40G Breeder Mix Reef Stocking Compatibility Question

[3836399]

I searched and read about 15 threads on 40G breeder stocking ideas so I have a general idea of what can go in my tank. How does my list look? Should I add/subtract anything? What specific types of blenny, goby, urchin and crab should I get?

I feel like I'm missing essential reefing equipment but I dont know what.

I plan to do a fish in cycle with Turbo Start and Prime with the clowns. I have a few years and several planted freshwater tanks of experience and I've watched most of BRS's videos but this will be my first saltwater tank.

Current list:

Fish	Quantity
Frozen Frostbite Clownfish	2
Blenny (undecided on what type)	1
Goby (undecided on what type)	1
Longnose Hawkfish	1
Skunk Shrimp	1
Pistol Shrimp for goby?	1
Urchin (undecided on what type)	1
Banded Trochus Snails	How many?
Crab (undecided on what type)	How many?
What else?	?

Category	Equipment
Tank	Aqeuon 40G Breeder
Filter	Fiji Cube DIY AIO kit
Return pump	Jebao DCP-2500
Filter Media	Greatwave Eng Biohome Ultimate, filter floss, carbon
Light	NooPsyche K7 V3 celling mounted
Wavemaker	Jebao MLW-30
Rock	LFS Dry rock
Sand	Carib Sea Fiji Pink
Heater	Aqueon Pro 200W

Test equipment: Amazon refractometer, RedSea Marine Care, and RedSea Foundation Pro
Dosing: All for Reef Powder
I'll use LFS water and a python until I want to commit to a BRS 7 stage and booster pump.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[TexanCanuck]

Congrats on the new tank!

For fish, I'd think about adding a "show" fish ... something a little large with dramatic coloring ... perhaps a Yellow Tang.

As for equipment, I know there are MANY people who successfully run a saltwater tank without a Protein Skimmer, but I would highly recommend one to anyone who was setting up their first marine tank. Not sure if it is already part of your "DIF AIO kit", but if it's not, I'd strongly recommend getting a good one!

Also - you might want to look at fish-less cycling for your tank ... much kinder to your clownfish.

Here's a good video on the latest thinking about how to cycle your tank effectively without fish.

 

[MrTPlush]

Won't the tang police get me if I do a yellow tang in a 40B?

Any person with an ounce of common sense would get on you. I have got to assume he misread your tank size because a yellow tang in a 40 gallon is a pretty poor idea and I can't imagine someone recommending that.

The clowns are a great idea, as is a goby (yellow is a fantastic option) with a pistol shrimp. Not sure how it will do with a blenny and/or a hawkfish though.

 

[shakacuz]

blenny/hawk fish combo may not work.. can try a smaller wrasse for some type of pest control and can serve as the “show piece” fish

 

[shakacuz]

Like a 6 line? No one in my area can get a pink streak wrasse.

possum wrasse?

 

[davidcalgary29]

If by "hawkfish", you mean "pygmy geometric hawkfish", then no. They're very shy and cryptic, and will possibly be harassed by the clownfish.

If you're going for a wrasse, get a lid for your build. It doesn't have to be anything fantastic -- you can do a DIY mesh screen top for a few dollars. Actually, make sure you do this irrespective of the fish with which you end up -- you'd be surprised (and saddened) by what manages to leap out of your tank.

Fang/striped blennies are great tank inhabitants and lots of fun to watch. And you really can't go wrong with any goby, although the sand-sifters (my favourite!) may cloud up your tank if you choose a fine substrate.

And I'll agree with most of the other posters: do not attempt to put a yellow tang in that size of build. If you want a flash of yellow, go for a canary blenny.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I'm looking at a long nose hawkfish, would that be compatible? I purchased a glass lid because I dont have an ATO. I have no intention of stocking any tangs. Thanks for the recommendations.

Probably, although they're known to pick off smaller inverts (and, sometimes, fish).

You can't go wrong with any urchin, really, but tuxedos are the best place to start, as they can be handled safely and are really very hardy.

