Livestock Suggestions?

fishouttawater · 10/07/2012, 12:36 PM

Hi everybody! I'm new here, first post! These forums have been a life-saver as I am new to the salt water world. For example, LFS guy told me my coral banded shrimp was a bad choice in my aquapod 24, and that'd he'd eat my fish. Instead he recommended a sand-sifting star

So, I bought the star from him, returned the CBS to the shop I bought him from and felt pretty good. UNTIL I came on here to research SSS. Lets just say I returned him three days later, and instead picked up 2 nassarius snails to help clean my sand.

Anyway, here's my livestock: 2 green chromis, 2 ocellaris, 1 lawnmower blennie, one head of frogspawn and three mushroom polyps.
Any suggestions on what, if anything, I should/could add? Thanks, I know these stocking questions probably get tiresome. Thanks for reading.

Zappo · 10/07/2012, 12:44 PM

Personally, I'd hold off on buying any more fish for a while unless you're sure that nitrate levels are under control. With a tank that size I'd keep the fish to a minimum and focus more on corals that don't need to be fed. Your frogspawn and mushrooms are great choices. As for what to add next, there's too many possibilities to count. It's almost easier to just think in terms of colors. What colors would you like to see added to the tank?

fishouttawater · 10/07/2012, 01:00 PM

Yeah, I was leaning towards no more fish for a while. I really like the colors that the ocellaris brought to the tank, the chromis and blennie were pretty bland looking lol. I was considering a skunk cleaner shrimp, but thought it might be smart to just wait. As for coral, would a Xenia be a good choice? And my frogspawn, it is a single head that my friend fragged off for me, is there a way to easily secure it to something? I have it sitting in a hole in the live rock, will it eventually fuse? Thanks.

Zappo · 10/07/2012, 01:12 PM

Xenias are great, though don't get discouraged if they don't make it. I've seen immaculate tanks that are filled with all sorts of thriving corals, but xenias just won't grow. Give it a try with a small frag. If they're happy, they'll multiply quickly and add lots of movement to the tank. As for the frogspawn, a good thick CA gel or some aquarium safe epoxy will hold it onto a rock. I use this stuff:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=3962

fishouttawater · 10/07/2012, 01:55 PM

Oh perfect...thanks! Hopefully I'll post pics/update in the next couple weeks once I get my xenia and my tank continues to grow!

Orm Embar · 10/07/2012, 04:05 PM

With your bioload in that tank, I'd think that Xenia would do well. I definitely wouldn't add more fish - you're over what I'm considering for a 38 gallon (I was planning on 3, maybe 4). Maybe some nicely colored macroalgae for nutrient export, like the red Gracilaria.

fishouttawater · 10/08/2012, 12:44 AM

hey Orm thanks for your input. I forgot to mention I have some green 'grape' (?) caulerpa that is hopefully helping with some of my nitrates...

10/07/2012, 12:36 PM	#1
fishouttawater Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 139	Livestock Suggestions? Hi everybody! I'm new here, first post! These forums have been a life-saver as I am new to the salt water world. For example, LFS guy told me my coral banded shrimp was a bad choice in my aquapod 24, and that'd he'd eat my fish. Instead he recommended a sand-sifting star So, I bought the star from him, returned the CBS to the shop I bought him from and felt pretty good. UNTIL I came on here to research SSS. Lets just say I returned him three days later, and instead picked up 2 nassarius snails to help clean my sand. Anyway, here's my livestock: 2 green chromis, 2 ocellaris, 1 lawnmower blennie, one head of frogspawn and three mushroom polyps. Any suggestions on what, if anything, I should/could add? Thanks, I know these stocking questions probably get tiresome. Thanks for reading.

10/07/2012, 04:05 PM	#6
Orm Embar Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 667	With your bioload in that tank, I'd think that Xenia would do well. I definitely wouldn't add more fish - you're over what I'm considering for a 38 gallon (I was planning on 3, maybe 4). Maybe some nicely colored macroalgae for nutrient export, like the red Gracilaria. __________________ Mark (on AOL: Orm Embar) Quotes from my friends upon seeing my tank: "Hey, fresh sushi!"

10/07/2012, 12:44 PM	#2
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	Personally, I'd hold off on buying any more fish for a while unless you're sure that nitrate levels are under control. With a tank that size I'd keep the fish to a minimum and focus more on corals that don't need to be fed. Your frogspawn and mushrooms are great choices. As for what to add next, there's too many possibilities to count. It's almost easier to just think in terms of colors. What colors would you like to see added to the tank?

10/07/2012, 01:00 PM	#3
fishouttawater Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 139	Yeah, I was leaning towards no more fish for a while. I really like the colors that the ocellaris brought to the tank, the chromis and blennie were pretty bland looking lol. I was considering a skunk cleaner shrimp, but thought it might be smart to just wait. As for coral, would a Xenia be a good choice? And my frogspawn, it is a single head that my friend fragged off for me, is there a way to easily secure it to something? I have it sitting in a hole in the live rock, will it eventually fuse? Thanks.

10/07/2012, 01:12 PM	#4
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	Xenias are great, though don't get discouraged if they don't make it. I've seen immaculate tanks that are filled with all sorts of thriving corals, but xenias just won't grow. Give it a try with a small frag. If they're happy, they'll multiply quickly and add lots of movement to the tank. As for the frogspawn, a good thick CA gel or some aquarium safe epoxy will hold it onto a rock. I use this stuff: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=3962

10/07/2012, 01:55 PM	#5
fishouttawater Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 139	Oh perfect...thanks! Hopefully I'll post pics/update in the next couple weeks once I get my xenia and my tank continues to grow!

10/08/2012, 12:44 AM	#7
fishouttawater Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 139	hey Orm thanks for your input. I forgot to mention I have some green 'grape' (?) caulerpa that is hopefully helping with some of my nitrates...