Stocking suggestions for a Hawaiian themed nano

Spiffyguy · 02/15/2005, 05:46 PM

Howdy everyone. I am closing in a purchasing a JBJ 24 gallon Nano cube. This is my first tank but I have read quite a bit here. I would like to have a Hawaiian tank but have main fish be a clowns and an anemone. I am looking for some ideas on stocking the tank. Obviously I will toss a Hawaiian Featherduster in when the tank can support it. But what type of clowns, anemone, snails ect.... And also any other fish that the tank can hold. I do plan on removing some of the filtration in the back of the tank and replace it with live rock and a small micro filter. So what is some good things that you would suggest?
thanks

mygreengoldfish · 02/15/2005, 10:03 PM

If possible I would say try to use lava rock instead of live rock. Many places where I have snorkeled in hawaii have all there corals, and algae, etc.. growing on black lava rock. And in the end the rock becomes almost the same as normal live rock.

If your tank were bigger I would suggest yellow tang(s), a difficult to keep moorish idol, red pencil urchin, picasso triggerfish or snowflake eel. But all of these creatures need at least a 100 gallon tank.

bigworm616 · 02/15/2005, 10:46 PM

the only problem with having clowns in a hawaii themed tank, is that there are no clowns in hawaii. There are however a lot of other nice looking creatures. Im pretty sure the eightline and pinstripe wrasses are both natives of hawaii and are both stunning. also be carful of your inverts and corals. Just because it says indo-pacific does not mean hawaii, hawaii is some what of a unique habitat, due to its location in the middle of the pacific ocean. If you want to make it a true hawaii tank do your research on all livestock for point of collection.

Spiffyguy · 02/15/2005, 11:00 PM

Yeah if the tank was going to be bigger then I would certainly get a Yallow tang or two. I went to Hawaii on my honeymoon, hence the tank idea, and they were huge when I went snorkeling. I would also do a trigger if I had a bigger tank but I am limited with a 24 gallon. Now when you say lava rock are you reffering to the stuff for gardens? I am not aware of any place to get large chunks of lava rock.

I thought there was a species of clown from Hawaii. I will have to look into it further. most of the fish I know from that area are large and require the large tank.

FlipFlops24/7 · 02/16/2005, 10:41 AM

flame angels can be found in Hawaii, although rare. True Hawaiian flame angels are generally more pricey though. Specimens sold as "Hawaiian Flames" are usually not from Hawaii but probably come from the Marshall, Line, or Cook Islands.

bleedinorange · 02/19/2005, 02:05 PM

Squirrel fish would be cool, they are hawaiian.

Wee Man · 02/19/2005, 02:19 PM

sea horses

Spiffyguy · 02/19/2005, 04:22 PM

Squirrel Fish is a good idea. They would be too big for a 24 gallon though but with a bigger tank they would work. The seahorses would be cool too. In fact the main push for the 24 nano was from a thread where a lady used it for seahorses. But I think for a first tank they would be a bit tough for me.

kenny77 · 02/19/2005, 04:37 PM

i had the same idea of seting up a hawaiian tank but. i reallice that i will need at least a 100g or bigger. since i was looking for butterfly, snowflake eel, angel and tangs. a 24g will be dificul to stock if trying to do it why hawaii species. unless you go more open and choose to do it pacific themed, or caribean themed. with does 2 you will have more options

Spiffyguy · 02/19/2005, 04:44 PM

yeah I think I am going to go kinda indo-pacific or throw out the idea of a themed tank until I can get a large one. I had the joy of snorkeling out in Hawaii and it is great but all the fish I saw were big. lots of Yellow Tangs to size of dinner plates and triggers so not much small fish to choose from. But I may have to keep the list around for a larger tank in the future.

35gallonhex · 02/19/2005, 05:52 PM

i like fish hehe i wish you luck in your search

Spiffyguy · 02/19/2005, 06:07 PM

I like fish too. And thank you

SptfireXIV · 02/19/2005, 06:29 PM

I know this probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but a Carribean biotype would be MUCH easier for a small tank. There you can find lots of damsels, royal grammas (there's millions of them), blennies, gobies, etc. etc. Lots more to choose from.

Spiffyguy · 02/19/2005, 06:44 PM

yeah that is true. A lot more options for smaller fish.

cb747 · 02/19/2005, 06:51 PM

Heres a site that sells Hawaiian fish. Straight from the diver as well

Itll give you a good idea of the different fish there are but youll need a bigger tank!
Chris
http://www.hawaiiantropicalfish.com/index.html

Spiffyguy · 02/19/2005, 07:16 PM

wow that is a cool site. Nice that is comes straight from a diver so maybe they use slightly better capture methods that are gentler on the fish. I thought that you could not remove fish from hawaiian waters though. Obviously there are permits I am sure. Maybe someone can clue me in the the law there.

cb747 · 02/19/2005, 09:22 PM

I havent ordered from them before. I know of another diver in Hawaii that ill be ordering from in the spring. They ship by air carrier to your local airport. Fed Ex back to the states is 2 day. There is no overnight from Hawaii. I believe that they can collect fish and inverts but absolutely no corals may be collected.
Chris

marrstarr · 09/27/2006, 04:11 PM

Hi. I live in Hawaii so maybe I can help. You can take fish from hawaiian water but cannot take any coral or live rock. I would not go with a hawaii tank for a nano. The fish here that are the best are the angels, tanks, and butterflies. None of which would work for a nano. We don't have clowns or colorful anemones.

