Cycle question...

[newguy1983]

I have had my 15g up and running for about a month and ammonia is @ 0, nitrtites is 0, nitrates is 0, SG is 1.026 (sorta high but has been that way for a while now...well during the whole cycle). pH is a wonderful 8.2. Temp is about 79.

I think I'm ready for stocking because I used all live sand, cured live rock and put a raw shrimp in there for the first few days...which is when the levels spiked but it has been normal for roughly 2.5 weeks...

what do you guys think? My 12g Nano took a longer time but didnt use live sand...just uncured rock...

[thrlride]

Sounds cycled to me.

Start slow and stock smart.

[newguy1983]

what would you suggest?

I really just want a royal gramma (cause they're colorful) and a pair of either maroon clowns or true/false percula clowns...and of course the necessary clean up crew...

Any other colorful yet reef friendly fish you would recommend?

[bertoni]

The maroons will get far too big for that tank. The other clowns should be fine. A royal gramma might find it a bit of a tight fit, if you want a reef.

[newguy1983]

well okay...I'll just go with a pair of true percs...what anemone would you recommend would work best to host the clowns? Since it is a small tank, I am assuming the anemone might sting some corals so I don't really know....

what about another colorful type fish? I really like the royal gramma though :(

[bertoni]

That's a pretty small tank for a host anemone. The smallest get about a foot across. The clowns don't need an anemone. You could consider some sort of soft coral, or just let them swim.

Well, Gobiosoma oceanops is one fish to consider. There are some similar species that would be fine, too.

[Mariner]

I second Bertoni.
Two percs AND a gramma would probably be pushing it.
One of the small gobies might indeed work well with the clowns.
Or maybe one clown, one small goby and a chromis -- I kept my blue green chromis in a 10g for over a year and he did fine...he's in my 40g now.
FWIW,
Mariner

[gurumasta]

dartfishes are pretty cool too

[newguy1983]

okay...so what about one clown and one royal gramma (or similar)???

Daniel

[swims withthe fishes]

The gramma is a territorial little bugger and i wouldn't trust him with a perc in a 15g. alone he may be OK but not with tankmates under a 30g IMO.
the smaller gobies make awsome nano fish like -Gobiodon okinawea. one of my favorites.