Fish Plan for 40B suggestions?

RickNavyDad

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New 40B, almost finished cycling. I did a bad and did a fish in cycle with green reef chromis. Well I started with 3 and down to 1 so I know I need another or two. I want to do some beginner corals, leathers, and such. I love blennies, and gobbies. I can't do tangs in a 40, and I know I need a wrasse. Clowns are a must but which ones? I am trying to go slow, so not buying the first pretty fish I see is hard. I know I need a plan for what I put in the tank. I want shrimp but want a hawk. I also know I need a good cuc. Suggestions?
 
ok, first things first, those chromis are a bad idea imo. they are notorious for picking on each other until there is only one left. i would either remove the one, or leave it in there alone. i wouldn't buy any more.

hawkfish do have a reputation for eating shrimp, but you could always try with a young fish and a larger shrimp. if you want a hawk, sexy shrimp are probably out of the question, but maybe something like a speedy peppermint shrimp or cleaner shrimp could be ok. i don’t have much experience with them but i've heard a few mixed opinions.

flasher wrasses and some small fairy wrasse could be ok in there. i'd recommend researching the lubbock's fairy wrasse, mccosker's flasher wrasse, and carpenter's flasher wrasse.

clown breeding pairs can occasionally get territorial, but sometimes they are fine. the type of clown you want is up to you. i would steer clear of aggressive maroon clowns though.

tangs are also not totally out of the question. a young tang could live in there until it outgrew it. then, you could give it to a local reefer or, if you plan to upgrade, move it to a larger setup.

my thoughts on fish to look into are small wrasses, perhaps a young tang, clowns, cardinalfish, basslets, dwarf angelfish, gobies, blennies, potentially a peaceful damsel (springers or rollands), an orchid dottyback, or hawkfish. cuc options could also lack shrimp if you really want to be safe with your hawk. look into brittle stars, sand stars, hermits, snails, or urchins.

it sounds like you still have some research to do, and best of luck with your setup!
 
ok, first things first, those chromis are a bad idea imo. they are notorious for picking on each other until there is only one left. i would either remove the one, or leave it in there alone. i wouldn't buy any more.

hawkfish do have a reputation for eating shrimp, but you could always try with a young fish and a larger shrimp. if you want a hawk, sexy shrimp are probably out of the question, but maybe something like a speedy peppermint shrimp or cleaner shrimp could be ok. i don’t have much experience with them but i've heard a few mixed opinions.

flasher wrasses and some small fairy wrasse could be ok in there. i'd recommend researching the lubbock's fairy wrasse, mccosker's flasher wrasse, and carpenter's flasher wrasse.

clown breeding pairs can occasionally get territorial, but sometimes they are fine. the type of clown you want is up to you. i would steer clear of aggressive maroon clowns though.

tangs are also not totally out of the question. a young tang could live in there until it outgrew it. then, you could give it to a local reefer or, if you plan to upgrade, move it to a larger setup.

my thoughts on fish to look into are small wrasses, perhaps a young tang, clowns, cardinalfish, basslets, dwarf angelfish, gobies, blennies, potentially a peaceful damsel (springers or rollands), an orchid dottyback, or hawkfish. cuc options could also lack shrimp if you really want to be safe with your hawk. look into brittle stars, sand stars, hermits, snails, or urchins.

it sounds like you still have some research to do, and best of luck with your setup!
I really appreciate it. I didn't think there were any peaceful damsels? I will research them. I love basslets, but also know I can usually only have one of those. I never had good luck with angels. I did have a 75 gallon with a sump but could never keep more than 5 fish at a time. Although I didn't do as much planning with that tank. I appreciate the help.
 
I really appreciate it. I didn't think there were any peaceful damsels? I will research them. I love basslets, but also know I can usually only have one of those. I never had good luck with angels. I did have a 75 gallon with a sump but could never keep more than 5 fish at a time. Although I didn't do as much planning with that tank. I appreciate the help.
some kinds of damsels can be peaceful, mainly the rolland's damsel and springer's damsel. there is a risk with any damsel you put in the tank, but in my opinion those are the most peaceful of their family. for basslets, you could always pick your favorite and keep that one as the only basslet in it’s family. and as for the 75g, what was your stocking like?
 
some kinds of damsels can be peaceful, mainly the rolland's damsel and springer's damsel. there is a risk with any damsel you put in the tank, but in my opinion those are the most peaceful of their family. for basslets, you could always pick your favorite and keep that one as the only basslet in it’s family. and as for the 75g, what was your stocking like?
The 75g I was all over the place. The only 3 fish I could keep were a yellow watchman, a cardinal, and a single clown. Those stayed for several years. Everything else was a week, a month, or so. Could never keep more, and never knew what happened. Clean up crew would get it right away. Then again I should have put a lot more effort into that tank.
 
The 75g I was all over the place. The only 3 fish I could keep were a yellow watchman, a cardinal, and a single clown. Those stayed for several years. Everything else was a week, a month, or so. Could never keep more, and never knew what happened. Clean up crew would get it right away. Then again I should have put a lot more effort into that tank.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I'm happy you're really taking your time this time around to plan a beautiful tank that will bring you joy for years to come! I hope you have great success
 
I'd just keep the one chromis.
Sounds like you want clowns, so a pair of anything is fine as long as it's some type of perc or ocellaris. Don't get clarkii or maroon or other larger aggressive ones.

Sounds to me like you want:
Chromis
Pair of clowns
Blenny - maybe tailspot or bicolor?
Goby - maybe yellow watchman?
Wrasse - maybe Lubbock's or possum or pink streak?
Hawk - long nose?

Should be fine.
 
I'd just keep the one chromis.
Sounds like you want clowns, so a pair of anything is fine as long as it's some type of perc or ocellaris. Don't get clarkii or maroon or other larger aggressive ones.

Sounds to me like you want:
Chromis
Pair of clowns
Blenny - maybe tailspot or bicolor?
Goby - maybe yellow watchman?
Wrasse - maybe Lubbock's or possum or pink streak?
Hawk - long nose?

Should be fine.
I keep seeing a lot of people with pink streaks just don't see them locally. I would like a starry or lawnmower blenny, or are they the same?
 
I keep seeing a lot of people with pink streaks just don't see them locally. I would like a starry or lawnmower blenny, or are they the same?
Apparently the pink streak is seasonal. You'll have to do some looking.

Starry and lawnmower are close cousins and will be very similar. They would be pretty different than the 2 I mentioned, but should be fine in a 40 breeder. They do get biggish, which is fine.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

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  • No.

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  • Other (please explain).

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