firefish tank mate recommendation and introduction

[hmoob_fisherman]

Hey all, I'm fairly new to this forum as this is my first post but anyhow, I put together a 5gallon nano tank as my first saltwater tank and it has been treating me well. I've read that bigger tanks are easier to maintain but for some reason or i'm just lucky, my 5 gallon has been a piece of cake. keeping the PH at 8-8.4 is fairly easy, alkalinity is always normal. The only known issue is keeping the Salinity at 1.020-1.023. it raises quite often to 1.025+ due to evaporation so i just add water once every 2 to 3 days and it stays at where i want it to be. Otherwise, the tank is good to go with no known problem as alot of people have stated.

Anyhow, the tank has 3-5lbs of live rocks along with 3-5lbs of live sand. I created a sump tank using my 2.5G tank and just ghetto rigged the two tanks together with two power filters.

here is the tank during cycling.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/LVT/Picture_1.jpg

sump tank

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/LVT/Picture3.jpg

ghetto rigging

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/LVT/Picture4.jpg


but ok, done with the intro. I currently have 4 hermit crabs, 1 peppermint shrimp and 1 firefish. everyone is doing very well except the firefish. I've done alot of research on it and it states that the firefish will hide alot for a few days and then after that it will swim freely until it feels threaten then it'll hide. well, it's been two weeks for it and it still hiding. It does come out to eat though but i would like to see it swim around freely like it did at the LFS. I was thinking of introducing another fish to the tank to help it feel more confident about being out and about. I dont want two firefish as they will fight unless it's a pair. What would you guys recommend? i want something small and not aggressive.

[Lorna]

In a 5g tank you are very limited and the firefish is it........I probably would have opted for a gobie/shrimp pair.....but that is a matter of preference.

your salinity will be an issue, try to keep it topped up daily so you don't have as wild swings rather than every couple of days.

[hmoob_fisherman]

I have the gobie/shrimp pair as the firefish is also a goby. I like it but the fish isnt comming out. if another fish is too much for the tank then i guess i'll just wait longer for the firefish to come out freely.

[WeeNe858]

salinity is best kept at 1.024-1.025...

the firefish is social and is going to need another buddy.. but make sure that the new firefish a the some one you have.. not a purple ot whatever as they will try to kill each other..

and the pistol shrimp will only pair up woth sand sifting gobies... and better yet watchman gobies