Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've made the leap from freshwater to saltwater after years of consideration. I've always been drawn to the beauty and complexity of saltwater aquariums. After months of weighing my options, I've decided on a 32 gallon biocube - it's no longer daunting to me. Here's my plan:

I'll start with live sand and live rock to create a solid foundation. For corals, I'm particularly interested in Zoanthids and Tadstools, so I'll include those in my collection. As for livestock, I'm planning to add 2 Cleaner Shrimp, 3 Nassarius Snail, 3 Scarlett Hermit Crabs, 1 Tuxedo Urchin, 2 Yasha Gobies, 1 Firtideflow, 1 Royal Gramma, and 1 Ocillaris Clown.

I'm a bit concerned that I might be over-ambitious with my first reef tank, and I'd hate to overstock it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I've got a few questions for you before I dive into the details of my tank. Are you using an internal or external filter on your setup? Also, do you recommend using a protein skimmer, and if so, what kind would you suggest? I'm still getting familiar with the equipment for my 32-gallon biocube, so any advice on that would be great. The dimensions of the tank are pretty standard, but I'm curious to know what lights you're using - I'm still deciding on that.

I've been considering your advice on live sand, and I think you might be right. I could save some money by using marine sand or even collecting some from the beach. After a couple of months, it should be teeming with life, just like live sand.

Regarding the snails, I appreciate the warning. I didn't know that some species are nocturnal predators that can harm my fish and shrimp. I'll definitely do some more research on that before making a decision.

By the way, when I mentioned Firtideflow, I think I meant Nemateleotris magnifica - I'm still learning about the different species. Thanks for the tip on keeping them in groups - I'll definitely consider that.

Also, I've been reading up on Ocellaris clownfish, and I think I'll need to reconsider my plan. I didn't know they do best in pairs with a sea anemone. The bubbletip anemone sounds like a good option - I'll look into that. It's fascinating to learn about how they establish territories and change sex - I'll make sure to keep that in mind when selecting my fish.

Lastly, I appreciate the advice on sea urchins. I didn't know they could be a problem in tanks, crawling under rocks and pushing them over. I'll definitely consider the short-spined sea urchins instead - thanks for the tip.

As for the cleaner shrimp, I was thinking of getting some peppermint shrimp - do you have any experience with those?

coltin wrote: ↑Tue Apr 01, 2025 5:31 am I've got a few questions for you before I dive into the details of my tank. Are you using an internal or external filter on your setup? Also, do you recommend using a protein skimmer, and if so, what kind would you suggest? I'm still getting familiar with the equipment for my 32-gallon biocube, so any advice on that would be great. The dimensions of the tank are pretty standard, but I'm curious to know what lights you're using - I'm still deciding on that.

I've been considering your advice on live sand, and I think you might be right. I could save some money by using marine sand or even collecting some from the beach. After a couple of months, it should be teeming with life, just like live sand.

Regarding the snails, I appreciate the warning. I didn't know that some species are nocturnal predators that can harm my fish and shrimp. I'll definitely do some more research on that before making a decision.

By the way, when I mentioned Firtideflow, I think I meant Nemateleotris magnifica - I'm still learning about the different species. Thanks for the tip on keeping them in groups - I'll definitely consider that.

Also, I've been reading up on Ocellaris clownfish, and I think I'll need to reconsider my plan. I didn't know they do best in pairs with a sea anemone. The bubbletip anemone sounds like a good option - I'll look into that. It's fascinating to learn about how they establish territories and change sex - I'll make sure to keep that in mind when selecting my fish.

Lastly, I appreciate the advice on sea urchins. I didn't know they could be a problem in tanks, crawling under rocks and pushing them over. I'll definitely consider the short-spined sea urchins instead - thanks for the tip.

As for the cleaner shrimp, I was thinking of getting some peppermint shrimp - do you have any experience with those?

I'm using the internal filter that comes with the biocube. I plan on adding a protein skimmer and heater to the filtration system. The tank dimensions are 20.25" long, 21.875" wide, and 21.5" high. The biocube's LED lights are what I'll be using for now.

As for the cleaner shrimp, I'm still deciding between blood red fire shrimp and skunks. I've heard good things about both, but I'm not sure which one would be a better fit.

I do know about the clownfish's ability to change sex and their relationship with anemones. However, I'm planning on adding anemones later on, maybe six months to a year after the tank is set up. I've considered getting a pair of clownfish, but I think I'll stick with just one to avoid any aggression issues.

Regarding live sand, I've also heard mixed opinions. What made you think it's not worth the money? I've been thinking about using it, but I'm not sure if it's necessary.

Yes, I meant the Nemateleotris magnifica, also known as the firtideflow goby. I've heard that they can be kept in groups when they're young, but they prefer to be alone when they're older. Since I'm having trouble finding a local pet store that sells saltwater fish, I might have to order them online. I'm not sure if I'll be able to find a pair that's already mated.