02/15/2005, 05:46 PM	#1
Spiffyguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St Charles, Mo Posts: 1,633	Stocking suggestions for a Hawaiian themed nano Howdy everyone. I am closing in a purchasing a JBJ 24 gallon Nano cube. This is my first tank but I have read quite a bit here. I would like to have a Hawaiian tank but have main fish be a clowns and an anemone. I am looking for some ideas on stocking the tank. Obviously I will toss a Hawaiian Featherduster in when the tank can support it. But what type of clowns, anemone, snails ect.... And also any other fish that the tank can hold. I do plan on removing some of the filtration in the back of the tank and replace it with live rock and a small micro filter. So what is some good things that you would suggest? thanks __________________ Spiffyguy Ain't life spiffy!! Click the little red house to see my fish tank. "The cheese stands alone." Current Tank Info: 55 with in tank sump and TBS rock, Aquactinics TX5, Remora HOB oh my. 10 gallon AGA with custom overflow and Aquaclear HOB, Black sand rubble zone.

02/15/2005, 11:00 PM	#4
Spiffyguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St Charles, Mo Posts: 1,633	Yeah if the tank was going to be bigger then I would certainly get a Yallow tang or two. I went to Hawaii on my honeymoon, hence the tank idea, and they were huge when I went snorkeling. I would also do a trigger if I had a bigger tank but I am limited with a 24 gallon. Now when you say lava rock are you reffering to the stuff for gardens? I am not aware of any place to get large chunks of lava rock. I thought there was a species of clown from Hawaii. I will have to look into it further. most of the fish I know from that area are large and require the large tank. __________________ Spiffyguy Ain't life spiffy!! Click the little red house to see my fish tank. "The cheese stands alone." Current Tank Info: 55 with in tank sump and TBS rock, Aquactinics TX5, Remora HOB oh my. 10 gallon AGA with custom overflow and Aquaclear HOB, Black sand rubble zone.

02/16/2005, 10:41 AM	#5
FlipFlops24/7 I'd tap that glass Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Neenah, WI Posts: 1,247	flame angels can be found in Hawaii, although rare. True Hawaiian flame angels are generally more pricey though. Specimens sold as "Hawaiian Flames" are usually not from Hawaii but probably come from the Marshall, Line, or Cook Islands. __________________ T.J. Current Tank Info: 40g Breeder with 29g sump. 1x150w 10K MH HQI & 2x96w PC actinics

02/19/2005, 02:19 PM	#7
Wee Man Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Castle Rock, Colorado Posts: 1,452	sea horses __________________ I love animals, they are delicious

02/19/2005, 04:22 PM	#8
Spiffyguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St Charles, Mo Posts: 1,633	Squirrel Fish is a good idea. They would be too big for a 24 gallon though but with a bigger tank they would work. The seahorses would be cool too. In fact the main push for the 24 nano was from a thread where a lady used it for seahorses. But I think for a first tank they would be a bit tough for me. __________________ Spiffyguy Ain't life spiffy!! Click the little red house to see my fish tank. "The cheese stands alone." Current Tank Info: 55 with in tank sump and TBS rock, Aquactinics TX5, Remora HOB oh my. 10 gallon AGA with custom overflow and Aquaclear HOB, Black sand rubble zone.

02/15/2005, 10:03 PM	#2
mygreengoldfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 581	If possible I would say try to use lava rock instead of live rock. Many places where I have snorkeled in hawaii have all there corals, and algae, etc.. growing on black lava rock. And in the end the rock becomes almost the same as normal live rock. If your tank were bigger I would suggest yellow tang(s), a difficult to keep moorish idol, red pencil urchin, picasso triggerfish or snowflake eel. But all of these creatures need at least a 100 gallon tank.

02/15/2005, 10:46 PM	#3
bigworm616 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Naperville IL. Posts: 286	the only problem with having clowns in a hawaii themed tank, is that there are no clowns in hawaii. There are however a lot of other nice looking creatures. Im pretty sure the eightline and pinstripe wrasses are both natives of hawaii and are both stunning. also be carful of your inverts and corals. Just because it says indo-pacific does not mean hawaii, hawaii is some what of a unique habitat, due to its location in the middle of the pacific ocean. If you want to make it a true hawaii tank do your research on all livestock for point of collection.

