Stocking and feeding

S

Shilpan

Member
Hello, sizing my algae scrubber so working backwards here to work out feeding.

So 105 gallon tank.
Say I had 6-7 soft corals.
Fish -2 clowns
-1 fire fish
-1 blenny
-1 Bengali Cardinal
-3 chromis
-1 coral beauty
-1 triggerfish
- 4 or 5 snails
Got a skimmer, 12x tank flow per hour, live rock and sand. RODI water. No other filter media except maybe an algae scrubber.

Don't worry about compatability, just roughly wanna know for these numbers of fish and sizes.

So
1) is this considered an understocked, appropriately stocked or overstocked tank?

2) most importantly, would feeding 1 cube every alternate day be enough? Or would my fish suffer Health problems? Growing slowly is ok I don't mind. I want nutrient control so I can maintain the tank with less maintenace.
Do I need to feed 1 cube a day for that many fish? (Yes ofc I'd vary diet)
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
1 - looks appropriate except really really light on the snails. Niger Trigger?

2 - 1/2 a cube per day would work. I'd suggest you look into making your own food once everything settles down.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Sounds a little light on the food.

Once the trigger gets some size a 1/2 a cube a day may not cut it.

I have a small niger trigger right now with a very similar sized livestock list in a 120g. Couldn't imagine him getting only a few bite fulls of food every other day. Let alone when he gets large. Unless you want them eating all of the inverts in the tank you'll want to keep them well fed.

That's one of the soul purposes behind scrubbing. Giving yourself the ability to feed well without the major draw backs.
 
S

Shilpan

Member
Ahh I see
Yup Niger trigger.

Ok so probably feed1/2 a cube a day when I have half that number of fish.

1) And then as I increase my stock feed a cube a day?

2) Also, does this mean I should get a 1/2 cube scrubber and change to a 1 cube later. Or start with a one cube? Will the latter be ok?
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Shilpan said:
Ahh I see
Yup Niger trigger.

Ok so probably feed1/2 a cube a day when I have half that number of fish.

1) And then as I increase my stock feed a cube a day?

2) Also, does this mean I should get a 1/2 cube scrubber and change to a 1 cube later. Or start with a one cube? Will the latter be ok?
Click to expand...
No, get a scrubber sized appropriately to the final anticipated load. A scrubber that is too large for your load is no problem now, and will save you $$$ or work (if diy) later.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
You will most definitely want to keep your trigger well feed as was stated above. That will demand an efficient nitrification and de-nitrification as well as mechanical filtration system. Introduce him last. You will as Bang stated have to increase your cleanup crew and continue to add them as the trigger may find them a nice appetizer
 
S

Shilpan

Member
Cheers!
Yeah will definitely need to do more research. I've only researched clowns and chromis'S as they're going in first.
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Shilpan said:
Cheers!
Yeah will definitely need to do more research. I've only researched clowns and chromis'S as they're going in first.
Click to expand...
Careful, there! Clowns and many chromis become very territorial, and should be added later rather than earlier.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
IMO while clown fish are territorial mot of the aggression is directed to other clown fish. If you have a mated pair and it is close to spawning time they will get aggressive toward other fish invading their territory which will be a small area of your tank. All in all I think you can add them first to your tank. If you have something to host them they will basically stay in that one area.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Normally my friend at this point I would be posting something really sarcastic. But I have mellowed in my old age. Structures DON’T COUNT. Clown fish DON’T host they are hosted by host anemones. You can also get frog spawn hammer and torch corals to host them. PLEASE PLEASE do some research on the subject?
 
S

Shilpan

Member
Will do the research :)

Not planning on having corals for a while anyway. I was just wondering because I remember reading somewhere that a guys clownfish hosted his powerhead.

Oh right clownfish hosted by anemones. Sorry I was confused, since it's a mutualistic symbiotic relationship I was under the impression the term worked both ways. Will get to researching!
 
S

Shilpan

Member
Hey guys! So I've more carefully thought through the fish I want since I'm cycling. I've read up a bit on each fish and think these are appropriate for myself as a beginner and then as I gain experience. I plan on adding one fish every 1-2 months. Just to space out the budget and give the tank time to mature. 400L tank. Will have soft corals only.

Initially
-2 clowns (first fish)
-1 fire fish
-1 bangaii cardinal
-Lawnmower Blenny
-2-3 blue-green chromis

Much later down the line (like 6-12 months after cycle)
Coral beauty
Dwarf flame angel
Yellow/Blue Tang
Mandarin

So that's the order I was planning on doing it in too. Thoughts on compatability, reef safeness and the order I'm adding them in? I think I might cut out one of the big fish..
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
No two angles!!!! Bad bad. You will only have one left. Tangs if healthy are hardy no need to wait as long as the tank is cycled.
 
lmforbis

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
The first group looks great with one exception. This is just my opinion but I'd skip the chromis. They tend to pick each other off.
As for the later additions, You may be ok with two dwarf angels but I wouldn't do it. Generally only one dwarf. No blue tang but yellow would be beautiful. If you have a mature tank with lots of copopods a mandarin would be great.
 
S

Shilpan

Member
Sweet
I'll take out the chromis's and take out An angel.

Which angel is harder to care for? I'll remove that one.

Oh and lawnmower blenny, I'll need to wait till I have lots of algae?
 
lmforbis

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
I'm not sure which is harder. I have a flame. It was healthy when I got it and that makes a difference. I think you should get the fish you like best. My blenny eats off my algae clip I have for my tangs. He doesn't eat much off the rock.
 
D

deejeff0442

Active Member
What is the difference between a half cube scrubber and a full cube scrubber? I built one as big as would fit in the sump. Need the algae started growing it blocked holes and water shot all over in title streams. Got tired of cleaning the holes daily and junked it. Now I just run a phosphate reactor. I run a bare clean up crew. A big skimmer and I have next to nothing algae.
 
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