Fish For 10 Gal.

[Prip17]

Im just starting a new 10 gallon nano reef. Can anyone reccomend any fish that are pretty hardy to have in my tank?

Thanks

[matrixnyc]

Your best bet for a new tank is a Damselfish (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?siteid=21&pCatId=28)

but for a 10 gallon tank I would only get like one or two and get smallest ones available.

[steve1s]

If the fish are for the purpose of cycling the tank then I would avoid any additions. You can easily use a small piece of raw cocktail shrimp or uncured LR to start the ammonia process quite easily without sacrificing any fish.

I would also be wary of damsels in a small tank. If they are the fish you want then it's all good but you will not be able to house more than the two fish in the same tank due to size restrictions and aggression. If you do opt for damsels, make sure both are the same species as well.

If you give the tank some time to mature before the addition of fish, you can also look into the possibility of smaller growing clowns, blennies, gobies and possibley other smaller <2" sized fish. You will still be limited to about 2 fish however for that size tank.

Cheers
Steve

[Prip17]

Thanks

Would a clown and damselfish work well together, and how long would i have to wait with cured Lr in the tank before adding fish?

[steve1s]

The tank will take 3-8 weeks to cycle no mattter what you do, sometimes longer. It really depends on when the ammonia starts to form and what is being used to fule the cycle.

A clownfish is from the damsel family and I would not recommend that combination in a 10 gal tank. A mated pair of clowns would be the best bet depending on species. You could also look into a peaceful blenny or goby with one of the less aggressive clown species.

Cheers
Steve

[Prip17]

So are you saying that a mated pair of clowns would work well in the 10 gallon?

Thanks for the post

[steve1s]

If you stick to the smaller growing species like skunks and false percs.

Cheers
Steve

[Prip17]

Thanks a lot for all your posts. :D Just one last question, so if i got a mated pair of false clowns would i be able to add the small gobie or blenny? Or would the 2 clowns have to be the only fish in the 10 gallon. Because i know the number of fish is really limited.

Thanks a lot

[steve1s]

I would not suggest any more than the two clowns in the 10 gal. Any more would overtax the filtration system and size constraints would lead to quick aggression and fish death...

Good Luck
Cheers
Steve

[Prip17]

thats not very good..... So maybe i should just get 1 clown, since they wouldnt be able to mate in a 10 gallon.

[steve1s]

o maybe i should just get 1 clown, since they wouldnt be able to mate in a 10 gallon. I never said that. In fact what I did say is there is a good chance they will, especially if by themselves.

If you were hoping to raise the young, then you should set up a different tank just for the fry.

Cheers
Steve

[Prip17]

Oh cool
Would a seperate 10 gallon be good to raise the fry in, and what would i need in that tank, like any live rock, a good filter, lighting ect.

Thanks

Oh yea and how old would they have to be before you can sell them to a lfs?

[Prip17]

Sorry for the seperate posts

Would i be able to breed the true percs, or only the false?

[steve1s]

You would be able to breed either. I'm just suggesting that the ocellaris would be easier to accomplish that goal. >>Here (http://www22.brinkster.com/seafan/fishfaqs/clownfish.html)<< is a general article about clowns you may find interesting.

Setting up a seperate "fry" tank would consist of a heater, corner submersible sponge filter and possibley a cheap light strip. There is really not much to it. The hard part comes in when you try to raise them.

Once in the new tank, they will be a challenge to feed (water quality). As they grow, the larger fry will eat the smaller fry and there will be issues with trying to keep the tank clean. I would honestly suggest something much larger than a 10 gal tank. As far as selling them back to the LFS, they would most likely take them at 1" in size.

Cheers
Steve

[nanoman123]

i have a ten gal nano and my fish are a juvenile tomato clown and a purple firefish. they seem to be doing great together. in a 10 gal tank, the tomato wont grow as big as usual, but it still will grow big. i reccomend either a pair of fals percula clowns, or a firefish of some sort. or mabye instead of a firefish u can get a banghi cardinal.

[Prip17]

would i be able to put the fry with the parents, or would they eat them

[Prip17]

Oh yeah and thanks a lot for the web site on the clown fish :D

[steve1s]

or mabye instead of a firefish u can get a banghi cardinal.
A bangaii does not belong in a 10 gal tank with active fish.

Cheers
Steve

[steve1s]

would i be able to put the fry with the parents, or would they eat them
They would eat them... :shock:

Cheers
Steve

[nanoman123]

we.., my neighbor has a cardinal in a 7.5 gal with a tomato clown and they seem to be doing fine. i guess he just got lucky. hes had them both in the tank for over a year and they seem to be doing just fine

[ReefMad1967]

Get some clowns and a small goby or something like that.

[Prip17]

Thanks everyone! :D

[ancroidubh]

I understand the want to have many different species of fish in your aquarium but other than getting a larger size tank, perhaps introducing life other than fish might be satisfying endeavor. Adding various low light corals, perhaps a condy or sabae and a small cleanup/maint crew (hermits, emerald crab, turbo snails, etc) would certainly diversify your tank while not increasing the bio-load too much.