Brent’s Red Sea Desktop Cube (1 Viewer)

[Bschowa]

hair algae, get a few hermit crabs, and put them in a cage with the frag for a few days.
to keep nutrients in check and get something that will eat them for long term.

Any suggestions for a fish that will eat it that can live in a 20 gallon tank? I do have a saltwater Molly in quarantine right now but I don’t have high hopes for that as it hasn’t touched anything other than pellets so far


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[clownnut]

since you got a small tank. The Zebrasoma family most likely is the only pick.

 

[Bschowa]

since you got a small tank. The Zebrasoma family most likely is the only pick.

I think most tangs would quickly out grow my tank size unfortunately even with how small the captive bred ones seem when coming into the fish stores

Am I pretty much stuck to zeroing out my nutrients or hermit crabs? Or should I potentially look into some sort of hang on nutrient export method


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[BlindSwordsman]

I don't usually keep crabs, but for smaller tanks, I would keep snails, urchins, and maybe a lawn mower blenny. The urchins would do a better job than the blenny sometimes. Dwarf angelfish and such pick on the rocks, too, and I think they can also help with the algae as well.

 

[clownnut]

you will be surprised if you control the feeding how long a zebrasoma tang can stay in a 20.

 

[Bschowa]

I don't usually keep crabs, but for smaller tanks, I would keep snails, urchins, and maybe a lawn mower blenny. The urchins would do a better job than the blenny sometimes. Dwarf angelfish and such pick on the rocks, too, and I think they can also help with the algae as well.

I do have an urchin in there now but all he seems to eat is coralline algae off the rocks and glass

Lawn mower blenny is on my list but a last resort as my son really wants a sand sifting goby, I haven’t thought of an angelfish but I will put some research into that as well, thank you!


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[Bschowa]

you will be surprised if you control the feeding how long a zebrasoma tang can stay in a 20.

I will have to dig into this! I love the idea of a yellow tang but never thought that was an option until I upgraded to a larger 4’ tank


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[Varig]

I agree with the tang option, so long as you can rehome him when it’s best for the animal. That being said, what’s the issue with the blenny and the sand sifting goby? I have a starry blenny (similar to lawn mower) and a yellow watchman goby. They are totally fine.

That being said, I really only noticed my blenny eating film algae off the glass. That is until I got a bristle tooth tang. It’s like the tang taught him he could bite at rocks, but then now the tang sees him as competition, so the tang chases the blenny if he bites at rocks.

 

[Bschowa]

I agree with the tang option, so long as you can rehome him when it’s best for the animal. That being said, what’s the issue with the blenny and the sand sifting goby? I have a starry blenny (similar to lawn mower) and a yellow watchman goby. They are totally fine.

That being said, I really only noticed my blenny eating film algae off the glass. That is until I got a bristle tooth tang. It’s like the tang taught him he could bite at rocks, but then now the tang sees him as competition, so the tang chases the blenny if he bites at rocks.

Is it possible now that they are coming in so small? You have time to keep them in smaller tanks before needing to upgrade? I remember the days where if someone had one in a tank less than 4’ long it was frowned upon.

My concern with the blenny and goby is mainly again just tank size and lack of nutrient export, more fish = more food and waste/ possible aggression due to limited space.


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[Varig]

Sure got it. Makes sense to stay ahead of fish load.

Re: tangs. I’m not an expert. I just know that they’re quite small when you get them. Mine is maybe 50% bigger in the first 6-8 months, which still isn’t crazy big. I think that’s just why folks feel you could probably get by for awhile.

And again, you do have to be clear with your family that it won’t be a permanent pet. I know people have issues with that as well. You wouldn’t buy a dog knowing you have to get rid of it in 2-3 years. So you have to come to your own moral decision on that

 

[Bschowa]

Sure got it. Makes sense to stay ahead of fish load.

Re: tangs. I’m not an expert. I just know that they’re quite small when you get them. Mine is maybe 50% bigger in the first 6-8 months, which still isn’t crazy big. I think that’s just why folks feel you could probably get by for awhile.

And again, you do have to be clear with your family that it won’t be a permanent pet. I know people have issues with that as well. You wouldn’t buy a dog knowing you have to get rid of it in 2-3 years. So you have to come to your own moral decision on that

Thanks, an upgrade is already in the works so re homing wouldn’t be an issue, a yellow, Kole and convict tang were staples in my 160 and those are probably the fish I miss the most so perhaps I can find a small captive bred that I can put in for 6 months or so until I upgrade


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[Varig]

Yea given how much mine had grown in 6months, I’d say absolutely no problem with a small captive bred.

 

[Jjdurrant]

I got a young blue hippo shortly after I got my RedSea 250.. was told he would be fine 2-3 years. He outgrew my tank in four months. lol

 

[Bschowa]

I got a young blue hippo shortly after I got my RedSea 250.. was told he would be fine 2-3 years. He outgrew my tank in four months. lol

I have had one of those in the past as well, they are fast growers but also are one of the larger adult tangs, I think they can get up to 12” long

Most of the tangs I am thinking of adult size is around 7” and they are starting about the size of a half dollar piece


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[Bschowa]

Took some pictures of the tank today, it’s kind of been on auto pilot the last couple months as I work( very slowly) on the upgraded tank build.

Planning on grabbing a few things at the swap but otherwise just going to hang out and admire all of the awesome stuff until I have more real estate available.

 

[Bschowa]

Did some editing on the blue pictures

 

[spsick]

Tank is looking great!!