Some thoughts prior to adding fish to a nano reef:
1) Make sure the tank is cycled and you've changed out your water after the nitrate spike. Zero across the board if possible with your parameters.
2) Go slow. No slam dunking and dumping all the fish in at once.
3) Acclimation is extremely important...think drip method. Remember, you have pH, temperature and specific gravity to think about.
4) READ UP ON THE FISH YOU WANT TO ADD. They have differences in aggression, temperament, territorialness, eating behavior, etc. Many don't get along with similar sexes or types of their own kind and should not be in pairs. Some might pick at corals.
5) The most passive fish should be put in first; aggressive last.
6) Don't shoot me....there is the classic 1 inch of fish per 2 gallons still printed out there. Suffice it to say, buy fish that will stay small. On average, for our cube, 4-5 fish that STAY VERY SMALL. On the safe side, 3 fish.
7) The dreaded word...quarantine. Yes, SW species should be quarantined. Think quarantine tank.
8 ) Resist the 'just one more fish' urge.
9) Know what and how much to feed. Overfeeding is a sure source of nitrates which are not tolerated in SW nano systems compared to FW.
10) Avoid the classic 'dumping the lfs' water into the tank.
Nano-Reef Fish
Here is a brief list of some common or popular nano fish:
1) Gobies: Green and Brown Clown Goby, Catalina Goby,Citrina, Court Jester, Hi Fin Red Banded, Neon Blue, Hector's, Orange Spotted, Two Spot, Watchman Gobies (they have an interesting association with pistol shrimp).
2) Firefish: Purple or common
3) Clownfish: Black and White Percula, True Percula, Oscellaris
4) Blennies: Harptail, Barnacle, Black Lined, Red Sea Mimic, Bicolor; be careful with a lawnmower, they can grow to 5 inches
5) Wrasses: Sixline, golden or canary
6) Basslets: Swissguard, Blackcap
7) Cardinalfishes: Pajama, Banggai, redtail
8 ) Clingfish
9) Jawfish: dusky and yellowhead
10) Damselfish.: can be very pugnacious and aggressive. Look at the Yellowtail Blue Damsel (chrysiptera parasema)
11) Royal Gramma, can be territorial and aggressive
12) Dottybacks (Pseudochromis): caution, may be aggressive; less aggressive species are the Orchid Dottyback, Springer's and Sankey's (Black-and-White)
13) Hawkfish: caution, may NOT be compatible with inverts. Use care.
14) Assessors: Yellow and Blue
Good luck. SH
1) Make sure the tank is cycled and you've changed out your water after the nitrate spike. Zero across the board if possible with your parameters.
2) Go slow. No slam dunking and dumping all the fish in at once.
3) Acclimation is extremely important...think drip method. Remember, you have pH, temperature and specific gravity to think about.
4) READ UP ON THE FISH YOU WANT TO ADD. They have differences in aggression, temperament, territorialness, eating behavior, etc. Many don't get along with similar sexes or types of their own kind and should not be in pairs. Some might pick at corals.
5) The most passive fish should be put in first; aggressive last.
6) Don't shoot me....there is the classic 1 inch of fish per 2 gallons still printed out there. Suffice it to say, buy fish that will stay small. On average, for our cube, 4-5 fish that STAY VERY SMALL. On the safe side, 3 fish.
7) The dreaded word...quarantine. Yes, SW species should be quarantined. Think quarantine tank.
8 ) Resist the 'just one more fish' urge.
9) Know what and how much to feed. Overfeeding is a sure source of nitrates which are not tolerated in SW nano systems compared to FW.
10) Avoid the classic 'dumping the lfs' water into the tank.
Nano-Reef Fish
Here is a brief list of some common or popular nano fish:
1) Gobies: Green and Brown Clown Goby, Catalina Goby,Citrina, Court Jester, Hi Fin Red Banded, Neon Blue, Hector's, Orange Spotted, Two Spot, Watchman Gobies (they have an interesting association with pistol shrimp).
2) Firefish: Purple or common
3) Clownfish: Black and White Percula, True Percula, Oscellaris
4) Blennies: Harptail, Barnacle, Black Lined, Red Sea Mimic, Bicolor; be careful with a lawnmower, they can grow to 5 inches
5) Wrasses: Sixline, golden or canary
6) Basslets: Swissguard, Blackcap
7) Cardinalfishes: Pajama, Banggai, redtail
8 ) Clingfish
9) Jawfish: dusky and yellowhead
10) Damselfish.: can be very pugnacious and aggressive. Look at the Yellowtail Blue Damsel (chrysiptera parasema)
11) Royal Gramma, can be territorial and aggressive
12) Dottybacks (Pseudochromis): caution, may be aggressive; less aggressive species are the Orchid Dottyback, Springer's and Sankey's (Black-and-White)
13) Hawkfish: caution, may NOT be compatible with inverts. Use care.
14) Assessors: Yellow and Blue
Good luck. SH
