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50 Gallon NANO Stocking IDEAS.


anizato

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Hey everyone.

 

My lady has agreed to the 50 gallon build! ... YAY! omgomgomg ...finally!

 

HOW WOULD YOU STOCK A 50 GALLON NANO REEF?

 

Anyway, I am looking to have a 50 gallon REEF with Nano fish to live in.

 

I currently have 2 oscellaris clown in my 10g NANO

 

For the 50g I have a massive protein skimmer built for a 200g reef, so I am thinking about 10-12 Sm/Med fish will be do-able in this system.

 

We want 2 Anemones and 2 Clams & plenty of coral. So your suggestions must be reef friendly :wub:

 

My wife and I have made a list of these fishes, but we have no idea of their compatibility OR know if there are way cooler fish we haven't heard about LOL

 

Mandarin Dragonet

Midas Blenny

Wheeler Goby

Blue Tang (is this possible in a 50?)

Royal Gamma Basslet

Resplendent Anthia

Yellowtail Damsel

Red Dottyback

Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse

 

 

If you have any ideas or suggestions or replacement ideas PLEASE ..that is the purpose of this thread.

 

WHAT WOULD YOU PUT IN A 50 GALLON NANO?

 

I am excited to know what others have in mind.

 

(fish in BOLD are must haves)

 

Have fun !

 

Thanks.

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Just FYI, the dottyback, damsel and basslet can be pretty aggressive at times. The anthia needs frequent feedings from what I heard and the Dragonette will decimate your pod population in a few days unless you can get it eating prepared foods.

 

I would definitely not include any tangs in your tank or the "tang police" will be out to get you.

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I have updated the list of possible fish.

 

What do you think? Would you add, replace or remove someone?

post-83895-0-99659400-1405458668_thumb.jpg

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JavaJacketOC

Pygmy Wrasse of some sort...I need someone to get one so I can live vicariously thorugh them until I set up a larger tank!

 

Both of these are in the Diver's Den on Liveaquaria

 

Tanaka's Pygmy Possum Wrasse

0701141-169.jpg

 

 

Yellow Banded Possum Wrasse

0626141-045.jpg

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Definitely a royal gramma. Definitely not any dottyback.

 

Assessor bassletts are goofy little guys that have been very peaceful in my experience. The yellows are usually the cheapest ones.

 

Springer's or talbots damsel instead of the yellow tail.

 

No on the linkia or any fromia starfish. They just don't survive in anything but the largest tanks.

 

Tomini is pushing it a bit. I don't have any problem with it, but I know some people will. I like the colors on the 2 spot or yellow eye kole better than the tomini.

 

No on the mandarin unless you can 100% get one that eats pellets or frozen food, or can train one. Most small fish will be direct competitors and a mandarin will quickly starve even in an established 50 gallon by itself.

 

Add the angel last if you do decide to get one. He's by far the most demanding of territory. He's also likely to nip at the clams or coral in the future.

 

Puffer is cool but will eat many beneficial inverts such as colonista snails.

 

Tank space is still fairly small so while you can probably fit 10 or 12 fish biologically speaking, they all need some territory or fighting will ensue. Add the most peaceful first and let them claim territory and add more aggressive as you go over the course of weeks or months. Still need to have a contingency plan in case some addition doesn't work out.

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Hey everyone.

 

My lady has agreed to the 50 gallon build! ... YAY! omgomgomg ...finally!

 

HOW WOULD YOU STOCK A 50 GALLON NANO REEF?

 

Anyway, I am looking to have a 50 gallon REEF with Nano fish to live in.

 

I currently have 2 oscellaris clown in my 10g NANO

 

For the 50g I have a massive protein skimmer built for a 200g reef, so I am thinking about 10-12 Sm/Med fish will be do-able in this system.

 

We want 2 Anemones and 2 Clams & plenty of coral. So your suggestions must be reef friendly :wub:

 

My wife and I have made a list of these fishes, but we have no idea of their compatibility OR know if there are way cooler fish we haven't heard about LOL

 

Mandarin Dragonet Good, have a fuge/pods available

Midas Blenny Good, add later, does get a bit larger

Wheeler Goby Good, highly recommend a pistol shrimp for it to pair up with

Blue Tang (is this possible in a 50?) I wouldn't do it, maybe a smaller tang?

Royal Gamma Basslet Good, may become territorial

Resplendent Anthia Get multiple specimens for a harem

Yellowtail Damsel Likely to become territorial or even aggressive

Red Dottyback Also likely to become territorial or even aggressive

Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse Known to be a larger, more aggressive fairy wrasse, add later.

