Best fish for 10g

bassplaya12 · 07/09/2010, 10:59 PM

What are the best fish/combinations of fish for a 10g?

snorvich · 07/10/2010, 06:48 AM

You can have one small fish. I would do a goby/shrimp pairing assuming you have sand.

bassplaya12 · 07/10/2010, 10:23 AM

K. any other suggestions?

LisaD · 07/10/2010, 11:25 AM

clown gobies are nice

eho72 · 07/10/2010, 12:40 PM

I keep a pair of true perc clowns and a blue shappire damselfish in my 12g nano.

teddyzaper · 07/10/2010, 12:45 PM

clowns, gobies, and any other small fish will work.

snorvich · 07/10/2010, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eho72

I keep a pair of true perc clowns and a blue shappire damselfish in my 12g nano.

Yes, but that is not a longer term stable mix.

Sitarangi · 07/10/2010, 08:16 PM

Burrowing gobies, a single damsel, a pair of clowns, firefish, and Ecsenius genus blennies would all be excellent candidates for a 10 gallon tank. A damsel and a pair of clowns should be fine together provided enough rock work and compensation for the high waste load.

bassplaya12 · 07/10/2010, 09:34 PM

^^ What would I need to compensate for that bioload?

snorvich · 07/10/2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplaya12

^^ What would I need to compensate for that bioload?

A 20 gallon refugium!

bassplaya12 · 07/10/2010, 10:47 PM

i was gonna start up a fuge but not twenty gallons

snorvich · 07/11/2010, 04:27 AM

The problem is that you have a small tank. The bioload from a pair of clowns (which really require a 25 gallon tank) and a damsel is greater than your tank will handle. The smaller the tank, the greater the risk when abnormal situations happen. The pair of clowns, which need to hold 25 gallons once mating, and will be very aggressive when then do start mating coupled with another aggressive fish, just won't work. The bioload will simply overwhelm your capacity. If you want more fish, get a larger tank.

LisaD · 07/11/2010, 04:40 AM

You could have one or two small, low bioload fish, and then focus on cool inverts (like scarlet reef hermits, small colorful shrimp, small feather duster, a couple small snails.) This is what I have in my 12 gallon nano, and it is a very active, colorful tank. Add in some zoa and mushroom frags, and a bit of decorative macro and/or a small ball of chaetomorpha, and you could have a nice little tank. It is very easy to overload a 10 gallon tank with fish.

The smallest size for a decent marine fish tank, IMO is a 25 or better yet, a 29.

FYI, in my 12 gallon nano:

Several really nice looking pieces of cured live rock

High fin red banded shrimp goby
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...181&pcatid=181

Small tiger pistol shrimp (may have to move and replace with smaller pistol as it grows)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...48&pcatid=1148

Several small saltwater ghost shrimp (feeders for my scorpions) - I put a few in this tank, they are very active and engaging

Two scarlet reef hermits
Assorted snails, including small Nassarius, Nerites
Dwarf feather duster - pink and white, a centerpiece in the tank
Assorted zoa and mushroom frags
Chaetomorpha
Some pretty red macroalgae - two species (came up on the rock)

snorvich · 07/11/2010, 06:51 AM

Excellent advice from Lisa.

bassplaya12 · 07/11/2010, 09:34 AM

I have a couple zoa frags, a pulsing xenia, green star polyps, a candy coral, and I think it's an open brain in there now. Have a scarlet hermit with a couple regular hermits, and two snails. What do you think the "coolest" fish are that I could get away with. Just something colorful. I would still like to get at least one clown

LisaD · 07/11/2010, 10:02 AM

I'd get a small ocellaris clown. You may end up wanting to move it as it grows. Another fish to add might be a small orchid dottyback. Depending on how they get along, and if you keep up with water changes, tihs might work. A smaller fish, alternatively, would be a neon goby.

Just watch parameters, minimize fluctuations, and keep up with water changes.

MrTuskfish · 07/11/2010, 10:41 AM

Just my .02. I can't imagine keeping anything more than one very small fish in a 10 gal for long. A pair of Percs and a damsel? A wipeout waiting to happen, IMO.

finfan4 · 07/11/2010, 10:51 AM

My sons 10 gal has a 1 purple firefish, a very cool little fish.

snorvich · 07/11/2010, 11:27 AM

Firefish are cool, dottybacks are also cool.

LisaD · 07/11/2010, 11:32 AM

Just be aware that many fish, even "small" ones, will outgrow a 10 gallon tank. I'd put a full grown orchid dottyback in a bigger tank than a 10, clownfish too.

eho72 · 07/11/2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTuskfish

Just my .02. I can't imagine keeping anything more than one very small fish in a 10 gal for long. A pair of Percs and a damsel? A wipeout waiting to happen, IMO.

I don't know about a wipeout. My tank is over 2 years old. The clowns hang around the frogspawns and dont swim too far from it. The sapphire damsel is very small and peaceful.

zachfishman · 07/11/2010, 11:50 AM

Clown gobies FTW. A pair of yellows with another, similarly-sized fish would be great for a 10. I just bought a pair of yellow clown gobies for my 29. They're not always visible with all my rockwork, but very easy to see (and entertaining) when they're out and about.

bassplaya12 · 07/11/2010, 12:40 PM

what about something that's not a huge swimmer? something like a watchman goby...

LisaD · 07/11/2010, 02:17 PM

get the high fin banded goby I have in my nano cube

IMO watchman gobies get too big

bassplaya12 · 07/11/2010, 04:01 PM

He looks similar to a yellow headed jaw fish! I like that little guy. What could I put in there with him?

07/09/2010, 10:59 PM	#1
bassplaya12 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo/Syracuse Posts: 685	Best fish for 10g What are the best fish/combinations of fish for a 10g?