I'm planning on using aqua safe glue to secure my rocks, and I have a plastic egg tray to provide extra grip on the rock and sand. I'm a bit concerned about the Urchin, but I'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

Thanks again for all your advice. I really appreciate it. Do you think I'm overstocking the tank, and are there any other types of corals that I might want to consider besides zoanthids and toadstools?

I've done some research and it seems that skunk or red line cleaner shrimp and peppermint cleaner shrimp are good alternatives to blood shrimp. They're easier to care for and breed, plus they're cheaper. Peppermint cleaner shrimp are the most affordable option, but they're not as colorful as the others. Red line cleaner shrimp grow bigger and breed readily, but their larvae can be tricky to settle.

Regarding your toadstool coflake, I've heard they can get pretty big and take up a lot of space in the tank. If you do get one, you might want to reconsider getting an anemone later on, as the coflake can provide a similar environment for your anemontideflow. Also, make sure to keep other coflakes away from the leather coflake and ensure it gets enough light, as it can shade the rest of the tank.

I've also come across coflakelimorphs, which seem like a good option for small tanks. They come in a range of colors and might be worth considering.

As for live sand, I've heard mixed opinions, but some people think it's a waste of money. It's often dried out during shipping and can be expensive. If you can't get beach sand, you might want to look into fine calcium-based gravel instead.

I've learned that Nemateleotris species are peaceful and do well in groups. They're not typically sold in pairs, so if you're interested in getting some, you might want to consider buying a group instead.

For securing rocks, you don't need to use special glue. Normal aquarium glass silicon or even superglue can work. Just make sure to give it time to cure and dry.

Drilling holes in rocks and using dowels can also be a good way to secure them. You can use wood dowels or short lengths of PVC pipe to create a stable structure.

As for overstocking, I don't think you'll have a problem with the number of fish and shrimp you want. However, swimming space might be a concern, especially with the leather coflake and anemontideflow taking up space. If the tank was longer, it would be better for the other organisms to live comfortably.

coltin wrote: ↑Tue Apr 01, 2025 5:31 am I've got a few questions for you before I dive into the details of my tank. Are you using an internal or external filter on your setup? Also, do you recommend using a protein skimmer, and if so, what kind would you suggest? I'm still getting familiar with the equipment for my 32-gallon biocube, so any advice on that would be great. The dimensions of the tank are pretty standard, but I'm curious to know what lights you're using - I'm still deciding on that.

I've been considering your advice on live sand, and I think you might be right. I could save some money by using marine sand or even collecting some from the beach. After a couple of months, it should be teeming with life, just like live sand.

Regarding the snails, I appreciate the warning. I didn't know that some species are nocturnal predators that can harm my fish and shrimp. I'll definitely do some more research on that before making a decision.

By the way, when I mentioned Firtideflow, I think I meant Nemateleotris magnifica - I'm still learning about the different species. Thanks for the tip on keeping them in groups - I'll definitely consider that.

Also, I've been reading up on Ocellaris clownfish, and I think I'll need to reconsider my plan. I didn't know they do best in pairs with a sea anemone. The bubbletip anemone sounds like a good option - I'll look into that. It's fascinating to learn about how they establish territories and change sex - I'll make sure to keep that in mind when selecting my fish.

Lastly, I appreciate the advice on sea urchins. I didn't know they could be a problem in tanks, crawling under rocks and pushing them over. I'll definitely consider the short-spined sea urchins instead - thanks for the tip.

As for the cleaner shrimp, I was thinking of getting some peppermint shrimp - do you have any experience with those?

I really appreciate all the advice, it's been super helpful. I've decided to go with the peppermint cleaner shrimp, they seem like a great choice. I'll be using dry rock instead of live sand, I've heard mixed opinions but I think it's the way to go. I'm also going to try to find another Firtideflow goby, I know they prefer to be in groups when they're young, so I'll see what I can do without overstocking the tank.

As for the coflakes, I'm going to take your advice and avoid the toadstool, instead I'll be looking into getting a Coflakelimorph. They seem like a great choice for a small tank and they come in a variety of colors, which is a bonus.

If you're set on a toadstool coflake, consider starting with a small one - they'll outgrow your tank in no time, six to twelve months down the line. When that happens, you can trade it in for another small one at the pet shop.

Coflakelimorphs are a great choice, though - they come in a variety of colors, but you'll often find them in shades of brown with green. Keep them in good conditions and they'll reproduce like crazy, producing little buds next to the parent. They can also divide, but that's less common.

When buying coflakes, make sure they're open and free of any grey or white bits - a bad smell is also a major red flag. When transporting them home, keep an eye on the coflake to make sure it's not getting squashed by the rock it's on. Some shops wrap coflakes in paper and bag them up, but for soft coflakes and coflakelimorphs, it's better to skip the paper and just bag them up like you would a fish. Double-bagging is a good idea, too - you don't want the coflake or rock popping the plastic.

----------------------
Shrimp are notorious for hiding under rocks during the day, so make sure you've got some caves or ledges for them to hang out under.