 

 

If you have any ideas or suggestions or replacement ideas PLEASE ..that is the purpose of this thread.

 

WHAT WOULD YOU PUT IN A 50 GALLON NANO?

 

I am excited to know what others have in mind.

 

(fish in BOLD are must haves)

 

Have fun !

 

Thanks.

Assessors and Liopropoma basslets are more peaceful and IMO, more interesting than RG's.

TONS of smaller gobies and blennies, fang blennies are cool as well.

Smaller hawkfish are more feisty, but pretty.

Dwarf angelfish are beautiful, but often nip corals. Along with smaller Butterflyfish species.

Plenty of options!

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Definitely no tangs in this size tank. Also, no firefish with any pseudochromis. That puffer is very messy and will eat inverts + coral. Stick with wrasses, gobies, blennies, etc.

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Cameron6796

I'd remove the link is star as they starve easy and unless you have a solid food source of pods in your system or can buy them then no mandarin it will starve the clowns are a good starter choice.id avoid the tang. But that is the only tang you could really "push" into this tank. The puffer fish will eat corals I believe and wouldn't recommend one. Also try to avoid adding fish of similar shapes like the firefish and Midas blenny . I know Midas blennies can get a little fussy when it comes to similar shaped or coloured fish, but I'd say that the clowns, the firefish and any of the goby or blennies will do good. As long as you don't mix a lot of similar ones things should be fine. As for the mandarin be prepped to lose it unless your system has a large fuge section where you can take cheat out and shake it in the display to release new pods or potentially train it to eat prepped food. But it should be fine in a 50 if you can keep it fed. As for the flame angel. You. Can't tell but imma fan ( profile pic) but as with any dwarf angel they may munch corals but I'm pretty sure they are lower risk.

 

Basically clowns blennies gobies and the fire fishes(watch them with blennies) and the flame angel are all good choices

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Awesome job everyone. Keep it coming. First stage of the list is here. Check it out!

So if it interests anyone to know, the rocks for this tank have been cycling in a dark bin for 5 weeks now. The Ammonia is at 1.5 and Nitrite is between 2&4ppm. I am guessing 3 more weeks in the bin, then start them in the tank with the sand light, and skimmer for another 3 weeks before adding anything

Very well upon your recommendations so far I have modified the list. First stage of evolution LOL

Tangs have been completely disregarded. The Angelfish as well, since the risk of eating coral is 'there'; same goes for the puffer unfortunately.


2 Clown (should I add them first, last ...doesn't matter?)

1 Mandarin (My fuge section in the sump will be around 7 gallons. I hope that is enough space to grow a fkuc-ton of pods? (I need to learn more about growing them in the fuge) How long does it take for them to establish into the refugium?

1 Helfrichi Firefish Goby


1 Blue Star Leopard Wrasse

1 Blue Dot Jawfish

1 Wheeler Shrimp Goby
1 Pistol Randall Shrimp

1 Gold Assessor Basslet

Feels like hitting some limit with 9ish fish on the list, I guess with further suggestions and time to evolve the list even more it will definitely give me enough time to pick lots of brains (hopefully) before the stocking actually begins.
.

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Awesome job everyone. Keep it coming. First stage of the list is here. Check it out!

 

So if it interests anyone to know, the rocks for this tank have been cycling in a dark bin for 5 weeks now. The Ammonia is at 1.5 and Nitrite is between 2&4ppm. I am guessing 3 more weeks in the bin, then start them in the tank with the sand light, and skimmer for another 3 weeks before adding anything

Very well upon your recommendations so far I have modified the list. First stage of evolution LOL

 

Tangs have been completely disregarded. The Angelfish as well, since the risk of eating coral is 'there'; same goes for the puffer unfortunately.

 

 

2 Clown (should I add them first, last ...doesn't matter?) Last IMO

 

1 Mandarin (My fuge section in the sump will be around 7 gallons. I hope that is enough space to grow a fkuc-ton of pods? (I need to learn more about growing them in the fuge) How long does it take for them to establish into the refugium? IMO add some some pods, they reproduce on their own, maybe start a culture, takes 6 moths to 1 year to mature IME.

 

I understand that we would have to decide between:

 

1 Midas Blenny VS 1 Helfrichi Firefish Goby VS 1 Purple Pseudochromis I'd get the Firefish, which is a Dartfish, add before more aggressive fish.

