What next?

[joejoe]

Alright so I currently have a clean up crew (dozen hermits, dozen blue legs, and 2 turbos) and 2 clown fish in my tank. All is looking well in regards to parameters and the fish have settled down very nicely since I added them (last Saturday). I am looking to add something else tomorrow (Saturday), but don't know what would be a good idea. My tank is 38 gallons and I am planning it being a reef tank. Should I add another fish or would that be too much of a load increase? I was maybe thinking about adding a shrimp or two to it to diversify the tank. I ultimately am gonna wanna keep 3 or 4 fish in the tank. Any suggestions??

 

[thomas712]

Are you set for live rock
Skimmer
Lighting
I have always felt that a few shrimp add much to the diversity of a reef tank. I currently have 2 peps and 1 fire shrimp.
Have you considered a firefish or 6 line wrasse, both are very kewl fish to have.
Thomas

 

[gregvabch]

do you have any live rock in your tank? that would be what i focused on first before adding anything else.

 

[razoreqx]

Originally posted by gregvabch
do you have any live rock in your tank? that would be what i focused on first before adding anything else.
I agree.. And since you have an established tank I would (not) put that LR right into your display tank...
I have yet to see true (CURED) LR. It always has some die off and causes spikes in my water chemistry.. I recommend letting the rock cure in a seperate tank or container.. I almost wiped out my tank learning this the hard way..

 

[joejoe]

Yes I have around 60 pounds if LR in my tank it went through with the cycle. Would adding like 2 peppermints and 1 blood shrimp be too much of a load all at once or would it be fine? If I am gonna add another fish, I was goby or blenny. Any opinions??

 

[birdy]

Shrimp and inverts do not really add much to the bioload it is only fish you really need to worry about there so you can add the shrimp and a fish if you would like. Did you have a specific type of goby or blennie in mind. I really like firefish gobies.

 

[jc74]

I have to agree with those who said to cure "pre cured" live rock. When mine arrived from SWF it smelled terrible from all the die off. I let it cure for about a week in a 30 gallon container with air and heat until the smell went away.
Anyway, as beautiful as fire shrimp are, they like to hide. A lot. I got one in my tank and didn't see it for three weeks! I thought it was dead so I got another one, and come to find out I now have two that never see the light of day. Every now and then they'll peek out in the evening and then go right back into their caves. I would recommend a coral banded or cleaner shrimp instead. They come out much more often and have more personality. Just be sure if you get a coral banded that you have no other shrimp in the tank. They're very competitive with their own species.
As far as fish, that depends on your personal taste. If you already have two clowns, I'd go with something blue, purple, or yellow to diversify the color. A royal gramma and a mandarin would probably work. Try to find a Red Sea gramma. They're hard to come by, but they have a unique body structure and a brighter shade of purple.

 

[joejoe]

hey thanks for all the info. everyone!! Well right now I'm definately thinking of getting 1 peppermint and one blood red shrimp or cleaner shrimp. Now I think that psychadelic mandarins are the coolest looking fish, but have heard that I would need a refugium in order to feed them. Is there a food that we can hand feed them that does not require a refugium? If so, these are probably the three things I'll purchase tomorrow. Any opinions??

 

[jc74]

Mandarins eat copepods that live in your live rock. They also eat brine shrimp. As long as you have lots of healthy live rock or easy access to small, live food you should be fine. I'd suggest getting a live brine kit and raise them yourself just in case. It's not too difficult and your other fish will love them too.