02/19/2005, 02:05 PM	#6
bleedinorange Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Skiatook, Ok Posts: 106	Squirrel fish would be cool, they are hawaiian.

02/19/2005, 04:37 PM	#9
kenny77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 2,792	i had the same idea of seting up a hawaiian tank but. i reallice that i will need at least a 100g or bigger. since i was looking for butterfly, snowflake eel, angel and tangs. a 24g will be dificul to stock if trying to do it why hawaii species. unless you go more open and choose to do it pacific themed, or caribean themed. with does 2 you will have more options __________________ "There's plenty of water in the universe without life, but nowere is there life without water" - Sylvia A. Farle, Project Director Sustainable Seas Expedition Kenny Current Tank Info: 24g nano. 60 cube in progress

02/19/2005, 04:44 PM	#10
Spiffyguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St Charles, Mo Posts: 1,633	yeah I think I am going to go kinda indo-pacific or throw out the idea of a themed tank until I can get a large one. I had the joy of snorkeling out in Hawaii and it is great but all the fish I saw were big. lots of Yellow Tangs to size of dinner plates and triggers so not much small fish to choose from. But I may have to keep the list around for a larger tank in the future. __________________ Spiffyguy Ain't life spiffy!! Click the little red house to see my fish tank. "The cheese stands alone." Current Tank Info: 55 with in tank sump and TBS rock, Aquactinics TX5, Remora HOB oh my. 10 gallon AGA with custom overflow and Aquaclear HOB, Black sand rubble zone.

02/19/2005, 05:52 PM	#11
35gallonhex Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: dayton ohio Posts: 414	i like fish hehe i wish you luck in your search __________________ if you chase 2 fish they both get away Current Tank Info: 35 full of life soon to get 2 60?

02/19/2005, 06:07 PM	#12
Spiffyguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St Charles, Mo Posts: 1,633	I like fish too. And thank you __________________ Spiffyguy Ain't life spiffy!! Click the little red house to see my fish tank. "The cheese stands alone." Current Tank Info: 55 with in tank sump and TBS rock, Aquactinics TX5, Remora HOB oh my. 10 gallon AGA with custom overflow and Aquaclear HOB, Black sand rubble zone.

02/19/2005, 06:29 PM	#13
SptfireXIV Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Harrisonburg, VA Posts: 1,247	I know this probably isn't what you wanted to hear, but a Carribean biotype would be MUCH easier for a small tank. There you can find lots of damsels, royal grammas (there's millions of them), blennies, gobies, etc. etc. Lots more to choose from. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Rimless SPS Reef

02/19/2005, 06:44 PM	#14
Spiffyguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St Charles, Mo Posts: 1,633	yeah that is true. A lot more options for smaller fish. __________________ Spiffyguy Ain't life spiffy!! Click the little red house to see my fish tank. "The cheese stands alone." Current Tank Info: 55 with in tank sump and TBS rock, Aquactinics TX5, Remora HOB oh my. 10 gallon AGA with custom overflow and Aquaclear HOB, Black sand rubble zone.

02/19/2005, 06:51 PM	#15
cb747 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Franklin Square, NY Posts: 5,593	Heres a site that sells Hawaiian fish. Straight from the diver as well Itll give you a good idea of the different fish there are but youll need a bigger tank! Chris http://www.hawaiiantropicalfish.com/index.html

02/19/2005, 07:16 PM	#16
Spiffyguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: St Charles, Mo Posts: 1,633	wow that is a cool site. Nice that is comes straight from a diver so maybe they use slightly better capture methods that are gentler on the fish. I thought that you could not remove fish from hawaiian waters though. Obviously there are permits I am sure. Maybe someone can clue me in the the law there. __________________ Spiffyguy Ain't life spiffy!! Click the little red house to see my fish tank. "The cheese stands alone." Current Tank Info: 55 with in tank sump and TBS rock, Aquactinics TX5, Remora HOB oh my. 10 gallon AGA with custom overflow and Aquaclear HOB, Black sand rubble zone.

02/19/2005, 09:22 PM	#17
cb747 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Franklin Square, NY Posts: 5,593	I havent ordered from them before. I know of another diver in Hawaii that ill be ordering from in the spring. They ship by air carrier to your local airport. Fed Ex back to the states is 2 day. There is no overnight from Hawaii. I believe that they can collect fish and inverts but absolutely no corals may be collected. Chris

09/27/2006, 04:11 PM	#18
marrstarr Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 69	Hi. I live in Hawaii so maybe I can help. You can take fish from hawaiian water but cannot take any coral or live rock. I would not go with a hawaii tank for a nano. The fish here that are the best are the angels, tanks, and butterflies. None of which would work for a nano. We don't have clowns or colorful anemones.