Suggestions for tankmate

[bowfinking]

Hello all,

I have a 28 gallon bowfront tank that has 25 pounds of live rock and is inhabited by the following: 1 azure damsel, 1 tank-raised ocellaris clown fish, and 6 red leg hermit crabs. The damsel is very docile, and there are no "issues." The tank is filtered by a Fluval 105 canister filter, and has a Prizm protein skimmer. The lighting is a compact flourescent 28watt 50/50 light. The tank has been running for 2 years. The only fatality was a pseudochromis that got caught in the intake of the skimmer.

Although I realize that this is a small tank, it just seems bare, and I desperately would like to add something to it. I would really like to add a dwarf angel, but am open to all suggestions. Also, are there any other invertebrates that I could add? How about an urchin?

[sheamurai]

My first fish purchase is going to be a watchman goby/trigger pistol shrimp pair (or maybe a pair of clowns, whichever I see first).
kinda two for one that way...but I'm sure you've looked at gobys, so there must be something about them you don't like?

[rageybug]

How about a school of Blue-green Chromis?

[Rue]

Well - you should only have ~ 3 fish in a 28 gallon...so a school of chromis isn't an option...

I'd suggest clown gobies...they're adorable, don't need the swimming room, and should be compatible. You could get two and still be okay...in the wild they hang out in groups of 5 or more, so try to get two...

I've read that in small tanks they are more prone to territoriality, so don't get 3 for your smaller tank...

There are the yellow clowns and the greens. I had the greens (but they died when I had my SW tank incident) - so cute! I was devasted when the tank partially crashed...

I tried an urchin in my 34 gallon, and it didn't work, so I would avoid that option...I knew it was a dicey option, and sure enough, I should have listened harder to those more in the know...

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Well - you should only have ~ 3 fish in a 28 gallon...

The issue of stocking is far too complex for this statement. You can't say that you should only have X number of fish for an X size tank. A small group of 3 Chromis would be just fine in there, but I really wouldn't go with any more than that.

I have recently fallen in love with the Fairy Wrasses. They are a beautiful little fish. I personally have a McCosker's in my 36gal and he is absolutely stunning. With a max size of only 2.8" they would do just fine in a 28gal. As for a Dwarf Angel, the only one I would even consider is the African Flameback, but they can be a bit nippy on corals at times.

[Rue]

I disagree...you have to start somewhere. It's much easier to start/explain/understand basic 'rules of thumb' than to to start with overwhelming complexities.

I keep have this same arguement over and over again. Actually - with you! :hmm3grin2orange:

An understocked tank is more likely to thrive than an overstocked tank. Why risk the health of your tank by overstocking it or stocking it with incompatible species before you have enough general experience to know what you're doing?

You learn by doing - you have the most success when you start by doing it more right than leaning towards doing it more wrong.

Once you have the basics under your belt - you can experiment more. Take it as far as you'd like. But don't start things off by complicating them - then when something does go wrong (and it will) you'll have no idea what went wrong or how to fix it.

[Rue]

BTW...I wouldn't put any chromis in a 28 g tank...they're a fish that needs room to swim...I've watched them in 240 gallon tanks...they have no problem making full use of that space...putting them in a 28 g would be mean (let's use an uncomplex vocabulary).

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

I disagree...you have to start somewhere. It's much easier to start/explain/understand basic 'rules of thumb' than to to start with overwhelming complexities.

I don't have a problem with starting simple, and I'm not suggesting that you go to the extreme end of the complexity of stocking either, but there is such thing as over simplifying an issue. I'm not suggesting that a beginner needs to be overloaded with a 10 page article articulating the whole issue, but I am saying they need more information then that statement gives them. Telling someone that they can only have X number in X size is an oversimplification. As you bring up, swimming space must be accounted for, so must size, and bioload. Your statement takes in none of those 3. If someone goes by that statement alone, they could be overstocked with just one fish.

[Rue]

I'll provide more suggestions as needed. Feedback will let me know if more information is required or even welcome.

[gm72]

Enough banter. Get back to the question at hand. Rue, good job trying to simplify a complex situation.

Let's now proceed to provide the member with specific suggestions for stocking.

[kaybee]

...1 azure damsel, 1 tank-raised ocellaris clown fish...The damsel is very docile, and there are no "issues."..

The damsel (and clown, for that matter) have already worked out their relationship in the tank. Adding new fish to a tank already occupied by a damsel may spark aggression that is currently dormant. The damsel may remain very docile with whatever you plan to get, but the possibility that it may act in a belligerant manner exists.

[bowfinking]

Thanks to all who responded so far. Keep em coming!

I never thought of clown gobies before, and that is definitely an interesting proposition. Any special feeding requirements? I will look them up as I am unfamiliar with them.

I have thought of fairy wrasses before, I just didn't know if they would work in a smaller tank. They are definitely attractive fish. They are now on the "consideration" list.

So, no dwarf angels? :scry: This does make me sad, as I would love to have a midnight or coral beauty angel. They are just spectacular fish.

[rageybug]

Well - you should only have ~ 3 fish in a 28 gallon...so a school of chromis isn't an option...




What do you have in your 34 gallon? I hope you don't have more than three chromis in there...