starting a 6G FOWLR nano cube, have a few questions.

[fishcatch22]

hey, all. I will be starting a small FOWLR SW nano cube setup next month, a 6G. I wanted to get a 12G for obvious reasons, but mom said a 6g would be all I have room for in my room after I move the birds in there. I want to get 1 clown goby or two-spot bimaculatus blenny, and 2 cerith or 3 bumblebee snails (ceriths if I get the goby, BBs if I get the blenny.)
my questions are: I know that maintaining a SW tank this small is going to be tough. some say that it's impossible to maintain a healty system this small, some say as long as I keep on top of water quality it'll be fine. beleive me, i'd love nothing more than to do a large SW tank, but unfortunately by budget and and space won't let me. I will probably upgrade sometime in the future. so... what are your thoughts? is it really too small to be realistic, even for these minute animals? I am willing to put tons of time and effort into maintaining it. and my next question is, how about stocking fish? which one should I get, or neither? I chose either the goby or the blenny because their adult size is only about 1 1/2 inches long. can you think of a more sutible fish for a system this small? I know full well the commitment of a tank this small, and I am ready. I just want the opinion of any SW experts here.

 

[Max]

I'd get the goby as they are a little less active than the blennies are. If you stay right on top of your water params you can do this you might also consider adding a shrimp and maybe a red reef hermit etc. The inverts don't add a lot of bio load. "STEP AWAY FROM THE B.B. snail in this sort of set up everyone has to earn their keep and they won't get an astera etc and some nas for your sand.
hth
max
p.s.
Is this the tough av f.c.

 

[fishcatch22]

well okay.. you're the expert. SIGH... chances aren't good that i'd be able to find a bimac blenny anyway... if I get inverts in there, their job would be pretty much to help out the tank, the goby is the only thing i'd put in there for show. do you think I could add a emerald crab or a scarlet reef hermit instead of the ceriths? I want a good all-around algae/detritus eater.

why yes, i thought it would be the most befitting outfit for my little fish avvie here, as this is a monster fish forum.

 

[Max]

You could probably add all the above as far as bio load goes inverts just don't have nearly as much as fish. The problem will be room I think that the emerald will get too big.

 

[fishcatch22]

You could probably add all the above as far as bio load goes inverts just don't have nearly as much as fish. The problem will be room I think that the emerald will get too big.

I thought as much... would a scarlet hermit take care of detritus and algae? what would be the most ideal cleaner stocking IYO? I thought the BB snails would be okay because it is a FOWLR tank. the guy at my LFS (who is an experienced and honest marine aquarist) said he never had trouble with them.

 

[Max]

I've had them eat zoo's etc. they are pretty good deposit feeders and have wicked looking mouths. IMO variety is the spice of life in a mini reef just stay away from turbo's they get really big and anything else that will over grow.

 

[fishcatch22]

yeah.... I was thinking 2-3 cerith snails would take care of my needs. yeah... no turbos, I know that. could you compose a good list of inverts for me, or would 2-3 ceriths take care of my cleaner needs?

 

[fishcatch22]

does anyone else have any comments?

 

[AquataHolic420]

thats awesome you live in alaska, u can have 24 plants of pot being grown there without any penalties ive heard!!! awesome! and also i'd get a coral croucer or 2.. you wont see me alot, but they will thrive in a small tank!

 

[fishcatch22]

thats awesome you live in alaska, u can have 24 plants of pot being grown there without any penalties ive heard!!! awesome! and also i'd get a coral croucer or 2.. you wont see me alot, but they will thrive in a small tank!

I would rather be buttraped for 6 hours by a surly prison guard than to ever sink so low as to even touch that mind degrading stuff, and the law is that you can legally have less than 1 ounce of marijuana, but you cannot buy it, smoke it, or in any other way do anything with it, so the law is completely pointless. what is a "coral croucer"?