I know I know, nanos are difficult to start off with. But I'm a college student with not much room to work with myself (you could say I live in a nano dorm...) and I've been lurking on forums about 5/hr a day for the past month reading about nanos and such so I'm prepared to vigorously look after the tank. My tank is the Fluval Edge 6 gallon, with the 21 LED that the new model comes with. I got LR and sand directly from a tank at my LFS with ~5 minutes of transport underwater so there was not much of a cycle. Added CUC (1 peppermint, 5 turbos, and 4 blue hermits, 2 red hermits) a week ago and have been monitoring nitrites, nitrates daily. Have 0 nitrites, and <20 ppm nitrates. Unfortunately, I don't have an ammonia test yet. I'm planning on getting fish some time in the next 2 weeks (or more, if my LFS has to order them and quarantine them first).
So I have some fish ideas, and was wonder what the more experienced people thought about them. I'll list the fish and then my thoughts on each.
Bangaii cardinalfish
I'm thinking of putting some Zoanthids in my tank. Should I get those first, or the fish?
Once I do get the fish, I'm thinking of asking my LFS to quarantine them for me, since I don't really have the materials for a QT tank of my own. Is that a good idea?
Lastly, a question about burrowing gobies: my substrate is not Aragonite sand. It is the brand CaribSea, but it's the coarse kind with shells and pebbles rather than fine sand. Can gobies still burrow in this?
Thanks to everyone for their help!
So I have some fish ideas, and was wonder what the more experienced people thought about them. I'll list the fish and then my thoughts on each.
Bangaii cardinalfish
Nano-reef.com says no smaller than 7 gal. Some sites say this fish gets up to 3" and some say up to 5". If I can get a captive raised one, they tend to be hardier.
Black barred convict gobySupposedly very peaceful and small. Does anyone know if it's hardy and a good first fish?
Firefish/Fire gobyClassic, beautiful fish. But it's really expensive at my LFS ($40!) If I get this, would it play well with another passive goby (i.e. one that stays in the bottom)?
Golden neon eviota gobyAccording to aquarist.me, these fish only grow to 1" in size and are peaceful and easy to care for. Perhaps another candidate for 2? or doubling up with another tiny goby like the neon?
Neon gobyI think in general, this is the go-to fish for nano tanks <10g. Do people ususally put 1 or 2 in their tank?
Percula clownfishIt seems like this forum doesn't like the idea of keeping perculas in <30g tanks, but I have heard of some people keeping them healthy and happy at this size. Also, if I get an immature, I've heard that it not grow to max size unless it becomes female at the presence of another percula?
Royal GrammaAnother 3" peaceful and hardy fish. It's also very beautiful. However, it doesn't swim around a lot. I was thinking of getting a more active fish that lives in the water column rather than hides in a cave.
Yellowtail damselThese fish are supposedly peaceful and only grow to 2". Plus they are very hardy. Sound like a good choice? Could I get two of them?
I'm thinking of putting some Zoanthids in my tank. Should I get those first, or the fish?
Once I do get the fish, I'm thinking of asking my LFS to quarantine them for me, since I don't really have the materials for a QT tank of my own. Is that a good idea?
Lastly, a question about burrowing gobies: my substrate is not Aragonite sand. It is the brand CaribSea, but it's the coarse kind with shells and pebbles rather than fine sand. Can gobies still burrow in this?
Thanks to everyone for their help!
I like the name...
