I have a 5g Eclipse Hex system with bio wheel filtration. If I were to get 5-7 lbs of live rock and used the bottled premixed saltwater solution and cycled the tank with a small damsel for about a month, would it be possible to to hold a percula clown and a cleaner shrimp happily together? I probably won't get an anemone but Im guessing I should upgrade the lights to one of those half and half flourscent lights made for saltwater tanks. Thanks for your opinions!!
5 gallon tank: Percula Clown and a cleaner Shrimp...is it possible?
- Thread starter wickedmax
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Skip the damsel and cycle it with a piece of cocktail shrimp or just get the CYCLE bottle at your lfs. I see no problems with the clown and shrimp. Hope everything works. Did you already buy the tank?
Even the nano reef guys say min 7 gallon for a true perc and they often push the limits. Some of the gobies might be a better choice.
You could get away with a false percula. They won't get very big in a smaller tank. If you are using liverock from LFS which has been cured in aquariums, then set up the tank with your rock and whatever and wait about 24 hours making sure levels are ok (total ammonia, nitrate, etc.) and you can throw in a false perc after about a day. If using non cured liverock purchased from the internet or something that comes in a box, then put your rock in the tank and set it up however you want, then go through a full cycle with that rock before putting ANY fish in the tank. The uncured liverock creates enough ammonia by itself to cycle the tank without any help. It takes a little longer than if you use chemicals, but natural is always better.
5 gallons is too small for a clownfish of any species in the long term. Even percula gets as large as 4". There are lots of small, interesting invertebrates that are better suited for a small tank like that.
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I kept my yellowtailed damsel in a 1 gallon nano with LR for about a month before moving him to a 10. Cleaning a small tank (no space for hands), and keeping the water chemistry stable are a big chore!