Possible stocking for my first SW tank?

[TikiBird]

Apologies if I have stuck this post in the wrong place! [emoji15]

I am in the process of working up the nerve to finally set up my first saltwater tank, a BioCube 29 (which I believe is actually only 23.5 gallons?). I'm planning on 25 pounds of live rock.

I'm trying to think of fish that would do well in the tank but I'm being picky. [emoji16] I would like them to be captive bred (I've been perusing LiveAquaria's selection but my LFS says they have some ORA fish too). They would also preferably accept flake or pellet food. And of course all get along and have the same care requirements.

With all that in mind, I was thinking of the following stocking...

1-2 ocellaris clownfish?
1 neon goby?
1 pajama cardinalfish? (Not sure if I have room)

I also would eventually want to add some "easy" corals. And a clean up crew of some sort but I don't know what exactly. LOL

Any thoughts? Advice? [emoji2]

 

[cameronh]

2 clowns would be perfect, as well as some tyoe of goby. You can start with soft corals as they are pretty easy to take care of. I have a biocube myself.....As well as a few more tank lol.

And if you have any questions feel free to ask at anytime, everyone here will be glad to help you!

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Pair of clowns for sure and a bubble tip anemone. check out the ora orchid dottyback. clean up crew...a few nassarius snails for the sand and red banded trochus for the glass. throw in a cleaner shrimp for fun.

 

[TikiBird]

Thank you so much, @cameronh and @cromag08! The help is MUCH appreciated! I'm taking notes (really, I am!) [emoji16]

 

[cameronh]

Thank you so much, @cameronh and @cromag08! The help is MUCH appreciated! I'm taking notes (really, I am!) [emoji16]

Not a problem! Be sure to start a build thread!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Have you looked at other captive bred suppliers yet?

ORA and others do have web sites and my give you some ideas.

are there any other suppliers out there?

 

[Chrisfish]

Welcome to R2R, you've picked the right place . Clowns are always great in any SW tanks and you might consider a Starry Blenny, Tail Spot Blenny or some others, they have lots of personality and are a great addition, but I'm not sure about captive bred. I do know that Saltwaterfish. Com does have captive bred SW fish in general and I have been pleased with my orders from them but I know some members have not. Looking forward to following your thread and of course we'll want pictures.

 

[TikiBird]

Thank you, @Chrisfish! I will check out those blennies!

@saltyfilmfolks, I only have looked at the ORA site so far, but I will investigate if there are others!

Thanks for all the help and the warm welcome, all! [emoji16]

 

[Salty1962]

Livestock list and plan looks good!

 

[TikiBird]

Livestock list and plan looks good!

Thank you, @Salty1962!!

I really appreciate everyone's guidance! So glad to share this adventure with you all. [emoji1]

 

[cameronh]

Thank you, @Salty1962!!

I really appreciate everyone's guidance! So glad to share this adventure with you all. [emoji1]

Let's get this thing going!!! Always exciting.
I just turned my lights on in my biocube "just to look" lol

Here's mine
I just set this thing back up about a month or so ago. It used to be stocked alot heavier than this haha.

 

[TikiBird]

Beautiful, @cameronh!!

I'm psyched to set it up! I feel much more confident with everyone's support here. [emoji2]

Ordered my aquacultured live rocks and CaribSea live sand that they assured me does not come from reefs or beaches where it is not an "abundant resource." (Not quite sure what that means, but I'm taking their word that it's not going to negatively impact the ocean environment...) Also ordered a bunch of equipment.

Now to wait for it all to get here... So far all that's shown up is the Refractometer, with directions only in other languages, so I have some studying to do.... [emoji23]

 

[cameronh]

Beautiful, @cameronh!!

I'm psyched to set it up! I feel much more confident with everyone's support here. [emoji2]

Ordered my aquacultured live rocks and CaribSea live sand that they assured me does not come from reefs or beaches where it is not an "abundant resource." (Not quite sure what that means, but I'm taking their word that it's not going to negatively impact the ocean environment...) Also ordered a bunch of equipment.

Now to wait for it all to get here... So far all that's shown up is the Refractometer, with directions only in other languages, so I have some studying to do.... [emoji23]

Awesome! I look forward to seeing it set up and going! Be sure to keep us posted!

 

[TikiBird]

Thanks again for all your suggestions!

I now have a pair of black-and-white ocellaris clownfish, a skunk cleaner shrimp, and two nassarius snails!

The clownfish are captive bred, but I couldn't find any shrimp or snails that said they were captive bred. I decided to get them anyway. I felt like having a CUC of some sort was more important than them being all captive bred. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ In the future I'd like to get some corals and/or a bubble tip anemone. I'm not sure I'll add more fish.

My kiddo loves sea stars. Would a sea star be doable here? I don't have a deep sand bed. It's about an inch and a half deep. Any suggestions on what kind?

 

[TikiBird]

Have been doing more sea star research....I think a serpent or brittle star might be my best option. Do you all think I could do one (or more?) of those with the rest of my stock, and anticipating future corals/bubble tip anemone?

Edit to add: I'm not in a hurry to add them...actually I'm wondering if any might have hitchhiked in on my live rock and I haven't seen them yet. Hope so! I feel like new critters are popping up every day in there....

 

[skybears]

Apologies if I have stuck this post in the wrong place! [emoji15]

I am in the process of working up the nerve to finally set up my first saltwater tank, a BioCube 29 (which I believe is actually only 23.5 gallons?). I'm planning on 25 pounds of live rock.

I'm trying to think of fish that would do well in the tank but I'm being picky. [emoji16] I would like them to be captive bred (I've been perusing LiveAquaria's selection but my LFS says they have some ORA fish too). They would also preferably accept flake or pellet food. And of course all get along and have the same care requirements.

With all that in mind, I was thinking of the following stocking...

1-2 ocellaris clownfish?
1 neon goby?
1 pajama cardinalfish? (Not sure if I have room)

I also would eventually want to add some "easy" corals. And a clean up crew of some sort but I don't know what exactly. LOL

Any thoughts? Advice? [emoji2]

Hi there from one newbie to another first of all I'd like to say welcome to reef2reef You'll soon find out it is a bunch of incredibly kind people with the great knowledge of saltwater tanks they're more than happy to answer any questions and if they can't they will find somebody that can. So basically we're giant community of caring saltwater people. Plus I'd like to add we love pictures

 

[TikiBird]

Thanks, @Vanessa1971! [emoji1]

 

[skybears]

Thanks, @Vanessa1971! [emoji1]

So I had a blonde moment there and noticed that you have been here a while and you are a longer newbie then me so w2ith that being said "welcome to Reef2Reef" that you have been on for a while, I'm the delayed welcome tagger.....

 

[TikiBird]

So I had a blonde moment there and noticed that you have been here a while and you are a longer newbie then me so w2ith that being said "welcome to Reef2Reef" that you have been on for a while, I'm the delayed welcome tagger.....

Ha! Well I signed up a while ago and have been lurking, but I just recently started posting and asking a ton of questions, so I am definitely new. So thanks for the welcome! You can never be too welcomed! [emoji1]

 

[cameronh]

Thank you so much, @cameronh and @cromag08! The help is MUCH appreciated! I'm taking notes (really, I am!) [emoji16]

Look what I found @TikiBird, lol.