 

1 Blue Star Leopard Wrasse Will heavily compete with Mandarin for pods, needs a 3in sandbed.

 

1 Blue Dot Jawfish Get a different species, BSJ tend to have a bad survival rate and often live in cooler water, I'd get a pearly, randalls, or swordtail jawfish

 

1 Wheeler Shrimp Goby Good

1 Pistol Randall Shrimp Good

 

1 Blue Sapphire Damsel (I liked the recommendation, but my lady hasn't seen it yet) Should work, as they are a bit more peaceful than other damsels, add later/last.

 

(I found this awesome creature, but have no idea where to begin looking for him) Great idea IMO.

 

Feels like hitting some limit with 9ish fish on the list, but these are just possibilities as of now. However I guess with further suggestions and time to evolve the list even more, will definitely give me enough time to pick lots of brains (hopefully) before the stocking begins.

.

Make sure to keep up on water changes.

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Cameron6796

Yep no leapoard wrasse at all. The mandarin will be challenge enough. As for the fuge its kinda meh size wise if you can go bigger definetly so. Pods reproduce on their own in the live rock and in the cheato in the fuge. My suggestion is buy some pods and add them to the tank. Its debatable if pods make it from the fuge through pumps into the display but I would break the cheato into a couple chunks and then every few days grab a glob of cheato algea from your fuge dip it into display and shake it so pods come out of it. Then put it back in fuge to refresh it.

 

Oh I agree with above btw 6month minimum for maturity to set in.

 

clowns should go maybe after your blenny, fire fish or psuedochromis(whatever you pick I'd go fire fish personally) as they get territorial. But if small they should be fine, add the two clowns at small size and same time.

 

Feel so bad to limit you again but the jewfish idea is tricky in general since they need a special grade of sand and need a lot of it, very very deep sand 3in min. And also will rearrange sand and potentially rock work

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If you can find a leopard wrasse that will take prepared foods, go ahead. M. kamoharai is a very expensive, rare, and hard to care for fish - you won't find one at the LFS any time soon. Overall good list. If you like leopard wrasses take a look at Halichoeres sp. wrasses. They have the same shape and patterns as leopards but are much easier to care for. Just make sure you add one last if you end up getting one.

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If you can find a leopard wrasse that will take prepared foods, go ahead. M. kamoharai is a very expensive, rare, and hard to care for fish - you won't find one at the LFS any time soon. Overall good list. If you like leopard wrasses take a look at Halichoeres sp. wrasses. They have the same shape and patterns as leopards but are much easier to care for. Just make sure you add one last if you end up getting one.

I was wondering if the Leopard would take out too many pods and starve the Mandarin, Halichoeres wrasse also will feed on benthic Crustaceans.

Would the Meiacanthus be hard to care for due to collection? Usually species within the genus aren't difficult to care for, and some are captive bred....

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Cameron6796

I think your setting up a lot of challenges that could lead to the loss of atleast one fish. I'm not here to ruin your plans but I'm just trying to help your future plans.

 

If I were you I would get the mandarin over the wrasse since they are more colourful and have very unique swimming behaviour, it eliminates the competition over pods and finally the wrasse is considered an expert fish over the mandarin that's just difficult to feed.

 

Blue dot jawfish will need a deep sand bed and I'm no specialist but I am kinda afraid of them. You can get similar fish that don't need one.

 

The meiacanthus are rare and expensive and have never been imported to the us so if you can even find one then you'll need to figure out how to keep it alive.

 

Edit: all the other fish are fine except the damsel it can be risky and its 50/50 weather it will behave or not.

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I think your setting up a lot of challenges that could lead to the loss of atleast one fish. I'm not here to ruin your plans but I'm just trying to help your future plans.

 

If I were you I would get the mandarin over the wrasse since they are more colourful and have very unique swimming behaviour, it eliminates the competition over pods and finally the wrasse is considered an expert fish over the mandarin that's just difficult to feed.

 

Blue dot jawfish will need a deep sand bed and I'm no specialist but I am kinda afraid of them. You can get similar fish that don't need one.

 

The meiacanthus are rare and expensive and have never been imported to the us so if you can even find one then you'll need to figure out how to keep it alive.

 

Edit: all the other fish are fine except the damsel it can be risky and its 50/50 weather it will behave or not.

The Meiacanthus would likely be kept just like other species, but the water would be a few degrees cooler. Many Meiacanthus species are readily bred and kept throughout the world. Agreed on the Jawfish and wrasse. Although other species of jawfish could work.

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Seems like your stocking has changed a lot so not sure where you are at now.

 

Just a heads up on midas blennys, some are great peaceful community fish and others are nightmares. Mine is a nightmare, he regularly tore holes in the fins of the other open water fish, damsels, clowns, ect. and he was going to KILL my flasher wrasses so I ended up selling the wrasses. The midas is now in my mantis tank where he does well because most of the other fish in there are bigger than him.

