Fish in a 10 gal Nano

YoHo · 09-25-2001, 02:31 PM

Hey guys, I had a quick question, I'm going fom a 110 down to a 10 after a long move. I had to get rid of all my fish, so aside from reused Live Rock and Sand and critters, I'm starting from scratch. I'm wondering what kind of fish (single) I can put in this tank. My fiancee' woul like a Clown fish of some sort. are there any that stay small enough for this size tank? I was thinking a Royal Gramma might be good. a Yellow tailed Blue damsel would be nice, but perhaps to mean? I was thinking of long term adding a second fish either a blennie or possibly another bright fish. What about blue and green chromis?

Any other suggestions? I'd like a bright but hardy fish.

Oh, and Its going to have mushrooms and the like in it.Its got a mostly 4 in DSB and I have no Idea how much rock, maybe 20 pounds.

reefhead · 09-25-2001, 02:35 PM

I had a 10 hex when I first started my reef ( now a 20g hex

)

I wouldnt put in the damsel

clown would be cool
gramma, ok

long Nose Hawk would be awsome!

cheers,
Joe

CaptainK · 09-25-2001, 03:17 PM

Hi YoHo,
My first tank was also a 10G.
I had two Percula Clowns in it. It made a great tank for me!!!

-CaptK

thezookeeper · 09-25-2001, 03:17 PM

I agree with the above. I had a 10 gallon nano and had 2 ocel. clowns along with a cleaner shrimp and serpent star. No problems. HTH

Joanne

idrum · 09-26-2001, 11:01 AM

I have a 7g Nano and have 2 fish in it (I know - it breaks all the rules) -but I run a Prism skimmer on it and change about 2g of H20 every 2 weeks and tank is rocking.

I currently have a purple firefish and a small little fairy wrasse (I believe it is a purple sided wrasse) and a cleaner shrimp.

The following are cool fish (I'm assuminng you want something that stays out in the open)

- Firefish
- Yellow Coris Wrasse
- Tiny Fairy Wrasses
- Six line wrasse
- Osc Clown
- Clown Gobies (Yellow/Green)
- Royal Gramma

Mandarins are tempting, but really wont stay alive with that small of a pod population.

HTH

J

SeaMac · 09-27-2001, 12:57 AM

Howdy everyone...I'm new to this board but figured I might as well contribute when I can!

I think a clown would be a nice addition, and of these I think the skunk clowns stay the smallest (I've had mine for a year and he's still under an inch). They are also fairly less aggressive than other clowns so if it is the first fish you add it wouldn't harass the second fish you add as much.

I think the other suggestions made by the posters above are great too! Grammas sound interesting to me...I've never had one but I've heard that they can be aggressive as well. Maybe a bicolor blenny if you plan on having a good amount of live rock with hiding spaces for him or her.

Hope that helps!

Chris

thezookeeper · 09-27-2001, 03:59 PM

SeaMac: WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

Joanne

mastaJ · 09-28-2001, 08:38 PM

I had a Neon Dottyback in my 7g. Cool fish but really aggressive...I think a clown of some sort and a orchid or sunrise doyback would be cool...

Wind · 09-29-2001, 04:12 AM

I have a 10 gallon in the process and still thinking on what to keep..

YoHo · 10-01-2001, 02:13 PM

Ironically, my first SW fish about 12 years ago was a Royal Gramma. The reason I thought of him was that in a 29 gallon tank he spent all his time in a 5 gallon area.

Anyway much to think about. I have yet to find a quality aquarium store in the Beaverton Or area, so I have some time. Just letting the tank sit with the Cuke, snails and crabs in it.

mastaJ · 10-01-2001, 06:32 PM

a CUKE?

I'd be a little nervous about a cuke in a small tank as they might not find enough food. Pretty soon a cuke nuke is possible...I'm not sure though because I have never had one. HTH

BlueWater · 10-03-2001, 06:42 AM

Im sporting a 10g-long with 3 fish, 1 anemone, 6 crabs, and 2 snails.
-False Percula Clown
-Blue Damsel
-Fairy Basslet
-Barnacle Blennie

I had a 1 inch Green Spotted PufferFish in there and it was doing
awesome. However alot of people and documentation about them say
they will destroy a reef tank. So I found him a foster home after
2 weeks. I hate my Percula clown cuz' it always bites my fingers when
I'm cleaning the tank or feeding the anemone. The Fairy Basslet
never comes out though.

