Stocking Question

PringlesLFE · Sep 17, 2017

Hi All,

Used to run both freshwater and FOWLR tanks back in the day for about 4 years. Recently got back into the hobby but now renting in NY...with an ADA 45p (17.7" x 10.6" x 11.8") 9 gallon for the time being. -13 lbs LR and running an empty Eheim canister (for chemipure) carried over from my hi tech planted days.
-RODI and all those prereqs checked off
- Just got an AI Prime HD and will begin adding corals in the upcoming months

-(1) sm. Mocha Davinci Occellaris
-(1) sm. Lawnmower Blenny
- Emerald crab, Turbans, hermit crabs

QUESTION: Do I realistically have room for any other livestock? Ideally sixline wrasse, neon dottyback, clown goby...but open to suggestions.

Appreciate the input

Salty1962 · Sep 18, 2017

Welcome to R2R! I would stay away from Wrasses an Dottybacks because they would be overly aggressive in your tank. There are many gobies that would be ok for your tank, I would just worry about your lack of a cover for your tank. They like to jump. Clown Gobies, I believe, would be ok.

LetItReef · Sep 18, 2017

Look into a Yellow line goby/ Pink bar goby and Eviota goby.

Jinxs · Sep 18, 2017

Firefish goby or a redhead goby would work as well.

eatbreakfast · Sep 18, 2017

Of the fish on your potential list, the clown goby is the only appropriate addition for that size tank and existing tankmates.

A small watchman species of goby, firefish(only if tank is covered), pike blenny would work.

shrimped · Sep 18, 2017

You can do some Firefish (Helfrichi is my favorite), golden Assessor (the fish that goes upside down), ORA White Spotted Filefish (pretty much 99%reef safe and cute af), flaming Prawn Goby, Yasha Goby with pistol Shrimp Pair, swissguard basslet, x3 mini dart fish, x3 red dot cardinal, Neon Goby, Pictus Blenny, blue stripe pipefish pair, some possum Wrasse, pink streak Wrasse.

eatbreakfast · Sep 18, 2017

-SHRiMPar0306_ said:
You can do some Firefish (Helfrichi is my favorite), golden Assessor (the fish that goes upside down), ORA White Spotted Filefish (pretty much 99%reef safe and cute **), flaming Prawn Goby, Yasha Goby with pistol Shrimp Pair, swissguard basslet, x3 mini dart fish, x3 red dot cardinal, Neon Goby, Pictus Blenny, blue stripe pipefish pair, some possum Wrasse, pink streak Wrasse.

I would advise against a pictus blenny with a lawnmower blenny in a 9g.

Also in that small of the tank I would recommend against fish that will spend a lot of their time near the rockwork, fish like the basslet, assessor, filefish, possum and pink streak wrasses. Both a clownfish and lawnmower blenny can be territorial, and 9g isn't a lot of territory.

nautical_nathaniel · Sep 18, 2017

I just noticed something in your pictures that I'm a bit concerned about. Do you intend on mounting your light with a goose-neck arm or hanging unit? If you leave it sitting on your lid like that you are going to end up with a warped lid from the heat of the light and very little light spread over the entire tank.

Also I'm going to suggest no on a neon dottyback in a tank that small, they are right after some damselfish in terms of being a butthole fish. Mine is super friendly and curious looking one moment and then BAM! he's tearing off zoas because they are in his way and trying his best impression of a Bull Shark out on his tankmates. They're a nano fish with napoleon syndrome that needs a big tank and bigger tank mates to keep their aggression toned down.

Clown gobies on the other hand are super nice and like to perch all over the place. I think you would definitely enjoy one of them or a species of neon goby (sharknose, neon cleaner, and yellow-line gobies). You could probably get by just fine with one or two of them. If you are able to find some, a yasha goby and pepermint pistol shrimp pair are like the prime-time nano critters for tanks your size.

Also, that's a sweet looking clown!

Maddlesrain · Sep 18, 2017

I really like the way you did your rockwork!

Something small like a clown, red striped, red spotted, or neon goby would probably fair fine with your current fish.

PringlesLFE · Sep 19, 2017

Thanks all! Definitely forgot to caveat that the Prime's mounting arm was in mail. Definitely going to raise it off the ADA's glass canopy. Time to do some research!