How does this sound? Clean Up Crew for 12gal Aquapod

[DRoy1124]

my tank is 3 weeks old, 12 gallons, completed cycle, and ready to be stocked.

First add:
3x Cerith Snails
3x Massariuis Snails
2x Astrea Snails
2x Margarita Snails
1x Shrimp (Either Fire or Lysmata Grabhami)

After they are established (maybe 1-2 weeks) add:
1x Percula Clown
1x Green Watchman Goby
1x Royal Gramma


Could You guys leave some comments. See what im doing wrong/right, and even suggest some stuff? Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Switch the margarita snails for astreas, margarita snails are not tropical snails.

 

[DRoy1124]

other than that, i should be good to go? can my tank handle all that?

 

[ironik]

other than that, i should be good to go? can my tank handle all that?

Do you have a skimmer?
If not, I think your tank will be overcrowded...

Maybe you already know that, but the gramma is a very agressive and territorial fish... It's probably safer not to get it in a tank as small as yours...

Cheers

 

[DRoy1124]

I do not have a skimmer. Although i was thinking about getting the new nano-skimmer, but i am not sure yet. Do you think i could get 2 very small clowns, that mated, and a goby? Becuase the 2 small clowns could hang in the middle/top of the tank, and the goby hangs around the sand, am i correct?

If i do end up getting 2x small clown and 1x goby and add a skimmer, could i handle it, or what are some other ways to decrease my bio-load other than a skimmer. Thanks a ton!

 

[ironik]

I'm new (6months) in reef tank too so wait for more answers...

But In my opinion just don't stock too many fishes in your nano.

I have a 25g tank without skimmer, doing 10% water change each week, no fishes for the moment. But i'd like to add 2 or 3 fishes like 1 hexatenia and 2 gobies...

So It's up to you...Maybe it could works well!

Anyway, clowns are "happier" with a mate

I know that many small gobies are Ok in a nano like yours but I'm not sure about the clowns...

In order to decrease the bio-load without skimmer ... Just don't stock to many fishes and do water changes (10% per week seems to be a good rate)

 

[bleedingthought]

You'll be fine with two clowns and the goby. JMO.

 

[ironik]

ok! It's good to be known

 

[DRoy1124]

what about 2 clowns and a purplefirefish?

 

[bleedingthought]

Yeah, I would go for it. I have two firefish and they are the least agressive of the tank. But my Percula doesn't bother them. Just make sure the firefish will have places to hide to (they move about like Flash when in danger/threatened and will look for caves and holes) and you'll be good. Also, make sure the clowns don't eat all the food and leave none for him, since they are more aggressive eaters.

 

[Meloco14]

I replied to this thread in the new reefkeepers area. If you go without a skimmer you will need to perform more water changes. I would also lessen the bioload on the tank (meaning number of fish) and be sure not to overfeed. The more fish you have, and the more feeding you do, increases the amount of waste in the water and increases the importance of a skimmer or water changes. I think a pair of clowns with a goby would be better than having the royal gramma. However, when you have 2 full grown clowns and a full grown watchman you will be pushing the limits of that tank, especially if you don't have a skimmer. I would suggest looking at some smaller gobies if you want to have 3 fish. There are some really attractive gobies that don't get much longer than 1.5"-2" that would be perfect. You could even get a small shrimp goby with a pistol shrimp.

 

[DRoy1124]

meloco, what about 2clownies and 1 purple firefish? I am able to do water changes once a week, say 2 gallons.

 

[bleedingthought]

meloco, what about 2clownies and 1 purple firefish? I am able to do water changes once a week, say 2 gallons.

I would recommend a skimmer also, like meloco mentioned, but the weekly water changes will help a lot also. 2 gallons out of 12 would be good!

 

[Meloco14]

IMO 2 clowns and a firefish would be fine in that they are peaceful towards each other, but that is still on the higher bioload side. I would go with a skimmer if you can, and yes 2 gallon water changes would be good. On my 12g I do 3 gallon water changes every couple weeks. So 2 every week would be good I think. I think you should add the pair of clowns first, as you seem to favor them. Let them get established and give yourself time to get used to feeding them properly and getting your water change regimen down. After say, a month, if your water tests consistently show low nitrates then you can add a third fish. If you are having trouble keeping the nitrates down with only the 2 clowns, I would not add a third fish. That is how I would approach it if I were you.

