Thoughts on Restocking 3 Year Old Biocube 29?

lpslover · Aug 12, 2012

So I'm thinking I need to take another look at the overall plan for the biocube 29 softy tank (zoas, shrooms, xenia etc.) I maintain at work. Currently houses a nasty clown (locally bred percula hybrid of some kind) and a lawnmower blenny. Has in the past housed (not necessarily at the same time) a hectors goby, royal gramma, sixline wrasse, white stripe cleaner shimp, peppermint shrimp, and blue chromis.

The clown has taken to harrassing any fish in the tank other than the lawnmover blenny, so all the other fish have been removed to other tanks. The cleaner shrimp died recently (likely of old age, he was one of the first additions) and the sixline (I'm assuming) ate all the peppermints about a month after they were added.

So, the tank looks kinda empty with just the clown and the blenny in there. I would like to add active, free swimming fish, and I'm pretty well decided to pull the clownfish, at least in the short run to give other fish a chance to settle in, wouldn't mind pulling the blenny either.

So, given free reign to stock the tank from scratch, what would you stock? My current thoughts are to pull the clown, add a coral banded shrimp, coral beauty (in last and kept happy with algae), a flasher/fairy wrasse of some kind, and potentially a school of five blue chromis. Yes I tend to stock heavy, but I also filter and clean heavily too. But those are my thoughts. I want to hear yours.

revsgirl · Aug 13, 2012

:bump2:

Clay4AU · Aug 13, 2012

I'd look at adding a couple firefish, maybe purple or helfirichi.
Jawfish are also very cool to watch and do good in small tanks.

I'd forget about the Coral banded, they hunt, catch and eat small fish and will kill other shrimp.
Blood/Fire Cleaner shrimp are my favorite, so I'd say get a pair of those.

shells4 · Aug 14, 2012

I think a flasher wrasse probably wouldn't have enough space in a biocube. We had a possum wrasse in ours and it did very well. Rather homely looking, but grows on you and had a great personality. I would go with a cherb angel (but add last because it gets territorial), maybe a royal gramma, pearl jawfish, and maybe some type of goby or small blenny.

Agree with Clay4UA, would NOT get a coral bandit, they can be very aggressive. I had one kill a small royal gramma. We had a blood shrimp on our biocube and it added alot of color and peaceful.

Mike&Terry · Aug 14, 2012

If you are set on having a coral banded shrimp, go with the yellow coral banded (Stenopus cyanoscelis). They do not grow as large as Stenopus hispidus and have a much nicer disposition than their cousin. They will also feed on bristleworms and can help keep the population in check.

indyjaco · Aug 15, 2012

I would leave out the coral banded shrimp.

I would recommend a YWG, jawfish, a firefish and a chromis. I think a flasher wrasse would work. Mine doesn't venture out to much and use all the 75 gallons he is in, but fish vary. They do not seem to fair well with agressive fish (the angel could pose an issue).

fsu1dolfan · Aug 15, 2012

I have this guy in my tank and he does awesome!! Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Longfin Fairy Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis

Also a Midas Blenny would add a cool colorful fish with lots of personality! Yellow watchman goby was another good suggestion...but im bias since i have all 3 of those

lpslover · Aug 16, 2012

Some good ideas. I tried firefish at one point in another tank and they invariably ended up carpet surfing or jumping into the overflow. Whacko little fish. They are pretty though, so I may have to try it. I have not done jaw fish, but I have done the yellow watchman goby & pistol shrimp combo. They were very fun, but they do make a big mess throwing sand everywhere. Not sure they or a jaw fish would be very happy with the scant 1/2 inch of sand in the tank in question though. Anyone done either with such a shallow substrate?

Part of the reason I'd like to try the coral banded is to control the bristle worms and aiptasia. I had heard of issues with predation of smaller fish, but much of what I hear also says this risk can be minimized by target feeding the coral banded frequently. Anyone have experience to the contrary?

Any more ideas would still be appreciated.