What to Stock a 35 gallon FO starters setup with. - Aquarium Advice

twig · 08-11-2005, 02:31 AM

Hi Guys,

I've just been given a marine setup by a friend that was moving abroad. I've keep all sorts of fresh water fish is various setups for many years but marines are completely new to me. It had been used as a small reef set-up but to make it easy to keep, and to increase the stocking density, I wanted to make it fish only (no live rock because it's so pricey in the UK).

It's a 35 gallon (with 20" of swim space),it's filtered by 2 x fluval 103 external filters, 1 x Red Sea Prizm Pro skimmer and a Tetra UV300 tube. The lighting is pretty bog standard as I didn't want to install the halides.

I've always had a thing for oddball when it came for freshwater and I hope this setup was going to be the same. I'm quite charmed by puffers (my MBU is as good as the family dog). I had been rather impressed with the cowfish family but was worried by the toxins they produce. So can anyone suggest some really quirky, interactive fish that would;

a) Be suitable for this, small but reasonable well filtered set-up.
b) Be relatively hardy.
c) Be smarter than your average clown fish.

Thanks in advance,

Perry

StripesTheEel · 08-11-2005, 03:09 AM

Before I start on a, b and c.. I believe you need some amount of [acronym:e10155af08="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:e10155af08], [acronym:e10155af08="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:e10155af08] is the best form of filtration there is.. Even if you purchase a small amount and add with Base rock.. down the track it will all become live saving you alot of money..

A) Going with a 35 limits you to about 4 - 5 small species such as your clowns, gobies, firefish, damsels etc.. Theres alot of fish out there that suit your needs..

B) Most of the fish I suggested are hardy.. Sticking with these species are a good bet..

C) Clownfish in my experience are very smart.. I have x2 o.clowns and 2 tomato clowns.. very entertaining..

Puffers/Cows.. a little big for a 35gal [acronym:e10155af08="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:e10155af08]..

You can also look into inverts such as shrimps, crabs and snails as they do not add to the bioload of the tank..

Good luck,

Matt

Konrade · 08-12-2005, 02:07 AM

Dwarf lionfish, relatively hardy, extremely cool, and they stay small enough for that tank

seaham358 · 08-13-2005, 05:04 PM

The Toby puffers stay small and would do nice in that tank, clown fish would do well.
If you get the lion other small fish may be eaten, but they are cool..

tenny · 08-18-2005, 08:17 AM

what about a coral beauty angel, i have one in my 25 gallon and he does fine.

twig · 09-10-2005, 04:32 AM

Right,

the tanks been running for a month now, everything water wise is at 0, pH is running around 8.1. It's starting to become a reef with all the common fishes (not quite what I wanted but it looks great). So far it's only cost about $400 (£250) to setup so I'm really pleased.

I took the plunge and bought initially 5 kg of boring live rock, then bought another 5kg of very mature stuff from my dealers sump (he gave me cracking price as it was all small shards that most people wouldn't want). It turns out it was full of life and was covered in sponges, sea slugs and mushrooms as well as various sand shifters. Awesome.

So far I've stock the tank with a humbug and domino, a few turbos and a few hermit crabs.

I'm looking to add a pair of juv. perc clowns in two weeks, then a yellow tang with more cleaning crew after that. Any suggestions?

08-11-2005, 02:31 AM	#1
twig Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Camberley, Surrey, Britain Posts: 2	What to Stock a 35 gallon FO starters setup with. Hi Guys, I've just been given a marine setup by a friend that was moving abroad. I've keep all sorts of fresh water fish is various setups for many years but marines are completely new to me. It had been used as a small reef set-up but to make it easy to keep, and to increase the stocking density, I wanted to make it fish only (no live rock because it's so pricey in the UK). It's a 35 gallon (with 20" of swim space),it's filtered by 2 x fluval 103 external filters, 1 x Red Sea Prizm Pro skimmer and a Tetra UV300 tube. The lighting is pretty bog standard as I didn't want to install the halides. I've always had a thing for oddball when it came for freshwater and I hope this setup was going to be the same. I'm quite charmed by puffers (my MBU is as good as the family dog). I had been rather impressed with the cowfish family but was worried by the toxins they produce. So can anyone suggest some really quirky, interactive fish that would; a) Be suitable for this, small but reasonable well filtered set-up. b) Be relatively hardy. c) Be smarter than your average clown fish. Thanks in advance, Perry

08-11-2005, 03:09 AM	#2
StripesTheEel Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 882 Images: 23	Before I start on a, b and c.. I believe you need some amount of [acronym:e10155af08="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:e10155af08], [acronym:e10155af08="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:e10155af08] is the best form of filtration there is.. Even if you purchase a small amount and add with Base rock.. down the track it will all become live saving you alot of money.. A) Going with a 35 limits you to about 4 - 5 small species such as your clowns, gobies, firefish, damsels etc.. Theres alot of fish out there that suit your needs.. B) Most of the fish I suggested are hardy.. Sticking with these species are a good bet.. C) Clownfish in my experience are very smart.. I have x2 o.clowns and 2 tomato clowns.. very entertaining.. Puffers/Cows.. a little big for a 35gal [acronym:e10155af08="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:e10155af08].. You can also look into inverts such as shrimps, crabs and snails as they do not add to the bioload of the tank.. Good luck, Matt __________________ Matt Fight fish illiteracy..teach them to read the forums

08-13-2005, 05:04 PM	#4
seaham358 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2004 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 3,296 Images: 21	The Toby puffers stay small and would do nice in that tank, clown fish would do well. If you get the lion other small fish may be eaten, but they are cool.. __________________ 9/02-125 REEF, 125 lbs LR,LS 4x160 VHO, Reef Devil /Sump, Fuge 7/03-55 FOWLR 60lb LR, 50 lb SD sand 2x40 NO strip light, Reef Devil/sump, Fuge TANK PICS http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=98202

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08-12-2005, 02:07 AM	#3
Konrade Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Topeka KS Posts: 273	Dwarf lionfish, relatively hardy, extremely cool, and they stay small enough for that tank

08-18-2005, 08:17 AM	#5
tenny Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kingston, ON Posts: 27	what about a coral beauty angel, i have one in my 25 gallon and he does fine.

09-10-2005, 04:32 AM	#6
twig Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Camberley, Surrey, Britain Posts: 2	Right, the tanks been running for a month now, everything water wise is at 0, pH is running around 8.1. It's starting to become a reef with all the common fishes (not quite what I wanted but it looks great). So far it's only cost about $400 (£250) to setup so I'm really pleased. I took the plunge and bought initially 5 kg of boring live rock, then bought another 5kg of very mature stuff from my dealers sump (he gave me cracking price as it was all small shards that most people wouldn't want). It turns out it was full of life and was covered in sponges, sea slugs and mushrooms as well as various sand shifters. Awesome. So far I've stock the tank with a humbug and domino, a few turbos and a few hermit crabs. I'm looking to add a pair of juv. perc clowns in two weeks, then a yellow tang with more cleaning crew after that. Any suggestions?