40 breeder BTA species tank stock?

[oregonanenome]

So I am on my way to finishing building a 40 breeder for a BTA specific tank. It is lit by 250w icecap retro pfo base and reflector. The bulb 10,000 k for anemone health. has a 20 long sump with refugium and a small tunze skimmer.
Lots of Nano rock substrate, a few nice lr pieces, very little sand.
My proposed stock list:

Step 1: Detrivore kit.(no cuke though)/ Snails/ 1 or two emerald crabs
Step 2: 1 Yellow headed jawfish
Nope
Step 3: 1 Bi color blenny
Step 4: Shrimp goby- need a reccomendation/ pistol shrimp Nope
Step 5: paired percula or ocellaris
Step 6: 1 Rose BTA or healthiest green BTA I can find.
Tentative step 7: Always wanted a Mandarin too but am concerned a 40 even with a fuge will starve him. Guess I could cut the blenny or jaw fish.
Nope

What do you think of this stock list for a 40 plus 20 sump?

 

[phender]

Why would you put a jawfish and a shrimp goby/pistol shrimp in a tank with very little sand?

Is nano rock big gravel or is it live rock rubble?

 

[oregonanenome]

live rock gravel mostly but rubble too. some is pretty much not much bigger than sand. I don't thing I'll have room for 4-6 inches of sand in a 40 breeder. I thought lots fine rubble with an <inch of sand would make for some good digging for both species. No?

 

[illcssd]

I would skip both the jawfish and the goby/pistol shrimp unless your going to do at least one corner 4+ inches deep.
I would also go w/out the mandarin unless you can find one that eats prepared food or have the time and patience to train it to eat that.
When you are ready for a green or a rose, lmk and i give you a split.

--austin

 

[oregonanenome]

Thanks Austin. Guess you are right on the Mandarin. I kinda knew this anyways. How about a Flame Hawkfish instead of the jawfish? They seem to have loads of personality and like rockwork. And how about a royal gramma or black cap basslet? Jumpers yes, but perhaps a better fit for my substrate?

 

[boyooso]

I have a happy pistol shrimp & goby in about 1.5-2 inches of sand for more than 3 years... They are happy there under a rock, in the sand.

corey