New tank - Fish Plan questions

[Philly Reefer]

Hello all,

My 40B tank finished cycling. I will be adding 2 clownfishes possibly this weekend or next week.
Here are my Wish List:

• Clown fish x2
• Royale Gramma
• Bangai Cardinals x2
• Yellow Watchman Goby
• Green/Blue Mandarin (next year) (must have)
• Cleaner Shrimps

I was advised to get a lawnmower/algae blenny but I am worried that it will have problem with the either the goby or the mandarin.
Aren't all of them bottom dwellers?

I would also like to pair the goby with pistol shrimp. Would that be a problem with the rest of the list?

Any problem if I bought them in order of that list? (except shrimp)

 

[nereefpat]

Those are all reasonable choices, and should all get along. The order is fine too, although the clowns will actually be the most aggressive fishes on the list.

I would suggest a bicolor, or tailspot, or similar instead of a lawnmower type blenny for a 40 breeder. The lawnmowers get a little big and pushy. Blennies and mandarins will ignore each other.

Pistol shrimp is fine.

The mandarin is possible, with enough rock, and a fuge, and if you wait about a year or until you are seeing plenty of pods crawling around on the glass in the display. It will take some work, and I would advise you to not ever consider any other pod eating competitors of any kind....so no sixline wrasses, no Chrysiptera damsels, no Halichoeres wrasses, etc.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Those are all reasonable choices, and should all get along. The order is fine too, although the clowns will actually be the most aggressive fishes on the list.

I would suggest a bicolor, or tailspot, or similar instead of a lawnmower type blenny for a 40 breeder. The lawnmowers get a little big and pushy. Blennies and mandarins will ignore each other.

Pistol shrimp is fine.

The mandarin is possible, with enough rock, and a fuge, and if you wait about a year or until you are seeing plenty of pods crawling around on the glass in the display. It will take some work, and I would advise you to not ever consider any other pod eating competitors of any kind....so no sixline wrasses, no Chrysiptera damsels, no Halichoeres wrasses, etc.

Thank you @nereefpat
I was advised lawnmower because I was thinking of yellow tank for algae eater. Does the other blenny will eat algae too?

 

[drmdvl]

Looks good - you may want to start with more than 2 or just one banggai unless you sex them and get a M/F combo or else Id say you have about a 50/50 chance of them tolerating each other - I would also rec you get captive bred banggai as they seem a little hardier and less picky about food.
Throw some macro in the sump and seed your pods now for the mandarin - you may be able to get him earlier than a year.

 

[nereefpat]

Thank you @nereefpat
Does the other blenny will eat algae too?

Yes

 

[Philly Reefer]

Looks good - you may want to start with more than 2 or just one banggai unless you sex them and get a M/F combo or else Id say you have about a 50/50 chance of them tolerating each other - I would also rec you get captive bred banggai as they seem a little hardier and less picky about food.
Throw some macro in the sump and seed your pods now for the mandarin - you may be able to get him earlier than a year.

I am planning to get all captive bread if possible. I will ask the lfs regarding the banggai. ty for the advise.
I do have some chaeto and I did put some pods in there... but I think I might have killed them all since my tank was still cycling. I have not seen any of them flying around...

 

[drmdvl]

I am planning to get all captive bread if possible. I will ask the lfs regarding the banggai. ty for the advise.
I do have some chaeto and I did put some pods in there... but I think I might have killed them all since my tank was still cycling. I have not seen any of them flying around...

Are you feeding them while cycling? They'll need some phyto until you have nutrients in the tank.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Are you feeding them while cycling? They'll need some phyto until you have nutrients in the tank.

yes I do... daily with the phyto that comes with them

 

[Philly Reefer]

Update time, this is what I have:

1. 2 clowns
2. Bicolor Blenny
3. Cleaner Shrimp
4. Yellow watchman goby (pre-ordered 9/22)

Wish List: not in stock yet from my LFS (TSM Aquatics).

1. Royal Gramma
2. Bangai Cardinals
3. Pistol Shrimp
4. Mandarin (only if I can get pods in my tank)

Now... Can I add a Firefish for my 40B?
They are listed as peaceful fish.

 

[Pistondog]

Update time, this is what I have:

1. 2 clowns
2. Bicolor Blenny
3. Cleaner Shrimp
4. Yellow watchman goby (pre-ordered 9/22)

Wish List: not in stock yet from my LFS (TSM Aquatics).

1. Royal Gramma
2. Bangai Cardinals
3. Pistol Shrimp
4. Mandarin (only if I can get pods in my tank)

Now... Can I add a Firefish for my 40B?
They are listed as peaceful fish.

Get a tank raised mandarin that will eat "not pods". You might pay more, but have better chance of keeping him alive.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Get a tank raised mandarin that will eat "not pods". You might pay more, but have better chance of keeping him alive.

That is my plan. But I will still wait until my tank is mature. Probably in a year.

 

[Tiki Reef Joshua]

Get a wrasse. That is all.

 

[Pistondog]

That is my plan. But I will still wait until my tank is mature. Probably in a year.

Get pods anyway, they add to biodiversity.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Get a wrasse. That is all.

LoL... Mandarin is a must for me. That is one of my dream fish

 

[Philly Reefer]

Get pods anyway, they add to biodiversity.

I am trying... Been adding pods once a month.. haven't seen anything flying around

 

[Tiki Reef Joshua]

Mandarins are cool for a few minutes. Wrasses have personality!

 

[Philly Reefer]

So.. Firefish? Ok?
Any other fish I can consider for my 40B?

 

[Tiki Reef Joshua]

Get a WRASSE!

 

[Philly Reefer]

Get a WRASSE!

Thank you but no thank you

 

[mattzang]

fairy and flasher wrasses don't really eat pods so won't compete with the mandarin if that's your concern