Fluval 13.5 stocking

[Parsely]

Hi, I’m a beginner to this hobby and after setting up a 5g betta tank for my 4yr old a couple of months ago and just loving it, I decided to try a small reef tank and purchased the Fluval 13.5g. Been researching non stop and now as it’s getting cycled I’m looking for suggestions on stocking.

Aside from the cuc I know for sure I want a pair of clownfish.

in addition the to clowns I was hoping to add either:

a goby / pistol shrimp pair

or

1 orchid dotty back or bicolour dottyback(I just really love the bright purple colour they have)

Would either one of these additions to the clowns work? I’m assuming doing them all would be overstocking.

or any other suggestions that work well in this size of a tank would be really appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[fishski13]

So with this size aquarium I would say three fish is probably the max stocking to prevent over bioland and cause trouble with nutrients. I would say get the clownfish in the beginning and go from there. See how the nutrients hold up with the clowns and as you get an idea you would be able to add the third fish. I personally dont have any experience with a goby/pistol shrimp combo but I know that most gobies and the dottyback would be a good third addition to the tank.

 

[i cant think]

So with this size aquarium I would say three fish is probably the max stocking to prevent over bioland and cause trouble with nutrients. I would say get the clownfish in the beginning and go from there. See how the nutrients hold up with the clowns and as you get an idea you would be able to add the third fish. …I know that most gobies and the dottyback would be a good third addition to the tank.

+1 to this, another thing is the Clowns will take over the tank quite fast so you’d need to add something that would be able to stand their aggression, a goby may not be able to do this however a Dottyback can combat it.

 

[Parsely]

Ok thank you, I keep seeing wildly different stocking recommendations on this tank from 1 fish max to 5. 3 seems like a happy medium, I just want to make sure they all happily. Already regretting not getting a bigger thank though!

 

[Seymo44]

I have the same tank stocked with one O. Clown, one sixline wrasse, and a YWG/shrimp pair.

Like mentioned above, three small fish are probably the max you can house. My only concern is that the clowns may get aggressive once they start spawning.

 

[ScottJ]

Maybe consider a single clown and 2 other small fish? Like others say, a pair could take over the tank pretty aggressively. Single clowns do fine, IMHO.

 

[olonmv]

I have 1 clown a yellow watchman/shrimp pair and a neon dottyback in my 13.5. They seem happy and bioload is very manageable.

 

[Parsely]

Maybe consider a single clown and 2 other small fish? Like others say, a pair could take over the tank pretty aggressively. Single clowns do fine, IMH

Maybe consider a single clown and 2 other small fish? Like others say, a pair could take over the tank pretty aggressively. Single clowns do fine, IMHO.

thats an interesting option, I thought it was always recommended to keep clownfish as a pair though?

 

[Parsely]

I have 1 clown a yellow watchman/shrimp pair and a neon dottyback in my 13.5. They seem happy and bioload is very manageable.

This is pretty much my ideal tank right now. The clown being on his own is fine?

 

[Parsely]

I have the same tank stocked with one O. Clown, one sixline wrasse, and a YWG/shrimp pair.

Like mentioned above, three small fish are probably the max you can house. My only concern is that the clowns may get aggressive once they start spawning.

Ok, I was thinking the shrimp would count towards the total, but I guess his bioload is small?

 

[olonmv]

This is pretty much my ideal tank right now. The clown being on his own is fine?

Yes actually, I’ve seen on numerous occasions my clown and dottyback swimming besides each other and playing. My clown is also currently tryna be hosted by my bubbletip.

 

[Danroo]

I’ve one only have two pair of clownfish. I’m not sure if it’s a me problem but my tanks go with a bacteria bloom period every time I add clowns to them. But it goes away after a week.

 

[olonmv]

I’ve one only have two pair of clownfish. I’m not sure if it’s a me problem but my tanks go with a bacteria bloom period every time I add clowns to them. But it goes away after a week.

I keep a bottle of stability on hand for this reason. I haven’t had a bacterial bloom in a while but for the first year of my tank I got them, especially after waterchanges.

 

[Danroo]

Yup same my new tanks always starts with bacteria blooms just mild hazy cloudy water. Maybe it’s because I set them up with dry rock. Who knows.

 

[olonmv]

As far as cleanup I have 5 nassarius, 2 astrea, 3 bumblebee, 4 cerith and a tuxedo urchin.

 

[olonmv]

Yup same my new tanks always starts with bacteria blooms just mild hazy cloudy water. Maybe it’s because I set them up with dry rock. Who knows.

Could be, my tank was started with dry rock, live sand and I used the prawn method to cycle. Took forever for my tank to mature.

 

[Danroo]

Could be, my tank was started with dry rock, live sand and I used the prawn method to cycle. Took forever for my tank to mature.

Same but not the prawn method. Added bacteria and livestock instantly. Also had filter media from my previous tank to help with the cycle but still went to a bacteria bloom.

 

[Parsely]

Yes actually, I’ve seen on numerous occasions my clown and dottyback swimming besides each other and playing. My clown is also currently tryna be hosted by my bubbletip.

Amazing! I’m aiming for something just like this

 

[Parsely]

As far as cleanup I have 5 nassarius, 2 astrea, 3 bumblebee, 4 cerith and a tuxedo urchin.

Thank you, cleanup was next on my list to research

 

[olonmv]

Amazing! I’m aiming for something just like this

Add your fish one per couple of weeks to stretch out bioload and give your tank a chance to adjust. The most aggressive fish you decide to go with should be added last…in my case the neon dottyback. If you wish to have small inverts like sexy shrimp, don’t go with a dottyback. Mine polished off moneybag yo and wakisha my sexy shrimp pair 1 week after I added him.