New SW Set-Up

[orrn01]

Please Help: New Set-Up Questions

I have recently set up a new sw tank. It is a 30g long FOWLR. I am currently running a Rena Filstar XP1 canister w/250gph flow rate. I have a Seaclone 100 protein skimmer (piece of junk). I am running 2 Hagen AquaClear 3000 powerheads w/264gph flow rate. I have about 15 lbs. of live Figi rock. My substrate is crushed coral. I currently have 1 blue damsel, 1 banggai cardinal, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 camel shrimp, and 5 blue-legged hermit crabs. I would like any suggestions on what I can do differently/more efficiently and what kind/how many fish I can add for a nice non-aggressive community tank. I would appreciate any input that you seasoned SW aquarists have to offer a newbie.

 

[dorkfish]

Do some research of your own, choose a list of fish, and post it here to make sure it won't be over doing it(you should make sure that they get along while researching). Personally, I think the dansel needs to go, just because of hhow they tand to get really teritorial when older and because of how cardinalfish barely move, let alone fight back much(they do fight back but not enough to fend off a mad damsel). Go to age of aquariums to research your stocking, really good site that goes by expierence measured in years not months.

 

[orrn01]

I am thinking about a royal gramma, a pajama cardinal, and a percula clown. I was also considering a chocolate chip star. How does this combination sound? Any others?

 

[dorkfish]

Souds good except you may run into problem with the damsel down the line. right now it might be OK but with age they get teritorial and other members here have reported them eating other inverts(such as your shrimps and crabs) and there a big no no if you ever want to have corals some day. Personally I would try and get a pair of perculas, all you have to do is get two small (1inch) clowns and they'll pair together, wich will result in you having a male and female instead of a lone female, this is a benifit to you because the males have brighter colouration.

 

[orrn01]

Thanks so much for your input. I plan on getting more fish on Saturday. I will return the damsel and get the two clowns. Oh yeah, what about a 6 line wrasse?

 

[dorkfish]

Just be sure when you add your fish do it slowly, no more than 3 small (1 inch specemins for 3 max. otherwise get one big specimen, although you can get less and only benifit) per month for this size tank, more is asking for trouble in in my expierience and opinion. Not sure on the wrasse but will research it.

 

[dorkfish]

about the royal gramma

I have kept these fish on and off for over 10 years. My current gramma has been in a 340 liter reef for 6 months. A great fish, somewhat shy, but given his tankmates (juvenile emperor angel, large copperband butterfly, large purple tang, goofy medium blue tang, pair of maroon clowns, pigmy angel, longnose hawk, bi-color blenny and yellow coris) I would be too. He is almost always out and visible, but always close to the 60 kg of live rock that he can bolt back inside if spooked. This fish will never bother any coral or inverts, ever, so it is a great fish for that type of setup. Word to the wise, do NOT keep this fish with any other pseudocromid, dottyback or basslet. They will be harrassed. I have tried to keep bi-color and magenta pseudos, black-cap basslets and frimani and all bullied the royal gramma and had to be removed to other tanks. I have tried everything, from moving rocks to having the gramma in the tank for weeks earlier than the others, but the gramma always gets beat up. Other than that, everything else will just ignore him, and he will do just fine. Will eat anything you toss in the tank as well.

Contributed by David

catch the part about it being bullied by othe psuedochromids,dottybacks and basslets? six line wrasses are a somewhat agressive fish wich should either be added to the tank last or when small, so it would'nt be a good idea IMO to add it to a comunity containing a fish wich gets bulied easily.