Overstocking?

_cpate3_ · May 25, 2023

Hello, I am setting up a Fluval Evo 13.5 tank these are my specs:

Fluval Evo 13.5
AI Prime 16hd
Siccee Silent Return pump
Duetto ATO
Aqamai kps Powerhead
Media Basket (filter floss, chemipure, rock)
Media Basket 2 (want to swap with protein skimmer or refugium)

My dream nano would have a clownfish pair, a royal gramma, and a yellow watchman goby paired with a pistol shrimp. I am wondering if that is possible in this size of the tank, or should I just stick with 1 clown and the royal gramma? Please let me know your thoughts on how you would stock this tank. thank you!

nuxx · May 25, 2023

Might be pushing it with the first plan.

shakacuz · May 25, 2023

if you cut the gramma, you may be able to keep the clowns/goby+pistol(could always get the smaller goby like the yasha or hi-fin)

_cpate3_ · May 25, 2023

shakacuz said:
if you cut the gramma, you may be able to keep the clowns/goby+pistol(could always get the smaller goby like the yasha or hi-fin)

What if I did 1 clown, the gramma, and the shrimp goby?

scottkoji · May 25, 2023

as long as you add them over the course of a few months, i don't think its too much. but you should know that clowns and yellow watchmans can get big.

_cpate3_ · May 25, 2023

scottkoji said:
as long as you add them over the course of a few months, i don't think its too much. but you should know that clowns and yellow watchmans can get big.

What order should I add them? I am planning on the gramma first as I want a designer clownfish which could take a while

scottkoji · May 26, 2023

I don’t think it’s going to matter too much with this bunch but I would probably add YW, clown, and then gramma.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · May 26, 2023

I personally would not recommend keeping a gramma in a 13 gallon tank... Unless you get a small one and plan to upgrade to a larger tank in the next year.

_cpate3_ · May 28, 2023

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal said:
I personally would not recommend keeping a gramma in a 13 gallon tank... Unless you get a small one and plan to upgrade to a larger tank in the next year.

Yeah this will be my only tank for about 4-5 years. What is the reason for no gramma in a 13 gallon? Are they too big or too aggressive?

ScottJ · May 28, 2023

Yellow watchman get pretty big, too. I had a highfin goby in my 13.5. He stayed nice and small and seemed happy. Beautiful fish, too.

I have a YWG in my 55. He would be shoehorned in my 13.5.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · May 28, 2023

_cpate3_ said:
Yeah this will be my only tank for about 4-5 years. What is the reason for no gramma in a 13 gallon? Are they too big or too aggressive?

Look up the care requirements and suggested tank size for an adult...

Fishy888 · May 28, 2023

It’s not so much that they’re aggressive or even big. It’s that in a 13.5 gallon tank, a royal gramma will claim everything in the tank as its territory. Even if it was the only fish in there and there was no rock in the way the tank’s footprint is far too small for it to thrive. All basslets are pretty much out in a tank that small.

Think of it this way. If you were locked in a kitchen from now on how would you feel? Would you thrive? What if we locked five more people in there with you?

If you want your animals to thrive I’d google search terms like “fish for a 13.5 gallon tank”. Search here on R2R as well. Many here also have 13.5 gallon tanks.

Dave1993 · May 28, 2023

if you want clowns i would not add anymore fish very aggressive

Dave1993 · May 28, 2023

how about a firefish and a pink streak wrasse maybe a clown goby

The Roaming Reefer · May 28, 2023

You’d be able to keep your original stocking list with the filtration you’re proposing. Aggression with the clowns might be an issue. Personally, I would just do the one clown instead of two. If you can get a smaller YWG, he’d probably stay under 2 or 3 inches for a year at least. Yasha’s are pretty readily available these days and stay much smaller if you don’t want to swap the YWG once he gets too big.

Fishy888 · May 28, 2023

Dave1993 said:
how about a firefish and a pink streak wrasse maybe a clown goby

Most wrasses need a minimum of 30 gallons. Even my 90 gallon tank, which is 29” x 29” x 25” cube, has just enough space to handle a pair of wrasses such that they’d thrive.

I’m holding out for a Cortez rainbow wrasse. I currently have two yellow tailed blue damsels, two clownfish, and a yellow Coris wrasse. One more wrasse and a mandarin dragonette, as well as several mollies I’m growing out and that’ll be it for the cube.

Dave1993 · May 28, 2023

Fishy888 said:
Most wrasses need a minimum of 30 gallons. Even my 90 gallon tank, which is 29” x 29” x 25” cube, has just enough space to handle a pair of wrasses such that they’d thrive.

I’m holding out for a Cortez rainbow wrasse. I currently have two yellow tailed blue damsels, two clownfish, and a yellow Coris wrasse. One more wrasse and a mandarin dragonette, as well as several mollies I’m growing out and that’ll be it for the cube.

pink streak wrasse are very small and well suited to a nano tank