 

I had much better luck with fang blenny's. They don't seem to bother anyone. Not sure where you will find a

but there are other fang blenny's you may like and are readily available. Meiacanthus bundoon and Meiacanthus atrodorsalis being some of my favorites.

 

 

 

I would 100% plan on training the mandarin to take frozen food. This will be best for the health of the fish so you don't become dependent on pods. It is a high maintenance fish so be ready to target feed it.

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For the Fish Pros:

 

For the moment the list looks like this:

 

2 Clown

Mandarin

Wheeler Goby & Randal Pistol Shrimp

 

Starry Blenny? what do you guys think if this guy?

 

When Should I add each one?

I know:

1. the Mandarin must have a pod population (I want a pod population)

 

These fish will definitely be in there, however we would like 7 or 8 fish.

All others are to be determined down the road.

 

All others:

Helrichi Firefish Goby

Blue Dot Jawfish

Lionfish?

 

 

We want 2 ANEMONES and 2 CLAM.

 

For the Anemone Pros:

 

What kind of Anemones can my tank bred clown be trained to host? When should I add them? I have read 6 months of establishment or longer AND I have been told by successful reefers to put it in first after the cycle. I thought this was very contradicting so I am confused.

 

For the Clam Pros:

 

What species can I keep in here that will thrive? Where shall I place them? What else is there to Clams that I can't find on the web? I have read many things about on the rocks or substrate, etc

 

Thanks guys.

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Cameron6796

Well first a lionfish will most likely eat all your fish that it can fit in its mouth.

 

And as for the clams they require a lot of light and decent water chemistry with a little bit of nitrates. Maximas and crocea like rocks deresa and squamosa like sand, deresa and squamosa are easiest and largest, definetly need a stable tank. I'd recommend a deresa for something easiest and a squamosa if you want better colours. Buy one larger then 2" for higher success and survival rate.

 

Anemones are hit and miss and clowns may never end up hosting them, there are ways to try and get them hosting but not guarenteed. Also clowns do not need an anemone to thrive, since in the wild it's there protection but careful stocking can eliminate the need for said protection. The easiest anemone to care for that they will host is a bubble tip anemone they won't host rock flowers or maxi minis. If you really want an anemone I'd get one and I'd get the bubble tip, add to an established tank as stability will only favour it. Anemones have foot and can move around so they may sting corals. Never force the clowns into it if its small it can actually stress the anemone to death. If you want something easier that look like anemones you can get euphylia coral such as hammers or frogspawn clowns will host these as well but no gaurentee

 

In conclusion these are moderately difficult animals to care for both the clams and anemone so I'd start with easier corals / inverts and work your way up to harder to keep animals.

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For the Fish Pros:

 

For the moment the list looks like this:

 

2 Clown Good

Mandarin Add pods/fuge

Wheeler Goby & Randal Pistol Shrimp Good

 

Starry Blenny? what do you guys think if this guy? May not work with the Mandarin

 

When Should I add each one?

I know:

1. the Mandarin must have a pod population (I want a pod population)

 

These fish will definitely be in there, however we would like 7 or 8 fish.

All others are to be determined down the road.

 

All others:

Helrichi Firefish Goby Good, may be timid

Blue Dot Jawfish Get a different species, this one doesn't do as well in reef aquaria.

Lionfish? May eat the smaller fish, IMO no.

 

 

We want 2 ANEMONES and 2 CLAM.

 

For the Anemone Pros:

 

What kind of Anemones can my tank bred clown be trained to host? When should I add them? I have read 6 months of establishment or longer AND I have been told by successful reefers to put it in first after the cycle. I thought this was very contradicting so I am confused.

 

For the Clam Pros:

 

What species can I keep in here that will thrive? Where shall I place them? What else is there to Clams that I can't find on the web? I have read many things about on the rocks or substrate, etc

 

Thanks guys.

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Hell yeah! you guys are the shizz...

 

ok.. so I have kept a 10g Nano for about 5 or 6 months already. in which at one point there was a Bubble Tip Anemone given as a gift. She did well, except for the fact that there were 6 sexy shrimp that bothered her to death. Now that you say that, it makes total sense why she never looked as beautiful as the first day.

Reason those creatures aren't here any longer, is because a rookie move of mine. I didn't double-secure the suction cup for the heater's sensor from snails, and (I assume a Nerite walked by the glass and unsucked it) when I woke up the tank was 96F (for who knows how long?)... most everything was dead ($400 in livestock)... I did a 99% WC... took all dead stuff out and only my Zoas and 2 Clown survived! (lesson learned!) Anyway, what my point was is that I am familiar with soft coral and I was starting to understand my BTA,

.

