Cleanup Crew

[Slick]

I'm looking for a little advice/wisdom on getting a couple crabs or snails for a fish only tank. I still have my damsel fish in the tank while it is cycling, but I am looking to get a few trigger fish and a snowflake eel.

What is a good combo to add to the tank without having the fish eat and pick on the cleaners. Or do you think this wont be much of a problem, as I will be getting the fish in their smaller sizes? I would really like to have a fire shrimp in there, but i think that the fish will probably pick on it too much.

What species should I add that will be hearty enough for my first tank, and add a little bit of flair to it?

Would it be a good time to add them to the tank now? It looks like the tank is about done cycling, maybe another week left to go.

Thanks.

 

[Lotus]

I don't think you'll be able to keep shrimp or snails with the fish you want. Shrimp or crabs will definitely get eaten, and most likely any snails will, too.

I notice that you have a couple of triggers and a snowflake eel planned for this tank. I think the maximum you could get away with are a single niger trigger and a snowflake eel. The other triggers get far too large for the tank you have.

 

[Slick]

What would you recomend to help keep the substrate aerated and cleaned? Are there other options that I havent learned about yet?

 

[Lorna]

wow that is way too many fish for a 75g as Lotus stated one niger and one snowflake and you are probably maxed out. I hope you have a very tight fitting lid as snowflakes are notorious escape artists.
As far as your substrate all I would suggest would be replenishing sand stirring snails such as nassarius and realizing that you will need to replenish them if they get eaten. Such is nature...... if utilizing a deep sand bed you can stir the top 1/2 inch when doing your water changes but don't go any deeper than that if you have a working bed.

 

[Slick]

Really, just the 2 fish? I am not keeping the damsels in there. I dont want to have tons of fish, but do want more than 2. I know that the puffer is going to get too big... I have taken it and the angel off of my wishlist.

Is it because of the eel that I can only have that few of fish?

Thanks for the advice, I am glad to find out now, rather than down the road when expensive fish start to die.

 

[Lorna]

The humu and niger triggers get about 12" and the clown about 20" now imagine those in a 4' tank.....no swimming room at all barely for one let alone more than one. Now think of the amount of waste they produce.......enough said I think. If you want more fish why not go for a community tank where you can have many assorted smaller equally colorful fish.....????

 

[Slick]

Well, therein lies my misinformation. The stuff I've been reading say those fish are getting about 8-10" in the tank and that the Niger will get to 12". With this info, you are right, I am looking for a different type of setup where I can put a few different, smaller fish in there. Maybe in the future when I get a larger tank, I will get the triggers.

Thanks for the info.

 

[quaddity]

Go for a reef if you can afford it. To me it's the ultimate tank because there's always something interesting going on in it.

 

[Lorna]

I agree, (having reef tanks sort of colors my opinion somewhat) much more interesting than a couple of fish swimming about.....

 

[Slick]

I love the reef tanks with everything going on in them, but since I am just starting out in the SW hobby, I decided to start with a fish only tank. I've got a couple other, smaller tanks that I am getting ready to set up as reef tanks when I get back from the holiday vacations.