Best next fish for a new tank

[glb]

I have a new 40g breeder (cycle finished two weeks ago) and have two clownfish. I want to add a new fish and need some advice. The tank started with dry rock and sand and doesn't have any algae yet. I know some fish are best for more established tanks. What would be a good addition at this point? It's fowlr now but will be a reef tank in the future. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Oscar47f]

Blennies or gobies maybe even a wrasse? Starry bennies are nice? If you want a schooling fish chromis are good editions..

 

[thinktank]

I have a new 40g breeder (cycle finished two weeks ago) and have two clownfish. I want to add a new fish and need some advice. The tank started with dry rock and sand and doesn't have any algae yet. I know some fish are best for more established tanks. What would be a good addition at this point? It's fowlr now but will be a reef tank in the future. Thanks in advance for your help!

I went with a yellow tang in addition to my clown, and two damselfish. Been doing great so far (only a week, lol).

I bought seaweed pellets for the tang, but he likes to eat mysis shrimp by the truckload.

 

[glb]

Blennies or gobies maybe even a wrasse? Starry bennies are nice? If you want a schooling fish chromis are good editions..

I would love a Midas Blenny but I've read they need live rock to give them algae, etc. to eat between meals. My rock is still so clean I don't even have any cuc's yet. Do you think the tank might still be too clean for blennies? Plus I need to build a tank cover. I have the clear mesh. Just need to build the frame.

 

[glb]

I went with a yellow tang in addition to my clown, and two damselfish. Been doing great so far (only a week, lol).

I bought seaweed pellets for the tang, but he likes to eat mysis shrimp by the truckload.

Isn't a 40g too small for a tang? I'm guessing you have a bigger tank?

 

[Maritimer]

Midas is a different kind of blenny ... They swim in the water column, often shoaling with anthias. I don't think I've ever seen mine try to nip at the livrock.

~Bruce

 

[glb]

I've had clownfish for years, but don't know much about any other fish. I need peaceful, reef-safe fish, and want to make sure they will thrive in a new tank. Thanks everyone!!

 

[glb]

Midas is a different kind of blenny ... They swim in the water column, often shoaling with anthias. I don't think I've ever seen mine try to nip at the livrock.

~Bruce

Like I said, I don't know much about any fish except clownfish. Lol

 

[Oscar47f]

I would love a Midas Blenny but I've read they need live rock to give them algae, etc. to eat between meals. My rock is still so clean I don't even have any cuc's yet. Do you think the tank might still be too clean for blennies? Plus I need to build a tank cover. I have the clear mesh. Just need to build the frame.

Isn't a 40g too small for a tang? I'm guessing you have a bigger tank?

i kept two tangs in a 40 breeder before i had my 120, while im not telling you to do that if you get a small yellow tank like 3'' it should be more than fine in the 40 its ultimately your decision... and starry bennies and bennies and gobies in general will eat mysis and algae sheets and flakes so not having algae on the rocks isn't an issue

 

[thinktank]

Isn't a 40g too small for a tang? I'm guessing you have a bigger tank?

Good point, I should have noted that I have an 85 gallon. The damselfish and maybe some of the less-aggressive wrasses might be good.

 

[thinktank]

@glb, I like to use LiveAquaria.com to research fish. They have great info there on pretty much all types of saltwater aquarium fish and have compatibility charts, etc.

 

[eatbreakfast]

As @Maritimer mentioned, a midas blenny will be fine with what you provide, as they are water-column planktivores.

I would recommend against tangs in a 40g.

Some good options include: firefish, yellow assessor, flame or longnose hawkfish, royal gramma, chalk basslet, sunburst anthias, watchman goby w/pistol shrimp.

 

[becks]

I love my watchman goby and I like my royal gamma, the purple/yellow really stands out

 

[glb]

Thanks everyone!

 

[glb]

I love my watchman goby and I like my royal gamma, the purple/yellow really stands out

Do these fish need to be the only one of their kind in the tank or do they need to pair?

 

[najer]

Jewel / stary blenny, they will keep algae under control when you have some but will eat pretty much anything!
Oh and great personalities!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Do these fish need to be the only one of their kind in the tank or do they need to pair?

In a 40g they are probably best suited as the only specimen of the species.

 

[glb]

Jewel / stary blenny, they will keep algae under control when you have some but will eat pretty much anything!
Oh and great personalities!

Personality is what I want!!

 

[glb]

In a 40g they are probably best suited as the only specimen of the species.

Can I have more than one blenny in the tank as long as it's a different kind?

 

[davocean]

Tailspot blenny is one of my must haves and perfect for a 40g