 

[DRoy1124]

thanks meloco, that is some very good advice. Also after the clowns are established, i might add a zoanthid coral or two. Since i am new to reef keeping, many people told me that adding this coral would not add to my bioload and is very easy to take care of (also they look really awesome). After i have my clowns (mated pair prolly) and coral established, ill keep at good eye on my nitrate levels. If they are consistnly low, i will then add the purple firefish. Thanks everyone one for your comments! 8) :lol: 8) Still comment if you wish, as i am always looking for something to read

 

[bleedingthought]

Be careful because perc clowns can be pretty mean sometimes. If they're paired up and have established territory, they will give the firefish a hard time, especially in a 12G tank... I would go with the firefish first and give it time to get itself situated, but that's just me...

JMHO, for what it's worth.

 

[Meloco14]

Be careful because perc clowns can be pretty mean sometimes. If they're paired up and have established territory, they will give the firefish a hard time, especially in a 12G tank... I would go with the firefish first and give it time to get itself situated, but that's just me...

JMHO, for what it's worth.

This is a valid point that I overlooked. Are you planning on getting true percula's? I have no experience with true perc's, but I had a pair of tank raised ocellaris clowns that are now living with a firefish in my brother's tank. They never bother the firefish in his tank, but it may be a concern in a 12 gallon tank. I think your best best would be tank raised ocellaris, as they seem to be very used to close contact with humans and other fish. Adding the firefish first would indeed give the firefish a better chance to settle in, but if there is really a chance of the clowns harassing the firefish then maybe he should not have them together in this tank regardless of stocking order. What do you think bleedingthought? I have no personal experience with firefish so you would know better than I.

As far as zooanthids, they are a great coral for a beginner. Once your water is stable you could even add those before any fish without a problem. Ricordea are another great beginner coral and they are much more attractive than ordinary mushrooms, IMO. What lights are on the tank?

 

[DRoy1124]

what ever came with my 12 gallon aquapod. i think i have the deluxe version. i have 2 LED lights shining on the tank at all times( you can only see at night). I have a blue actinic ligt that comes on at 7 in the morning, and that reprents the sun rising. at 8, my white light comes on. all 3 lights stay on throught the day, at 7pm, the white light kicks off, leaving the actinic and LED lights on to represent the sun setting. at 8pm, the actinic kicks off, and the LED stays on throught the whole night to represent the moon until the morning. The lights are quite powerful, and it seems my tank gets plenty of good quality light. (the guy at my lfs said this is a good tank to keep corals because of the good lighting).

Do i have to feed zooanthids, ricordea, or green star polyps? some poeple say feed oyster eggs once a week, some say dont feed them? What do you think? Thanks everyone

 

[bleedingthought]

Be careful because perc clowns can be pretty mean sometimes. If they're paired up and have established territory, they will give the firefish a hard time, especially in a 12G tank... I would go with the firefish first and give it time to get itself situated, but that's just me...

JMHO, for what it's worth.

This is a valid point that I overlooked. Are you planning on getting true percula's? I have no experience with true perc's, but I had a pair of tank raised ocellaris clowns that are now living with a firefish in my brother's tank. They never bother the firefish in his tank, but it may be a concern in a 12 gallon tank. I think your best best would be tank raised ocellaris, as they seem to be very used to close contact with humans and other fish. Adding the firefish first would indeed give the firefish a better chance to settle in, but if there is really a chance of the clowns harassing the firefish then maybe he should not have them together in this tank regardless of stocking order. What do you think bleedingthought? I have no personal experience with firefish so you would know better than I.

As far as zooanthids, they are a great coral for a beginner. Once your water is stable you could even add those before any fish without a problem. Ricordea are another great beginner coral and they are much more attractive than ordinary mushrooms, IMO. What lights are on the tank?

I would go with the smaller true percs you can find. Add the firefish first, add some zoas and ricordea like meloco says (I like ricordeas too!), and keep an eye on your levels and how your tank is doing. Then go with the small clowns and make sure the firefish is given enough room to do his thing. But be prepared to separate them if necessary. I personally like true percs better than ocellaris, but I agree that the ocellaris would probably be a safer bet. :wink:

 

[bleedingthought]

Also, definitely give yourself a bit of time between the firefish/first corals and the clowns.