Fish selection advice

[Muddy357]

Ok well the 29 gallon BioCube that I got from CaptainRon is running great I tested everything last night and all parameters are great but I have no idea what fish to put in it. The only thing I am sure I am getting is a pair of black and white clowns, but outside of that I am not sure I built a refuge in the back middle compartment for the soul purpose of being able to get a pair of Mandarin Dragonets but I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on whether or not they will be happy in the 29? And if they will not work then I am looking for some more fish species ideas.

 

Thanks,

 

Jake

[Ryan S]

a pair of Mandarin Dragonets but I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on whether or not they will be happy in the 29?

 

yiiiiiiikes

 

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=15+2124 is a good starting point for fish.

Edited March 14, 2012 by Ryan S

[Jan]

No to the manderins especially since your tank is not established. They will starve. You will need a larger (55 gallons or more) well established tank just for one.Even your clowns may get too big.

Edited March 14, 2012 by Jan

[Muddy357]

That is what I thought but I just wanted to make sure because some places I had looked said 30 gallon tank would be fine and others said a bigger one would be needed. But as I said that only thing I know I want is the 2 black and white clowns other then that I am just looking for a new species to get something different then what I already have in my bigger tank. I was thinking about just getting a coral beauty after several months and that being it for this tank.

[SunWyrm]

If you were willing to dedicate A LOT of effort into getting them on frozen and feeding multiple times during the day then it's possible, but way too much work imo. It also seems that they like the height for theirevening dances.

 

I have a 75 that does ok for my pair though populations seem to be waining.

 

Edit:Mandarins

Edited March 14, 2012 by YiatzOfEden

[Ryan S]

only thing I know I want is the 2 black and white clowns other then that I am just looking for a new species to get something different then what I already have in my bigger tank. I was thinking about just getting a coral beauty after several months and that being it for this tank.

 

yiiiiiiikes

[extreme_tooth_decay]

If you want the dragonets, go for it.

 

Don't be put off by the common advice that you need a billion pods in a billion year old tank.

 

In general in this hobby, I find most happiness when I am aware of the common advice, but do not let myself be a slave to it.

 

In the long run, how mature your tank is and how many pods you have is fairly irrelevant to their success. Much more important is whether or not you can get them eating prepared foods. If you can get them eating prepared foods, you will be successful, otherwise, probably not no matter how big or established your tank is. They starve on pod-only diets even in big, established aquariums.

 

I was able to get mine eating PE mysis. After a short "break-in" period using targeted feeding with a turkey baster, he would swim out and actively compete for it with my big fishes. There were basically no pods in the tank I could ever see for him to eat.

 

He was always fat using the PE mysis. Here is a pic I took of him. I fed once a day or less (for several years)

 

I've been thinking about setting up a 2.5G or 5G tank with a pair of mandarins.

 

Edited March 14, 2012 by extreme_tooth_decay

[miggs76]

Ok well the 29 gallon BioCube that I got from CaptainRon is running great I tested everything last night and all parameters are great but I have no idea what fish to put in it. The only thing I am sure I am getting is a pair of black and white clowns, but outside of that I am not sure I built a refuge in the back middle compartment for the soul purpose of being able to get a pair of Mandarin Dragonets but I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on whether or not they will be happy in the 29? And if they will not work then I am looking for some more fish species ideas.

 

Thanks,

 

Jake

 

 

I have a biocube and the only fish I put in there are a six line and a yellow watchman goby. Both have been alive and thriving for 5 months now. I do change the water (15%-20%) EVERY Saturday.

[L8 2 RISE]

yiiiiiiikes

 

Dude, if you're not going to be helpful and do your research first, don't post. So far everything Muddy has posted has been well within the realm of possibility. If you disagree, be constructive.

 

I'm going to go against the grain on mandarins and agree with tooth. If you can get them onto prepared/frozen foods, you will have no issues keeping mandarins in a 28. I would definitely start with just one though and see how it goes. Maybe try an ORA one as they're already supposed to be on prepared foods. You'll have to feed at least 2-3 times through the day though. If you really want these fish, go for it! You're not going to be able to just sit back though, they'll need some work.

 

The coral beauty would be cool. I'm a huge fan of dwarf angels, especially if you buy them small and there's a lot of options. I have a flameback in my 11.4 gallon that's doing great!

 

There's a lot of options for a small tank, check out gobies, etc. Just be warned that the clowns will grow large and will fight with just about anything in the tank when they start breeding.

