Adding fish... Order? Ideas? Compatibility?

[CableGuy86]

Quick rundown of what I have and want. I have a 40gl breeder w/2" sand bed and 40/45 lbs of live rock. The tank has plenty caves, lighting, Jeabo rw8 wave maker, and finnex HOB rufugium. The tank as been setup for about 2months literally just sand, water, and rock. Basically looking like a fowler but I eventually would like to add an anemone for the clowns and maybe some shrooms and hardy coral one day. Ok here it goes............

DEF WANT
Flame angel
Green mandarin
2 ocellaris clowns (willing to have 1)

WANT (if I can find)
Carpenter wrasse
Pistol shrimp paired with yellow goby.

SHRIMP (I would like one of each or more?)
Cleaner skunk shrimp
Peppermint shrimp
Banded shrimp

Maybe add
Green banded goby
lawnmower blenny
Royal gramma

Any other possible cleaner and/or beneficial colorful additions or substitutes?

Also how much clean up crew?

 

[steve&mari]

Flame angels and coral banded shrimp are a risk with corals. The mandarins need huge amount of pods. So you'd need to keep buying them as hob fuge won't be able to sustain a pod population for them. Your def list and maybe another fish would fill the 40b. For a clean up crew we got the small crew from @Getyourpods as we have our pods. We also have a 40b.

 

[eatbreakfast]

The coral banded shrimp may also be predatory toward the other shrimp and some of your smaller fish.

 

[thehammer1985]

It's great that you are asking first that's a good way to start and get info. Now like as mentioned above flame angels are a 50/50 gamble with corals . Generally they go after sps polyps and clam mantles but just be aware they are known to nip even the occasional softy/lps it's a risk you take . You can mitigate your risks by keeping him well fed but it's no gaurentee. As for the mandarin I would avoid this at this time even in a 115 I would wait a year before adding one and that's in a tank with a fuge and no pod predators. Also the wrasse will pick at pods in the column and steal food from the mandarin. I just think a mandarin in a tank this small would not flourish. Coral banded shrimp are ******s(at least mine where) if you wanted a more peaceful tank without worry I would avoid this one. Now onto the good news. The clowns are always a good choice . The carpenter flasher wrasse is colorful and has great attitude I would Def suggest. The yellow watchman and shrimp is a good choice but if you do that I would just be cautious and watch when you add a green bar goby.pistol shrimp yes cleaner shrimp yes. Royal grammar yes and add him last they can be territorial. Lawnmower blenny only after the tank has been established and has food sources for him. As for a cleanup crew you could prob start with 10 snails and maybe 5 hermits if you don't care that they may take out a snail or 2 and then add more as time goes by

 

[CableGuy86]

Well I wanted the coral banded to keep the bristle population down mainly bc I have already seen a few. Any other possibilities for this?

I really want that flame but have considered the coral beauty angel. Thoughts? Not going big into corals but like I said a few along the way maybe a cap but that's another question for another day lol.

The mandarin goby will run through pods that fast. Well I'm glad u said that bc I wanted the hob fuge just for him but I Gus I will be buying pods in a bottle as well. dang that sux

What about order to put them in? I heard put the angel in last but being that I have to wait for the mandarin (I read add angel last) I also read add shrimp 1st but I feel like a new tank that's a bad idea?

I'd like to add 2 or 3 fish at 1st then maybe one a month or longer debating on the next fish

 

[steve&mari]

Add slowly 2 at a time and let bacteria build to handle the bioload a couple weeks then add another 1 or 2. Shrimp are fine just feed em a little. Get the clean up crew to keep it healthy. From what I've been told and I trust the person he's been running a aquarium maintenance company and a awesome lfs for 20 years coral beauty are safest to try then the flames rest are pretty much a bigger risk but all are a risk. Angel last is good idea.

 

[CableGuy86]

So I think I may add the 2 clowns then wait about 2 weeks. Next, add clean up crew or shrimp? Or shrimp than clean up crew? Does it matter?

Never had good luck with shrimp and I don't want to rush them bc they are a lil pricy

 

[CableGuy86]

The clowns won't be 2 territorial if added 1st huh?

 

[Reefrookie220]

Clean up crew and clowns at the same time 1st, 3 days-a week add you next. I'd add a dozen hermits. They will compensate for your over feeding, don't worry everybody does it!

I recommend LRS reef frenzy nano! I feed my corals and everything with it.

 

[thehammer1985]

Clean up crew and clowns at the same time 1st, 3 days-a week add you next. I'd add a dozen hermits. They will compensate for your over feeding, don't worry everybody does it!



I recommend LRS reef frenzy nano! I feed my corals and everything with it.

I agree with the clowns and clean up crew . Also lrs nano is awesome stuff I alternate between that ,rotifers , pellets and reef roids. Days I feed rotifers or reef roids I also feed pelletd . The only thing I can say and I'm trying not to be condescending or dismissive but give it longer than 3 days to a week to add more fish . Allow you're biological filter enough time to catch up I'd recommend a minimum of 3-4 weeks. I know it seems like a long time but remember nothing great happens quickly in reefing.

 

[thehammer1985]

Also clowns being damsels can be territorial I however out of all my tanks have never had an issue with adding them first(doesn't mean it can't happen) .

 

[steve&mari]

Agreed with above testing will help tell when it's ready for more additional fish. The inverts aren't a problem as they clean up what's already there so it negates the addition to bioload.

 

[Reefrookie220]

Should have specified, he's talking about cleaner shrimp, it cleans, ergo helps your tank keep up. Shouldn't have said fish. Good point.

 

[thehammer1985]

Sorry reef I wasn't trying to sound like an butt . And steves 100% there even corals will utilize the fish poop and help lower the bioload

 

[Reefrookie220]

No worries!

 

[CableGuy86]

Awesome love all the feedback... Looks like I will def do the clowns and clean up crew. Are yall saying the shrimp as well? Or just add the shrimp whenever bc they clean their own mess?

I will be waiting a month between adding 1or 2 fish at a time basically for price and I really want to be slow with this tank. I learned from rushing my 14gl biocube.

As far as food all I have been doing now is sustainable aquatics dry hatchery diet slow sinking pellets & reef zoo plankton. Plan on doing some frozen stuff in this new tank.

 

[Reefrookie220]

12 hermits pair of clowns and shrimp should be fine. Feed them no more than they devour in 2 minutes. Stay on top of water changes and then a week before next fish. Should be fine!

In my experience you'd be fine, I've done a lot of things to soon but this should work out with out a hitch.

 

[Reefrookie220]

Also if you add a goby and shrimp pair that shrimp will not take kindly to other shrimp.

 

[alamo28]

peppermint shrimp are good aeptasia eaters, lawnmower blennys are great for eating algae. I have a clown goby that is yellow, he is a great character!