Stocking...

[Gerber77]

Yeah a pair would be perfect with the firefish

[Yurei]

Even when they get to max size?

[Gerber77]

Depending on the pair yes. I would recommend a pair of true percs.

[Left Coast DJ]

What happened to the pico?

[Yurei]

Don't worry I still have it. It's doing great :-D.

 

Sorry for the many questions Gerber. Why would you recommend a true rather than a false percula? And do you have to buy them in a confirmed pair or could you buy a male and female? I'm guessing I could sex them by size assuming they came from the same shipment. Also the LFS I'm planning to go to seems very reliable.

[Gerber77]

I like true percs because they seem to color better as they mature but it doesnt matter much. You can just buy two clowns and the bigger one will eventually become female.

[Yurei]

Nevermind I figured it out. Either I get two small ones which are all apparently male, in which one will eventually become the dominant female, or to get one small one and one big one. They change sex! Makes things easier :-D.

 

My list as of now

1 Peppermint Shrimp

2 True percula clowns or 2 false (depends on what is available but true are preferred)

1 Firefish

5 Astrea snails

4 Left handed hermits

1 Sea cucumber that stays around 3-4 inches.

 

Sound good?

 

Edit: ninja'd. Ok I thought it was something like true's are more peaceful than false or something. I do like the color of the true ones better.

[Gerber77]

That sounds good.

[Yurei]

Unless there be any more objections I will go with this plan. But first I need to cycle the friggin tank :-D.

 

Thanks everyone! Especially Gerber!

[Gerber77]

No problem glad to help

[justaguy2]

May I butt in and confuse things horribly?

 

You have gone through several iterations of a stocking list. Forget about the inverts, they don't make much difference to the bioload as long as your tank naturally produces what they need. If you have to suppliment their food then it matters.

 

Anyway...

 

For fish, just take it slow. Add the more docile, non aggressive fish first and the most shy/timid last.

 

Add 1 fish, wait a week and test your water. Are you at 0 for ammonia and nitrites? If not you need to stop stocking and get the params under control. If you are, where are the nitrites? Fish don't care anywhere near as much as the inverts and corals do. You need to stay under 10 preferably and certainly under 30 even with super hardy stuff. If you are not staying under this amount, stop stocking. Find a solution whether it be a macro algae, more frequent water changes, some miracle chemical, or what have you. Once you have the trites under control using a method you feel confident you can keep up with, add another fish. And another.

 

Stick with small fish (3" or less, approximately) in a 20gal and let your water params tell you when you are at your limit.

 

Fish alone won't determine your max capacity. Feeding your fish 10 grams of food daily will mean less fish than if you feed 10 grams every 3 days. Many fish are like dogs. They will just eat and eat and eat. Then they fill up the back yard with poop and get fat. Feed less and they are fine and the backyard stays cleaner.

 

Also consider what you will feed your fish. Will your fish be omnivores, carnivores or herbivores? Choose an appropriate clean up crew. You want the CUC to eat whatever the fish miss. Don't go with all herbivore snails if your fish want meaty foods.

 

Once you add corals consider if they are filter feeders or not. If they are, feed the fish something the corals can also eat.

 

Planning things out this way helps reduce the food going to waste and reduces what rots and reduces the bioload.

[Yurei]

May I butt in and confuse things horribly?

 

You have gone through several iterations of a stocking list. Forget about the inverts, they don't make much difference to the bioload as long as your tank naturally produces what they need. If you have to suppliment their food then it matters.

 

Anyway...

 

For fish, just take it slow. Add the more docile, non aggressive fish first and the most shy/timid last.

 

Add 1 fish, wait a week and test your water. Are you at 0 for ammonia and nitrites? If not you need to stop stocking and get the params under control. If you are, where are the nitrites? Fish don't care anywhere near as much as the inverts and corals do. You need to stay under 10 preferably and certainly under 30 even with super hardy stuff. If you are not staying under this amount, stop stocking. Find a solution whether it be a macro algae, more frequent water changes, some miracle chemical, or what have you. Once you have the trites under control using a method you feel confident you can keep up with, add another fish. And another.

 

Stick with small fish (3" or less, approximately) in a 20gal and let your water params tell you when you are at your limit.

 

Fish alone won't determine your max capacity. Feeding your fish 10 grams of food daily will mean less fish than if you feed 10 grams every 3 days. Many fish are like dogs. They will just eat and eat and eat. Then they fill up the back yard with poop and get fat. Feed less and they are fine and the backyard stays cleaner.

 

Also consider what you will feed your fish. Will your fish be omnivores, carnivores or herbivores? Choose an appropriate clean up crew. You want the CUC to eat whatever the fish miss. Don't go with all herbivore snails if your fish want meaty foods.

 

Once you add corals consider if they are filter feeders or not. If they are, feed the fish something the corals can also eat.

 

Planning things out this way helps reduce the food going to waste and reduces what rots and reduces the bioload.

 

 

Thanks for that justagay2! But yes I already know most of what you have just said.

 

I know for one that clownfish are omnivores and the firefish a carnivore, so I added hermits and one peppermint shrimp to aid to that. I also think many of the various other tiny critters in the tank would take care of it well.

 

And I think you meant nitrates in that 5th paragraph?

 

So I should add the firefish last then? Not 1st (of the fish)?

 

My plan thus far is to add the invertebrate first, then the clowns, then the firefish. But slowly.

 

 

Thanks

[Flipper1]

Considering their temperament, I wouldn't consider stocking order an issue. However, the firefish is a bit on the shy side when first introduced, and, IMO, maybe not quite as hardy as the clowns. I'd introduce the firefish first, and then test your parameters a few weeks later before introducing the clowns (as a pair, of course). BTW, in my experience, a small pair of clowns will probably not reach their full, potential size in the aquarium. I had an ocellaris for four years that never reached 2 inches. So a small pair will probably remain fairly small.

[Greenstar]

Nevermind I figured it out. Either I get two small ones which are all apparently male, in which one will eventually become the dominant female, or to get one small one and one big one. They change sex! Makes things easier :-D.

 

My list as of now

1 Peppermint Shrimp

2 True percula clowns or 2 false (depends on what is available but true are preferred)

1 Firefish

5 Astrea snails

4 Left handed hermits

1 Sea cucumber that stays around 3-4 inches.

 

Sound good?

 

Edit: ninja'd. Ok I thought it was something like true's are more peaceful than false or something. I do like the color of the true ones better.

 

 

Sounds much better

[Yurei]

Sounds much better

 

Sweet. Now I know I'm good :-D.

 

Thank you everyone! Down to head to the store to get some LR!