Stocking question

smutmuffin · May 18, 2017

I hope I'm posting this in the right area.. but I have a question about stocking my 30g. I did the 6 week cycle and on the 8th week I added two clowns. That was two months ago and they did and are doing great. This past week I added a coral beauty dwarf angel that's eventually going into my 90g when he/she is a little bigger. I also added a firefish the same day. I didn't want to add more than two at a time.

My question is, should I wait until I move my dwarf angel in a few months or would it be okay to add one more fish. I would like to add a blue spotted jawfish. I just really don't want to overstock, like I'm super paranoid about it. My 90g only has two fish and everyone keeps laughing at me about it haha

I should add that I do have a cleanup crew of hermit crabs and snails. I used live rock that I took out of my other tank so I know it was clean and a little over 30 pounds of live sand. I don't have a protein skimmer in my sump yet so that's why I'm on the fence about it.

My end goal for my 30g is just the clowns, firefish and jawfish. I'm mainly going to use it for my coral frags. So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Richards_reef · May 18, 2017

I wouldn't add anything else. It's more about the fish having their own personal space based on their breed. I had a coral beauty angel in an under stocked 150 that would nip at everything and everybody. Not saying that your angel will do the same, just that I wouldn't add any more stress than necessary.

alfani · May 19, 2017

what kind of sand bed you have, should be fine with bluespot jawfish but they are jumpers so you need a lid

Maritimer · May 19, 2017

Blue-spot jawfish are a challenge all by themselves - they'll want a substrate that's a mixture of sand and small rubble, and they'll want it deep enough to set up house in. They'll prefer cooler temperatures than the fish you already have, as well.

Each tank is different with regard to fish stocking, so you might be able to pull it off - but a 30 is going to be a bit tight with the angelfish in there. (Guessing that she's fairly small at the moment? Which would almost certainly make her a "she".)

BTW, Welcome to Reef2Reef! I hope you enjoy your time here, learn lots ... and share your tanks with us!

~Bruce, not really one to lecture others about "overstocking" . . .