me again

[Dylan J.]

Personally I would get a hardy fish and a CuC and feed very lite.

For example:

Damsels or clown fish are pretty hardy fishes
and thowing in about 5-10 small blue legged hermit crabs and even 2-3 turbo snails

I personally recommend these fish and inverts only because theyre hard and can handle the swings your tank with go thru.

Also when I mean by feeding lite it drop enough food for the fish to eat.

I would recommend feeding Ocean Nutrition forumula Two Pellets that are small. Personally im found of the brand but everyone has their own ways. The reason I say pellets is because when flakes are eaten only about 40% of take gets eaten with the other 60% or so is flushed out the fishes gills there for cause a problem in the tank due to extra nutrients. While feeding pellets the whole pellet gets eaten.

 

[Dalmatia]

Get a blue green chromis!!! Very peaceful and hardy and I'm pretty sure they are damsel fish, or get a clown. They are aggressive

 

[Dalmatia]

After you start feeding you'll notice more and more algae and diatoms with out your cleaning crew, that's all

 

[NanaReefer]

I totally disagree with adding ANY fish to your tank at this time. Especially a possibly aggressive fish such as a Damsel. Besides it not being a yet healthy environment for the fish, it is a fish you most likely won't want later on when deciding on a fish you really do want. Especially in a small tank!
IMO I'd just stick with a clean up crew and feed them lightly. At least until your parameters are stable


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk.

 

[Dalmatia]

Chromis are very peaceful fish (damselfish), than you have yellow belly damsel, they are in the middle, and you have your yellow tail and the rest that are just as aggressive as a clown fish

 

[Tmar]

Aye Nana
I am a wee bit confused about what to add at all... gonna just keep feeding the tank ammonia daily for a while yet. Possibly for another couple of weeks to make darn good and sure that the water parameters are stable. Once I actually start to see some, any, form of life in the tank (algae or diatoms) then I will consider adding a CUC
I was thinking:
4 hermit crabs
2 arrow crabs
3 marg snails
2 narc snails
I am not overly fond of shrimp but will mix and match those too if you think it would be beneficial
I have already set my heart on an ocellaris clownfish when the time is right for it!

 

[Eienna]

I wouldn't get the arrow crab. They may hunt beneficial inverts. As a side note, crabs in general are not trustworthy; they may decide to eat fish or corals. Shrimp and snails are where it's at.

 

[Dylan J.]

+1 on what in Eienna said, Arrow crabs have a tendency to go after ur other inverets as well might pick at corals and what nots. Most crabs are opertunistic eaters, So they might go for it if they get the chance or you could have them in your tank and nothing might never happen so its a risk is all. As far as shrimp go the skunk cleaner shrimp isnt to bad. They're pretty peacefully and keep to theirself as well as they will clean your larger fish from any parisites and of impurities.

Now as far as the fishes go I agree with Nana, I wouldnt start adding fish untill atlease 2-3weeks. Your tank is going to still go thru various swings and sometimes its just better to play it safe so the fishes dont become to stressed out causing to attain different illiness such as ick or etc.

 

[Tmar]

I dont think a hermit could eat a clownfish?! .. thought hermit crabs were very small!
I won't get the arrow crab at all then! Not that I plan on having corals in this tank, it is destined to be fowlr I was under the impression that shrimp are bigger than hermit crabs, but could be totally wrong. I have spent a few hours narrowing down the one fish I want but haven't spent any time at all on CUC, inverts and such. As it's going, it will be quite some time yet before I put anything at all in this tank. How totally confusing this all is

 

[Eienna]

I dont think a hermit could eat a clownfish?! .. thought hermit crabs were very small!
I won't get the arrow crab at all then! Not that I plan on having corals in this tank, it is destined to be fowlr I was under the impression that shrimp are bigger than hermit crabs, but could be totally wrong. I have spent a few hours narrowing down the one fish I want but haven't spent any time at all on CUC, inverts and such. As it's going, it will be quite some time yet before I put anything at all in this tank. How totally confusing this all is

Don't worry. You'll get it.

There are hermits and then there are smaller hermits. I have a couple of blue legged hermits that so far have been model citizens and stay fairly small.

Peppermint and skunk shrimp are pretty safe bets, though my scarlet skunk liked to attack my peppermint.

 

[NanaReefer]

Please don't let us confuse you!! Sorry for the bombardment of suggestions-lol. Your doing pretty dang good so far. Just research your critters first, you'll know what to do I have faith in you grasshopper!!


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk.

 

[TonapahNorth]

I totally disagree with adding ANY fish to your tank at this time. Especially a possibly aggressive fish such as a Damsel. Besides it not being a yet healthy environment for the fish, it is a fish you most likely won't want later on when deciding on a fish you really do want. Especially in a small tank!
IMO I'd just stick with a clean up crew and feed them lightly. At least until your parameters are stable


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk.

I agree with NanaReefer here. Ghost feeding worked for me.


