8 Gallon Hex (new tank)

[Fretfreak13]

I havn't set up this tank yet, but it will be my second tank. I've been in the hobby for about four months, and I currently have a nicely running 29 gallon, mainly fish with LR because I have yet to get lighting. It will be a reef soon enough.

Anyways, this new tank is currently housing my Jack Dempsey chiclid but he has outgrown the tank and will be moving to daddy's 55 gallon chiclid tank. I am not sure of the brand of this tank, but I've had it since I was a toddler breeding guppies (I'm 15 now). It has a fitted hood, the front having a light and in the back a small filter system which I'll mod a little bit to fit saltwater (remove carbon and bio-wheel, add sponge and chemi-pure with some LR rubble). Anyways, I know it's a small tank, and I"m well aware about the diffaculty of water parameters. I was going to put one damsel in the tank, two if I'm lucky. Rather than the damsels though, I'd like to get a yellow headded jawfish. I know this is a small tank, but they mainly just stay in their burrows, right? He'd be the only thing in the tank, except for the CUC.

If the tank is for damsels:
-1-2 inches of LS
-10-15 lbs of LR
-some small powerhead
-two-three gallon WC every five-seven days

If I can instead put in a jawfish:
-4-5 inches of LS
-5-10 lbs of LR (and some rubble for him to decorate with)
-some small powerhead
-two-three gallon WC every five-seven days

CUC:
-5 hermits
-assortment of snails (any ideas, cause I don't know much about them)
-1 type of ornamental shrimp, perhaps a Sexi shrimp if that would be ok
-1 emerald crab
-1-2 MINI brittle stars
-anything else you guys suggust

Corals?
I'd like to add corals of some type, basically because plain LR is kind of boring. I have to use the stock lighting since it's built into the hood, but could I keep NPS corals? If so, would the significant ammoutn of flow that they need bother my fish? Also i've heard of some people keeping zoas, mushrooms, and easy leathers in very little lighting. Anyone think it's worth trying with hardy things, or just keeping in LR with fish only?


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So what do you guys think? Like I said, I'd much rather get the jawfish. They're much more fun to watch, and this tank will be sitting next to my computer so I can constantly tell you what's going on while I'm on RC lol. The only reason I am going for this small of a SW tank is because my mom wont let me have a large one in the living room, which somewhat hurts my feelings because I work so hard on making my tanks beautiful and having them flourish and I have to drag people down to the basement to see them.

[jenjen]

I don't know, they get up to 4-5 inches - seems like they would need a larger tank. How about one of the smaller burrowing goby's instead?

[Fretfreak13]

what about a goby/pistol pair? does anyone have any trouble with the pistol taking out ornimental shrimp?

[Blown 346]

Pistol shrimp can take out normal ornamental shrimp.

[jenjen]

In an 8gal tank I'd go with the goby/shrimp pair and forgo the ornamental shrimp. Add some hermits instead. Should be an entertaining tank to watch.