Second fish advice

[SaltWaterTerp]

I'm thinking about getting my second fish soon, and I was hoping for some advice.

Current setup:
Biocube 16 with decent amount of rock, so not a ton of space (and obviously it's a small tank). Pic attached.
Tank doing well, parameters all great.


Current livestock:
1 Oscellaris Clownfish
1 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Emerald Crab
A few blue leg hermit crabs
4 "beginner" corals: hammer coral, zoas, paly, and a ricordea mushroom

My wish list (I will only be adding 2 more fish, maybe 3 MAX if they are small, but I am including all of the fish I am thinking about, in my order of preference):
1) Yellow Clown Goby
2) Yellow watchman goby (and I'd love to pair him w/pistol shrimp)
3) Banggai cardinalfish
4) Lawnmower Blenny
5) Tailspot Blenny
6) Orchid dottyback
7) Dwarf Angelfish
8) Firefish

I also really want a fire shrimp eventually, and some snails once I have some algae for them to munch on (tank has been fairly algae free).

Any recommendations for my second fish from the fish above or otherwise?

Thanks!!

 

[pluikens]

Looks like your clown likes the top water space in the tank. I love the banggai cardinalfish so I'd probably go that route or the firefish (or both if filtration can handle it) for the second fish in the middle space of the tank and a watchman goby for the bottom level of the tank. Not to make the decision harder but what do you think about a coral croucher?

 

[SaltWaterTerp]

Looks like your clown likes the top water space in the tank. I love the banggai cardinalfish so I'd probably go that route or the firefish (or both if filtration can handle it) for the second fish in the middle space of the tank and a watchman goby for the bottom level of the tank. Not to make the decision harder but what do you think about a coral croucher?

Thanks! And yes, that coral croucher is cool looking!! Darn, gotta add that to my list of possible fish.

And you're 100% right about my clown liking the top of the tank -- the back top is his comfort zone, it appears.

Would the yellow clown goby be a middle-of-the-tank fish, or top? And if I got one, would that be too much "action" at the top of the tank?

 

[pluikens]

They host some crazy things, don't they? My two like to hang out above my gyre pump near the top side of my tank. One even splashes at the top in the evening.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Dwarf angel and lawnmower blenny need bigger tanks.

 

[SaltWaterTerp]

Dwarf angel and lawnmower blenny need bigger tanks.

Cool, will remove them from my wishlist. Was pretty sure that the dwarf angel needed a bigger tank, thanks for confirming. But I thought the lawnmower blenny could work in the 16-gallon.

 

[mta_morrow]

A pair of hi fin red banded gobies and a pistol shrimp will minimally affect your bioload. They would stay on the sand bed.

And they are super cool to watch!

And perhaps a royal gramma or a purple firefish for the middle of your tank.

 

[SaltWaterTerp]

A pair of hi fin red banded gobies and a pistol shrimp will minimally affect your bioload. They would stay on the sand bed.

And they are super cool to watch!

And perhaps a royal gramma or a purple firefish for the middle of your tank.

Thanks! I should have said so -- super cool to watch is what I am going for!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Cool, will remove them from my wishlist. Was pretty sure that the dwarf angel needed a bigger tank, thanks for confirming. But I thought the lawnmower blenny could work in the 16-gallon.

Lawnmower blennies can be pretty territorial. If you want a perching blenny consider a stigmatura instead.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

my tailspot blenny is one of my favorite fish!! He gets lost in my 300g but he is soo cute when i find him popping his head out

 

[eraserhead187]

One of the goofiest and funnest fish to watch, imho, is a flame hawkfish. They are just hilarious. 16g may be pushing it though, I think they need 20g plus. May be able to get away with it though.

 

[SaltWaterTerp]

Noticing some algae on the top of my rocks. Not sure that changes anyone’s suggestion, but now I’m leaning towards an algae eater. Maybe the tail spot blenny that was suggested...

 

[mta_morrow]

Tailspots and hawkfish are must have for sure!

 

[SaltWaterTerp]

That blenny looks hilarious, that’s awesome!

Can a hawkfish be in a 16-gallon tank?

Btw, I’m only like 3 months into this hobby, but I’m already thinking about where my next “big boy” tank is going to go, haha.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

tailspots look like something from sponge bob lol.

those little antenae though.. they are soo fun..

 

[Jesterrace]

I'm thinking about getting my second fish soon, and I was hoping for some advice.

Current setup:
Biocube 16 with decent amount of rock, so not a ton of space (and obviously it's a small tank). Pic attached.
Tank doing well, parameters all great.


Current livestock:
1 Oscellaris Clownfish
1 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Emerald Crab
A few blue leg hermit crabs
4 "beginner" corals: hammer coral, zoas, paly, and a ricordea mushroom

My wish list (I will only be adding 2 more fish, maybe 3 MAX if they are small, but I am including all of the fish I am thinking about, in my order of preference):
1) Yellow Clown Goby
2) Yellow watchman goby (and I'd love to pair him w/pistol shrimp)
3) Banggai cardinalfish
4) Lawnmower Blenny
5) Tailspot Blenny
6) Orchid dottyback
7) Dwarf Angelfish
8) Firefish

I also really want a fire shrimp eventually, and some snails once I have some algae for them to munch on (tank has been fairly algae free).

Any recommendations for my second fish from the fish above or otherwise?

Thanks!!

First let's cross the following off your list:

Lawnmower Blenny-too big for a 16 gallon and would likely starve since it needs a lot more algae munching space
Orchid Dottyback, needs more space unless you want an aggressive butthead on your hands
Dwarf Angelfish, need at least a 4 foot long tank to be happy long term and even a Pygmy probably shouldn't go in anything less than a 40 breeder

I'm on the fence on the Cardinalfish, they don't move around a lot but with a 16 gallon tank there isn't much room for it (especially with an established clownfish)
Firefish-beautiful fish that don't bother other fish but they are super skittish and are literally scared of their own shadow and can spend a lot of time in hiding

For algae control in a tank of that size the tailspot would be a much better fit as they could find enough to keep them going in a tank of that size
Either the Clown or the Yellow watchman/shrimp pair. I might be a bit worried about the emerald and the hermits and a new shrimp, but then again it is a pistol

 

[Jesterrace]

Oh and if you want to get an idea of a Dwarf Angel and how cramped it would be, this is the Flame Angel I had in my 36 gallon Bowfront (30 inch long tank):

Here is how active the coral beauty is in my 90 gallon tank:

 

[SaltWaterTerp]

Awesome info, thanks!

Any thoughts on chromis in a small tank?

 

[pluikens]

Awesome info, thanks!

Any thoughts on chromis in a small tank?

Whenever I think of adding chromis to my tank I talk myself into one of the more docile damsels instead. I particularly like azure damsels.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Orchid dottybacks are a peaceful dottyback.