View Full Version : How much life stock should I have?
jolenemarie
05/24/2007, 08:48 PM
I am as new as it gets to the hobby (2 months, 10 days and counting). We don't have a lot of space so we had to get a 24g nano cube knowing that we would have to be more careful with it. Well actually my husband is careful...
We waited a while to get it going with rock only and then we started to add some stuff. At this point I want to make sure we don't add too much live stock. We already had a problem by ordering some livestock online (see "Something ate my cleaner shrimp!" thread) and before we spend money on a replacement I would like some suggestions as to what is a reasonable amount of livestock.
I have a clown, Hermit crab, a "cleaner crew", and a brittle sea star (getting rid of a CBS and a 10 inch serpent sea star). I am planning to replace the Cleaner shrimp we lost as soon as the CBS and Serpent are gone.
How much more you think the tank can hold? We wanted this tank to be all about inverts and some coral. What do you guys think?
Thanks much!
JM :-D
I know I read that thread, but I can't remember what kind of clown you have. If it were me, I'd have 2 cleaner shrimp. No brittlestar, and maybe a couple emerald crabs. Maybe put in a pistol shrimp with a Watchman goby. Nassarius snails are cool, they pop up out of the sand when you feed the tank. My other favorite snails are ceriths, and astreas. I'd love an invert only tank myself, trouble is they seem to be opportunistic killers.
This would be my green brittlestar and my cleaner shrimp.
http://images111.fotki.com/v729/photos/2/28482/68928/brittle_eating_shrimp-vi.jpg
Kengaroo131
05/24/2007, 09:36 PM
try to think of it as about an inch of fish per every 5 gallons that a good "rule" to help you not over stock, you dont hvae to follow it if you dont want to but it helps
madadi
05/25/2007, 12:06 AM
i agree with mariner, 1 inch per 5gal of water is good if you plan to have alot of inverts with the fish. in my tank i also have about 1.5 hermits per gal, 2 snails per gal. couple shrimps and a cucumber witch is the best detritus eater ever.
demonsp
05/25/2007, 12:15 AM
Sites like http://www.liveaquaria.com/default.cfm are good because they give alot of info on stock. If you do all your weekly water changes have skimmer and good flow you can max out your tank. Lots of cool fish and coral for smaller tanks. But Qt tanks can be a life saver. Esepcially if ordering online. I had coral come with aptesia on it.
jolenemarie
05/25/2007, 03:11 PM
So it seems like there are good guidelines for fish...how about corals, anemones....
Thanks,
JM
jolenemarie
05/25/2007, 03:13 PM
You star and your shrimp??? Tell me it is not what I am thinking.
(I am glad I have not been a witness...)
JM
fuzzyt
05/25/2007, 03:21 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10015167#post10015167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jolenemarie
You star and your shrimp??? Tell me it is not what I am thinking.
(I am glad I have not been a witness...)
JM
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe its my eyesight, but I don't see the shrimp anywhere, unless he is hiding inside the star! :eek1:
LOL, oh he's inside all right! :lol: I got rid of it right after that.
Also I saw in your other thread you have a Maroon. They get large and very aggressive. Mine is over 5" and I've not been able to add anything(including corals) in my 75 for about 2 years now. She kills any new fish, and just keeps knocking over any corals I added.
nick18tjetta
05/26/2007, 08:09 AM
WOW 2 snails per gallon??? 1.5 hermits per gallon????
Those recomendations must have came from someone who sells snails a crabs. I have about 1 snail for every two gallons (mix of astrea, cerinth, and nassarius) and it is probably more than enough. I have 0 hermit crabs, none. I don't trust them, however I plan to add 6 scarlet reef hermits, I kinda trust them. I guess I will be at 1 hermit per 20 gallons. I have two fighting conchs, but they may get too big for a 24.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.