Stocking 40 gallon Breeder

[Chris918]

Hi friends,

Please give me your suggestions for stocking a 40 gallon breeder. I'm going FOWLR for this one. I'll be using reef saver rock with live sand. I will be using a Tunze skimmer and Tunze circulation pumps. There will be no sump.

I plan on having a very long and natural cycle. I have plenty of tanks to play with

Please provide a list of recommended fish
Obviously since there are no corals, we need fish that will contribute to a fun and colorful environment. I have plenty of clownfish on display elsewhere so I'm not interested in more clowns. The tank won't have a lid, so please keep this in mind as well. I greatly look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions so I can start researching.

 

[Uncle99]

Royal Gramma
Lawnmower blenny
Firefish, red or purple
Anthia, orange ones with blue eye stripe.
Mandarin....at 12 months

 

[Chris918]

Thanks for your suggestions! Are there any dwarf angelfish or butterfly fish that could work for a tank this size? Perhaps not after researching. We just want to make this aquarium look good to a new aquarist who maybe isn't so sure about corals. Thanks again!

 

[tjm9331]

A flameback angel is about the only dwarf angel I'd put in a 40 gallon.

Flame hawkfish are stunning and very personable, since its a fish only you could get away with either a leopard or valentini puffer again very personable.

Neon dottybacks are a great looking fish as well, I agree with the royal gramma or firefish.

I'd stay away from the mandarin though, with no sump your tank would be too small to sustain it unless you constantly bought pods.

 

[pshootr]

A flameback angel is about the only dwarf angel I'd put in a 40 gallon.

Flame hawkfish are stunning and very personable, since its a fish only you could get away with either a leopard or valentini puffer again very personable.

Neon dottybacks are a great looking fish as well, I agree with the royal gramma or firefish.

I'd stay away from the mandarin though, with no sump your tank would be too small to sustain it unless you constantly bought pods.

Just curious, what makes the flame-back angel the best candidate for a 40?

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[sde1500]

Can't say I'd add either of those fish types.

Fairy or flasher wrasses would be excellent for activity and color. EDIT, might not be conducive to a tank without a lid.

 

[tjm9331]

Just curious, what makes the flame-back angel the best candidate for a 40?

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because it is the smallest of the dwarf angels coming in at 3 inches, all the other dwarfs are 5 inches plus, they need room to stake their territory due to their semi-aggressive behavior, a 40 breeder just wouldn't give them the space they need. I'm not sure theres enough space for a flameback but with its size I don't see why not. Most all dwarf angels require at least a 55 gallon.

 

[pshootr]

because it is the smallest of the dwarf angels coming in at 3 inches, all the other dwarfs are 5 inches plus, they need room to stake their territory due to their semi-aggressive behavior, a 40 breeder just wouldn't give them the space they need. I'm not sure theres enough space for a flameback but with its size I don't see why not. Most all dwarf angels require at least a 55 gallon.

I see thank you. This is good to know. [emoji106]

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[Chris918]

Thank you all very much. I'm looking into species and researching as you guys post.

 

[tjm9331]

Can't say I'd add either of those fish types.

Fairy or flasher wrasses would be excellent for activity and color.

OP stated that the tank wouldn't have a cover, so I was staying away from wrasses due to their tendency to jump.

I realize pretty much all fish have a tendency to jump but wrasses more so.

 

[sde1500]

Yea I added that edit as you quoted me, missed that initially.

 

[Chris918]

Would you all say that in a tank like this the max size of the fish should not exceed 3 to 3.5 inches?

 

[nereefpat]

Would you all say that in a tank like this the max size of the fish should not exceed 3 to 3.5 inches?

No, not necessarily. The suggested lawnmower blenny or hawkfish would be fine in a 40 breeder.

The lid is an issue however. There are good suggestions for a 40 breeder, like wrasses, blennies, hawks, firefish, etc that are infamous jumpers.

 

[sde1500]

Yea I think not wanting to add a top really limits your choices in fish too much.