New tank capacity and invertebrates

[Gary]

Do invertebrates such as the Stenopus hispidus count towards the total
number of fish when stocking a new marine fish tank? For example if based
on tank capacity you can stock 20" of fish, would that need to be reduced if
adding the Stenopus Hispidus.

--
Regards,

Gary.

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Visit Tigger's site and read his story.
Browse photos of all our cats - Tigger, Tootsie and Tango.
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[Billy]

"Gary" > wrote in message
k...
| Do invertebrates such as the Stenopus hispidus count towards the
total
| number of fish when stocking a new marine fish tank? For example
if based
| on tank capacity you can stock 20" of fish, would that need to be
reduced if
| adding the Stenopus Hispidus.
|


Nearly any organism that consumes a nutrient and produces waste
contributes to the overall bio-load. Remember that most "stocking
level rules" are no more than guidlines, and there are endless
exceptions.

[Toni]

"Gary" > wrote in message
k...
> Do invertebrates such as the Stenopus hispidus count towards the total
> number of fish when stocking a new marine fish tank? For example if based
> on tank capacity you can stock 20" of fish, would that need to be reduced
if
> adding the Stenopus Hispidus.



Shrimp have very little body mass- a two inch shrimp cannot possibly compare
to a two inch pufferfish when deciding your stocking levels.
Any "inch per gallon" rule you may have run across is flawed in this
respect. Best thing is to study up on each and every organism you plan to
add. Pay attention to their compatabilities as far as aggression (you don't
want them eating each other), dietary diversity (you don't want 10 species
all competing for the same pod population), and area of the tank they will
inhabit (so you don't end up with all bottom dwellers). There are plenty of
other things to consider- these just came to mind easily.

You will need to make individual decisions based on a whole boatload of
criteria- inches of length being only one. And to that end there is no
substitute for reading, and asking questions- either here or over on
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/ .
Reef Central is a great resource!


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/reef.htm

[Gary]

Thanks for the reply Toni! :)

My tank is 96 litres, or 21 gallons (UK).
I was planning on having two clown fish (without the anemone - to hard to
keep for a beginner?), and the Cleaner Shrimp for starters. I know the tank
is small, so will be careful about adding anything else. Are the clowns and
cleaner shrimp an ok choice for starting?

PS - I would also LOVE one of those blood / fire shrimps, they look amazing.

--
Regards,

Gary.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Visit Tigger's site and read his story.
Browse photos of all our cats - Tigger, Tootsie and Tango.
http://www.cutecats.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------------------

[rsman]

> My tank is 96 litres, or 21 gallons (UK).
> I was planning on having two clown fish (without the anemone - to hard to
> keep for a beginner?), and the Cleaner Shrimp for starters. I know the
> tank is small, so will be careful about adding anything else. Are the
> clowns and cleaner shrimp an ok choice for starting?

im not gona do the math, but a 10g(us) will be ok with 2 clowns smaller
species (note not smaller fish but smaller species) you will do ok with
ocellaris or pers or maroon's but be careful maroons are morons and a few
shrimp

> PS - I would also LOVE one of those blood / fire shrimps, they look
> amazing.

have at it


richard reynolds

[Toni]

"Gary" > wrote in message
k...

> My tank is 96 litres, or 21 gallons (UK).
> I was planning on having two clown fish (without the anemone - to hard to
> keep for a beginner?), and the Cleaner Shrimp for starters. I know the
tank
> is small, so will be careful about adding anything else. Are the clowns
and
> cleaner shrimp an ok choice for starting?


That is a perfect choice for that tank! In time you could even add a small
gobie of some sort- they are very entertaining to watch and many have quite
comical faces.
As rsman noted, just stay away from the Maroon Clowns.


> PS - I would also LOVE one of those blood / fire shrimps, they look
amazing.
>


That is certainly something to consider. Mixing shrimp in a tank that size
may not be feasible, so I would decide now which you like the most.
Look around here for some ideas...
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/shrimpcompfaqs.htm


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/reef.htm