[megahaus]

I was wondering, me being new to saltwater and all... what would be some good fish to eventually have in my 29 gallon reef? I am more into the smaller fish, so I can have more. I could also use some more advice with my previous thread in a different topic. But do I count beneficial fish like gobies in my fish count? All help is appreciated.
thanks,
andrew

[anmacara103]

I have a damsel fish that is blue with a yellow belly and tail. I believe that it is a Yellow-Bellied Blue Damsel, but it may also be a Neon Damselfish. It is thriving in our 29gal, but it seems prety territorial. They are supposed to be very hardy, and help with cycling the tank.

[Fishhead Junkie]

hi andrew, i have a 29gallon bio-cube. as of today, not counting all the corals that i can even keep track of anymore i have....

1 maroon clown
1 firefish
2 pajama cardinals
1 green chromis
1 starry blenny
1 orange spotted shrimp goby
1 scarlet hawkfish
1 flame angel
1 bi-color blenny
1 yellow clown goby

i think thats all for the fish...the green chromis and orange shrimp goby have been around the longest, at least 6 months. i love my clown interacting with his 2 anenomes. the firefish is cool but you have to make sure it doesnt jump outta the tank. the scarlet hawkfish has alot of personality--he just sits there and watches everything, one eye looking this way while the other eye looks that way. flame angels are just awesome looking-a must for any aquarium.

i also have...

2 flame scallops
1 black brittle star
1 other type of starfish but i cant remember what its called..brown and black
1 starfish..he was cheap cuz he only had 3 legs but after a few months he grew them all back. he's small but fun to watch..he's slighty greenish/blueish
the usual clean up crew, turbo snails, margarita snails, hermit crabs, nassirius snails, emerald crabs
1 peppermint shrimp
1 cleaner shrimp...a must for a tank. he cleans the fish and just sorta stays around the long tentacle anenome hanging around.

i just got a new camera so i will take a pic, you'll have to tell me what you think of all the corals.

steve

[alwmalon4]

Fishead Junkie... do you not have any problems with your flame angel picking at your coral? I really want one for my reef. I have mostly SPS: do you think I would be ok or is it one of those hit or miss things?

[lynnvangsnes]

Remember Andrew, it's not how many fish you can get into your tank...it's can you build a tiny ecosystem where all your creatures can live peaceful, happy, and healthy lives. The inch of fish per gallon does not apply to marine tanks.
I would really like to see some pics of your tank Steven. It sounds like you have a lot of fish in there.

Clownfish are always popluar...no more than one unless they are paired. Clowns will be much happier with an anenome. Damsels...sigh...I do not put damsels in my tank. They are very territorial. Yes, they are hardy, and they are fearless. The options are virtually unlimited for you at this point. Do some research...look at some tank pics, and see what's out there.

[Fishhead Junkie]

this is my 2nd flame angel. the 1st one was very small and i think i added it too early to my tank but while it was alive i never saw it do any type of damage to any corals. my current flame angel is a decent size for my 29gallon and it just swims around in and out of the live rock looking for something to nibble on. i have never seen it do any damage to anything...just keeps picking at the live rock. as far as i have been told they are very reef safe. i guess there is always a possibility that you will buy a mentally challenged fish that could use a good dose of prozac. a pygmy angel would also be a good idea. like my 1st flame angel..i got one too early in my tanks life and it didnt make it. knock on wood so far all my fish seem to be doing great and loving the tank....as long as i do my 5 gallon water change every week and dont over feed them.

steve

[Fishhead Junkie]

i probably have alot more fish in my tank than is recommended lynn. its just so hard to stop at like 3-4 fish as many people have said. although, everyone has a different opinion on the subject matter. i feel like i have a good variety of peaceful fish and some semi-aggressive fish that can live with each other. oh yeah..i almost forget..i also have a bumblebee chromis. he is pretty cool, slightly aggressive but he doesnt go CHARLIE MANSON on any of the other fish but he does like his space. the clown fish usually puts him in his place.

steve

[Lowej82]

u sure that yellow belly damsel aint a fiji devil damsel? Thats what igot and its blue up top, yellow on bottom and tail.

[Lowej82]

I think as long as there is plenty of hiding spaces and so on for each fish, and your filtration what ever it may be can keep up then ur good to go. once you get to the point of crowding and puting to much of a strain on your bio filter that it cant keep up. Thats when bad stuff will happen

[Fishhead Junkie]

well, i think arent all chromis really part of the damsel family?? i am sure though that it isnt a 100% true damsel. its really different looking. when i got him, he was completely yellow with just 1 or 2 black stripes running down the length of his body. over the months, he has gotten bigger and darker so you can still tell he is sorta yellow but he looks like he rubbed his body down with a charcoal bricket. all you guys/gals come back to this posting this weekend..i promise to put some pics of my tank up. i just need to get some more snails and clean off my glass. my current snails just arent cutting it. catch ya later

steve

[lynnvangsnes]

Originally Posted by Fishhead Junkie

i probably have alot more fish in my tank than is recommended lynn. its just so hard to stop at like 3-4 fish as many people have said. although, everyone has a different opinion on the subject matter. i feel like i have a good variety of peaceful fish and some semi-aggressive fish that can live with each other. oh yeah..i almost forget..i also have a bumblebee chromis. he is pretty cool, slightly aggressive but he doesnt go CHARLIE MANSON on any of the other fish but he does like his space. the clown fish usually puts him in his place.

steve

You're right Steven. There is nothing etched in stone...just guidelines. You're also right about the angel. Many folks are very wary of angels with corals. I'll even go one step further. If one could have identical tanks, identical set ups and identical species in each, they would still be different. Fish have personalities too, and sometime angels are just plain hungry for coral flesh! I will be looking for your pics. It sounds nice.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Yellow tail damsels are just that,damsels with yellow tails and that it.My sweety is the worlds leading authority on damsels lol.And I am still in search of a large fish who's primary food source is damsels lol.I do believe they are scourge on aquariums.I made my sweety sign a contract to not put them in her new 65 before I even start putting it together.

[Fishhead Junkie]

i finally got around to taking pics of my tank with our new camera, here are a couple of pics

steve

[anmacara103]

Just wanted to let you know that I had to take my damsel back, because he would not accept my clown and was being very territorial. It appears to be a hit and miss thing with these fish, some don't mind others in the aquarium, and others do. The clown is happy now though. You can also apparently get more than one clown if they are not paired as long as they are juveniles, because they normally will pair (according to some reading and agreed by the lfs).

[megahaus]

Wow Steve. It really looks great! Keep the pictures coming.

[Fishhead Junkie]

just picked up a long nosed hawkfish and a pygmy angel today...along with a couple pieces of coral. oh how i love my tank.

steve

[lynnvangsnes]

Steven, it looks GREAT! thanks for the pics!

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Yellow tail damsels are just that,damsels with yellow tails and that it.My sweety is the worlds leading authority on damsels lol.And I am still in search of a large fish who's primary food source is damsels lol.I do believe they are scourge on aquariums.I made my sweety sign a contract to not put them in her new 65 before I even start putting it together.

Damsel Hater! LOL Please forward all damsels to me I have a tank setup up for Orphaned Damsels!

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by Fishhead Junkie

just picked up a long nosed hawkfish and a pygmy angel today...along with a couple pieces of coral. oh how i love my tank.

steve

WOOOO Slow down there nothing good happens in a reef quick! Your tank looks great sooner or later you are going to reach the limit and trust me you will lose livestock. No more cube roulette Please, I am worried for you just like Lynn is!