The Barnacle Blennie is by far the coolest fish. It just stays in it's home
popping out it's head. Then once food drifts by, the thing shoots out
like a bullet then returns to it's home until feeding time again.

Hoplosternum · 10-04-2001, 05:30 AM

I have a single Percula Clown, a Neon Goby and a Cleaner Shrimp in my 15 gallon. The two fish seem to get on well, but perhaps that is because the Clown is still small (<1"). Both fish are very active and eagerly perform at the front of the tank when I am close by to get me to feed them, although sometimes the Neon vanishes into the Live Rock (I have about 30lbs in there) for a few hours.

My Cleaner shrimp keeps to himself and is much less active than previous Shrimps I have kept, perhaps because of the fish or because he is on his/her own.

I don't have any corals (just NO lights) but the combination of colours on the livestock and calerpa is great! Good luck whatever you decide on.

Elmo18 · 10-04-2001, 02:42 PM

IM BAAACCKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOrry for all the caps. I would suggest getting a green watchman goby and a pistol shrimp. That's it, though because the goby can get to be a messy eater.

Nice to be back,

Ilham

**scubadude** · 10-04-2001, 03:46 PM

I think the goby and pistol shrimp is a great match up (i have the pair in my 20g, as well as 1 green chromis) Elmo i believe you mean Yellow watchman goby....not green :P and they really arent that messy....now the shrimp on the other hand can totally reconstruct your rocks and sandbed if they arent in tact real well....but they are both VERY interesting to watch

...The clowns are a good option 2.

Welcome to RL Seamac!

Troutman · 10-05-2001, 01:48 PM

I have a cherub angel (Centropyge argi) in my 10g. He's about 1.25". Very cool little fish!! Always visible in the tank. Sorry the pic is a little fuzzy...but the little bugger never stops movin' long enough to get a good pic.

YoHo · 10-05-2001, 03:55 PM

A Pigmy angel? In a Ten?

does anyone else think this is reasonable? Not that I'm doubting you, but I just assumed even the small angels needed more room then that.

As to the Cuke, He came from my 110. Couldn't give him up so he came with. He hasn't been having a problem yet. there's lots of muck in the tank as the sand came from the same 110. He seems happy.

Now if only I could stableize the water temperature. (room temp isn't stable.)

Troutman · 10-05-2001, 04:13 PM

my cherub angel Centropyge argi isn't the slightest bit stressed IMO. he spends his whole day browsing round picking at the rocks or algae on the back glass. whenever i look into the tank, he zooms right to the front, hoping for a handout! never once have i witnessed him picking at the corals.

i did have a perc for a while before i got the cherubCentropyge argi. the clown didn't eat anything for a week, so i gave him to a friend that has a huge tank. he's happy as ever in there. i also had a yellowtail for a bit. it always hid, so back to the LFS (after taking almost all of the rock out to catch 'im) for him.

i have seen pictures of others that have cherubs Centropyge argi in their nanos too.

troutman

Bubafat · 10-05-2001, 06:40 PM

It all depends on the type of pygmy angel. Some get as large as 5-6 inches while others stay 2-3 inches like the cherrub angel. For those who will agree with clowns and not some pygmy angels, go do a little research and find out how large a female tomato or maroon clown gets. You may be a bit surprised.

Buba

YoHo · 10-08-2001, 12:17 PM

Well, I made my Choice, I picked ou a Maroon clown (a bit more orange) and a small Yellowtailed blue Damsel.
Now before I get beat up on about the damsel. I have to say these guyss are some of my favorite fish. They stay fairly small (compared to other damsels I've had) and they are active swimmers. I Had a yellowtailed blue for 6 years that I had to get rid of when I sold the tank, so I suspect this guy will be with me a while.
Both fish are swimming happily. Unfortunatly, the LFS didn't have any Peppermint Shrimp, so I'll have to live with my Aptasia Garden a little longer.

09-25-2001, 02:31 PM	#1
YoHo Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: River Forest(soon to be Schaumburg) Il Posts: 89	Fish in a 10 gal Nano Hey guys, I had a quick question, I'm going fom a 110 down to a 10 after a long move. I had to get rid of all my fish, so aside from reused Live Rock and Sand and critters, I'm starting from scratch. I'm wondering what kind of fish (single) I can put in this tank. My fiancee' woul like a Clown fish of some sort. are there any that stay small enough for this size tank? I was thinking a Royal Gramma might be good. a Yellow tailed Blue damsel would be nice, but perhaps to mean? I was thinking of long term adding a second fish either a blennie or possibly another bright fish. What about blue and green chromis? Any other suggestions? I'd like a bright but hardy fish. Oh, and Its going to have mushrooms and the like in it.Its got a mostly 4 in DSB and I have no Idea how much rock, maybe 20 pounds.

