Help selecting my first marine fish...

G

gaberosenfield

I have a 20 gallon tank with a 5 gallon sump. It's been up and running for a little over a month and is currently stocked with 2 hermits, 5 astrea snails, 1 scarlet skunk shrimp, some zoanthids, LPS, and one SPS frag. I plan on getting a few more shrimp (blood red fire and sexy) and as many more corals as I desire/can afford. What are peoples' opinions on keeping a 6 line wrasse and a yellow tail damsel in this tank? Would they be too aggressive towards each other? Thanks in advance for the advice!
 
So the consensus is: NO to both. So in everyone's experience, are 6 line's less aggressive than yellow tail damsels? I'm asking because coralreefer specifically commented on the damsel, but not on the wrasse. Could I have a 6 line and another small non-aggressive fish? or would the other fish be picked on too much?
 
I LOVE my 6 line wrasse, but he is kind of a bully to my gobie and even my hermit crabs. I'm such a newbie though so I don't know how much my opinion is worth. Some more experienced hobbyists have told me that a 6 line wrasse should be the last fish you add to your aquarium but then my LFS told me there are certain techniques you can do to add more fish.
 
Six line wrasse are aggressive for such a small wrasse. However I have had pretty good luck with mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
hmm...Well, it seems that everyone agrees that a 6 line OR damsel in a 20 gallon could be the ONLY fish in the tank, or I should choose something else if I want more than one fish. Thanks everyone!
 
Clownfish make great starter fish IMO. said:
+1 Hardy, beautiful, peaceful, tank raised, and breedable.

I'd definitely advise against any damsel unless it's going to be the only fish you have. They are just plain mean.
Click to expand...
 
On a 20 gal I might try to get Clown, small goby, firefish or Orange Lined Cardinalfish.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
 
Personally, I don't think the Six Line is a bad idea. If it were me I'd go with the Six Line and a pair of clowns. There are people that can't stand clowns because they're so popular, but I love them. I have a pair of True Perculas and they are awesome. They have personality, color, and they're breedable. I don't think you can go wrong with clowns. I don't think there would be a problem with the six line with the two clowns, however you might want to try looking at a goby. I have a diamond goby in my 55 and he is the funniest thing to watch when he's trying to clear out sand to make his caves. There are so many choices it can get overwhelming. If I were you though, I'd get a pair of clowns and some sort of goby.
 
The Cardinals are cool fish too. BTW, also breedable, especially if you get Banggai's. Another thing is, if you're tired of seeing the regular old orange clowns, maybe try Clarkis. ORA has a variation of the Clarki that is absolutely amazing.
 
I would avoid the six line...I think a 20 gallon is too small for that wrasse.
It will also limit what fish you can have in the future due to their dominant nature.
Pick up some firefish....super peaceful.
I'd go with a pair of purple firefish and a single black clown.
In a tank that small, you'll want smaller, peaceful reef fish.
Keep us posted on what you decide, or what ideas you have.
 
That's a sweet move, make sure you have a mesh/plastic screen on top because the firefish may jump out if left open.
 
ORA has a cool variation of the Clarki that not many people have. It's a Spotcinctus I believe. You might take a look at that.
 
My display has a glass cover, but thanks for the concern! The spotcinctus is beautiful for sure, but at ~$80 or more, I'll stick with a cheaper clownfish variety. I'll post pics when I actually get these fish; I'm still deciding on what clown variety to get.
 
So, I bought an active little firefish from Neptunes cove for $14 after tax (great price :)). I acclimated him slowly and he seemed quite happy.
[attachment=0]The Late Bartholomew.jpg[/attachment]
The next day, he was very active and happily ate bits of frozen shrimp and a swarm of live brine shrimp.
Then, today, he wouldn't come out of a little cave in the rocks that he liked. When he finally emerged, he was gasping and unable to right himself or swim properly. I knew he was doomed, and he died a few hours later.
I immediately tested all my tank parameters (except salinity which I will test tomorrow with my lab's refractometer):
Calcium = 420 ppm
KH = 11 dkh
pH = 8.1
NH3/NH4+ > 0.25 ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = ~0 ppm
Phosphate = ~0 ppm
Temp = 77.6-78 F
Normally my ammonia is at 0, so that's kind of strange. My snails, hermits, and cleaner shrimp are all active and seem well. My duncan coral has been closed for the last several days, I can't figure out why, but it seems from my internet searches that duncans do this from time to time, and I it doesn't seem to be dying or losing any tissue or color, so IDK. Today my candy cane was also somewhat closed, but its feeder tentacles have emerged this evening, so I think it will be OK. My zoas, palys, and frogspawn are all fine and my one piece of unidentified encrusting SPS is doing as well as it ever has in my tank...
Can anyone suggest some way in which my firefish's death might be my fault? I just don't want this to happen again. Thanks
 
i used to turn the tank lights off before putting the fish inside the tank then wait for like an hour (after doing the drip process that is) sometimes they get stressed just by going into a different tank. my 2 cent

Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top