New reef,. Stocking suggestions needed

[dohc97]

I will be doing a 48x24x21 so about 105 gallons,. Would like to keep to smaller fish with the exception of my small regal angel. Nothing that eats sps but I'm open to suggestions. I was originally thinking a few fairy/leopard wrasses but have also entertained the idea of 2-3 pyramid butterflies. Budget wise I'm willing to spend $100-200 per fish or up to $500-600 for something rare. I do like rare/hard to keep fish over common so keep that in mind. Thank you

 

[Gareth elliott]

For a group of butterflies you usually want more footprint than what a single specimen needs. Pyramids are very active swimmers, they are also plankton feeders so tend stick to the top 2/3 of the tank for feeding may get crowded in a 48x24. Just something to keep in mind, the hippo may also find this foot print eventually too small, they are one of the faster growing tangs as well.

Smaller fish i like for movement might be a shoal of some kind for movement. Anthias, blue eyed cardinals, scissortail dart fish etc.

Reef safe wrasses like smaller halichroes wrasses, fairy wrasses, and flasher wrasses. For active swimmers with lots of color.

Clownfish

Yellow tang or bristletooth tangs

gobys

blennys

for community tanks, just read up each fish, you want peaceful or those that say agressive to conspecifics only(and you keep only one)

the more timid the closer to first you add

 

[dohc97]

Maybe I should have written my post better, I am far from a beginner, I have had every common fish under the sun. I was more looking for personal experiences and specific fish that worked for people in similar foot prints. I don't always follow guidelines but do like to hear what has worked for people and I do tend to sometimes push limits. I did not mention any tang, only one I would consider would be a white tail bristletooth but not on top of my last. Maybe I should just stick to fairy wrasses which is what I know best...