New tank setup

[mbixler1537]

So, I finally started my biocube 32 cycle this weekend. I have been going back and forth about the livestock and this is what I have land on...I think.

In this order...
Green Clown Goby
Cardinalfish x 2
Clowns x 2
Mandarin (won't add for at least 8 months -- plan on seeding the tank frequently)

Emerald Crab
Nassarius Snails
Cleaner Shrimp
Trochus Snails

I will probably add the CUC and the goby at the same time. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[MaxxuM]

It all looks and sounds good IMO, except the mandarin. I've never kept one, even when I had a 120g reef years back, but I think 32g is a little sparse even with a dedicated rubble zone or pod hotel. Clown's are hunters so they'll compete with the mandarin. The goby and and cardinal's won't I believe. You'd probably have to try to train him to eat frozen foods/pellets (which will increase the waste in the tank) or seed the tank with pods ever couple of months (which isn't that expensive I guess). But, that's just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Uncle99]

At 32g, your on the edge for mandarin.
I agree, 8 months before putting him in.
No other exclusive POD eater in the tank.
Best are wild caught that eat only the PODS that live and reproduce in your DT.
Lots of Rock needed.
That should work.

 

[mbixler1537]

I plan on seeding quite regularly so I don’t expect a food shortage. I don’t think anything else will be aggressive either so I’m not worried about it getting stressed.

 

[PTXReef]

My large male mandarin goby cleared my 95 gallon of copepods in about a month and I've been growing them in the tank with no natural predators for a year. Luckily that mandarin, along with a smaller female have started eating baby brine shrimp, spirulina brine, and can o cyclops. Otherwise, I'd have to supplement probably biweekly or weekly. I would recommend setting up one of @Paul B 's mandarin feeders with baby brine shrimp.