Stock ideas for Red & Black themed 30 cube

[DrSoussou]

Hey, guys. Set up a 29gal BioCube yesterday using the previous owner's live rock and filter bacteria. I added my own live sand (black pebbled). It's already cycled, and I ran my first water tests this morning:

s.g. - 1.0265
pH - 7.9
kH - 7.1
Ca - 450
Mg - 1350
NH3, NO2, NO3 - all zero

I have about 10 pounds of live rock and 40 pounds of live black sand. The only livestock so far include 5 red mushrooms, several broken up clumps of dragon's breath (glued to several rocks), whatever pods I occasionally see swimming around, and a single blue-leg hermit lol.

My plan for the tank is an entirely red and black color theme, hence the black sand and dragon's breath. I want it to look fiery, intense, and elegant. I'm not sure what corals my light will enable me to house, but I would love to hear any of your ideas as far as stocking.

Considering that I am limiting myself to max 4-5 fish and they have to fit compatibility and color requirements, I understand if this seems like a difficult tank to stock. Any suggestions are appreciated, thanks everyone!

 

[NarakuAulonocar]

Dwarf Lionfish or Rhinopias

The lighter color will stand out in the dark tank. It has a demonic look which matches the red and black scene.

 

[Biodork]

White banded possum wrasse or flame hawk might be nice, though not necessarily together.

 

[DopeCantWin]

I like the idea. Years ago I saw a house decorated entirely in red and black, it was amazing. Still sometimes sorry I didn't buy it.

For the corals there are some Red Black Zoanthids. Bright Red Coco Worm, Red Starfish. Red Ricordea. I can't really think of black though, that's a hard one.

For the fish there are some anglers which can be entirely red. Flame Hawk, other suggestions from http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1054691

Also Fire Shrimp, if you don't get any fish that will eat it.

 

[EI Gringo]

Bicolour blenny is black and dark orange. Good algae eaters and hardy

 

[TangingOut]

Black sun coral

 

[d-man]

Red brain and scoly and acans
Black Midas blenny
Red scooter blenny when pods are established

 

[Chad Vossen]

Black fish:
Banggai cardinal
Kamohara blenny (ORA)
black and white clownfish
Black cardinals (ORA)
Black clown goby
Engineer goby
black tang
bandit angelfish
Midnight angelfish
Blue assessor - nearly black
Snowflake eel.

For red corals
Rose anemone,
Flame algae,
red welsos
red blastos,
red serpent starfish,
red scoly
red zoas...

 

[Chad Vossen]

 

[3dees]

got to be a flame hawk.

 

[ThRoewer]

How about a pair of flame angels and a pair of Amphiprion melanopus (Red and Black Anemonefish)? If the white head band of the regular version of this anemonefish violates the color requirements, there is a color variety of them that lacks this band and is only red and black.

 

[DrSoussou]

thanks for all the ideas guys, considering everything right now.

my original candidates were: midnight clown pair, flame hawk, red possum wrasse, line-spot flasher wrasse, ruby red dragonet, and golden angel

with further research, i think i've decided against the golden angel. not sure about how large a flame hawk could get, and i'd worry about him with the other fish, especially the dragonet.

i LOVED the black sun coral idea and the flame dottyback, but idk if an expensive territorial fish is a good idea for my brand new 30...

definitely getting a blood shrimp. might be my first addition to the tank, actually