Need help deciding on whether or not a fish is right for your tank? Post here and we'll help!

[Paul B]

Well put

 

[Harold Green]

I'd like to think it's still possible to have a beautiful reef tank by a seat of the pants method. Nothing against the top of the line equipment but I think a good majority of the people who want a marine tank can't afford top of the line. I never tried it but years back TFH magazine ran a series of articles on, excuse my spelling, liden aquariums. They were fresh water with no filters, air pumps, lighting. The sat where they received filtered sun daily and plants growing in the tanks provided air and water filtering for a very few fish. I gathered they were quite successful. At one time I was fortunate to have a home with a west facing window and had a small marine aquarium with plants and no electrical devices. It grew plants, feather dusters, nudi's all well but it depended on the light coming in.

 

[miohippus]

We have a 55 gal tank, right now we just have some hermits and snails and a star polyp we would like a pair of clowns an anemone and other corals and fish what would you suggest to go with clowns, and how many other fish would we be able to put in this tank?

 

[eatbreakfast]

We have a 55 gal tank, right now we just have some hermits and snails and a star polyp we would like a pair of clowns an anemone and other corals and fish what would you suggest to go with clowns, and how many other fish would we be able to put in this tank?

I would recommend either ocellaris or percula clownfish as they are smaller, more peaceful clownfish species.

Anemones can be a bit more demanding as far as water quality goes. Bubbletip anemones are a good one to start with as they are a little more forgiving, although there is no guarantee that the clowns will host in it.

Stocking capacity will vary depending on size, behavior, and your ability to maintain water quality. Count on about 5 fish, observe their health, attitude, and your water quality and take it from there.

Possible choices that are compatible include:
Royal gramma
Yellow assessor
Longnose hawkfish
Flame hawkfish
Grammistes blenny
Stigmatura blenny
Aurora goby/pistol shrimp
Firefish
Zebra dartfish

 

[miohippus]

I would recommend either ocellaris or percula clownfish as they are smaller, more peaceful clownfish species.

Anemones can be a bit more demanding as far as water quality goes. Bubbletip anemones are a good one to start with as they are a little more forgiving, although there is no guarantee that the clowns will host in it.

Stocking capacity will vary depending on size, behavior, and your ability to maintain water quality. Count on about 5 fish, observe their health, attitude, and your water quality and take it from there.

Possible choices that are compatible include:
Royal gramma
Yellow assessor
Longnose hawkfish
Flame hawkfish
Grammistes blenny
Stigmatura blenny
Aurora goby/pistol shrimp
Firefish
Zebra dartfish

Ok thanks, I relay like the goby/pistol shrimp idea i didn't know about that relationship ship that is neat but not sure if my substrate is deep enough.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Ok thanks, I relay like the goby/pistol shrimp idea i didn't know about that relationship ship that is neat but not sure if my substrate is deep enough.

They don't need a specific depth. The relationship will exist regardless. I have seen goby/shrimp prs in bare bottom aquaria.

 

[miohippus]

They don't need a specific depth. The relationship will exist regardless. I have seen goby/shrimp prs in bare bottom aquaria.

Ok, thanks for the info

 

[craigscustoms]

How many clown fish can you put in an 8 foot long 300 gallon fish tank. Everybody says only two no matter what the size of the tank. just want some opinions please. I would like to have 4 with 2 different species.

 

[eatbreakfast]

How many clown fish can you put in an 8 foot long 300 gallon fish tank. Everybody says only two no matter what the size of the tank. just want some opinions please. I would like to have 4 with 2 different species.

I have kept multiple prs in much smaller aquaria on many occasions before. Stick with the smaller, more peaceful species such as percula, occellaris and sandarcinos. Preferably if you can get them as juveniles or as young as possible and close to the same time, this helps them to coexist. Clownfish are very "site oriented" so they don't venture too far from their perceived refuge. In large tanks the smaller species will only use about 2-3ft.

