Fish Recommendations for S/W Newbie - 35gal tank.

Hey guys. First post here on fishlore. Love the site - very informative.
I have a 35gal hex tank that I just started to cycle - started it with live sand and I'm going to purchase liverock this upcoming weekend for it.
After I let it cycle for about 2 weeks or so, I'm going to look into getting some fish and inverts for the tank.
I know I'm limited in what I can get due to the small size of the tank - that's a given. I figure at max 3-4 fish.
I just want some suggestions on some fish that are easy to keep.

2 Definates for the tank will be a False Percula Clownfish and a Royal Gramma Basslet.
I was looking at Damsels and I keep reading that they can be aggressive as they get older. So I'm hesistant to add one of them to my 'list' right now.

What other fish/inverts do you suggest for the tank?

Thanks guys/gals. x

UPDATE! - Tank is cycled now and currently has 1 Ocellaris Clownfish and 9 Blue leg Hermit crabs in it.
Any suggestions for additional livestock is greatly appreciated!!!

 

Welcome Nirv! and check out these suggestions:

 

cromis would be a good cheep small starter fish.

 

Ooh! I like chromis. I want to get a shoal of green ones!

 

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions guys - I've been checking liveaquaria a bit but just figured I'd get better indepth info from you experienced guys on here. It seems like liveaquaria is very easy-going in its compatibility chart whereas other sites online seem to say that the fish are not quite as peaceful as liveaquaria says.
Just want to be extra sure that my future fish will get along - don't need to have any expensive fish dying off from fights with other tankmates.

One question about the chromis - will just 1 chromis act shy and hide alot? Because I really don't think I have the space for 2-3 of them in addition to my future clown and basslet.
I don't want to get the fish if its just going to be reclusive alone and not live a good life in the tank.

 

Oh I love the Green Chromis they are great fish. I would suggest them.

 

just figured I'd get better indepth info from you experienced guys on here.

OK... I'll stop then lol

As for the chromis, I'm not sure. I have read that it does much better in small shoals.

 

Haha na its cool. I appreciate all info. Like I said, I'm a major s/w n00b so anything is appreciated.
Had south american cichlid tanks before but I wanted something new and more.... colorful lol.

Ya that's what I read too. Any other suggestions for a fish that doesn't need to be in a small school?

 

How about firefish? Small, 10G requirement, colorful!

 

Heard they are prone to jumping from the tank - I have a small opening in the hood where my heater is (probably 1"x1"). Think it would try to jump through that?
I guess I could always just try to cover that up with something.

 

I think the cover up is always a good Idea. ;D

 

Alright- time to rig something up. I'm sure I can come up with something - I mean I am going to school for engineering. ;D

I think I'll go with the clown first after the tank is all said and cycled and then go from there.
Thanks for the help bhcaaron.

 

Engineering? Cough(showoff)cough! lol

You're welcome... btw... its just Aaron.

 

Yea. aka Professional Nerd. Haha

 

Hmmmm Nirv the Nerd? U can't be too prep if you like Nirvana (or are we talking India?)

 

Na Nirvana the band.
Username is a product of my two fav bands - Nirvana and Tool. Easy combo right?

I'm a big rock fan but I'm a nerd at heart - you have to be to be an engineer.... haha

 

lol... I actually think I get that lol. I don't know Tool though.

 

Tool are Maynard James Keenan's band - alittle more industrial style and not as mainstream as Nirvana.
Really good band though.

 

I'll have to YouTube it.

 

Check out this one - song from their latest cd.

How about Neon Gobies for my tank? How are they as a possible 4th fish for the tank?

 

That is FREAKIN' AWESOME!

 

And another Tool fan is recruited haha.
Check out their new cd 10,000 Days. Great cd.

 

**** that is hectic definantly gonna have to consider buying that cd...

Thanks Aaron!

 

Their older cd's are alittle heavier and better IMO but that new one is definitely a great one.
If you like the new one, check out some old ones - Aenima and Undertow.

 

**** that is hectic definitely gonna have to consider buying that cd...

Thanks Aaron!

Ummm, your welcome? However I think you meant to thank NirvanaandTool lol.