Edited March 14, 2012 by L8 2 RISE

[Ryan S]

Dude, if you're not going to be helpful and do your research first, don't post. So far everything Muddy has posted has been well within the realm of possibility. If you disagree, be constructive.

 

I'm going to go against the grain on mandarins and agree with tooth. If you can get them onto prepared/frozen foods, you will have no issues keeping mandarins in a 28. I would definitely start with just one though and see how it goes. Maybe try an ORA one as they're already supposed to be on prepared foods. You'll have to feed at least 2-3 times through the day though. If you really want these fish, go for it! You're not going to be able to just sit back though, they'll need some work.

 

The coral beauty would be cool. I'm a huge fan of dwarf angels, especially if you buy them small and there's a lot of options. I have a flameback in my 11.4 gallon that's doing great!

 

There's a lot of options for a small tank, check out gobies, etc. Just be warned that the clowns will grow large and will fight with just about anything in the tank when they start breeding.

 

You're crazy. A pair of clownfish, a pair of green mandarins, and a coral beauty angel in a brand new 29g biocube??? For real?

 

Sure, go for it. Let us know how it turns out.

[Jan]

For professional advice I'd go to www.wetwebmedia.com and ask Bob Fenner directly or any of the Marine Biologists we have here. He's very open and easy to speak to. He'll reply to you directly. Also know that most "common" advice that is constructively given on the boards comes from people who have done their homework, have the experience and want you to succeed. Most new reefers get very discouraged when they start having livestock die off and don't know why. You've spent a significant amount of money on this hobby and I'm sure you want to be successful. Then there's taking into considedration that you are the keeper of something that is alive and depends on you for it's survival. I don't know about anyone else but that's the greatest most rewarding challenge for me.

 

 

I'd consider choosing fish from the nano fish list that Ryan posted from liveaquaria. I'd also ignore the negative sarcastic comments.

 

Advice - take what you can use from it and throw the rest away!

Edited March 14, 2012 by Jan

[L8 2 RISE]

You're crazy. A pair of clownfish, a pair of green mandarins, and a coral beauty angel in a brand new 29g biocube??? For real?

 

Sure, go for it. Let us know how it turns out.

 

I'll clarify: he's looking at what he wants to stock, he never said he was going to add it right away nor did I suggest it.

 

If you do go with mandarins, which I think they're awesome fish, I'd follow this,

Decide what you want to have for your final stocking list. Let's say you decide:

a pair of clowns,

a pair of mandarins,

a dwarf angel,

and maybe one or two gobies/small blennies (barnacle blennies are SUPER cool).

 

I would add a goby to the tank after it's been running for 2-3 weeks just to get some activity in the tank. Then give the tank a month or two (maybe throw some pods in there to get cultures started) and add a mandarin that's preferably ORA or eating frozen in the store. Feed it a little bit at least 2-3 times a day. Once you've got the mandarin settled in and it's eating well (probably a month or a little more), you can add another if you would like, or just stick with the one. If you add a second, follow the same process as the first, then add the angel and then the clowns. If you don't, then just go right to the clowns and angel. If you follow that, stay on top of the tank and make sure the mandarins are eating well, I think it'll be great! Just be prepared for lots of work/frequent water changes.

 

For professional advice I'd go to www.wetwebmedia.com and ask Bob Fenner directly or any of the Marine Biologists we have here. He's very open and easy to speak to. He'll reply to you directly. Also know that most "common" advice that is constructively given on the boards comes from people who have done their homework, have the experience and want you to succeed. Most new reefers get very discouraged when they start having livestock die off and don't know why. You've spent a significant amount of money on this hobby and I'm sure you want to be successful. Then there's taking into considedration that you are the keeper of something that is alive and depends on you for it's survival. I don't know about anyone else but that's the greatest most rewarding challenge for me.

 

 

I'd consider choosing fish from the nano fish list that Ryan posted from liveaquaria. I'd also ignore the negative sarcastic comments.

 

Advice - take what you can use from it and throw the rest away!

 

Also great advice!

Edited March 14, 2012 by L8 2 RISE

[BowieReefer84]

I had a 29gal biocube with a pair of mature clowns, sixline wrasse, yellow watchman goby, and a blue/green chromi.

 

5 fish total with nitrates less than 10.

 

I would go with a bottom dweller like a goby of somesort before the mandarin though. The coral beauty would be fine imo.

