Stocking my Fluval Spec

[jnelson]

Can anyone suggest some interesting inverts for a Spec?

I recently converted my bedroom FW planted tank to a SW tank with a pound of live sand and a few pounds of rock. It will ultimately have a few soft corals and maybe some macro algae (small chaeto ball, maybe some others too). I want to throw in maybe one or two "interesting" inverts.

I will be upgrading the lighting to a PAR 30/38 bulb but that's it (filtration and return pump will be stock).

Here's what I was thinking:
- Pico species of mantis shrimp (which ones are these?)
- Pico species of seahorse (are there any besides the dwarf seahorses?)
- Goby/pistol shrimp combo?
- Anemones (probably not aiptasia/majano though since I want to keep some corals)
- Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

A mantis is a bad idea. It could possibly break the tank

 

[jnelson]

It IS only 2 gallons but that's definitely not a risk I'm willing to take haha. Always open to suggestions for other stocking possibilities!

 

[kidninja]

get a baby octopus or shark =)

 

[aznt1217]

Can't do a mantis unless it's in an acrylic tank. It can easily shatter it if it wants to.

You can do pygmy seahorses but they go for (250 a pop) and are hard to feed so nevermind.

-Why would you want any aiptasia or mojano lol.
-Check out the Pom Pom Crab and the Porcelain Crabs. These are my two personal favorites.
-Those 2 gallons are going to be really hard to put fish in.

 

[jnelson]

Saw a tank on Nano-Reef with "pest" anemones that looked pretty cool LOL.

Pretty sure the Spec is glass so I'll have to pass on the mantis ideas.

Might keep an eye on the crabs then, thanks man.

 

[Jzhou]

I wouldn't suggest a pistol or a mantis shrimp in that size tank. Pom pom or hermits are probably your best bet. Have you had any reefs before, I don't suggest a pico tank as a first reef tank since organic waste build up happens so much faster in tnaks that small.

 

[aznt1217]

It's no his first reef tank lol it's in his sig

 

[Jzhou]

the seahorse question kind of threw me off

 

[jnelson]

Yeah I wasn't too sure. I've heard of smaller seahorse species and figured it MIGHT be doable but... the dwarf ones have some pretty strict feeding requirements so forget it haha.

Just picked up a PAR 38 today so that should be more than enough on the lighting front. Back to the drawing board for the livestock though...

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Yeah I wasn't too sure. I've heard of smaller seahorse species and figured it MIGHT be doable but... the dwarf ones have some pretty strict feeding requirements so forget it haha.

Just picked up a PAR 38 today so that should be more than enough on the lighting front. Back to the drawing board for the livestock though...

Did I hear it right, a PAR38 for a Spec tank?


Unless you put very high or choose the triband type, You will easily burn your coral with most PAR38. I found that 6W LED with 60 degree optics is sufficient.

 

[chazertis]

my vote is for either a pistol/goby pair or a pair of harlequin shrimp

 

[jnelson]

It's a Rapid LED 3B/2W light and I currently have it about 8-10" off the tank. Photo period will be 6 hours, might make it longer if need be.

Got some photosynthetic gorgonians in there right now and they seem to be fine... Plenty of polyp extension. Also have one nassarius and two margarita snails in there, munching on some of the algae that's on the rock/sand. Everything came from an established tank (except for the filter - new carbon pack) so I'm pretty sure I won't be seeing any kind of additional algae bloom.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

It's a Rapid LED 3B/2W light and I currently have it about 8-10" off the tank. Photo period will be 6 hours, might make it longer if need be.

Got some photosynthetic gorgonians in there right now and they seem to be fine... Plenty of polyp extension. Also have one nassarius and two margarita snails in there, munching on some of the algae that's on the rock/sand. Everything came from an established tank (except for the filter - new carbon pack) so I'm pretty sure I won't be seeing any kind of additional algae bloom.

I may have one of that bulb that I can test the PAR to make sure. I can light my Spec with only 6W for reef and the one you mentioned is a 15W-it really makes me nervous!

 

[aznt1217]

Dude, hang the light up at least 12 inches. You will burn stuff, when you said PAR light I thought you meant a weaker one not the legit ones you run on bigger cubes! Is it a dimmable bulb?

Anyway in a tank light that I say SPS! It's cheaper to make a SPS reef in a small tank lol.