Stocking tank opinions

lolgranny

lolgranny

The DQ King
Its that time, tanks been stable for 2months now, rock has been cooked / cured for 4months...

Have a 40g tank, Bare bottom. 20g sump / fuge. About 35lbs of Live rock scaped in 2 small islands. One on both sides of the tank so there will be plenty of swimming room

This is what i would like to get:
Would like some opinions on it.

2----(Male / Female) wrasse(something like a carpenters)
2-3----Chromis
1-2----Athinas( not sure what kind, maybe a bartlets)
2----Cardinal fish
1----Mandarin Dragonette OR yellow coris wrasse

i would like to keep it close to this list / 8 fish, but any opinions / criticism is welcome

Thanks,
David
 
Anyone know if this will be a issue?

Im not doing them all at the same time, but plan on working them in over the next few months.
 
Your SPS corals should be ok with pygmies. It is typically the LPS and clams that get perturbed by the 'reef-caution' fishes. That said, 8 fish in a 40 gallon, where 7 of them are active swimmers, would be on the crowded side. It would be safer to add half that many and see how it goes (territorial disputes, stress, etc). One more thing, unless you witness the mandarin eating frozen food at your LFS, do not add it immediately to your tank. These fish are very dependent on eating what the ecosystem can provide for them (copepods, small crustaceans, which you can purchase and 'seed' tank with). It takes months to build up enough of these critters to sustain a mandarin. Sorry to be a buzz kill.
 
I had a coral beauty angel that nipped on SPS birdsnest.

You may not have enought pods for the mandarin, specially with bare bottom. I would opt for the wrasse instead.
 
Also, I would skip the anthias. They can get pretty big and pushy for a three-foot tank. Maybe get a harem of fairy or flasher wrasses instead. They're pretty, easier to feed, and much hardier than anthias (more than a good tradeoff, even if they do require a tight cover to keep them from jumping).

Also, if you haven't already, you should check to make sure that the yellow wrasse you're looking for (h. chrysus?) doesn't need a sand bed.
 
+1 for a group of flasher wrasses. Most fairy wrasses will get too big for the long term, but you could keep a small harem of flashers. Instead of just getting a male/female pair you could get a male and 3-4 females. Make sure you have a cover on your tank, or else they WILL jump out sooner or later.

The yellow coris wrasse (halichoeres chrysus) does need a sand bed to sleep in at night, so unless you want to add sand it's not a good idea. They are also very active, IME.

What kind of cardinalfish are you thinking about?
 
rssjsb said:
Also, I would skip the anthias. They can get pretty big and pushy for a three-foot tank. Maybe get a harem of fairy or flasher wrasses instead. They're pretty, easier to feed, and much hardier than anthias (more than a good tradeoff, even if they do require a tight cover to keep them from jumping).

Also, if you haven't already, you should check to make sure that the yellow wrasse you're looking for (h. chrysus?) doesn't need a sand bed.
Click to expand...

Ya thats a good idea, have a group of flasher or fairy wrasses / chromis / bengai cardinals and be done with the stocking.

The yellow wrasse does need sand after checking, so ill bump that idea. I guess i just want as much color as i can with a good amount of fish for the corals to feast off of. ha.
 
IFbettas said:
+1 for a group of flasher wrasses. Most fairy wrasses will get too big for the long term, but you could keep a small harem of flashers. Instead of just getting a male/female pair you could get a male and 3-4 females. Make sure you have a cover on your tank, or else they WILL jump out sooner or later.

The yellow coris wrasse (halichoeres chrysus) does need a sand bed to sleep in at night, so unless you want to add sand it's not a good idea. They are also very active, IME.

What kind of cardinalfish are you thinking about?
Click to expand...

I was thinking about bengai(sp) cardianls. They are goofy looking, but will add some action in the tank. I cant rly think of what else i would want to get aside from the wrasse / chromis / athinas, but your right about the size so ill prob skip that.
 
Some kind of clownfish. They are always cool. Especially an ORA clownfish of some type.

Make sure you pick the order you add your fish carefully. An example, most tangs should be last. And lets say your going for the all too common yellow and blue tang mix, make sure the yellow tang is added after the blue tang.
 
Some kind of clownfish. They are always cool. Especially an ORA clownfish of some type.

Make sure you pick the order you add your fish carefully. An example, most tangs should be last. And lets say your going for the all too common yellow and blue tang mix, make sure the yellow tang is added after the blue tang.
 
Ya i was thinking of clowns, but i think they are over done in tanks. You see them too often.

So im down to this

3 flasher wrasse(1male / 2 female)
3 chromis
2 cardinal fish
1 dwarf angelfish

thoughts?

Throw in the chromis 1st, then cardinal, then wrasse, and angel.
 
Last edited:
lolgranny said:
Ya i was thinking of clowns, but i think they are over done in tanks. You see them too often.

So im down to this

3 flasher wrasse(1male / 2 female)
3 chromis
2 cardinal fish
1 dwarf angelfish

thoughts?

Throw in the chromis 1st, then cardinal, then wrasse, and angel.
Click to expand...

If you want to be realistic, you can have the 3 flasher wrasses and that is it. The remainder would significantly overload your tank. At least the flasher wrasses would have movement, the cardinals would not. Instead of the flashers you could have a pair of cardinals.
 
mcdonaldjosh7 said:
Some kind of clownfish. They are always cool. Especially an ORA clownfish of some type.

Make sure you pick the order you add your fish carefully. An example, most tangs should be last. And lets say your going for the all too common yellow and blue tang mix, make sure the yellow tang is added after the blue tang.
Click to expand...

In a 40 gallon tank? No way you can add tangs.
 
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