First Tank. Fish and Coral Suggestions for a complete beginner

[Derplicorn]

I've been researching for the past 3 months on starting a tank. I want a low maintenance tank. I have limited space. Of course the smaller the better for me. I've heard nano tanks are harder for beginners, but due to my limited space it would be best. I was thinking a 40 gallon might be my best option. I will be using pukani dry rock for aquascaping. I know I would like a royal gramma in my tank at some point. I also want some corals, but I'm not sure what kind yet. if there are any fish or corals you would recommend please let me know.

 

[Knighthawk]

I've been researching for the past 3 months on starting a tank. I want a low maintenance tank. I have limited space. Of course the smaller the better for me. I've heard nano tanks are harder for beginners, but due to my limited space it would be best. I was thinking a 40 gallon might be my best option. I will be using pukani dry rock for aquascaping. I know I would like a royal gramma in my tank at some point. I also want some corals, but I'm not sure what kind yet. if there are any fish or corals you would recommend please let me know.

What kind of budget are you working with?



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[Derplicorn]

I have saved 1300 dollars. I also have a set monthly food budget of 200 dollars

 

[Sk8r]

200 for you, or the fish? They don't eat that much! Oyster roe flown in daily not necessary!
The gramma is a great fish. My best suggestion is to read the stickies ^^^ above and ask specifics. For low maintenance, a good skimmer in a sump is a good bet. For corals, good lights if you want to go to stony corals. Those two things. If you set up with those things and test weekly, you don't have to have a controller yet. But a sump---that's your labor saving device. No filters to clean, the skimmer handles the crud, and you just empty the cup when it's obviously full. Feeding fish and corals is a snap and not that expensive: feed the fish and the poo (and light) feeds the corals. I also recommend not trying to keep the tank so clean fish can't forage: get those hardy ones who don't have to be fed 3x a day and preserve your sanity.

 

[Reefer40b]

40b is a wonderful first tank, big enough but not too big, loving mine. Cure that pukani rock correctly there should be a thread on here all about it. Royal gramma is a good starter fish, also firefish, blenny.

Easier starter corals: Zoas, palys, duncans, candy coral, Xenia(only if you want to prune/frag constantly)

 

[Knighthawk]

There's tons of 40 breeder build out there to get ideas from


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[Derplicorn]

thank you everyone. i will look into blennies firefish and the corals mentioned