Is this ok?

bang guy

Moderator
If it's one of the smaller Clownfish species then that's fine. I'd recommend at least two Cleaner Shrimp of the same species instead of just one.
 
If it's one of the smaller Clownfish species then that's fine. I'd recommend at least two Cleaner Shrimp of the same species instead of just one.
Then will it be fine to have 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 ocerleris clowns, 1-2 mushroom corals and 2-3 blue leg hermit crabs?
 

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
THat sounds reasonable. I'd add the hermits first when the tank is done cycling then add the fish after a appropriate quarantine time in a different tank. Let the tank stablize for a while after you add the fish before you add the mushrooms. Also be sure your lighting is enough to support mushrooms.
 
THat sounds reasonable. I'd add the hermits first when the tank is done cycling then add the fish after a appropriate quarantine time in a different tank. Let the tank stablize for a while after you add the fish before you add the mushrooms. Also be sure your lighting is enough to support mushrooms.
Can I just put the mushrooms in QT tank with the clowns? I live in the north and shipping is very expensive... I want to do a 1 time ship(all the things I need all at once) can I put hermits and cleaners in first? Then after a month I'll put the clowns and the mushroom?
Ps if clowns hV sickness, I will remove the mushroom, dip them and put them in main tank while the clowns get copper.
 
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lmforbis

Well-Known Member
You'd be better waiting a 6 months or so to add coral. By then the bacteria will be established and the water parameters should be more stable. If you add them before things are stable they will just die.
 

bang guy

Moderator
They interact with each other and it reduces the stress on them. They also breed and that sets up a regular cycle of molting.
 
THat sounds reasonable. I'd add the hermits first when the tank is done cycling then add the fish after a appropriate quarantine time in a different tank. Let the tank stablize for a while after you add the fish before you add the mushrooms. Also be sure your lighting is enough to support mushrooms.
What if I have 2 clowns, 1 yellow goby, 3 hermits and 1 mushroom will that be ok?
 

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
You could do 1 clown and one goby. You need to add things slowly or there won't be enough bacteria to deal with the waste. This will result in ammonia which burns the fish. Knowingly setting up a situation where the ammonia will go up is cruel to the fish and it can kill them. That is why we say one fish at a time. You add one fish then after a month or two a second fish. They should be quarantined one at a time as well. In the case of clowns, if you want a pair, they need to go in together when they are very small, not ideal but that is why you do small fish.

Mushrooms won't affect the bioload. What kind of lights do you have. Mushrooms need the right kind of light to survive.

Everything in saltwater must be done very slowly. It may be expensive to order fish one at a time but it is even more expensive to have them die then reorder them.
 
You could do 1 clown and one goby. You need to add things slowly or there won't be enough bacteria to deal with the waste. This will result in ammonia which burns the fish. Knowingly setting up a situation where the ammonia will go up is cruel to the fish and it can kill them. That is why we say one fish at a time. You add one fish then after a month or two a second fish. They should be quarantined one at a time as well. In the case of clowns, if you want a pair, they need to go in together when they are very small, not ideal but that is why you do small fish.

Mushrooms won't affect the bioload. What kind of lights do you have. Mushrooms need the right kind of light to survive.

Everything in saltwater must be done very slowly. It may be expensive to order fish one at a time but it is even more expensive to have them die then reorder them.
I'll just get the clowns and the hermits then, I have led lights is that fine for mushrooms?
 

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
What kind of LED lights? There is a lot of variation in LED lights. They vary in amount of light they produce, the wavelength of that light and the intensity. Some are great for coral and others are not going to work for anything but fish only.
 
What kind of LED lights? There is a lot of variation in LED lights. They vary in amount of light they produce, the wavelength of that light and the intensity. Some are great for coral and others are not going to work for anything but fish only.
It came with the top fin 20 gallon aquarium set,
 

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
That isn't going to be enough light for any coral. Coral contain symbiotic algae. That algae needs very strong light to survive. The algae produces sugar which the coral uses as food. With out adequate light the algae will die then coral will die because its food source is gone.
 
That isn't going to be enough light for any coral. Coral contain symbiotic algae. That algae needs very strong light to survive. The algae produces sugar which the coral uses as food. With out adequate light the algae will die then coral will die because its food source is gone.
What is the cheapest light with hood that works for corals?
 

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
You can get some inexpensive (around $100) on eBay. Look for Mars Aqua. I've never used them but I have heard they are decent. They will support some coral. Generally the lighting for a tank with coral are expensive. Lights don't come with a hood. Hoods are not often uses because they get in the way of gas exchange and can cause the water to get too hot.
 
You can get some inexpensive (around $100) on eBay. Look for Mars Aqua. I've never used them but I have heard they are decent. They will support some coral. Generally the lighting for a tank with coral are expensive. Lights don't come with a hood. Hoods are not often uses because they get in the way of gas exchange and can cause the water to get too hot.
I saw this one and don't know if it will work.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/111701121469
 
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