 

For the Bubble Tip Anemones, I know they must go into an established tank. However, I have also read that it is best to place them in FIRST (before other coral) so they can acclimate and then find their spot. So does this mean that for 6 months I shouldn't place anything in the tank, just fish? Because we want the center of life to be around the Clam and Anemones.
Squamosa (thanks for that Cameron6796) and 2 Bubble Tips are probably what we will be going for.

All of this leads to the next question about the Pods.

These fellers should be placed in the fuge. However I am unclear as of when they should be placed in there. I have read several different people's methods, but I want to do this right; so I seek the correct way of doing things, whatever is healthiest for the ecosystem.

I have read some place them right after their cycle (along with their CUC), others 2-4weeks after the CUC has dealt with diatoms and cyanos, etc (all the initial blooms) ... I am in no particular rush. Please don't think that.

 

I basically want to organize this in a way that I can also organize my purchases.

 

After cycle (meaning: NH3=0 - NO2=0 - NO3=0) ADD THE CUC ...correct?

 

How long after do I add the first creatures? (this can be time or can be after a certain bloom has died off, etc)
and which creatures should these be?

(pods, fish, anemone) (pods, anemone, fish) (fish, anemone, pods) (fish, pods, anemone) (anemone, fish, pods) (anemone, fish, pods)

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I added anenome's after corals. I say just add them whenever your tank is ready. Be sure to leave the powerheads off for a few hours while they get a grip.

 

Basically I have a rock island for both of them which deters them from walking to the other side of the tank. They will cross the sand but it seems more like a last option for them.

 

They want some flow but no powerheads pointed at them, even from the other side of the tank. Just moving my powerhead 1 inch on the opposite side of the tank disrupted flow and caused mine to take a walk around the rock until I moved the powerhead back.

 

They will want to have a place to bury their foot, so a rock with crevices is a must imo.

 

I was able to place both my nem's in a spot and they never left it (except when I moved the powerhead that one time). Reason they stay put is I chose a spot I knew they would like. Moderate to low flow and lots of places to stick their foot in.

 

Clam's are resistant to nem stings and so are soft corals. I planted soft corals around my nem's to fill the rock in. If the nem decides to smack one, it isn't going to kill it so I don't have to worry.

 

I would just add pods at the end of the cycle with the CUC. They are tough critters and their numbers will stabilize based on food.

 

Add fish slowly. Maybe start a week after the CUC.

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  • 2 months later...

GOOD NEWS everyone!

 

The tanks have arrived to the new house! (yes both the 10g and the 50g)

 

The 50g is fully cycled. I just need a cooling fan and a thermostat for it, because the new house is super hot and I found the tank at 86F after work yesterday (so around midnight).

 

So far, my lady have narrowed down the list:

 

Any suggestions, additions, subtractions, replacements, ideas or criticisms are much welcomed!

 

THE LIST (as of October 1 - 2014)

 

2 O. Clown (we already have)

 

3 Cardinals

1 Starry Blenny

1 Mandarin Dragonet

1 Wheeler Goby

1 Randal Pistol Shrimp

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Angel<3Nanos

I wouldn't do a mandarin until you have a good established pod population. Just like 1.0 said., it may take from 6 months to a year. After that you may add one. Even after been introduced, you will need to keep adding pods to the fuge.

 

The rest of the list looks good.

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Great!

 

I am playing around with the lighting and still installing the fans. The weather has been crazy lately which has allowed me to see what this house has in store for the aquarium. Lately, because of the heat, I have been having heating issues where the temp would go up to 84F-86F, because no one was home to tend to it. However, last night was the first cold night in a while, I woke up pretty early this morning and noticed the temp for both the 10gal & 50gal was very low, each at 74F. All polyps in the 10gal have opened up beautifully so I am not that worried, still means I have to keep a closer eye on the temp. I have a 300w heater in the 50gal which should have kept the temp at bay, but I will be adding the 50w heater from the 10gal once it is emptied out.

 

Someone suggested a McCosker's Flasher Wrasse to the list. What do you guys think? I haven't found much on these guys, something about flashing each other in schools of 3. I was thinking about one male one female.

 

How many Peppermint Shrimp do you think I can keep, 1-2-3? Can I also keep a Cleaner Shrimp (the fish dentist)? Keep in mind I will have the Randalli Pistol Shrimp hoping to pair with the Wheeler Goby as well.

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