 

[tharbin]

Is there a reason you need a 7-stage RO/DI? For most municipal water supplies a 4 or 5 stage is more than adequate. The difference is whether you need one or two carbon stages (one normal chlorine, two if you have chloramines). More doesn't hurt but I hate to see people overbuy. Booster pumps can help reduce waste water but unless you have low water pressure it isn't really needed.

 

[tharbin]

Makes sense then. I don't have chloramines or low pressure but I have 500-600 TDS water. I use a 4-stage that came with a pump included (Marine Depot GOOB sale). Only reason I asked is it seems people are being upsold on RO/DIs to more stages than they need. YouTube is wonderful but can make an expensive hobby much more so.

 

[shakacuz]

Based on R2R feedback, here is my semi final stocking list:

stocking list:	Quantity
Frozen Frostbite Clownfish	2
Six line wrasse	1
Bi Color Blenny	1
Yellow Watchman Goby	1
Long nose Hawkfish	1
Royal Gramma	1
Skunk Shrimp	1
Bullseye Snapping Shrimp	1
Red or blue Tuxedo Urchin	1
Banded Trochus Snails	6
Emerald Crab	1

looks decent. make sure to introduce the 6line and hawkfish last to reduce aggression. as well as to give the pistol time to acclimate and make its burrow so it doesn't become food for the hawkfish.

 

[tharbin]

You may want to consider a couple of Nassarius snails to help with sand turn over and maybe a few Cerith snails that can get into areas where the Trochus and Urchin can't. Other than that it looks great to me.

 

[LeftyReefer]

I'd add a conch or two or three... They are my best sand stirrers.

My nassarius snails only burrow in the sand to sleep, then they emerge when they smell food.
All my nassarius snails sleep in the same 6 inch by 6 inch square of sand. They don't burrow in sand all around my tank.... only in their sleeping spot, which is always the same spot.

My conchs on the other hand burrow and clean the sand bed all around the tank. My urchins rarely leave the rocks. they occasionally go on the glass but rarely do I just find them on the substrate.

 

[shakacuz]

What type of conch do you recommend?

1 fighting conch, 1 tiger/strawberry conch. 2 is sufficient for a 40B. it's what i have.

 

[shakacuz]

BRS said I have to go and flip all my snails over daily for non Trochus. What snail mix would you recommend?

nassarius flip themselves, as do ceriths.

 

[Amstar]

Will the pistol take out the skunk shrimp?

 

[shakacuz]

stocking list:	Quantity
Frozen Frostbite Clownfish	2
Pink streaked wrasse	1
Bi Color Blenny	1
Yellow watchman goby	1
Exquisite Firefish	1
Royal Gramma	1
Skunk Shrimp	2
Dwarf Ceriths	30
Nassarius vibex	12
Florida Ceriths	12
Assorted Hermits	9
Nerites	11

looking solid. lots of yellow, pink and purple. i don’t think 2 skunk shrimps are necessary. they eat like pigs and might annoy all the fish during feeding time. if you want an invert with personality, maybe still go with a pistol shrimp. a candy cane/red banded pistol

 

[airedwin]

Hello, I have a 40G as well, here is my stock for your reference, (i can probably add more cuc)

2 clownfish
1 3" scopas tang
1 diamond sand goby
1 yellow goby/1 tiger shrimp
1 fire shrimp
2 conch
3-4 trochus snails
4 nassarius snails
6 nerite snails
3 blue leg hermits (had more but i think some of them died off)

 

[airedwin]

All,

Thanks for all the advice, I'm getting much closer to my final stocking list. I don't want the hawkfish to eat my shrimp so its gone. Any cool suggestions to replace it?

stocking list:	Quantity
Frozen Frostbite Clownfish	2
Pink streak wrasse	1
Bi Color Blenny	1
Yellow Watchman Goby	1
What to get instead of hawk?	1
Royal Gramma	1
Skunk Shrimp	1
Randalls Pistol Shrimp	1
Dwarf Ceriths	30
Nassarius vibex	12
Florida Ceriths	12
Assorted Hermits	9
Nerites	11

(CUC picked out by ReefCleaners)

maybe a flame angel

 

[MrTPlush]

I have high TDS (high 300s low 400s), chloramines, AND low pressure.

if 400 is high, what is my 750…