 

[craigscustoms]

Thank you for the response I have a friend wanting to get rid of a tomato clown that he's had for a long time which is pretty large so that answers my question on purchasing another species that would be smaller that you mentioned earlier would sound to be problematic due to the size difference

 

[eatbreakfast]

Thank you for the response I have a friend wanting to get rid of a tomato clown that he's had for a long time which is pretty large so that answers my question on purchasing another species that would be smaller that you mentioned earlier would sound to be problematic due to the size difference

Yes, tomato clowns can be very aggressive, I wouldn't mix that species with other clowns.

 

[Harold Green]

You didn't mention what equipment you have running on the tank so you might want to review what you have before stocking the tank. In relation it's like you can drive a car with a large engine with one person in it and compare it to driving a car with a tiny engine and carrying six people on the highway. Equipment, water flow, husbandry will all determine what and how many fish you can have.

 

[iratherBfishing]

As long as they are not the same colors they should be fine

 

[mattBgomez]

65G tank 36x20x21 with 21 gallon sump/refugium
Reef Octopus 160INT Skimmer
2 Mp10's
I will have coral in the tank down the road

Tank was set up this week. I am doing a fishless cycle... once that is complete what do I add first? Fish or clean up crew?

I know I will want ...
2 clowns (prob black ice or similar)
1 green mandarin (once the tank/pods are established)
small school of chromis ( I want something peaceful that schools, suggestions appreciated here)
1 yellow tang

Other things I am considering
Flame Angel or other dwarf angel
goby/pistol shrimp
jawfish

Feedback and suggestions are appreciated

 

[Ed Menard]

small school of chromis ( I want something peaceful that schools, suggestions appreciated here)

I bought a selection of yellow, green, and blue chromis...5 of each and they live peacefully together for the most part. the largest one tends to assert dominance periodically but only by chasing...they also co-exist with a flamengie tang(SP) and a very large percula clown...along with misc elegance and mushroom corals, feather dusters, tube anemone, horseshoe crabs(2), and urchins...purple and multi orange/brown...

 

[eatbreakfast]

65G tank 36x20x21 with 21 gallon sump/refugium
Reef Octopus 160INT Skimmer
2 Mp10's
I will have coral in the tank down the road

Tank was set up this week. I am doing a fishless cycle... once that is complete what do I add first? Fish or clean up crew?

I know I will want ...
2 clowns (prob black ice or similar)
1 green mandarin (once the tank/pods are established)
small school of chromis ( I want something peaceful that schools, suggestions appreciated here)
1 yellow tang

Other things I am considering
Flame Angel or other dwarf angel
goby/pistol shrimp
jawfish

Feedback and suggestions are appreciated

Go with fish first, cuc can be boring and there shouldn't be much for them to clean up yet.

Some have reported aggression issues with a group of chromis, this has not been my experience however.

Wait well over 6months for a mandarin.

Dwarf angels may ip at corals.

 

[mattBgomez]

Go with fish first, cuc can be boring and there shouldn't be much for them to clean up yet.

Some have reported aggression issues with a group of chromis, this has not been my experience however.

Wait well over 6months for a mandarin.

Dwarf angels may ip at corals.

Thanks, I have read about the dwarf angels being hit or miss and will cross that bridge later. I'm more interested in fish and softies than SPS at this point

 

[eatbreakfast]

Fyi zoanthids are high on the menu for dwarf angels that go "rogue" and start picking.

 

[Stew18]

I have a 40 gallon Innovative Marine. I currently have
1 yellow goby
1 file fish
1 royal gramma
1 yellow coris wrasse

Everyone gets along great. I would like to add a marine betta and a dwarf angel of some sort. Will this work or is there anything I have that I shoudn't

 

[eatbreakfast]

I have a 40 gallon Innovative Marine. I currently have
1 yellow goby
1 file fish
1 royal gramma
1 yellow coris wrasse

Everyone gets along great. I would like to add a marine betta and a dwarf angel of some sort. Will this work or is there anything I have that I shoudn't

What type of filefish? Some stay small, but many grow too large for a 40g.

The yellow coris will also probably get to large down the road.

A marine betta is not a good choice, they get too large.

A dwarf angel should work, but bear in mind they may nip at corals if you currently, or plan in the future, on having them.