my eye was a purple dotty back. And clownfish, of course.

Thank you!

This thread is answered only by Reef Central Staff, in this case, me. As those who follow this thread know, I do not provide recommendations for a variety of reasons. However, I am always happy to analyze any stocking plan for compatibility. As an FYI, the only way of controlling/eliminating asterina stars is a harlequin shrimp, but after they are eliminated, it would starve to death unless provided with starfish legs.

[moonyrat]

40gal long
2x Bangal cardinal
2x false clown
Yasha randell shrimp pair
1 bicolor Blenny
1 emerald crab
1 peppermint shrimp
1 cleaner shrimp
10 snails
6 blue legged hermit

Tank is 3 yrs old, can I add a mandarin tha eats frozen food?

[bwhite33]

Steve,

you said this stocking could work in a 48X18X24, will it work in a 36X20X24 (75 gal), or have I given up to much length? Thanks again.

old info:

The picture in my head is to have a 90 gallon 48x18X24, 6 inches of sand, with one triangular (10x10x10) ceramic ledge held up by a leg/pillar on each corner of the ledge. This ledge would be about 9 inches from the water surface. Other ceramic rock-scaping, low grotto type, to divide up the tank area and provide hiding areas

Planned stocking:
- Bonded pair of Randall Shrimp Gobies, with shrimp
- Bonded pair Chinstrap Jawfish
- Sun Corals under the ledge (more in the shade)
- Squamosa Clam on the ledge Is it feasible to do this, using an LED pendant)
- 1 Yellow Assessor(s)
- 1 Pygmy Wrasse
- Maybe an Orchid Dottyback

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by moonyrat

40gal long
2x Bangal cardinal
2x false clown
Yasha randell shrimp pair
1 bicolor Blenny
1 emerald crab
1 peppermint shrimp
1 cleaner shrimp
10 snails
6 blue legged hermit

Tank is 3 yrs old, can I add a mandarin tha eats frozen food?

No. Several problems: first mandarins do not compete, secondly their metabolism requires constant eating, third your tank will produce insufficient copepods. People do it, but within a year or less, the mandarin starves.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by bwhite33

Steve,

you said this stocking could work in a 48X18X24, will it work in a 36X20X24 (75 gal), or have I given up to much length? Thanks again.

old info:

The picture in my head is to have a 90 gallon 48x18X24, 6 inches of sand, with one triangular (10x10x10) ceramic ledge held up by a leg/pillar on each corner of the ledge. This ledge would be about 9 inches from the water surface. Other ceramic rock-scaping, low grotto type, to divide up the tank area and provide hiding areas

Planned stocking:
- Bonded pair of Randall Shrimp Gobies, with shrimp
- Bonded pair Chinstrap Jawfish
- Sun Corals under the ledge (more in the shade)
- Squamosa Clam on the ledge Is it feasible to do this, using an LED pendant) Squamosa are less light requiring, so yes, assuming full spectrum LED
- 1 Yellow Assessor(s)
- 1 Pygmy Wrasse
- Maybe an Orchid Dottyback

Yes. You have only fish that have small territorial imperatives and you really don't have occupants of the same ecological niche.

[moonyrat]

Originally Posted by snorvich

No. Several problems: first mandarins do not compete, secondly their metabolism requires constant eating, third your tank will produce insufficient copepods. People do it, but within a year or less, the mandarin starves.

Thx for the thoughtful input. Can I add another yasha instead?

[maddmaxx]

current set up is a 220g (72x24x30) with a 125g (72x18x22) sump. i have about or lil over 375lbs of live rock in entire system. along with 300lbs of live sand in the entire system. i will also be upgrading skimmer soon to most likely an aquamaxx cone 5 skimmer. i do regular water changes wit a brute garbage can every two weeks. so say about 60-70 gallons a month. this tank will be full blown mixed, but most softies, i like the sway movement of softie corals..fish that i am looking at:

-3 yellow tail damsels (already have, can be taken out if needed, most likely will remove)
-6 anthias (either dispar or lyretails, buying all female so one can change to male)
-1 flame angel (poss might do a pair if i can find a bonded pair)
-2 clowns (some sort of designer pair ill go with)
-1 midas blenny
-1 poss 2 royal grammas
-1 firefish (was told single or odd pairs work best if keeping multiple)
-4 poss 5 wrasse (a combo of leapord, fairy, flasher would work, would love to have a melenarus or christmas wrasse, but snails wouldnt fair to well and we need a clean up crew)
-3 yellow tangs
-1 powder blue (my version of fish nemesis, would be added last)
-1 blonde naso

I know its a decent fish list but other then the tangs all are small. i also understand the anthias require good feedings thru out the day, and they bump up the bioload cause of that. i dont intend to get all these cause not sure if that is possible. but i figured id post here and get feed back to see what can be done with this list and what fish to get. i know i cant just go buying crazy, and theres a waiting period between fish and an order to when they should be introduced. just need a lil info on the fish i would like to get...

[bwhite33]

Originally Posted by snorvich

Yes. You have only fish that have small territorial imperatives and you really don't have occupants of the same ecological niche.

Thanks again

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by moonyrat

Thx for the thoughtful input. Can I add another yasha instead?

Maybe. If you find one that happens to be the opposite sex.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

current set up is a 220g (72x24x30) with a 125g (72x18x22) sump. i have about or lil over 375lbs of live rock in entire system. along with 300lbs of live sand in the entire system. i will also be upgrading skimmer soon to most likely an aquamaxx cone 5 skimmer. i do regular water changes wit a brute garbage can every two weeks. so say about 60-70 gallons a month. this tank will be full blown mixed, but most softies, i like the sway movement of softie corals..fish that i am looking at:

-3 yellow tail damsels (already have, can be taken out if needed, most likely will remove) very aggressive and may limit additions.
-6 anthias (either dispar or lyretails, buying all female so one can change to male)
-1 flame angel (poss might do a pair if i can find a bonded pair)
-2 clowns (some sort of designer pair ill go with)
-1 midas blenny
-1 poss 2 royal grammas
-1 firefish (was told single or odd pairs work best if keeping multiple) single only, the odd numbers thing has no merit
-4 poss 5 wrasse (a combo of leapord, fairy, flasher would work, would love to have a melenarus or christmas wrasse, but snails wouldnt fair to well and we need a clean up crew)
-3 yellow tangs
-1 powder blue (my version of fish nemesis, would be added last) I would not try this many tangs in a six foot tank. The yellows are super aggressive once established and will not allow additions of similars
-1 blonde naso needs a larger tank

I know its a decent fish list but other then the tangs all are small.

it is not really size that is an issue (although the naso will make your tank look tiny when fully grown) it is behavior and territorial imperative which will increase as they mature.


i also understand the anthias require good feedings thru out the day, and they bump up the bioload cause of that. i dont intend to get all these cause not sure if that is possible. but i figured id post here and get feed back to see what can be done with this list and what fish to get. i know i cant just go buying crazy, and theres a waiting period between fish and an order to when they should be introduced. just need a lil info on the fish i would like to get...