Nano Gobies

AQUARIUM Details
SIZE, VOLUME, TIME IN OPERATION: 120 x 60 x 32 inches
(300 x 150 x 80); around 925 gallons (3,500 L); Five
years.
ZOANTHARIA (STONY CORALS, ETC.): Acropora (various species),
Caulastrea, Euphyllia, Duncanopsammia axifuga,
Hydnophora, Montipora, Oulophyllia bennettae, Porites,
Stylophora, and various encrusting anemones.
OCTOCORALLIA (GORGONIANS AND SOFT CORALS): Muricea atlantica,
M. pinnata, Plexaura flexuosa, Pterogorgia anceps,
Sinularia.
OTHER INVERTEBRATES: Several Actaeodes tomentosus, Alpheus
soror, 4 Archaster angulatus, various hermit crabs,
Heteractis crispa, 3 Maretia planulata, Tridacna derasa.
FISHES: 2 Amblygobius phalaena (pair), 2 Amphiprion percula
(pair), 5 Centropyge argi (harem with 1 male and
4 females), 2 Gobiodon okinawae (pair), 2 Halichoeres
chloropterus, 2 H. chrysus, 2 Hoplolatilus marcosi, Labroides
dimidiatus, 2 Macropharyngodon bipartitus (pair),
2 Neocirrhites armatus (pair), 2 Paracanthurus hepatus
(pair), Paracheilinus mccoskeri, 4 Pholidichthys leucotaenia
(2 pairs), 2 Platyglossus
melanurus, 2 Pomacanthus
navarchus, Pseudocheilinus
hexataenia, 2 Pseudochromis
bitaeniatus (pair), 2 Synchiropus
splendidus (pair), Valenciennea
muralis, 16 Zoramia
leptacantha.
DECOR: Plumbing screening
from Atoll-Riff-Deko; around
88 lb (40 kg) live rock,
remainder of rockwork made
of dry reef stone; deep layer
of fine coral sand .
LIGHTING: 10 Aqua Illumination Sol Blue 75-watt LED
simulation of twilight via dimming; daily photoperiod
11:30 A.M.–11:00 P.M.; some natural sunlight, especially
in winter.
WATER MOVEMENT: Closed-loop current with 4 Abyzz
A400s creating ebb and flow (two pumps working simultaneously
in each case); Abyzz A200 return pump.
WATER MANAGEMENT: Knecht K300 protein skimmer,
Aquacare Phosphat-Minus reactor, deep sand bed filter
(DSB) with mangroves (all in the equipment tank in
the cellar).
WATER PARAMETERS:
carbonate hardness 7°dKH, pH 8.1.
MINERALS, MAINTENANCE: Addition of major and trace
elements using the Balling method; trace elements from
SwissAquaristik .
OWNERS: Brigitte Utz and Ruedi Furter, Hölstein, Switzerland.
It all began with a Pacific Blue Tang
(Paracanthurus hepatus).
FISH POPULATION
Whenever possible, we attempt
to maintain our fishes
in pairs, harems, or shoals, to accord with their natural
way of life. Thus our Pacific Blue Tang (Paracanthurus
hepatus) was given a small partner while still in the
265-gallon (1,000-L) aquarium. After withstanding initial,
violent attacks, the little one asserted itself. After
that the two of them got along well for three years, but
when the “small” one attained the size of the older individual
the friendship was over. The younger individual
was literally “taken apart” on a daily basis. It was clear
that they must be two males.
At that time we had another Paracanthurus hepatus,
about 6 inches (15 cm) larger and probably female, in
one of our sales tanks. Our friend Helmut Strutz advised
us to put this female with our male in the big tank. Because
we had become convinced that such active fishes
should be kept only in very large aquariums (and didn’t
regard ours as such), we were strongly opposed to this
suggestion at first. But in the hope that the “old one”
would become more peaceful if he was given a real partner,
we gave it a go. Within just a few minutes of putting
them together it was quite clear that the two would form
a pair. And now, a year later, we are sure that we did the
right thing. Even so, the “space-consuming” spawning
ritual that takes place every evening, and the way they
sometimes swim up and down the aquarium sides, demonstrate
that even 800 gallons (3,000 L) of water are not
enough for such fishes!
110 CORAL