Fish stocking advice for small semi aggressive tank

[Hoplosternum]

I have a new set up. Its just over 30 US gallons (120 Litres) and has about 40lbs of LR in it, N/O lights and a shallow sand bed. I have a Deltec HOB skimmer rated for approx twice the size of the tank. The LR and skimmer will be doing my cycle. I’ll be adding the fish one at a time unless that is not advisable.

At some point I will upgrade the lights and attempt to grow some easy to keep corals, but that will not be for a number of months at least.

I want to add some of the following fish. All fall in to the small (2-4" max) and scrappy category and most come with the 'should be added last' tag. I appreciate that I can't have them all in the tank of this size but I am interested to hear opinions about how many, any compatibility issues and a stocking order.

The tank won't have any shrimp as most of these will attack them although I would add something like a Coral Banded Shrimp if it were likely to survive. Clean up crew will be snails as I suspect the fish I intend to add will eat any Bristle Worms.

The fish I want are from this list:
A small Dottyback - Sunrise (if I can find one), Oblique lined, Magenta or Orchid.
A small Hawkfish – Dwarf probably. One that stays at around 3" anyway.
Black Cap Gramma - Unless I get a purple Dottyback in which case this won't be bought.
A Centropyge Angel - A Coral Beauty or Argi probably.
A Basslet of some kind - Candy (if I don't have to remortgage to buy one), Swiss guard or possibly a Dwarf Sea Bass instead.
One or two Clowns - Percs or Ocelleris. Are they better in pairs or singly? Or a milder Damsel fish. Practical Fishkeeping has been promoting Talbot's recently and I certainly like the look of them. I assume Damsels are OK as singletons?

None of the fish are must haves but of them all the Dottyback and the Hawkfish are the two I most want. I would like at least one of them if possible. I appreciate these are the two 'least compatible' with other fish though.

The tank is right next to where I watch TV, so there is likely to be quite a lot of movement around the tank. With the HOB Skimmer the tank is at least partially open so I don’t want a serial jumper either.

Any serious compatibility problems with any of these? How many do you think I could have in a tank this size? Is it important to avoid similar coloured fish? Are any of the fish on my list especially hard to keep? Anybody had experience of trying to keep any of these kinds of fish together? Is even a Coral Banded Shrimp a complete no-no with these?

I have also set up two smaller tanks. A 45 litre (11 US Gallons) and a 60 litre (15 US Gallons). Both have live rock and sand but no skimmer. They are destined to be shrimp filled although I may add a small goby to one or both. But I might be able to turn one of these over to a small Dottyback or something else from my fish list? I’ve kept a Magenta Dottyback in the 60 some years ago.

Thanks!

[Geoff]

there are a few options you can do with that sized tank. most of them require not putting in a Psuedocromis or the clowns. most of the other fish you have listed you can combine in any twos and few you can go with 3 total fish.

Pseudocromis should be in a tank by themselves, along with the clowns when dealing with tanks of that size.

hawkfish/argi/seabass should work. could you post a link to what you are calling a sea bass? chalk bass is what i am thinking. i have a feeling you may be thinking anthias.

G~

[dobejazz]

Welcome to TRT !!

[Hoplosternum]

Thanks Geoff,

I assume you mean the Clowns and the Dottyback would be too aggressive? If I were to keep a Clown instead of the Dottyback on its own should it be a single one or are they best as a pair?

The Chalk Bass http://www.saltcorner.com/sections/z...tortugarum.htm or the Orangeback Bass http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Summary...ry.php?id=3342 were the fish I meant by Dwarf Sea Bass. I have seen both, and the larger Tobacco Fish on sale in LFS around my area.

[Hoplosternum]

Originally Posted by dobejazz

Welcome to TRT !!

Thank you, although I have been here for some time

[Geoff]

good, those are the fish i was thinking about also. basses are a huge group of fish and was worried about common name problems across the pond.

dottybacks are just downright mean. they need big tanks, or by themselves in smaller tanks.

the clowns also fall into this category though you can trick them a bit if they host in something in the corner. they will tend to stay right there instead of venture out very far. a 30g is still a bit small to keep anything more than a pair of clowns.

if the clowns are mated you will be fine. if not it is very risky to add more than one to a tank that small. if they both turn out to be female you will shortly only have on clownfish.

G~

[dobejazz]

Originally Posted by Hoplosternum

Thank you, although I have been here for some time

Bout time you started posting

[luvmylo]

six years and never posted?? wow! I joined so I could post.

[Hoplosternum]

Well I did post once before this thread

Thanks for all your help Geoff. I am going to go with your suggestions assuming I can find them. Dottyback will be relegated to the 15 gallon if I get one at all.

Cheers.

[Geoff]

Psuedochromis and Damsels make the perfect small tank inhabitants when kept by themselves. they want a territory all to themselves and when they have it they never want to leave it. so they are perfectly happy in a tank by themselves.

G~