NirvanaandTool, double on the thanks. I know this is way off the rock path, but, I just bought the new Michael Bubble's CD. It was playing at Hastings when I walked in to I asked who that was. Now I'm listening to it and am Loving it! (I don't think I need to clarify now, but, did I mention my taste in music is WAY eclectic? lol)

 

never heard of him. what kind of music is it?
its all good - my music taste ranges like crazy too - heavy stuff one minute to old rock the next then to new stuff, etc etc.

I love off-topic my thread went - fish? what are fish? lol

oh name's ralph btw - easier than typing nirvanaandtool all the time lol

 

LoL, yes it is. And I'll be nice and no jokes either RALPH! lol. As for the type of music is on the jazzier side. One of the songs is one that Frank Sinatra used to sing.

 

Gotcha. I'll have to check it out.

Update- got my liverock for the tank - 20lbs worth. I probably should have another 10 lbs in there but since I have a hex tank, I'm kinda limited on where I can put them.
Now to see what kind of hitchhikers I got with it.....

 

Ugh! Isn't there a way to limit hitchhickers? Like to NONE! I don't want something I didn't order! Aren't there any tank aquacultured live rocks?

 

With the exception of bristle worms and mantis shrimp, usually live rock hitchhikers are good. AND its like a box of chocolates...never know what you're gonna get!

 

OK Forrest. Still, I like to know what I'm getting. I don't care to get a hitching brittle that will turn assassin on my fish or a crabby crab that will go demolisher on my corals or Aiptasia or sponges that will not be placed where I want them or worms that decide to play stretch in my tank when they weren't even invited or... or... or

 

LOL...gonna have to get used to not having total control. You're setting up an ecosystem that will be filled with life. Life don't always do what you want it to!

 

Yeah... I have control issues. HOWEVER... I don't expect to control the system. I just expect to control what's put in it. Possible?

 

In my opinion...to an extent, but not 100%. Hitchhiking happens!

 

Do you know of any tank cultured rocks?

 

I am sure they are out there, but I have no personal knowledge of specific sources, no.

Depending on your defintion of live rock...If all you want is rock that fulfills a biological filtration role, then just dump some plain old rock into a tank and cycle it. Bacteria will colonize the rock and there you go. If you want oceanic life on your rock, it could still be cultured by placing the rock into an established tank and waiting for a period of several months for it to acquire the additional organisms in question (corraline, etc). However, unless you do this yourself, you are back to my original point...you can never be 100% sure of everything that decided to take up residence on that rock before you took possession of it.

For the sake of arguement though, let's say that you find someplace to buy cultured rock that gives you a guarantee of everything that is (and isn't) on the rock. Do you ever plan to add corals to your tank? Many of them come on small pieces of live rock. Lots of hitchhiker potential. From one piece about 3" by 4" that my starburst polyps came on, I picked up halimeda algae, a couple of feather dusters, and 2 other things I still haven't figured out what they are.

That is why I say, in my opinion, you can control what is going into your tank to an extent. But not 100%.

 

I didn't mean 100%. I figured that algae would probably be impossible to control, if you're getting actual oceanic live rock. I just hoped to find some control over fishes, shrimp, crabs, sponges, worms, stars, etc. Do all aqua cultured rocks still come from the ocean? Some control would be nice, more would be better.

Also, I intend to use the Berlin + Jaubert Methods. Since there is no artificial filtration, other than skimming, there is no cycling period in which bacteria need to culture media. However, I do intend to let the tank mature for three months before I introduce fishes or corals. I will probably introduce cleaning crew and algae before that. Do you think this will give me enough time to find and get rid of hitch hikers?

 

A lot of "cultured" rock does still come from the ocean. For example, DFS has a cultured rock that they deliberately place in the ocean to culture, but they do it outside of the reef area. There may well be places offering a tank cultured rock, but I am not aware of who/where.

 

So far I really haven't noticed any hitchhikers but its only been a few days ...
The rock has a decent amount of algae on it and little black hair like pieces that extend out from the rocks. Guessing that's just another type of algae?
Found some small baby clams on the rock as well but haven't seen much else. Still need to siphon some of the debris that fell off during the setup out of the tank - but need a longer siphon to reach my bucket - hex tank is too tall haha.

 

I keep finding such dissapointing information :'(. Couldn't I just find fairy dust or blink my eyes to make it all just right... right now!?