CUC for 15g cube

[Jetstream]

I am a newbie in this hobby and i have just ordered the the HelloReef kit. I was looking to put two clownfish and a firefish in the tank once it has cycled. My question is what CUC should I have? I don't want to get too many and lots of the sets online seem like they have lots of hermits and snails. I was also wondering if I could get a skunk cleaner shrimp? Would this CUC be okay? https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/10-gallon-standard-nano-reef-cleanup-crew/

 

[fishywishy]

I would wait until you’re tank becomes more established. they’re not going to have anything to eat if you put them in right away.

You don’t need many inverts, just 3-4 trochus or nerite snails, a few tiny hermit crabs, and a cleaner shrimp should be plenty.

 

[jabberwock]

Please don't put two clownfish and a fire fish in a 15g. Don't even just put two clownfish in it. Wait, don't even just put 1 clownfish in it. I suggest you dial back your stocking expectations.

 

[Jetstream]

I also want to have coral, but I don't want it to overrun the tank. How many coral frags should I get?
This is what i have planned so far:
Pulsing Xenia
Zoanthids
green star polyps

I also might get a goby instead of the firefish

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I think its fun to do some online window shopping and reading.... cuc is not created equal, some are carnivores to eat the left over food, some are algae eaters. You need a mix of both, and mix of inverts that stay on the rocks and another mix that stays on the sand. But if you get algae eaters too soon they will die if there's no algae to eat.

As for coral, thats your choice, you can buy all you want, they have no affect on the bioload, only affect is on the wallet. So if you buy a coral, better to be sure your tank has the proper parameters and lighting and flow that the particular coral needs. Again, all corals are different and have different requirement. We don't know your tank so its hard to advise.

 

[Coral Your World]

Please don't put two clownfish and a fire fish in a 15g. Don't even just put two clownfish in it. Wait, don't even just put 1 clownfish in it. I suggest you dial back your stocking expectations.

Apparently the only thing you can keep in a 15 gallon tank is water… don’t listen to this. 2 clowns and a fire fish are fine in a 15.

As for corals, go nuts. Just make sure you have the lighting and stability to support what you introduced. I would suggest introducing a few “easy” frags very early on, mid-late cycle, and then slowly add what you like.

As for clean up crew, slowly add these as you near the end of your cycle and they have things to consume. 2-3 of each of bumblebee, trochus, cerith, Nassarius. You can keep a skunk cleaner shrimp as well. And then as your tank matures, you can add things like a turbos (if needed), pithos or emerald crab (if needed), peppermint shrimp (if needed), a conch (if needed).

Good luck with the tank!

 

[jabberwock]

Let us know how it goes OP. Good luck!

 

[youclowntoomuch]

Please don't put two clownfish and a fire fish in a 15g. Don't even just put two clownfish in it. Wait, don't even just put 1 clownfish in it. I suggest you dial back your stocking expectations.

2 clowns are perfectly fine, stop giving bad advice

 

[SmolGoby]

Please don't put two clownfish and a fire fish in a 15g. Don't even just put two clownfish in it. Wait, don't even just put 1 clownfish in it. I suggest you dial back your stocking expectations.

That’s a bit of a stretch. 2 clowns & a fire fish is absolutely fine IMO. I have a 15g cube with 2 clowns, a royal gramma and a skunk shrimp. That being said, bio load & a balanced cuc is very important OP! My 15g isn’t my first tank or my first nano tank, I know how to find that balance. I would really suggest going to a local shop & grabbing around 5 large turbo snails, around the size of a quarter or bigger, also 2-3 ninja star snails & a single very small blue banded or scarlet hermit crab. The turbos might flip upside down & they’ll die if they’re not flipped back upright, it happens all the time. Just make sure your tank is stocked with a good bit of them.

 

[jabberwock]

2 clowns are perfectly fine, stop giving bad advice

Well, you don't have to take my advice. That's up to you.

Live Aquaria suggests the minimum tank size for a single captive bred ocellaris clown is 30 gallons.

They know a lot more than me...

 

[youclowntoomuch]

Well, you don't have to take my advice. That's up to you.

Live Aquaria suggests the minimum tank size for a single captive bred ocellaris clown is 30 gallons.

They know a lot more than me...

live aquaria is also widely known as the worst place to purchase fish online

 

[fishywishy]

live aquaria is also widely known as the worst place to purchase fish online

Actually, most of the time they’re pretty spot on when it comes down to tank size. but I agree, a 15 gal is fine for some clowns.

 

[jabberwock]

I'm gonna dip. Ya'll have a good time...