small capacity containers

[foxrun]

I'm nearly ready to stock my marine tank and I'm wondering how many fish I can keep in a 25G nano reef. I've got about 22kg of live rock, plus a HOB regugium with LR rubble for extra biological filtration.

Would 4 or 5 fish be okay? I've got a list of the ones I like:

- Clownfish (gotta have a Nemo, maybe two) - should I go for a false perc or a true perc?
- Emperor/Banghai Cardinal
- Yellowtail blue damsel
- Neon Goby
- Pajama Wrasse

I think these are all suitable for a beginner and a nano reef, right? I'd prefer fish that aren't too greedy, so I can still have some microfauna in the tank if possible.

Can anyone help me out?

[zenoxa]

For smaller tanks like yours, I find a general rule of two to three small fish per ten gallons works well as a maximum. However, given your tank's setup with a refugium, I think you could easily accommodate five or six fish without issues.

As for the clownfish, I personally prefer perculas over ocellaris clowns. While ocellaris are fine, they seem a bit too common and unremarkable to me. Perculas, on the other hand, are quite interesting, and I think they make a great choice. Clark's anemones, in particular, have a unique behavior when it comes to finding a host. They've been known to host various corals, tubeworms, powerheads, and even a watchman goby, which I find fascinating.

Regarding your other fish choices, they seem suitable for a nano reef. However, I do think the neon goby and Pajama Wrasse might limit the growth of microfauna in your tank, so that's worth considering.

[foxrun]

Thanks for the advice zenoxa. I'm planning to add one fish per month to give the biological filtration a chance to adjust without stressing the tank.

Regarding the clownfish, I was wondering if it's better to keep them alone or in a pair?

[zenoxa]

Both options work, though I've always thought pairs were the way to go. That being said, introducing a new clown to a tank with an established one can be a bit tricky, so it's worth keeping an eye on things.

[rusticore]

Just a heads up, make sure you source an aquacultured Bangaii Cardinal - they're on the endangered list now and I'm pretty sure they're also protected from wild collection.

[foxrun]

I originally wanted a pair of clownfish and I'm planning on introducing them together when they're young and small, hopefully they'll pair off as they mature. To make room for the pair, I'm thinking of dropping one of the other fish from my list - any suggestions on which one to let go of?

I forgot to mention earlier that my tank is open top with an overhead light, no lid or cover glass. I'm guessing this will limit my fish choices since I don't want any jumpers. Are any of the fish on my list known for their acrobatic skills? That might help narrow down my options.

Thanks for the heads up on the Banghai Cardinal, I had no idea they were endangered - every shop I've been to seems to have them in stock. I'll make sure to ask for an aquacultured one when I purchase.

[rusticore]

My bad on the terminology - tank-bred or tank-raised is what I meant, not aquacultured, that's more of a coral term. Yeah, Banghai Cardinals became endangered due to overcollection.

If you're concerned about fish jumping out of your open-top tank, you might want to look into egg-crate - it's a great solution as it allows light in while keeping your fish safe.

[foxrun]

Thanks for the heads up on the eggcrate, I'll definitely look into it. Until I get some or another form of cover glass, I was wondering which of the fish I've listed would be less likely to jump out. I've heard some species are notorious for their carpet surfing abilities, so it'd be great to know which ones to avoid for now.

[zenoxa]

I think I used the wrong term, aquacultured actually applies to corals, not fish.

[foxrun]

I've got an open top tank with no lid and I'm worried about jumpers. Can anyone advise on which fish from my list would be safe to keep in this setup, I really don't want any accidents to happen to my livestock.