Stocking a 12G Nano Cube

NC Frank

Hello all,

I just acquired a 12 gallon nano cube that is established. It came with 10 pounds of live rock, live sand, some purple mushrooms, some green and red striped mushrooms, toadstool and polyps. It currently has a couple of snails, what looks like a red legged hermit crab and 2 fish: A red firefish and a royal gramma.

Do I have room for a pair of clowns and/or a clown and a diamond goby? Or is the tank pretty much stocked with the two fish already in there?

I have tons of experience with freshwater but this is my first saltwater tank.

Thanks all.

NC Frank

Anybody?

NC Frank

OK... so I guess a diamond goby is out from what I have been reading. Any suggestions for a sand cleaning fish that would be suitable for this size nano that would be somewhat similar to the diamond.

wake49

It's pretty much stocked to the limit.

NC Frank

So I would have to lose the royal gramma in order to add a clown?

I couldn't get away with a small goby while keeping the gramma and firefish?

wake49

Yeah, I would say so. And I would go with one False Perc (Nemo), and find a small adult fish. I would bring the Gramma to your LFS and ask him if he'll trade for a False Perc...

NC Frank

I know he would. I am one of his best Discus customers. ;) I have a friend who has a firefish and a pair of false perc clowns in a 29 that may want the Gramma. If he doesn't off to the LFS with the gramma.

HotPleco

Is this your first Saltwater Nano?

A small goby would do fine. But Nano's require more upkeep then larger saltwater aquariums. So stocking lightly is better you see. IMO, choose what you think would be best, to get rid of the other two and add the pair of clowns and goby and one more small fish would be fine. But that be about it, keep it to smaller fish.

NC Frank

What I wanted to do was 1 clown, 1 cleaner type goby, and keep the the firefish and the royal gramma. Now I am trying to figure out the best combo.

I don't mind upkeep... I do weekly water changes and water testing on my larger freshwater tanks. I find tank maintenance very relaxing.

wake49

I think that this would be way too much for a 12 gallon. This is a nano-cube, so some of those 12 gallons are already taken up with the cavity in the back for the filtration. I'd say more like a pair of clowns OR a goby and one small fish. You already have some polyps, crabs and snails in there; this is a good bioload for a twelve gallon tank...