5 Gallon Stocking???

[Baronen]

Any fish that swims is an absolute no. My possum wrasse use all 4 feet of my tank, and quite quickly. Any smaller goby should be fine, they pick a rock to hide under and stay put usually anyway. Just make sure to keep up with parameters and you’ll be fine

 

[Dani_13563]

I have a citron clown goby, a clownfish, and a neon goby living in a 6 gal together. I don't see why not

How often do you do water changes for your tank? Is there anything specific you do to keep the water parameters stable?

Also, I love your pfp! I had considered putting a pic of my old bunny as my pfp but changed my mind

 

[Tahoe61]

I have a citron clown goby, a clownfish, and a neon goby living in a 6 gal together. I don't see why not

You will when that clown fish reaches maturity.
Honestly, that's not the goal.

 

[Tinnerito]

How often do you do water changes for your tank? Is there anything specific you do to keep the water parameters stable?

Also, I love your pfp! I had considered putting a pic of my old bunny as my pfp but changed my mind

The fact that you recognized my pfp as a bunny makes me happy. She was my rabbit, whom I named Tinn when I was 10 years old.(Tinnerito was what I called her when I would wrap her in a beige blanket like a burrito)

I simply just do a 10% water change every week. 20% on certain occasions. My tank however is LOADED with macroalgae, making for almost all of my chemical filtration not only combating nuisance algae, but also filtering any and all excess nutrients out of my tank.

I also spent a lot of time creating my own custom hardscape as I do with all of my tanks to provide a lot of areas for my fish to settle, and all three have their very own resting spots. My clown treats my caulerpa prolifera as an anemone and will be there for most of the day. My neon inhabits this crater like indent in one of my rocks, and my clown goby perches at the top of my rock structure right by the return pump. And because I am a coward, I waited for my tank to develop for 5 months before every adding a single fish if that helps at all. I'm not sure this here will help, but the tank has 0 corals, or anemones. It is macroalgae and sea sponge dominant.

I also believe I may simply be in luck with this tank, as this said tank was also my very first sw tank so I went about every step with maximum patience to the point I question how slow.I can possibly do this.

BUT, I do not believe that stocking your tank like this can be garunteed a success. This is just from my experience. All of my other tanks are stocked sparingly.

 

[Tinnerito]

You will when that clown fish reaches maturity.
Honestly, that's not the goal.

He's doing well as far as I can tell. I do have a 10 gal ready to go in case he does show signs of stress.

I understand that there are many reasons not to overstock a tank, and if anybody, I strongly believe that having understocked a tank is better than having it stocked just right. However, this tank was my very first, therefore I was in my "era" of taking advice from my lfs, to which they had conviced me that my stocklist at the time was perfectly safe.

 

[Tinnerito]

Hello Everyone! I am an absolutely beginner with zero hands-on experience in saltwater. I have been researching the saltwater hobby for a little over a year now and I just have a couple of questions. I would like to start a 5.5 gallon nano (pico?) tank (just the basic one from petsmart). I have done my research on the nitrogen cycle and on tank lighting. I know that nanos are not recommended for beginners, but I also know that it’s doable and I love a challenge. I have seen both sides on whether or not a five gallon tank is ethical, and I have made my decision. I would like to know if any of these fish that I like would work if I kept up with the parameters and handled the bioload. I am pretty sure most of these are a no-no, but I would like to hear the opinion of others.


1. The Most Likely No-No’s (but I would love)
A.) single clown (a pair would require at least
a 10g correct?)
B.) single orchid dottyback
C.) single royal gramma
D.) pink-spotted goby & pistol shrimp pair
(with good, deep substrate)


2. Maybe?
E.) single bullseye pistol shrimp (no fish)
F.) wheeler’s goby & pistol shrimp pair
G.) geometric pygmy hawkfish
H.) griessingeri goby
I.) Tanaka’s pygmy wrasse OR possum
wrasse

I know of the other options (hi-fin, yasha, yellow/green clown, barnacle blenny, sexy shrimp, etc.), but they seem kinda plain to me, although, they are not out of the question.

P.S.: Although I would LIKE to start this tank, the chances of it are low due to my and my parents’ limited budget. My mother, specifically, is wary due to the large upfront/initial costs of saltwater (live rock, livestock, etc). But I figured there is no excuse to not be further educated by the experienced members of the saltwater community, so I made this post anyway.

Thank you in advance to everyone!

I wouldn't get anymore than 2 fish in that tank if I were you. As my experience with my 6 gal was rather risky, ecpecially considering I am quite a rookie myself. I do not recommend any kind of basslet(like the royal gramma) or hawkfish as they likely will be territorial against any other fish you add in there. A single clown, then a prawn goby and shrimp pair I think will be your best bet, so long as you have a sufficiently deep sand bed. I know I am a year late, and you probobaly don't need my advice anymore, but I wish you the best!

 

[Dani_13563]

I wouldn't get anymore than 2 fish in that tank if I were you. As my experience with my 6 gal was rather risky, ecpecially considering I am quite a rookie myself. I do not recommend any kind of basslet(like the royal gramma) or hawkfish as they likely will be territorial against any other fish you add in there. A single clown, then a prawn goby and shrimp pair I think will be your best bet, so long as you have a sufficiently deep sand bed. I know I am a year late, and you probobaly don't need my advice anymore, but I wish you the best!

