Another stock list question

ether · Aug 19, 2018

Hi,
I'm hoping to set up a 60 gallon cube with the below. Please let me know if you see any potential issues. I have a good skimmer, chaeto, and a 4x8x8 marine pure block in the sump, and I have had a heck of a time getting any detectable nitrates despite vigorous overfeeding.

Have so far:
2 clowns
3 blue/green chromis
2 pajama cardinalfish
1 orange spotted goby
pistol shrimp

want to add:
canary blenny
firefish
2 cleaner shrimp
2 peppermint shrimp
manderin

I would love to add at some point:
bta
clam of some sort.

thanks!

DeniseAndy · Aug 20, 2018

The "want to add" list is fine, but wait a long time on the mandarin. You need a lot of pods (even for captive bred ones). Especially in a 60g. May want to get one cleaner unless is it a bonded pair.

BTA and clam need nice mature tanks. Especially the clam. So, give it time and you can add one when ready. Mature tanks are those that have been running for a long while and are stable, lots pods, lots micorfauna, bacteria, algae, etc. Clams will need a source of calcium added to thrive. When the time comes may have to monitor and dose or get ca rx.

ZoWhat · Aug 20, 2018

You could research wrasses .... tons of varieties and colors.... and they don't need a ton of swimming room

https://m.secure.liveaquaria.com/category/1378/

DeniseAndy · Aug 20, 2018

Wrasses are great. They jump though, so make sure tank has cover!

ether · Aug 20, 2018

DeniseAndy said:
The "want to add" list is fine, but wait a long time on the mandarin. You need a lot of pods (even for captive bred ones). Especially in a 60g. May want to get one cleaner unless is it a bonded pair.

BTA and clam need nice mature tanks. Especially the clam. So, give it time and you can add one when ready. Mature tanks are those that have been running for a long while and are stable, lots pods, lots micorfauna, bacteria, algae, etc. Clams will need a source of calcium added to thrive. When the time comes may have to monitor and dose or get ca rx.

I thought the captive bred manderins ate dry foods? I've always heard that clams/bta need "mature" tanks, but not exactly sure what that means? Tank is stable, variety of corals, so I'm soding calc/alk, pods everywhere, sponges, etc. How do I know when it's ready? Will the cleaners fight if there's more than one? I was thinking a skunk cleaner and blood shrimp.

ether · Aug 20, 2018

skimjim said:
You could research wrasses .... tons of varieties and colors.... and they don't need a ton of swimming room

https://m.secure.liveaquaria.com/category/1378/

Thanks, good thought. What would the best ones be for that size tank, and could I add on top of the list I have above?

DeniseAndy · Aug 20, 2018

Misconception on captive bred mandarins. They are natural hunters and will need live foods or lots of food. Some people to feed frozen in a feeder system, but they are trained. To keep them happy you just need lots of live foods. If you have sufficient live rock, good algae growth in refugium, scrubber, etc. you will have good pods population.

The skunk and blood red should be fine together. I have had two skunks fight in smaller tanks.

Maturity comes with time and variety of tank inhabitants. Hard to say when that is. Most say a year. Either way you will need to add calcium and keep an eye on alkalinity levels with clams. Start with a derasa as they are a bit more forgiving, less light, but do grow fast, so calcium can be an issue. Do you have corals? What type?

The top can just be egg crate, mesh, etc. As long as it is covered as wrasses love to jump. It will not effect other fish.

ether · Aug 20, 2018

DeniseAndy said:
Misconception on captive bred mandarins. They are natural hunters and will need live foods or lots of food. Some people to feed frozen in a feeder system, but they are trained. To keep them happy you just need lots of live foods. If you have sufficient live rock, good algae growth in refugium, scrubber, etc. you will have good pods population.

The skunk and blood red should be fine together. I have had two skunks fight in smaller tanks.

Maturity comes with time and variety of tank inhabitants. Hard to say when that is. Most say a year. Either way you will need to add calcium and keep an eye on alkalinity levels with clams. Start with a derasa as they are a bit more forgiving, less light, but do grow fast, so calcium can be an issue. Do you have corals? What type?

The top can just be egg crate, mesh, etc. As long as it is covered as wrasses love to jump. It will not effect other fish.

Thanks for the info, tank is covered well, have sps, lps, shrooms, and zoas. Several of each. All seem to be doing fine, and I'm dosing already.

40B Knasty · Aug 20, 2018

You are not over stocking the tank so far. The mandarin you will need a good Pod population. One that others can not see well. Like Tisbe pods being the smallest and cyclo pods the next size up which are a more nutritional value. Tigger pods all fish seem to love them. The best for nutrition value. NEVER expect them to eat frozens. Even if they start eating frozens. They can stop. I have had great luck with a Spotted mandarin eating frozens right from day one. I have a green mandarin now. It took him a month to get him into eating frozens. I was feeding him Tigger pods and using a baby brine shrimp feeding station to start. Tricked him by getting him used to the taste of brine and feeding a Tigger Pod colony spirulina powder only. He got used to those 2 tastes. Then I bought the Hikari brine w/spirulina. 2 weeks later I would add mysis into what he thought was brine. So I got him used to that. Now he eats blood worms. Plus if the mandarin eats frozens. You need to feed it 2-3x a day. Preferably 3.
If you are looking for suggestions. I am a big fan of basslets. There is a Jack-o-lantern, Chalk, Swissguard, tobacco, Swalesi, and black cap.
Wrasse do need room to swim. 3 feet length minimum for the ones that max size at 3 1/2-5".
When you get a clam. Give your tank sometime to mature. Do research on what kind to get because of the share size some of them can get to. Don't get a clam under 2". Maxima clam is probably your best choice.
The Canary Blenny is considered venomous. So watch your fingers. Plus if they are attacked. They seem to be nasty to the fish showing aggressive behavior to them.
If you are looking for a wrasse like fish that is small and peaceful. Yellow Candy Hogfish.
Also another basslet that is yellow is the gold accessor basslet. Peaceful but weird, because they will hangout upside down. That always freaked me out, some love it.
Easy hardy and colorful blenny is a tailspot blenny. Great personality! You can buy a few of them.