Stock List

[Colin_1122]

Hey guys,

This will be my first saltwater tank so I just wanted to share my stock list to get some ideas. It’ll be an IM Nuvo 40 fusion. I plan on definitely having a pair of clowns (hopefully orange storm, still deciding if the price is worth it). Not sure on anything else yet. I think I’ll add a firefish first since they are more shy. I would like a coral beauty angel but have heard they may be aggressive in that size tank so I’ll probably go with a Pygmy angel. I love the flameback angel if anybody has experience with that? I would love a pufferfish but don’t know if there are any reef safe puffers for that size tank as well. I don’t have too many other ideas. A shrimp/goby pair would be cool but I’m not sure on the species for either. For coral I’d like a hammer/torch/frogspawn or something similar. A few zoas and GSP too, nothing too difficult. Eventually a BTA for the clowns as well. Not sure about my CUC yet. I’ve heard great things about fighting conchs and tuxedo urchins. If there are any reef safe starfish that would be great as well

Sorry, I know this has been a long post. Any help is appreciated

 

[Cory]

The small fish are good choices for a small tank. The puffer no. You will regret it later. Angels are not reef safe. If you want inverts the puffer may eat them. Id stick with small fish. Lots of beautiful small fish for a full blown reef.

 

[Colin_1122]

The small fish are good choices for a small tank. The puffer no. You will regret it later. Angels are not reef safe. If you want inverts the puffer may eat them. Id stick with small fish. Lots of beautiful small fish for a full blown reef.

What would you recommend?

 

[Cory]

What would you recommend?

Me i love chromis. Cheap and 6 of them look amazing shimmering in the light. Plus they love to hide together at night. You may loose some though to bullying.

You can also get multiple damsels but multiple because most are mean mean mean. So youd need like 6 of them so they have boxing matches together. Territorial little buggers. But there are a few rare peaceful damsels. Chromis are sort of.

Mandarin goby. Yellow clown goby , clown gobys, all the fish that walk on sandbeds are great. Diamond gobies are sweet sand cleaners.

Okay if no puffers you could get cleaner shrimp, candy stripe ones are sweet. Blue linkia starfish burst in blue color but are not easy to keep.

So so many choices. Youll find lots.

 

[Colin_1122]

Me i love chromis. Cheap and 6 of them look amazing shimmering in the light. Plus they love to hide together at night. You may loose some though to bullying.

You can also get multiple damsels but multiple because most are mean mean mean. So youd need like 6 of them so they have boxing matches together. Territorial little buggers. But there are a few rare peaceful damsels. Chromis are sort of.

Mandarin goby. Yellow clown goby , clown gobys, all the fish that walk on sandbeds are great. Diamond gobies are sweet sand cleaners.

Okay if no puffers you could get cleaner shrimp, candy stripe ones are sweet. Blue linkia starfish burst in blue color but are not easy to keep.

So so many choices. Youll find lots.

Thanks for the help! I love mandarins but I’m afraid it will starve. I was looking at the diamond gobies as well but I’ve heard they can cover coral with sand?

 

[Colin_1122]

I saw a royal gramma today as well and loved the colors on it. Would that be ok for the tank?

 

[Cory]

Thanks for the help! I love mandarins but I’m afraid it will starve. I was looking at the diamond gobies as well but I’ve heard they can cover coral with sand?

All viable concerns. But trust me every fish comes with its probelms. Paul b made a mandarin goby feeder. Look into that. Just dont keep coral near the bottom.

 

[Cory]

I saw a royal gramma today as well and loved the colors on it. Would that be ok for the tank?

Yep very cool fish for that tank.

 

[Colin_1122]

Do you think a Pygmy angel or coral beauty would be ok with the royal gramma? I know they can nip at coral but I’ve heard a coral beauty or Pygmy (cherub/ flameback) would have less risk. Also are there any shrimp that would pair with the diamond goby?

 

[Cory]

Do you think a Pygmy angel or coral beauty would be ok with the royal gramma? I know they can nip at coral but I’ve heard a coral beauty or Pygmy (cherub/ flameback) would have less risk. Also are there any shrimp that would pair with the diamond goby?

The thing with it is cave dwelling fish fight with cave dwelling fish. They might be fine together though. Randals goby is the shrimp pairing one iirc.

 

[Colin_1122]

The thing with it is cave dwelling fish fight with cave dwelling fish. They might be fine together though. Randals goby is the shrimp pairing one iirc.