09-25-2001, 02:35 PM	#2
reefhead Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: st.petersburg,Fl. Posts: 1,513	I had a 10 hex when I first started my reef ( now a 20g hex ) I wouldnt put in the damsel clown would be cool gramma, ok long Nose Hawk would be awsome! cheers, Joe __________________ Joseph Abrams Enjoy Being, LLC www.NanoReefCentral.com

09-25-2001, 03:17 PM	#4
thezookeeper Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pittsburgh,PA, USA Posts: 992	I agree with the above. I had a 10 gallon nano and had 2 ocel. clowns along with a cleaner shrimp and serpent star. No problems. HTH Joanne __________________ "Life savings? Sure, it's that brightly lit object sitting in the livingroom."

09-27-2001, 03:59 PM	#7
thezookeeper Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pittsburgh,PA, USA Posts: 992	SeaMac: WELCOME TO REEFLAND! Joanne __________________ "Life savings? Sure, it's that brightly lit object sitting in the livingroom."

09-28-2001, 08:38 PM	#8
mastaJ Council Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 294	WELCOME SEAMAC... I had a Neon Dottyback in my 7g. Cool fish but really aggressive...I think a clown of some sort and a orchid or sunrise doyback would be cool... __________________ -mastaJ

09-25-2001, 03:17 PM	#3
CaptainK Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: MA. Posts: 534	Hi YoHo, My first tank was also a 10G. I had two Percula Clowns in it. It made a great tank for me!!! -CaptK

09-26-2001, 11:01 AM	#5
idrum Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Chicago, IL, US Posts: 92	I have a 7g Nano and have 2 fish in it (I know - it breaks all the rules) -but I run a Prism skimmer on it and change about 2g of H20 every 2 weeks and tank is rocking. I currently have a purple firefish and a small little fairy wrasse (I believe it is a purple sided wrasse) and a cleaner shrimp. The following are cool fish (I'm assuminng you want something that stays out in the open) - Firefish - Yellow Coris Wrasse - Tiny Fairy Wrasses - Six line wrasse - Osc Clown - Clown Gobies (Yellow/Green) - Royal Gramma Mandarins are tempting, but really wont stay alive with that small of a pod population. HTH J

09-27-2001, 12:57 AM	#6
SeaMac New in Town Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1	Howdy everyone...I'm new to this board but figured I might as well contribute when I can! I think a clown would be a nice addition, and of these I think the skunk clowns stay the smallest (I've had mine for a year and he's still under an inch). They are also fairly less aggressive than other clowns so if it is the first fish you add it wouldn't harass the second fish you add as much. I think the other suggestions made by the posters above are great too! Grammas sound interesting to me...I've never had one but I've heard that they can be aggressive as well. Maybe a bicolor blenny if you plan on having a good amount of live rock with hiding spaces for him or her. Hope that helps! Chris

09-29-2001, 04:12 AM	#9
Wind Council Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: 90 Gallon (setting up) Posts: 330	I have a 10 gallon in the process and still thinking on what to keep..

10-01-2001, 02:13 PM	#10
YoHo Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: River Forest(soon to be Schaumburg) Il Posts: 89	Ironically, my first SW fish about 12 years ago was a Royal Gramma. The reason I thought of him was that in a 29 gallon tank he spent all his time in a 5 gallon area. Anyway much to think about. I have yet to find a quality aquarium store in the Beaverton Or area, so I have some time. Just letting the tank sit with the Cuke, snails and crabs in it.

10-01-2001, 06:32 PM	#11
mastaJ Council Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 294	a CUKE? I'd be a little nervous about a cuke in a small tank as they might not find enough food. Pretty soon a cuke nuke is possible...I'm not sure though because I have never had one. HTH __________________ -mastaJ

10-03-2001, 06:42 AM	#12
BlueWater Citizen Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Manhattan Beach, California Posts: 129	Im sporting a 10g-long with 3 fish, 1 anemone, 6 crabs, and 2 snails. -False Percula Clown -Blue Damsel -Fairy Basslet -Barnacle Blennie I had a 1 inch Green Spotted PufferFish in there and it was doing awesome. However alot of people and documentation about them say they will destroy a reef tank. So I found him a foster home after 2 weeks. I hate my Percula clown cuz' it always bites my fingers when I'm cleaning the tank or feeding the anemone. The Fairy Basslet never comes out though. The Barnacle Blennie is by far the coolest fish. It just stays in it's home popping out it's head. Then once food drifts by, the thing shoots out like a bullet then returns to it's home until feeding time again.

