I want your opinion! SPS Nano Tank Stocking Options

[ChrisDanley]

Hello from South Florida,
I'm completely addicted to reef central so responses and conversations are well appreciated here! I have a 24 gallon nano tank that I am just setting up. My plans are to recreate an SPS reef in my aquarium with only organisms that are native to an SPS reef. My tank specs are as follows and I will not add fish until my water chemistry is stable for a straight month:
Metal Halide and led lighting
UV sterilizer (can turn on in an event of disease)
Protein skimmer
Hang on back refugium
And around a 30X turnover rate in the tank (it's surprisingly not that strong because the flow isn't directed it's just scattered)

Here's what I need help with. I would like a fish that meet every standard I have listed but if that's not possible the next best option. Please keep in mind that anthias are my favorite and I would be willing to do only one anthias if I could but I don't know if that's possible.
1) obviously Reef Safe
2) will not harm ornamental shrimp or clams
3) native to an SPS reef
4) beneficial to the tank in some way (ex: eating a pest)
5) beautiful colors that will make my reef come to life
6) somewhat of a personality.

Please give me your suggestion(s) thanks!

 

[AfricaOffroad]

Wetmorella wrasse
Green barr goby
Yellow Coral goby (okinawae)
Pipefish
Trimma goby
2 spot goby (but must be eating prepared food or it will not survive with what you have in the sand bed)
Yasha goby
Barber pole goby

to mention a few
(well actually what I have in one of my smaller systems)

 

[username in use]

Small school of Red Spot Glass Cardinals. They are small enough that they will keep the tank looking natural, they hang tight together, they do well in high flow with branches to dart in and around.

 

[ChrisDanley]

Wow great recommendstions! I like the wetmorella wrasse a lot! I like fish that are colorful and bring something unique to the tank! If anyone else has suggestions I love to hear them! Talking fish is probably better than talking to your wife IMHO lol jk

 

[ChrisDanley]

Bump....

 

[ChrisDanley]

Bump............

 

[MCCOOL]

Plectranthias inermis would be fine, but most other anthias need more swimming room.

I agree with the other posters suggestions as well, especially the group of red spot cardinals, that's what I'd go with!

Helfrichi firefish would also work well, maybe a small flasher wrasse. (obviously not all of these, I'm just throwing out suggestions)

 

[Bnortz]

Tailspot Blenny! They are beneficial in that they eat algae. They're colorful, reef-safe, have a great personality, won't eat ornamental shrimp, and I guess they're from an SPS reef? Correct me if I'm wrong on the latter.

 

[AfricaOffroad]

Another vote for the tailspot blenny

 

[ChrisDanley]

Would a leopard wrasse be okay by himself in a 29 gallon tank? It would only be him coral and a cleaner shrimp. I understand they can have worms so he woul be quarantined and medicated properly before introduction. I would also be sure he readily takes frozen food and that's all I tend to feed my fish anyways. I want to make sure he'd be happy but I was just wondering if that would work... Please feel free to answer honestly.

 

[ChrisDanley]

I would be sure to take my time researching on it and taking my time in quarantine

 

[ChrisDanley]

Sorry, one other thing to add is my sanded is around 4 inches and it is finely crushed coral.

 

[ChrisDanley]

After careful consideration, this fish isn't for me

 

[ChrisDanley]

What does everyone think about Paracheilinus mccoskeri?

 

[MCCOOL]

Yes, I think a leopard is a bad choice as well, the tank is just too small for one. P. mccoskeri is a good choice, very Colorful and peaceful.

 

[nanoreefer1000]

What does everyone think about Paracheilinus mccoskeri?

I think flasher wrasse should have AT LEAST 36 inches of horizontal swimming space but thats me

 

[rssjsb]

I also think 24 gallons is a little tight for a flasher. Wetmorellas are great, though and I second the tailspot suggestion - they're very personable and stay small.

I also think the redspot cardinals someone suggested upthread are also a great option. Divers Den has them fairly regularly. Or maybe a small group of masked gobies.

 

[MCCOOL]

Ah sorry, a few posts above mine it said 29 gallons, I assumed it was a standard 30" tank. A 24g nano may be a bit tight for a flasher.

 

[ChrisDanley]

how about a sixline wrasse and maybe a bluespot jawfish?

 

[rssjsb]

A sixline is going to get aggro in a tank that size. Also, it will be hard to have a deep enough sandbed to keep a jawfish happy.