setting up a nano aquarium

[RipTide7]

Starting my 10g nano, and now I'm diving into stocking suggestions. Nanos usually get anemones, coflakes, and a few fish - makes sense given the size. Mine's gonna be a tight squeeze, so I'm thinking small. No anemones or coflakes for me, maybe some that can handle standard lighting. What I'm really looking for is some colorful fish. Clowns are cool, but I think it's too cramped for them. Gobies seem like a good option - I'd like to keep each fish under $15. Any suggestions?

[GoldenFusion]

For a 10gallon, two clowns could work, or a goby and a clown. If you're after color, I had a yellowhead jawfish - it's a great choice. But it needs a deep sand bed, at least 4 inches, which is a consideration. They usually cost between $15-20, so a bit over budget. Anemones aren't the same as coflakes - they're invertabrates. To be honest, they can be tough to keep in a nano, water quality's a big challenge. I'd recommend checking out the TFF nano section for more info, it's a good starting point.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=135909

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115899

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115937

[Axiomix]

To be honest, I'm not sold on keeping two clowns in a 10g. I've never kept marine myself, but from what I understand, clowns are pretty active and get quite large.

[zenoxa]

Anemones in a nano - it's doable, but be prepared to put in the work. Regular water changes, a reliable skimmer, and quality lighting are a must. And yes, that means a bigger budget. On a related note, I think it's unfair to say anemones aren't 'coflakes' - many of the animals we commonly refer to as 'coflakes' are also invertebrates, after all.

As for stocking a 10g with clownfish, I've seen it done before, but I'm not convinced it's the best idea. I'd be hesitant to try it myself, if only because clownfish can be a handful.

[RipTide7]

I think I'm leaning towards a combo of a clown and a goby now. Maybe one clown fish and a high fin goby would be a good fit, or even a clown fish and a clown goby. Either way, I like the idea of having a clown and a goby of some sort, seems like it could work out pretty well.

[floralix]

anemones aren't coflakes by any means, they can easily outgrow a 10g tank, reaching sizes much larger than that. I'm with you on the high fin and clown combo, sounds like a great idea to me.

[RipTide7]

If I do end up going with the high fin goby and a clown, I'm curious about something - if I were to get two clowns instead, would it be better to get them at the same time or could I add another one later on?

[floralix]

If you decide on two clowns, it's probably best to get them at the same time, or opt for a pair that's already bonded. If you do choose to go with unpaired clowns, consider selecting a smaller and a larger one from the same tank.

[zenoxa]

anemones aren't coflakes by any means, they can easily outgrow a 10g tank, reaching sizes much larger than that. I'm with you on the high fin and clown combo, sounds like a great idea to me.

You're questioning my understanding on a topic I'm familiar with. I never said anemones were coflakes, but rather, certain invertebrates are commonly referred to as 'coflakes'. Mushroom corals, zoanthids, and soft corals aren't true coflakes either, yet they're often lumped in with them.

[GoldenFusion]

Anemones are invertebrates, not even close to being coflakes, by the way.