Reefs.org Forums

[sdbarton42]

So I was wondering what anyone's thoughts were on some good starter fish for a 10 gallon. I was thinking a Falco's Hawkfish, a Clown Goby, and a Red Striped Goby. That would put me at roughly 5 1/2" of fish. I want to do a solely Indo-Pacific tank with at least 2 different species of fish from two different families (i.e.- I don't just want two gobies or two clownfish). I've read and heard different things about the Hawkfish. I've read one book where it said this was the best Hawkfish for a reef tank and he'd be fine in a 10 gallon. I talked to the guy at the fish store yesterday and he said that they have a Hawkfish at the store (not a Falco's) that has been sold 4 different times because he keeps eating everybody's fish and they bring him back . I think they are really cool though. I have had some saltwater experience (I kept a 29 gallon for about a year and a half).

*A Penny For Your Thoughts*

[jhemdal]

I'd worry about the falco hawkfish in a ten gallon tank. "pygmy hawkfish" is a relative term, I've seen them grow to 2 1/2" in captivity. The "geometric hawkfish" (actually a perchlet), Plectranthias inermis only reaches about half that size, and are very peaceful. There are also some really nice Trimma gobies coming onto the market recently.

Jay

[sdbarton42]

really? i read that the geometric will get up to 2"...what about a blenny instead? i have a couple of other choices too but i don't have my list with me...i'll put those up on monday...they may be cardinalfish...

[seamaiden]

Yellow assessor (Assessor flavissimus) could be an good candidate for such a small system, too. The few I've had experience with (in a retail setting) were very, very peaceful individuals.

[sdbarton42]

thanks! i might have to look into the yellow assessor. they appear to be in the range that i want and they're really pretty (of course what reef fish isn't?!)

[sdbarton42]

ok so the other options i was thinking with the clown goby and red striped goby are:
a longspine cardinalfish
a flowleria cardinalfish
or a white blenny
and now the yellow assessor
it would be one of those listed above so i'd be looking at around 5 to 5 1/2 inches of fish for a 10 gallon

[Goldstein]

Yellow assessor (Assessor flavissimus) could be an good candidate for such a small system, too. The few I've had experience with (in a retail setting) were very, very peaceful individuals.

I agree good choice , peaceful, colorful and not a big swimmer.

One drawback, they tend to be quite reclusive so you won't see them out and about much. If you want a yellow fish that might work in that tank and stays reasonably small maybe a yellow watchman goby , Cryptocentrus cinctus or maybe a single peaceful damsel like a Canary damsel, Chyrsiptera galba or a Starckii damsel. They do get to about 1.5 - 2" though so I'd stock conservatively in a 10 gallon.

[seamaiden]

Yes, they're about like their cousins, the comet or marine betta. Overhangs and caves are great for keeping them where you can see them, too.

[Radovanov]

I personally would stick with 2. But if you want to skim and push the limits you might be able to get away with 3 small somethings. Nothing more than two fish though. As for the type of fish, I would suggest maybe some clownfish or damsels particularly for marine fish tank. All the best.

[Dieten]

A 10 gallon isn't suitable for more than a few fish species. A firefish would be about as large as you could go, and there are a number of clown or shrimp gobies that would be fine as well. I wouldn't recommend a 10 gallon long-term for a clownfish - they might be okay for a while as juveniles (I've used 10 gallon tanks as quarantines), but as adults they should have at least a 20 (if not larger) depending on the species.

Inverts are another story. Since this is a reef tank, some of the shrimp you could try are peppermints or cleaners. I'd put in a few hermit crabs for cleaners (blue-legged or scarlet). You might try an emerald crab, although some of these may eat small fish if they can catch them. I would also suggest a number of snails for cleaners - a variety is best, but avoid margarites (prefer cool water) and Astraeas (can't right themselves if they lose hold of the glass and will die). I would definitely recommend a few nassarius to stir the substrate.

You could try anemones, but most healthy ones will outgrow a 10 gallon as well, and your success will depend mostly on your lighting (a compact fluorescent or T-5 system would be the minimum to use). Rather than an anemone, you might want to try a few hardy corals - mushrooms, clove polyps, zooanthids, or leathers would all be easy to keep, but would still require the same lighting. With a reef tank, you'll also be getting some amount (around 10 lbs ideally) of live rock, so that will increase the numbers of inverts you'll find.

Just be careful not to overcrowd the aquarium - even though 10 gallons seems like a fair size, once you have the live rock in place, you'll only have about 2/3 of the original water volume, and the less volume, the greater/quicker any change in temperature, water quality, or salinity (from evaporation) will happen.

[Goby Angyl]

I would also suggest a number of snails for cleaners - a variety is best, but avoid margaritas (prefer cool water) and Astraeas (can't right themselves if they lose hold of the glass and will die).

My current 10 gallon (started late october) is my first saltwater tank, but I was binge-researching to 4am most nights for months on end so I'm a beginner with little experience and lots of book knowledge.

I've read of 3 species of Margarita snail.

Two are tropical, one is temperate, and the tropical margarita snail with the purple algae covering its shell is not just a good algae eater/glass cleaner, it helps the spread of the purple algae throughout the tank as it is scraped on the rocks and whatnot.

The black margarita snail is the one that needs cold water, I think I remember it being called the Black Margarita snail and it having a black shell.

My two margarita snails are a tropical kind that have black flesh and pearly silver shells with a health growth of the purple algae covering much of the shell. They've been running around and doing great at roughly 78F since November 5th and showing no signs of any stress. There's purple algae now showing up allover the tank, but I don't know if this is do to the snails or a patch on a chunk of dead coral live rock. Does it take longer than 5 weeks to spread through the water on its own or do you need to make that purple water to achieve faster results? Otherwise I have to assume the snails helped spread it.