Picking fish and quarantine tank

[cyanidedelirium]

So I'm brand new to the SW I setup my tank it's cycling and i want to start figuring out what fish to get I have a biocube32 I'm thinking 2 clowns 2 exquisite firefish and a royal Gramma or a orchid dottyback now I plan on adding them over 6 months and making sure I don't overload the tank so my two questions are all going to be cool together? are there other starter fish? I like clowns but every one has them now not really knowing anything I wasn't aware that I need a quarantine tank any suggestions on building a cheap/small one?

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r! Your qt tank can be as simple as a 10 gal with a hob filter. Make sure the fire fish are indeed a pair or they'll fight to the death. And myself in a tank that small I wouldn't add anymore than that....forgo the dotty back and gramma .

 

[Idoc]

The exquisite firefish needs to usually be single due to possible fighting. These are nice fish for coloration, but you may not get to see that coloration except during feeding time. They are very shy and tend to hide away in a rock hole all day! I had one...pretty during feeding time. But, other fish due tend to pick on them and scare them into their holes. Cost wise...I would go with a Purple Firefish vs the Exquisite Firefish...about $25-$50 less and they are almost identical in appearance...very small differences in appearance.

 

[the_reef_keeper]

I can tell you horror stories about multiple firefish in a tank. I would go for the royal gramma over the dottyback as they are generally more friendly. Have you looked into shrimp gobies as another possible option?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Welcome!! your tank looks great. As for the fish, I happen to love clowns too. They just bring a lot of movement and fun to a tank. However, you want a much more mature tank before adding an anemone. Also, some clowns are really slow to try to become hosted by an anemone. Anyway...

I have never actually kept firefish. I would get the dottyback or the gramma. An indigo dottyback is a bit more friendly FME, but the can be cryptic.

In that size tank, you can get some cool little guys. Maybe a possum wrasse, clown gobies, shrimp goby and pistol shrimp, tail spot blenny. These are all fun to watch and/or good personalities.

Are you getting any corals or other inverts?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Question for you. Is that live rock you started with or the colored rock? Will affect your cycle, so just curious.

Oh, QT, just a 10g tank with HOB filter. Heater and air pump and hose and stone will be helpful too. Use pvc or artificial decor for the qt, no live rock. This is a good general QT arrangement.