Stocking list looking opinions

[DmitryB]

So my IM 40 AOI is ready for fish! Today's readings are:

Salinity - 1.025
pH - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Temp - 77

My current plan for this tank's fish are:

1 Royal Gramma (added 1st)
1 Exquisite Firefish (added 1st)
2 Clownfish (with anemone; added second)
1 Mandarin Dragonet (Mandarin will be last and I'll add him in at least 6 months from now)

I think that's probably all for this tank to handle? (It's 40 gallons total volume, but some of that is taken up by the back chambers, so the available tank area is smaller than 40.)

I really do also like Springeri Dottyback (aquacultured), but not sure if a) I can/should add another fish to this tank and b) if it's compatible with Firefish and Royal Gramma. I suppose I may swap out either Gramma of Firefish for the Dottyback.

Any advice? Thank you all!

 

[Saltyreef]

Fwiw i have an IM 20 and i have 2 clowns, a 6 line wrasse, a lemon meringue wrasse and a starry blenny. They all seem fine. Still planning to add a floor dweller like a watchman or pearly jawfish.

I think youll be fine. You dont have many free swimmers on your list.

 

[BryanM]

1 Royal Gramma (added 1st)
1 Exquisite Firefish (added 1st)

Both of these fish will compete for the same food the mandarin needs, and they are much better hunters. The dottyback would also be eating the same food.

So if you really want the mandarin, I think you need to stick with what you have now, otherwise it will likely starve.

 

[DmitryB]

Both of these fish will compete for the same food the mandarin needs, and they are much better hunters. The dottyback would also be eating the same food.

So if you really want the mandarin, I think you need to stick with what you have now, otherwise it will likely starve.

With the Mandarin, the goal is to only buy the aquacultured one from Biota. Those apparently eat prepared foods. (With a fish like that, I'd never buy a wild-caught one.) That should help? And I was going to add pods into the system regularly since there's really no way to set up a refugium for this tank.

Plus there'll be a 170 tank built, so if worst did come to worst, Gramma and Firefish can always be transferred there. They'd be feisty enough for that tank.

At least that's the goal. The Mandarin is a long way off and that whole plan may change as well.

 

[Saltyreef]

With the Mandarin, the goal is to only buy the aquacultured one from Biota. Those apparently eat prepared foods. (With a fish like that, I'd never buy a wild-caught one.) That should help? And I was going to add pods into the system regularly since there's really no way to set up a refugium for this tank.

Plus there'll be a 170 tank built, so if worst did come to worst, Gramma and Firefish can always be transferred there. They'd be feisty enough for that tank.

At least that's the goal. The Mandarin is a long way off and that whole plan may change as well.

You arent going to do a fuge chamber?

 

[DmitryB]

You arent going to do a fuge chamber?

I don't think there's any way to set one up in the IM 40 AIO set-up. I had a thread going about how to set one up outside the tank, but the consensus seems to be "Nothing really works."

 

[BryanM]

With the Mandarin, the goal is to only buy the aquacultured one from Biota.

This probably would help, but I cannot say for sure that it would be foolproof. You'd probably need to talk to Biota more about that, and/or start up another thread here for people's experience with Biota Mandarins.

 

[DmitryB]

This probably would help, but I cannot say for sure that it would be foolproof. You'd probably need to talk to Biota more about that, and/or start up another thread here for people's experience with Biota Mandarins.

Yeah I'm definitely going to make sure the Mandarin thrives, one way or another! Thanks!

 

[winzig]

my biota mandarin eats prepared foods,calanus,mysis,and pellets

 

[Saltyreef]

I don't think there's any way to set one up in the IM 40 AIO set-up. I had a thread going about how to set one up outside the tank, but the consensus seems to be "Nothing really works."

I replied. I have a working fuge in my IM20.
Intank basket with an IM fuge light on the back. It works great.