Cycling Issues

[Sam816]

Have you made a fish list? It's common that people go for clowns first but I think you should make a fish list and start with most docile to most aggressive/territorial. Clowns range from medium to high aggressive fish imo.
Also don't put any CuC for a week after introducing the fish. See if fish picks up food from sand n rocks. If they do your CuC won't have enough food to survive.

 

[djm]

Have you made a fish list? It's common that people go for clowns first but I think you should make a fish list and start with most docile to most aggressive/territorial. Clowns range from medium to high aggressive fish imo.
Also don't put any CuC for a week after introducing the fish. See if fish picks up food from sand n rocks. If they do your CuC won't have enough food to survive.

As it’s only a 60litre (15 gallon) I was only going to go for 2 clowns and perhaps a goby. That’s the list I have in my mind, with the hermits and a cleaner shrimp at some point.

I read that it’s best to add 2 clowns at the same time as they can be territorial. What’s your thoughts on that, could I get one clown and then few weeks later add another as the tank matures or would you suggest adding the goby first?

 

[Sam816]

i am not a big fan of clowns. they are not on any of my lists.
but in any case if you want 2 fish from same genus/shape its best to add them together. i think you can go with 2 dart fish and 2 cardinals with a small goby pair or a pipe fish. down the line you can get a captive bred mandarin trained to eat brine shrimp or blood worms. you can replace one of the pairs with 1 hawkfish as well. 15 gallon is small but cleaver rockwork can give each fish/pair their own areas. are you going for corals as well?

 

[djm]

i am not a big fan of clowns. they are not on any of my lists.
but in any case if you want 2 fish from same genus/shape its best to add them together. i think you can go with 2 dart fish and 2 cardinals with a small goby pair or a pipe fish. down the line you can get a captive bred mandarin trained to eat brine shrimp or blood worms. you can replace one of the pairs with 1 hawkfish as well. 15 gallon is small but cleaver rockwork can give each fish/pair their own areas. are you going for corals as well?

Thanks for the suggestions. I am drawn to the Banggai Cardinals. I do plan on going for corals after a few months, just some easy softies and LPS.