Help/Advise Required - 30 Gallon Stocking Ideas For Newbie

[OPL]

Hi,

 

I'm new to Saltwater/Reefing, historically i have kept tropical and finally convinced the wife to let me get another tank and try my hand at marine. I've set up and started cycling a Aquaone Nano 80 (approx 130 litre/30 gallon) with the rear sump, already familiar and comfortable with an AIO set-up and not needing to purchase another tank/cabinet with an in cabinet sump was a bonus. Long term i plan on adding corals once everything is established but i will be keeping it simple until everything is established, currently considering:

 

- 1x Ocellarris/common Clownfish

- 1x Royal Gramma

- 1x Firefish

- 1x Neon Goby

- 1x Cleaner Shrimp

- CUC: Hermit Crabs & Snails

 

Already got some rock-work in and will be adding more prior to introducing any fish to minimize territorial aggression/provide hiding spots, would like to include all above fish but not sure if suitable with size of the tank? Previously considered a second Clownfish but I think the tank will be too small and lead to aggression as they get older, also considered a blenny but unsure on compatibility with the above?

 

Open to suggestions/constructive criticism on all of the above, all advise much appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance,

[seabass]

 to Nano-Reef.com.

 

2 hours ago, OPL said:

Already got some rock-work in and will be adding more prior to introducing any fish

Add it as soon as you can.  You definitely want the rock cycled/cured prior to adding any livestock.

[banasophia]

Sounds like a good plan. Personally I like keeping clownfish in pairs so they have a buddy to hang out with, so I’d go with an ocellaris clownfish pair. And I’d personally probably choose a yellow clown goby or maybe a Midas blenny over a blue neon goby because I love my neon goby, but he really hides a lot in the rock so I don’t see him much. 
 

 

[OPL]

Thanks for your responses,

4 hours ago, seabass said:

 to Nano-Reef.com.

 

Add it as soon as you can.  You definitely want the rock cycled/cured prior to adding any livestock.

I'm using Aquaroche ceramic/artificial rock rather than live rock, I'm under the impression that they do not need to be "cured" like life rock? I will be adding some more today, the reminder either next week or week after.

 

4 hours ago, banasophia said:

Sounds like a good plan. Personally I like keeping clownfish in pairs so they have a buddy to hang out with, so I’d go with an ocellaris clownfish pair. And I’d personally probably choose a yellow clown goby or maybe a Midas blenny over a blue neon goby because I love my neon goby, but he really hides a lot in the rock so I don’t see him much.

Would 130 litres / 30 gallons be big enough for a pair of Clowns in addition to the fish in my original post? I've read other keepers threads who have had issues with Clown pairs becoming aggressive to their tank mates, some of them are included in my list. Hadn't considered a yellow Clown Goby and a Blue Neon hiding, will swap out as you suggested.

 

What CUC do you have/recommend?

[Murphs_Reef]

4 hours ago, banasophia said:

Sounds like a good plan. Personally I like keeping clownfish in pairs so they have a buddy to hang out with, so I’d go with an ocellaris clownfish pair. And I’d personally probably choose a yellow clown goby or maybe a Midas blenny over a blue neon goby because I love my neon goby, but he really hides a lot in the rock so I don’t see him much. 
 

 

Agreed my yellow clown goby is active enough but the blue neon only really comes out at dinner time

[rough eye]

if you're not using live rock i would suggest waiting longer before adding any livestock. even using live rock i originally planned to wait 2 months but the tank was ready in a month. better to pan for longer and be pleasantly surprised than to plan for a short cycle and be disappointed. and clean up crew only after there's something to clean up. 🙂

[seabass]

14 hours ago, OPL said:

I've set up and started cycling a Aquaone Nano 80

6 hours ago, OPL said:

I'm using Aquaroche ceramic/artificial rock rather than live rock, I'm under the impression that they do not need to be "cured" like life rock?

How are you cycling your tank?  Are you dosing ammonia or ammonia chloride?  As @rough eye implied, you should build up a biofilter (fishless cycling) prior to adding livestock.

 

[banasophia]

6 hours ago, OPL said:

Thanks for your responses,

I'm using Aquaroche ceramic/artificial rock rather than live rock, I'm under the impression that they do not need to be "cured" like life rock? I will be adding some more today, the reminder either next week or week after.

 

Would 130 litres / 30 gallons be big enough for a pair of Clowns in addition to the fish in my original post? I've read other keepers threads who have had issues with Clown pairs becoming aggressive to their tank mates, some of them are included in my list. Hadn't considered a yellow Clown Goby and a Blue Neon hiding, will swap out as you suggested.

 

What CUC do you have/recommend?

I think it’s pretty standard to keep clownfish in pairs... you would want to be sure to choose less aggressive types like ocellaris. I don’t think that would be too many fish for your 30 gallon tank. 
 

You may also want to consider a pest eating fish of some kind that would eat flatworms or nudibranchs if accidentally introduced. 
 

I like ordering a custom cleanup crew from Reef Cleaners. 

[Jakesaw]

On 4/5/2021 at 9:40 AM, rough eye said:

 and clean up crew only after there's something to clean up. 🙂

Agree with this one.  Started as fish only and bought a crab when he had nothing to eat as I was feeding my fish only what they would finish.  Had to spot feed the guy.

 

Once I got my reef light some algae formed they could graze upon.