Flame didn't make it... Need new fish suggestions.

[monza]

I for say use quarantine for sure!! It does not have to be set up all the time just when you get new live stock and the following 6-8 weeks. Your old 20g or even a 10g would work fine.

Ick is not always in your tank!

Here is a good link to read on QT tanks.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php


For a cool small fish I like purple file fish, maybe some smaller wrasses but I don't know what ones off the top of my head can go in small tanks.

Dave

[OCDP]

Thanks guys. I am going to do the QT , I just need to find a spot to setup a tank.. and that could be quite the challenge in my house.

I'll keep you guys posted,

[Delphinus]

Although I'm a HUGE fan of fairy wrasses and I think they'd do fine in certain smaller setups (I had a pair in a 20g), the problem is if you're going to stay open top, I'd actually recommend against these (and other jumpers). Firefish, jawfish,.. oh the list is large, sadly.

The problem is, they have this defensive strategy of "an incredible big burst of speed" if something startles them (and they tend to startle easily, just entering the room is enough). In a small tank, there's nowhere to go in a situation like that, except for "out." In a small open-top tank, sadly, I think their days will be numbered.

I don't think a 6line has the same tendency though. I've never tried mine in a small tank but he's a much calmer fish than any fairy wrasse I've ever kept.

Hate to rain on the parade like this but it just happens too often, i.e., hearing about fairy wrasses meeting their end as carpet jerky.

[TheReefGeek]

carpet jerky

Yuck!

What about open top with eggrate over it?

I agree with jumping being an issue, I lost have lost anthias and clowns from jumping, now I run eggcrate to keep them in.

[Delphinus]

I imagine eggcrate would work well.

[Old Guy]

I may be wrong about the ammonia and I admit there are variables on stocking levels, but are we not trying to give are creatures optimal conditions instead of "how many can I fit before there are problems". Even in you went 2 inches per gallon the numbers are still there. I'm sorry but I've been in this longer than most of you have been alive. My reference books date back to 1956.

I have a book here from Robert P.L. Straughan called the salt water aquarium in the home which states" The author has successfully kept in one fifty gallon aquarium the following: 2 4 inch cubbyu, 2 2inch parrot fish, 1 4 inch Spanish hogfish, 3 2 inch unicorn blennies, 1 3 inch cardinal fish, 1 1.5 inch orange demoiselle, 6 1.5 inch to 2.5 inch porkfish, 1 1.5 inch glass goby, 1 3 inch coral shrimp, 1 3 inch lima scallop, six 1.5 inch neon gobies, 1 2inch pistol shrimp, 8 1.5 inch beau gregories, 1 1inch hermit crab, 1 1 inch sharp nosed puffer, 1 1 inch convict goby, 10 1 to 3 inch black angel fish, 3 3inch four eyed butterfly-fish, 5 1.5 to 4 inch queen angelfish for a total of 55 fish. Although the aquarium was extremely crowed, there was no serious fighting and the fish were not breathing heavily. the aquarium could easily have withstood another dozen or more fish. A larger aquarium, three square feet by twelve inches contained nearly a hundred fish with no ill effects, and for certain small specimens such as the dwarf sea horses or neon gobies it is entirely feasible to keep as many as a thousand in a single 50 gal."

We all now know that this was probably bs right, but this was the info I had. I'm not trying to be " the #^&hole" here and I sure wish I had the info that is available now but I flinched when I read "maybe a small Yellow tang " and thought I had to say something. I'm sorry if I offend anyone but If we don't learn from others how many more will parish.

[Xtasia]

Don't apologise old guy...

Seems everyone is an 'expert'. With every bit of information given, it is up to the educated and informed reader to decipher which is appliable and valid.