Any recommendations on 30 gallon stock

pokegirl1332 · Nov 5, 2020

So just moved and setup my 30 gallon water box.
it’s got some good rock work and some mangroves out of the back looking good.
trying To trick my bf into investing in it with me XD and so far it’s working.
eight now we got a lovely pair of an orange storm and black ice clown.
A diamond back goby
A sand sifting starfish
And 2 peppermint shrimp

my bf is dying for an emerald crab too so told him we could get one
Planning on stocking it with a bunch of softies and maybe a couple LPS

debating on the next fish to add or any more cool inverts would love some suggestions cuz I love color.

was thinking of either an orchid dotty back, a royal gramma or maybe even a long nose hawk fish (had them all in the past and they were great)
The dotty was a little territorial but ok.

My bf loves Bandai Cardinal but haven’t kept them before so unsure of aggression level or if just one would be ok

also love the color of yellowtail damsels but heard many horror stories if anyone can talk me into or out of it!
I don’t plan on overstocking or getting all those things just wondering on some of your opinions or if there’s a super cool fish that might do well that I haven’t listed PLEASE SHARE I’d love some suggestions

also not trying to break the bank so preferably fish less than $150 a pop but the lower the better.

THANKS
-sorry for the long post

Tcook · Nov 5, 2020

Ditch the emerald crab. Save your self a headache.

Zionas · Nov 5, 2020

How long did you have the Dotty and the Hawk in the past and what happened to them?

(

I think you could do a Royal Gramma or Orchid Dottyback depending on what you feel like, a shrimp and goby combo or the Hawkfish (maybe not both in this sized tank), and a small wrasse like a Fairy / Flasher / Pink Streak / Possum Wrasse. Maybe even a small damsel of a more peaceful species like the Chrysiptera. Valentini Puffer. Whatever you do IMO 30 gallon is capped out at 5-6 fish depending on size.

pokegirl1332 · Nov 5, 2020

Tcook said:
Ditch the emerald crab. Save your self a headache.

Any particular reason? I had 2 small ones in my old tank and they were good but did knock over a coral or 2 I would only get one because my bf really wants one but just curious

pokegirl1332 · Nov 5, 2020

Zionas said:
How long did you have the Dotty and the Hawk in the past and what happened to them? (

I think you could do a Royal Gramma or Orchid Dottyback depending on what you feel like, a shrimp and goby combo or the Hawkfish (maybe not both in this sized tank), and a small wrasse like a Fairy / Flasher / Pink Streak / Possum Wrasse. Maybe even a small damsel of a more peaceful species like the Chrysiptera. Valentini Puffer. Whatever you do IMO 30 gallon is capped out at 5-6 fish depending on size.

Yep wasn’t planning on more than that. The orchid dotty back I had like 8 years ago so he passed in a bad power outage and the gramma didn’t make it when I had him shipped unfortunately I’ll look into the different ones you mentioned thanks I did have an awful wrasse in the past a few different types that would literally kill and inverts and cleaner crew and make a mess lol so probs won’t go down that route again

Zionas · Nov 5, 2020

Oh sorry to hear that what kinda wrasse did you have?

Tcook · Nov 5, 2020

pokegirl1332 said:
Any particular reason? I had 2 small ones in my old tank and they were good but did knock over a coral or 2 I would only get one because my bf really wants one but just curious

The pic shows one destroying one of my favorite scolys.

pokegirl1332 · Nov 5, 2020

Tcook said:
The pic shows one destroying one of my favorite scolys.

Oh lol I’m sorry I’m on my phone so I couldn’t really tell... that’s really sucks

pokegirl1332 · Nov 5, 2020

Zionas said:
Oh sorry to hear that what kinda wrasse did you have?

The melenarus not sure if I spelled that right was the worst offender. I had to get rid of him he would swing my snails round and round I have had a few different kinds in the past but yet to go down the fairy wrasse route

Metalhead670 · Nov 5, 2020

Bandai cardinals are peaceful fish, I'm sure most cardinals are. Cardinals are good fish, I do also suggest a clown goby. They are beautiful and small fish.