[Muddy357]

Wow, Thanks for all of the advice I don't plan on getting a Mandarin anytime soon because I want to make sure that the tank is just right for them. I work about 5 mins from home and come home on my lunch break already everyday so feeding multiple times a day is not a problem. I do understand that you need to take everything people say with a grain of salt I was just curious because I found that several different online fish stores say different minimum tank size requirements. My fish list for the 29 so far is I plan on getting 2 black and white clowns, 1 flame angel I still have decided on whether or not I am going to give a Mandarin a try yet I still have a lot more research to do before I make up my mind on that one. outside of that I just was really looking for other small fish species suggestions to look at I just want to see what other people are keeping in their smaller tanks.

[Muddy357]

I had a 29gal biocube with a pair of mature clowns, sixline wrasse, yellow watchman goby, and a blue/green chromi.

 

5 fish total with nitrates less than 10.

 

I would go with a bottom dweller like a goby of somesort before the mandarin though. The coral beauty would be fine imo.

 

Thanks for your input I have almost talked myself out of putting a Mandarin in this tank but will probably put one in my 55 gallon though I will just have to get my brothers ok on that since the 55 gallon tank is his tank I am just doing all of the research for him and telling him what he needs to do.

[Ryan S]

Wow, Thanks for all of the advice I don't plan on getting a Mandarin anytime soon because I want to make sure that the tank is just right for them. I work about 5 mins from home and come home on my lunch break already everyday so feeding multiple times a day is not a problem. I do understand that you need to take everything people say with a grain of salt I was just curious because I found that several different online fish stores say different minimum tank size requirements. My fish list for the 29 so far is I plan on getting 2 black and white clowns, 1 flame angel I still have decided on whether or not I am going to give a Mandarin a try yet I still have a lot more research to do before I make up my mind on that one. outside of that I just was really looking for other small fish species suggestions to look at I just want to see what other people are keeping in their smaller tanks.

 

Doing research and planning in advance is definitely the smartest thing you could do right now. 2 clowns and the flame would do fine.

 

I think a goby would be another good choice. I also like cardinalfish. Firefish would work too.

 

As for minimum tank recommendations, that's something else you can take with a grain of salt. In general, instead of only choosing fish with 30g recommendation, I'd look at 10g or 20g recommendation fish too.

 

For example:

 

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+173&pcatid=173

 

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+1431&pcatid=1431

 

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+2124+228&pcatid=228

 

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+23+2229&pcatid=2229

[extreme_tooth_decay]

Also know that most "common" advice that is constructively given on the boards comes from people who have done their homework, have the experience and want you to succeed.

 

If only all 3 of those things were true more often than they are...I can unfortunately only agree with the last assertion as a blanket statement.

 

One example:

I get emails almost every day telling me mantis shrimps can attack with the force of a 22 caliber bullet...among MANY other falsehoods that people who claim to know something are just repeating that they heard from someone else who didn't do his homework or have the experience...this hobby is ripe with misinformation from regurgitators.

Edited March 14, 2012 by extreme_tooth_decay

[donnievaz]

I can tell you what I WOULDN'T do based on experience with my 14 gallon biocube. I realize that the 29 is over 2x the size but I think all of this would still hold true.

 

1. Don't put a Domino Damsel in it. Mine's grown to 3x it's size in a few months and is a total p#*!k to the other fish. (I knew better and did it anyway, it was so small and cute when I bought it)

 

2. Don't put a Six-Line Wrasse in it. Before I put him in I had a decent population of micro critters, pods, worms, etc., ALL GONE now. I once tried to add a pair of sexy shrimp and he ate them both in less than 5 minutes. I still can't believe he got them in his tiny little mouth. I also got a bunch of micro stars from Der Abt (thanks) and haven't seen a single one since I put them in. I'm guessing he got those as well. He's beautiful and has a cool personality but I think he's just too ravenous for a nano reef.

[Muddy357]

Yeah it is just hard to pick which fish to get I wish I had room for a 300 gallon tank but I will not be able to get one that big for another year or to when I move. I actually really like the look of the yellow prawn goby.

[Ryan S]

If only all 3 of those things were true more often than they are...I can unfortunately only agree with the last assertion as a blanket statement.

 

One example:

I get emails almost every day telling me mantis shrimps can attack with the force of a 22 caliber bullet...among MANY other falsehoods that people who claim to know something are just repeating that they heard from someone else who didn't do his homework or have the experience...this hobby is ripe with misinformation from regurgitators.

 

wait... you have a mantis shrimp in your tank? can't they break glass? PM sent.