How about a yellow watchman goby? Those will sift sand as well and can pair with shrimp right?

 

[H3rm1tCr@b]

I absolutely recommend a goby/shrimp pair. They are the most entertaining critters I own and astound visitors. I think you could do a firefish, heck maybe even a pair. Just make sure they are actually a pair otherwise they might hurt each other. I also agree with @Cory . I have a very small school of three blue/green chromis in my twenty gallon high nano reef, they are really friendly to each other. Occasional nipping here and there but then again many animals have a hierarchy. Oh and I would say to check out possum wrasses. They are really cool and peaceful little guys. Really pretty too. They are a bit cryptic though so if you get one and don't see it much it's pretty normal from what I've heard.

 

[H3rm1tCr@b]

Oh and invertebrate wise you could get some anemone shrimp. Be forewarned: they do occasionally pick at coral or anemones that they host, but it shouldn't be too bad. I have a single sexy shrimp who is almost always well behaved and two peacock anemone shrimp. The largest peacock shrimp nibbles on her elegance coral every once in a while. Not noticeable at all. Also, look at cool crab species. Decorator crabs, staghorn hermit crabs, there are a lot of really neat options. And saron shrimp. Debatable reef safeness depending on the species but epic specimens. And feather worms. Those guys are cool. Sorry for the rant. Gotta love those inverts tho!

 

[Colin_1122]

I absolutely recommend a goby/shrimp pair. They are the most entertaining critters I own and astound visitors. I think you could do a firefish, heck maybe even a pair. Just make sure they are actually a pair otherwise they might hurt each other. I also agree with @Cory . I have a very small school of three blue/green chromis in my twenty gallon high nano reef, they are really friendly to each other. Occasional nipping here and there but then again many animals have a hierarchy. Oh and I would say to check out possum wrasses. They are really cool and peaceful little guys. Really pretty too. They are a bit cryptic though so if you get one and don't see it much it's pretty normal from what I've heard.

Do you think a firefish would be ok with a coral beauty and/or royal gramma?

 

[H3rm1tCr@b]

Do you think a firefish would be ok with a coral beauty and/or royal gramma?

Probably. You have a forty gallon right? If the angel doesn’t get too aggressive then you should be alright. It’ll be more likely to work with a royal gramma. Just make sure to have a lot of rock work for them to hide in.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Do you think a firefish would be ok with a coral beauty and/or royal gramma?

I have had the combo of firefish and royal gramma before with no problems. Royal grammas are territorial, not aggressive, and the firefish know you mind their own business.
Shrimp gobies are great, and their are lots of species. My favorite is the Randall’s (it’s my profile pic). Other options are yellow watchmen, yasha, hi fin, and pink bar. They pair with with candy stripe pistols (alpheus Randalli) and tiger pistols.
Take a look at hawkfish. Also look at flasher wrasses. I would stay away from damsels and dottybacks. Assessors and other basslets are nice fish too.
Edit: it wasn’t supposed so say that “I have heard shrimp gobies are great”. That is a personal experience and I have one.

 

[H3rm1tCr@b]

I have had the combo of firefish and royal gramma before with no problems. Royal grammas are territorial, not aggressive, and the firefish know you mind their own business. I have heard
Shrimp gobies are great, and their are lots of species. My favorite is the Randall’s (it’s my profile pic). Other options are yellow watchmen, yasha, hi fin, and pink bar. They pair with with candy stripe pistols (alpheus Randalli) and tiger pistols.
Take a look at hawkfish. Also look at flasher wrasses. I would stay away from damsels and dottybacks. Assessors and other basslets are nice fish too.

Oh I forgot about hawk fish those guys are epic! I’d get one myself but... twenty gallon... anemone shrimp...

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Oh I forgot about hawk fish those guys are epic! I’d get one myself but... twenty gallon... anemone shrimp...

That sounds like a perfect recipe for an unhappy hawk and an expensive shrimp dinner. lol
I should mention to the OP that royal grammas and hawks both eat shrimp.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Be cautious with the puffer. I have a Valentini Puffer, and it is hit and miss if they eat coral. I am lucky and my Valentini shows absolutely no interest in the coral. HOWEVER, he raids and pillages my snails.

 

[Colin_1122]

That sounds like a perfect recipe for an unhappy hawk and an expensive shrimp dinner. lol
I should mention to the OP that royal grammas and hawks both eat shrimp.

Yeah I looked into hawkfish but didn’t want my cuc to get eaten, same with puffers. I didn’t know royal grammas would eat shrimp though