10-04-2001, 05:30 AM	#13
Hoplosternum Just Moved In Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: London, England Posts: 34	I have a single Percula Clown, a Neon Goby and a Cleaner Shrimp in my 15 gallon. The two fish seem to get on well, but perhaps that is because the Clown is still small (<1"). Both fish are very active and eagerly perform at the front of the tank when I am close by to get me to feed them, although sometimes the Neon vanishes into the Live Rock (I have about 30lbs in there) for a few hours. My Cleaner shrimp keeps to himself and is much less active than previous Shrimps I have kept, perhaps because of the fish or because he is on his/her own. I don't have any corals (just NO lights) but the combination of colours on the livestock and calerpa is great! Good luck whatever you decide on.

10-04-2001, 02:42 PM	#14
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	IM BAAACCKKK!!!!!!!!!!!! SOrry for all the caps. I would suggest getting a green watchman goby and a pistol shrimp. That's it, though because the goby can get to be a messy eater. Nice to be back, Ilham

10-04-2001, 03:46 PM	#15
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,291	Hi Yoho :) I think the goby and pistol shrimp is a great match up (i have the pair in my 20g, as well as 1 green chromis) Elmo i believe you mean Yellow watchman goby....not green :P and they really arent that messy....now the shrimp on the other hand can totally reconstruct your rocks and sandbed if they arent in tact real well....but they are both VERY interesting to watch ...The clowns are a good option 2. Welcome to RL Seamac! __________________ Rocky

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

10-05-2001, 01:48 PM	#16
Troutman New in Town Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 3	I have a cherub angel (Centropyge argi) in my 10g. He's about 1.25". Very cool little fish!! Always visible in the tank. Sorry the pic is a little fuzzy...but the little bugger never stops movin' long enough to get a good pic. Last edited by Troutman; 10-05-2001 at 07:03 PM.

10-05-2001, 03:55 PM	#17
YoHo Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: River Forest(soon to be Schaumburg) Il Posts: 89	A Pigmy angel? In a Ten? does anyone else think this is reasonable? Not that I'm doubting you, but I just assumed even the small angels needed more room then that. As to the Cuke, He came from my 110. Couldn't give him up so he came with. He hasn't been having a problem yet. there's lots of muck in the tank as the sand came from the same 110. He seems happy. Now if only I could stableize the water temperature. (room temp isn't stable.)

10-05-2001, 04:13 PM	#18
Troutman New in Town Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 3	my cherub angel Centropyge argi isn't the slightest bit stressed IMO. he spends his whole day browsing round picking at the rocks or algae on the back glass. whenever i look into the tank, he zooms right to the front, hoping for a handout! never once have i witnessed him picking at the corals. i did have a perc for a while before i got the cherubCentropyge argi. the clown didn't eat anything for a week, so i gave him to a friend that has a huge tank. he's happy as ever in there. i also had a yellowtail for a bit. it always hid, so back to the LFS (after taking almost all of the rock out to catch 'im) for him. i have seen pictures of others that have cherubs Centropyge argi in their nanos too. troutman Last edited by Troutman; 10-05-2001 at 07:05 PM.

10-05-2001, 06:40 PM	#19
Bubafat Tenant Join Date: May 2001 Location: MN: To damn cold to reef here Posts: 52	It all depends on the type of pygmy angel. Some get as large as 5-6 inches while others stay 2-3 inches like the cherrub angel. For those who will agree with clowns and not some pygmy angels, go do a little research and find out how large a female tomato or maroon clown gets. You may be a bit surprised. Buba

10-08-2001, 12:17 PM	#20
YoHo Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: River Forest(soon to be Schaumburg) Il Posts: 89	Well, I made my Choice, I picked ou a Maroon clown (a bit more orange) and a small Yellowtailed blue Damsel. Now before I get beat up on about the damsel. I have to say these guyss are some of my favorite fish. They stay fairly small (compared to other damsels I've had) and they are active swimmers. I Had a yellowtailed blue for 6 years that I had to get rid of when I sold the tank, so I suspect this guy will be with me a while. Both fish are swimming happily. Unfortunatly, the LFS didn't have any Peppermint Shrimp, so I'll have to live with my Aptasia Garden a little longer.

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