07/10/2010, 06:48 AM	#2
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	You can have one small fish. I would do a goby/shrimp pairing assuming you have sand. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/11/2010, 04:27 AM	#12
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	The problem is that you have a small tank. The bioload from a pair of clowns (which really require a 25 gallon tank) and a damsel is greater than your tank will handle. The smaller the tank, the greater the risk when abnormal situations happen. The pair of clowns, which need to hold 25 gallons once mating, and will be very aggressive when then do start mating coupled with another aggressive fish, just won't work. The bioload will simply overwhelm your capacity. If you want more fish, get a larger tank. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/11/2010, 04:40 AM	#13
LisaD That's not a salmon Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: central North Carolina Posts: 6,986	You could have one or two small, low bioload fish, and then focus on cool inverts (like scarlet reef hermits, small colorful shrimp, small feather duster, a couple small snails.) This is what I have in my 12 gallon nano, and it is a very active, colorful tank. Add in some zoa and mushroom frags, and a bit of decorative macro and/or a small ball of chaetomorpha, and you could have a nice little tank. It is very easy to overload a 10 gallon tank with fish. The smallest size for a decent marine fish tank, IMO is a 25 or better yet, a 29. FYI, in my 12 gallon nano: Several really nice looking pieces of cured live rock High fin red banded shrimp goby http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...181&pcatid=181 Small tiger pistol shrimp (may have to move and replace with smaller pistol as it grows) http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...48&pcatid=1148 Several small saltwater ghost shrimp (feeders for my scorpions) - I put a few in this tank, they are very active and engaging Two scarlet reef hermits Assorted snails, including small Nassarius, Nerites Dwarf feather duster - pink and white, a centerpiece in the tank Assorted zoa and mushroom frags Chaetomorpha Some pretty red macroalgae - two species (came up on the rock) Last edited by LisaD; 07/11/2010 at 04:47 AM.

07/11/2010, 06:51 AM	#14
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Excellent advice from Lisa. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/10/2010, 10:23 AM	#3
bassplaya12 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo/Syracuse Posts: 685	K. any other suggestions?

07/10/2010, 11:25 AM	#4
LisaD That's not a salmon Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: central North Carolina Posts: 6,986	clown gobies are nice

07/10/2010, 12:40 PM	#5
eho72 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 322	I keep a pair of true perc clowns and a blue shappire damselfish in my 12g nano.

07/10/2010, 12:45 PM	#6
teddyzaper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Miami FL Posts: 551	clowns, gobies, and any other small fish will work.

07/10/2010, 08:16 PM	#8
Sitarangi Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 588	Burrowing gobies, a single damsel, a pair of clowns, firefish, and Ecsenius genus blennies would all be excellent candidates for a 10 gallon tank. A damsel and a pair of clowns should be fine together provided enough rock work and compensation for the high waste load.

07/10/2010, 09:34 PM	#9
bassplaya12 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo/Syracuse Posts: 685	^^ What would I need to compensate for that bioload?

07/10/2010, 10:47 PM	#11
bassplaya12 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo/Syracuse Posts: 685	i was gonna start up a fuge but not twenty gallons

07/11/2010, 09:34 AM	#15
bassplaya12 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo/Syracuse Posts: 685	I have a couple zoa frags, a pulsing xenia, green star polyps, a candy coral, and I think it's an open brain in there now. Have a scarlet hermit with a couple regular hermits, and two snails. What do you think the "coolest" fish are that I could get away with. Just something colorful. I would still like to get at least one clown

07/11/2010, 10:02 AM	#16
LisaD That's not a salmon Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: central North Carolina Posts: 6,986	I'd get a small ocellaris clown. You may end up wanting to move it as it grows. Another fish to add might be a small orchid dottyback. Depending on how they get along, and if you keep up with water changes, tihs might work. A smaller fish, alternatively, would be a neon goby. Just watch parameters, minimize fluctuations, and keep up with water changes.

07/11/2010, 10:41 AM	#17
MrTuskfish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Wild Blue Yonder Posts: 8,887	Just my .02. I can't imagine keeping anything more than one very small fish in a 10 gal for long. A pair of Percs and a damsel? A wipeout waiting to happen, IMO. __________________ If God didn't want us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat. Steve Current Tank Info: 180, 2-240 FOWLRs, 240 reef

07/11/2010, 10:51 AM	#18
finfan4 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Davis Junction,Il Posts: 146	My sons 10 gal has a 1 purple firefish, a very cool little fish. __________________ If it wasnt for bad luck... I wouldnt have anything to complain about. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef

07/11/2010, 11:27 AM	#19
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Firefish are cool, dottybacks are also cool. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/11/2010, 11:32 AM	#20
LisaD That's not a salmon Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: central North Carolina Posts: 6,986	Just be aware that many fish, even "small" ones, will outgrow a 10 gallon tank. I'd put a full grown orchid dottyback in a bigger tank than a 10, clownfish too.

07/11/2010, 11:50 AM	#22
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	Clown gobies FTW. A pair of yellows with another, similarly-sized fish would be great for a 10. I just bought a pair of yellow clown gobies for my 29. They're not always visible with all my rockwork, but very easy to see (and entertaining) when they're out and about. __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

07/11/2010, 12:40 PM	#23
bassplaya12 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo/Syracuse Posts: 685	what about something that's not a huge swimmer? something like a watchman goby...

07/11/2010, 02:17 PM	#24
LisaD That's not a salmon Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: central North Carolina Posts: 6,986	get the high fin banded goby I have in my nano cube IMO watchman gobies get too big

07/11/2010, 04:01 PM	#25
bassplaya12 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Buffalo/Syracuse Posts: 685	He looks similar to a yellow headed jaw fish! I like that little guy. What could I put in there with him?

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