Need suggestions...
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 12:32
My boss gave me the ok to bring my 29g biocube to work. It was setup at home as kindof a nursery for corals that weren't doing too well in my big tank but I was able to move them all back home so I brought it in to work about two weeks ago. It had a mini cycle from the move but the one little hermit crab that stowed away in the filtration area made it through so I tested parameters and did a small water change and brought in an oscellerous (sp?) clown.
This is a small tank and I'm looking for suggestions on compatible fish for this size. People here are absolutely fascinated by the clown and I don't want to add too much too fast... but could you guys give me an estimate of how many fish I can safely put in it and what kinds of fish will swim out in the open and be pretty visible. It's only got power compacts and I'm not planning to upgrade so no anemones or clams... corals will be mostly shrooms and lps like a frag of my torch and my froggies.
Right now, I have been toying with the idea of a flame angel, lawnmower blenny and maybe one other fish... a sissortail goby or a pajama cardinal or a purple firefish, but was told the firefish and the goby kind of hide out a lot... what would you guys suggest? Would four fish be too many?
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 14:30
#2
I would suggest
I would suggest a sixline wrasse, african midas blenny, yellow watchman goby, and a cleaner shrimp. That would make the tank really colorful and catch the eye of everybody in the office. Just my opinion.
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 14:40
#3
thanks guys, that's what i'm
thanks guys, that's what i'm looking for, your opinon on 3-4 compatible, colorful critters.
thanks!!!
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 14:51
#4
Totally forgot the sixline,
Totally forgot the sixline, definitely an amazing fish to have in a reef tank.
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 23:12
#5
If you are going for things
If you are going for things to captivate and interest office colleagues......
A valentini or a saddle puffer....or one from teh genus would do well and they are slow moving and interesting and stay small enough to do well in a small tank.....no other puffers though as they are destructive, messy and may misbehave. They might be an issue with some shrimp, but crabs and clams they seem to do fine with. People really like them as well.
A pair of neon gobies would also be cool in a tank of that size.
I too would consider pairing the ocellaris clown. I personally think they just do so much better in pairs....kinda like anthias do better in groups of 3 or more.....but no anthias in a tank that small.
Blue chromis would do well in there too. Need at leat 2 of those though.
A nice jawfish would be cool. Personally I like the O.
rosenblatti.
If you want an angel....you could try a flameback. I know some say teh Centropyge angels will occasionally nip at some corals and clams....but there are only a few that seem to be problematic with it. Flamebacks and Flame angels have not been a problem for me with teh few I have owned over the years.
Hope you tank does not get the traffic mine does. We have 20 people come thru a day to check it out. Sometimes it can get overwheliming and crowded in here. LOL!
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 08:39
#6
Valentini Puffer
patrick wrote:
"A valentini or a saddle puffer....or one from teh genus would do well and they are slow moving and interesting and stay small enough to do well in a small tank.....no other puffers though as they are destructive, messy and may misbehave. They might be an issue with some shrimp, but crabs and clams they seem to do fine with.
Would a valentini puffer be safe to put in a reef tank? I have read that they weren't reef safe. Is that only because it will eat shrimp or will it mess with corals as well? Also, would it eat a cleaner shrimp? Thanks in advance.
Thu, 06/04/2009 - 23:29
#7
Thanks Patrick. Yea, traffic
Thanks Patrick. Yea, traffic doesn't seem to be too problematic yet, but it's just getting started. BUT, the second shift girl came in today and informed me that she fed the fish last night. The fish food is in a drawer in my cubicle so I asked her what she fed it. I nearly shit a brick when she said the fish looked hungry so she threw in a piece of broccoli from her supper. O M G... i didn't know people were really that ignorant. Needless to say, after i picked my bottom jaw up off the floor I ripped her a new one and once I'd calmed down, I explained to her some of the basics of keeping a fish tank and also how expensive a saltwater tank is.
I'm still in shock!!
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 04:13
#8
I had to break one off on a
I had to break one off on a co-worker for throwing a nickel in my tank. After hearing about that and how loudly and harshly I broke him down....I don't think I will have anyone put anything in anymore.
It is crazy that someone would be so stupid to put something in someone else's aquarium.
Sat, 06/06/2009 - 09:37
#9
I would suggest a royal
I would suggest a royal gramma, and banggai cardinal. Don't overstock the tank with fish or it won't be as relaxing to watch. just my opinion.
Mon, 06/08/2009 - 08:23
#10
Tank in the office -
I'm jealous of you guys - I tried to keep a small tank in the office but it got to troublesome with all the travel that I do. One time when I was gone the filter started making noises so the guy I share the office with just un-plugged it. I was out of the country and couldn't be reached - luckily it was only cycling and didn't have any livestock in it!
I would say 3-4 small fish would be okay i.e. lawnmower, purple firefish, cardinal. I would stay away from the flame angel since they are coral nippers. You could always get another ocellaris clown. Im sure others will have input but I think shrimp/goby combo would also be cool.