I ended up chickening out of starting a reef tank haha! It's still something I really want, but I'm leaving for college in the fall and they don't allow any fish in the dorms, so I thought it might be a bad idea to start one now. Maybe someday...

 

[Dani_13563]

The fact that you recognized my pfp as a bunny makes me happy. She was my rabbit, whom I named Tinn when I was 10 years old.(Tinnerito was what I called her when I would wrap her in a beige blanket like a burrito)

I simply just do a 10% water change every week. 20% on certain occasions. My tank however is LOADED with macroalgae, making for almost all of my chemical filtration not only combating nuisance algae, but also filtering any and all excess nutrients out of my tank.

I also spent a lot of time creating my own custom hardscape as I do with all of my tanks to provide a lot of areas for my fish to settle, and all three have their very own resting spots. My clown treats my caulerpa prolifera as an anemone and will be there for most of the day. My neon inhabits this crater like indent in one of my rocks, and my clown goby perches at the top of my rock structure right by the return pump. And because I am a coward, I waited for my tank to develop for 5 months before every adding a single fish if that helps at all. I'm not sure this here will help, but the tank has 0 corals, or anemones. It is macroalgae and sea sponge dominant.

I also believe I may simply be in luck with this tank, as this said tank was also my very first sw tank so I went about every step with maximum patience to the point I question how slow.I can possibly do this.

BUT, I do not believe that stocking your tank like this can be garunteed a success. This is just from my experience. All of my other tanks are stocked sparingly.

That's so cute! My bunny was named King Bun-Bun because he was part lion head and had a huge gray beard that made him look very regal!

And thanks for all the info! I actually love the look of macroalgae dominant tanks over just coral! Do you have any pictures of your tank? And did you start with dry or live rock?

 

[jabberwock]

That's so cute! My bunny was named King Bun-Bun because he was part lion head and had a huge gray beard that made him look very regal!

And thanks for all the info! I actually love the look of macroalgae dominant tanks over just coral! Do you have any pictures of your tank? And did you start with dry or live rock?

Are you a chat bot?

 

[Dani_13563]

Are you a chat bot?

I don't know what that means, sorry

 

[Tinnerito]

I don't know what that means, sorry

I guess the way you type seems pre'generated?? Idk.

 

[Tinnerito]

That's so cute! My bunny was named King Bun-Bun because he was part lion head and had a huge gray beard that made him look very regal!

And thanks for all the info! I actually love the look of macroalgae dominant tanks over just coral! Do you have any pictures of your tank? And did you start with dry or live rock?

Tinn was a lion head too! Here are some photos of my 6 gal. It's a vertical tank which I do not recommend either because distributing flow in there is tough. I begin all of my tanks with dry rock, and although it takes longer to develop, there is decreased risk of unwanted hitchhikers, and is much cheaper, and I am one who tries to save as much money as possible regarding aquariums.

Edit: I know the blue light makes the macros stand out less, but it was once my intent to keep corals in here hence the light color.

 

[Tinnerito]

I ended up chickening out of starting a reef tank haha! It's still something I really want, but I'm leaving for college in the fall and they don't allow any fish in the dorms, so I thought it might be a bad idea to start one now. Maybe someday...

Aw that sucks. I'm going to college soon but I made sure I'm going to one where I can still live at home to care for my tanks until I can get a place of my own. Please do come back to the saltwater hobby when possible! In my opinion, macroalgae is 10x easier to keep than coral. All the best!

 

[Dani_13563]

I guess the way you type seems pre'generated?? Idk.

I guess I should take it as a compliment! I do take grammar rather seriously.

 

[Dani_13563]

Tinn was a lion head too! Here are some photos of my 6 gal. It's a vertical tank which I do not recommend either because distributing flow in there is tough. I begin all of my tanks with dry rock, and although it takes longer to develop, there is decreased risk of unwanted hitchhikers, and is much cheaper, and I am one who tries to save as much money as possible regarding aquariums.

Edit: I know the blue light makes the macros stand out less, but it was once my intent to keep corals in here hence the light color.

Oh that's pretty! And wow that IS a veryyy vertical tank! Reminds me of an aquarium display

 

[Tinnerito]

That's so cute! My bunny was named King Bun-Bun because he was part lion head and had a huge gray beard that made him look very regal!

And thanks for all the info! I actually love the look of macroalgae dominant tanks over just coral! Do you have any pictures of your tank? And did you start with dry or live rock?

Heres some videos I took awhile back about a week after getting the clown goby.

 

[Tinnerito]

Oh that's pretty! And wow that IS a veryyy vertical tank! Reminds me of an aquarium display

That was my aim until I faced the consequences

 

[Dani_13563]

Aw that sucks. I'm going to college soon but I made sure I'm going to one where I can still live at home to care for my tanks until I can get a place of my own. Please do come back to the saltwater hobby when possible! In my opinion, macroalgae is 10x easier to keep than coral. All the best!

I'll definitely try! I was originally hoping on leaving the tank in the care of my sister, but she's not too keen on extra responsibility. I'm glad it worked out for you tho!

 

[Tinnerito]

I'll definitely try! I was originally hoping on leaving the tank in the care of my sister, but she's not too keen on extra responsibility. I'm glad it worked out for you tho!

Yeah same here. I cannot go out anywhere for long periods of time without hiring a close friend to maintain the tank lol.

 

[Dani_13563]

Heres some videos I took awhile back about a week after getting the clown goby.

Im not sure why, but I can't view the videos . Thank you for posting them tho! I would have loved to watch them!