Tona

Non Nobis, Domine, Non Nobis
Sed Nomini Tuo Da Glorium

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135783

 

[Tmar]

Ok, well so since my cycle is nearing the point of being able to add livestock (CuC or fish as of yet to be determined) I still have time to research. I can just keep feeding the BB with ammonia till I get it
I am not overly confused as I have set my heart on what kind of fish already. I DO appreciate ALL input and had picked the listed CuC from a list my LFS has according to what they "clean" I do like the idea of peppermint shrimp as i have been reading they supposedly clean aptaisia! I have begun to research further into this new world and I WILL make sense of it.
I thank ALL (specially nanareefer) who continue to follow this little thread, it means a lot to me and I always look forward to reading the comments

 

[Tmar]

By the way, this is the list I mentioned from my LFS:
[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 4"]COMMON NAME
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]LATIN NAME
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]TARGET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Cilibanarius tricolor
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Algae/Detritus
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Left Handed Hermit Crabs
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Calcinus laevimanus
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Algae/Detritus
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Red Scarlet Hermit Crabs
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Paguristes cadenati
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Algae/Detritus
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]COMMON NAME
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]LATIN NAME
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]TARGET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Arrow Crab
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Stenorhynchus seticornis
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Dec./Bristle Worm
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Emerald Crab
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Mithrax sculptus
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Valonia
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Porcelain Crab
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Neopetrolisthes/Petrolisthes
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Decorative
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Sally Lightfoot Crab
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Graspus sp.
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Algae/Detritus
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]COMMON NAME
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 5"]LATIN NAME
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"]TARGET
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Astrea Snails
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 5"]Astrea sp.
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Turf Algae/Glass
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Bumble Bee Snails
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 5"]Pusiostoma mendicaria
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Detritus
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cerith Snails
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 5"]Cerithium sp.
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Diatom/Detritus
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Margarita Snails
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 5"]Margarities sp.
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Turf Algae/Rock
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Nassarius Snails
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 5"]Nassarius sp.
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Detritus/Sand Bed
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Turbo Snails
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 5"]Turbo sp.
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"]Turf Algae
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]OMMON NAME
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"]TANK SIZE
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 7"]CONTENTS
[/TD]
[TD]PRICE
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]Package #1
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 3"]5 - 10 Gallons
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 7"]5 - Blue Legged Hermits
1 - Red Scarlet Hermit
3 - Astrea Snails
2 - Margarita Snails
[/TD]
[TD]$17.40
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[NanaReefer]

Nice list! Most of which I have-lol. My Blue Leg Hermit I've had for 4yrs now My Mexican Turbo is 2yrs in my tank. Got 5 Bumble Bee Snails too.
I had a Occy Clown but the thing was sooo evil!! Bit me every time my hand came anywhere near the tank! It even left the water a few times trying to get me!! I have scars on the back of my hand from banging it on my lights trying to get away from it's jaws-lol now


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk.

 

[Tmar]

Oooooooooooo, so the occ clown really IS a complete terror!! I have watched numerous videos from Mr. Saltwater Tank lately and he really doesn't seem to like "damselfish" at ALL!
My revised CuC list for the 10 gallon:
4 hermit crabs
2 pep/skunk shrimp
2 astrea snails
3 marg snails
2 narc snails
I have, however, gone and gotten my heart set on an occ clownfish even if they are terrible! I am not ever planning on having more than one of them in the 10 gallon, they are hardy fish AND sounds like they have a bit of attitude. Right up my alley. I don't plan on having corals in THIS little tank, and have already started plans for a 90 gallon SW w/50 gallon sump... just a matter of time
I DO plan to have corals in that setup with more fish; less attitude!! THIS is my personal test at saltwater, figure from what I have read... if I can run a successful nano, the larger one will be a piece of cake

 

[Eienna]

I have had four occies so far, and only one was a biter. XD

I tried a 20g for my first reef and got sick of it because the params got out of whack so fast I felt like I was always a step behind.

 

[NanaReefer]

Are you dead set on the Skunk Cleaner shrimp? They get pretty big & have even bigger appetites! Mine is like 3+" and has no problem removing food from anything in my tank-lol.

 

[Eienna]

That's true...mine loved to steal food from my corals >.< but if you don't have corals I wouldn't worry overmuch. How big is this tank, again?

 

[Dylan J.]

Just want to make a note of the type of peppermint shrimp you get, if bred in captivity they can be a pain with breeding and over populating the tank and if caught wild they will eat the aptasia as well as go for other critters in your tank at night due to them being nocturnal. when i first got into reefing had 2 peppermint shrimp they ended up breeding in my tank soon over ran the tank and even ate my snow flake eel i had. So just becarefull is all (being in florida were peppermint shrimp are litterally 30mins away from me in the ocean theyre easy to get a hold of haha)

Also if you want something more active while ur lights are on I would go with skunk, cause the peppermints that i had would always just hide untill night or run out for a few once the tank got fed.

Just another thing to point out is you might want to look into something that could stir ur sand up such as a sandsifter starfish or horseshoe crab cause after a while cyno (Red Slime Algae) will begin to build up without a strong enough flow