Making the right stocking choice

[panda2]

I posted back in nov (fin rot) regarding problems with my new aquarium. I have wanted to give up but I don't want my live rock hitch hikers or my snails to die so I'm going to stick with it. My tank is only 20gal so I know it will be hard to maintain and can not have a heavy bioload but I have worked hard with the suggestions I have received in response to my previous post and think I'm ready to move on with some more help. The tank seems to be doing great and the test numbers are good. I added 3 nerta snails. They moved around like crazy at first which was great because they disturbed and got rid of my diatom population. However, lately they stay buried most of the time (at one point I had even thought they died!) and some of the diatoms have come back. I was having a ton of coriline growth as well as green hair alge. I purchased 2 turbo snails that quickly took care of the overgrowth of green alge. I have noted a couple of aiptasia which seemed to disappear but are now back. I read about using berghia nudibranch but since there are still very few I'm not sure this would be a good idea at this point since that is their only food source. I also have what seems to be a tiny (dime size) purple sea urchin? It has even grown over the past monthsas it was much smaller when I first noticed it. I just love looking for him in the tank. I also found today a small cream almost fury crab today! I don't know where he came from, I would assume the live rock, but how could I not notice him all this time? My tank has been without fish for 3months and has had snails most of that time. I would now like to add fish but am having a hard time figuring out the right combo that will work well with my tank. I would Love to have 3 fish but will prob have to settle on two. Any suggestions for two or three small compatible fish that would be a good fit for my tank, not eat my purple sea urchin and are good for the inexperienced person? Also suggestions for any other critters that would be good for keeping the tank healthy. Thanks in advance for the help!

[chrisfont23]

Panda, good stuff. First off, don't give up. You have come this far If it's the stress of the fish that lead you to think of quitting, why get any? A few of my friends have invert only tanks and they are really beautiful. The waste production is minimal to nothing and the corals and snails/shrimp etc. stay happy - and of course predator free. There is no harm in doing that. If you decide to get a fish, how about something small and personable like a Firefish or something more practical like a sand sifting goby to go combat some of your other problems. Each have special care/diets, so read up if you decide to go this route.

Happy Reefing!

[panda2]

Thanks! I really do have my heart set on adding fish, I just want to make a good choice.

[Reefing Madness]

Panda, good stuff. First off, don't give up. You have come this far If it's the stress of the fish that lead you to think of quitting, why get any? A few of my friends have invert only tanks and they are really beautiful. The waste production is minimal to nothing and the corals and snails/shrimp etc. stay happy - and of course predator free. There is no harm in doing that. If you decide to get a fish, how about something small and personable like a Firefish or something more practical like a sand sifting goby to go combat some of your other problems. Each have special care/diets, so read up if you decide to go this route.

Happy Reefing!

Liking what we got going here. So, heres some more. how about the
FireFish
Goby
Clown Fish- Black and White or Occ your choice.
Now, before adding those in there, lets take care of those Aiptasia. Get a turkey baster, boil some water, put the water in a glasor cup, suck it up, point it at the Aiptasia and shoot, they dead. just for good measure, shoot em a couple times.
And Lets Do This!!!

[ShooterRick]

Now since you only want a couple fish, what about a hardy damsel. I have a yellow tail that is gorgeous. Damsels seem to be a family of fish alot of folks don't like cause they are aggresive. Yes they are but they don't bother snails or corals from what I have seen and I have not only the yellow tail but a jewel, chromis, and a clown also. All members of the damsel family in a 72 gal tank and they all get along fine. Maybe I am lucky but they are tough hardy fish easy for a beginner.

[Reefing Madness]

Now since you only want a couple fish, what about a hardy damsel. I have a yellow tail that is gorgeous. Damsels seem to be a family of fish alot of folks don't like cause they are aggresive. Yes they are but they don't bother snails or corals from what I have seen and I have not only the yellow tail but a jewel, chromis, and a clown also. All members of the damsel family in a 72 gal tank and they all get along fine. Maybe I am lucky but they are tough hardy fish easy for a beginner.

Yea, a nice Lion Fish for your Damsel would be a good companion.
J/K

[ShooterRick]

Yea, a nice Lion Fish for your Damsel would be a good companion.
J/K

ya ya ya. LOL. It is funny but the Damsel family has IMO been responcible for many entry level salters showing early success and encouragement.
Maybe a large Mako Shark with the damsels. LOL

[chrisfont23]

The first tropical school of fish I had ever seen in the wild were black and white damsels. My wife and I saw while vacationing in Bora Bora. There must have been hundreds in the reef. Definitely inspired me to give this a try.

[ShooterRick]

All joking aside, I am not saying Damsels are a perfect fish for the beginner but no fish is. Damsels have some qualities that are a great benefit to the new folks just starting out. First they are colorful and active, second they tolerate water chemistry swings better than most, thirdly they seem to ignore most problems we as keepers create giving time for correction. Granted they are (not can be) are semi aggresive and you should not try and keep multiples of the same variety in a small tank. Remember most of us love clowns and they to are from the damsel family.

My large Jewel Damsel is in my opinion one of the most beautiful fish in my tank. She is very active but will let new comers know who is the queen for a couple of days and then settles in to the new tank mates fine. My marroon clown is not aggresive to his tank mates but makes sure if I reach into the tank he attacks my hand letting me know I am not a welcome visitor. My yellow tail is very colorful and seems to be unaware of her tank mates at all times. The blue green chromis bullied 4 of its kind to death when I tried to create a school of chromis but leaves the other tank mates alone and schools from behind with my Dispar Anthius school. He is now known as McCloud since in the end there could be only one. I have a McCosker Flasher Wrasse, a purple Psuedochromis, and a dwarf flame angel. These fish all seem to get along in the 72 gal bow front fine. I am looking forward to introducing a two spott bristletooth tang rounding out the fish numbers to 10 and only 10. The rest will be corals and inverts. I do have a sand shifting star in the tank but you see it seldom as it usually remains burried in the substrate.

[twisted]

Check out tailspot blennies. They rock!




Twisteds 180 Reef