stocking ideas for 40gal

[mattybecks]

As the title suggests, I am looking for some ideas and feedback.

My current saltwater setup: A 1m long, 170L tank (I think this is around 40gal) with about 12 - 13kg of live rock (I got some of the last avaliable live rock from the LFS display tank before LR was banned here). Got enough filtration for now and consistent stable parameters. I don't have space for a sump or protein skimmer yet, my apt is only so big but I do plan on getting a skimmer within the next month or so and try fit it in somewhere.
Current filtration is sunsun 304b canister filter (2000Lph), all the trays being packed with ceramic rings. I also have a 90cm x 10cm x 10xm "tray" that runs across the top of the tank (wet/dry filter) that is also packed with ceramic media.
Salinity is at 33ppt (1.025), currently doing 20% water change weekly.

I got some new purple coralline algae growth on the LR, and loads of interesting life forms coming of out the LR that I didn't realize was there and don't know the names of yet. Too small to photograph.
The current stock is now at
6 red legged hermit crabs
4 blue legged hermit crabs
2 cleaner shrimp
2 ocellerious clownfish

I only have soft corals for now, a bunch of mushrooms and Xenia both of which have been doing splendidly these last few weeks. Especially love the look of the Xenia.

So taking the above into account - I was thinking of adding 2 x firefish gobies. I understand that it is best to keep only two of them? In nature they like to hang around in groups, but in an aquarium they land up killing each other until only 2 are left. Is this correct?

coral beauty dwarf angelfish - most online info related to this fish states that these guys don't really go for soft corals? or do they?

Or I could go for a azure damselfish?

any other suggestions and feedback would be appreciated.

(I like the look and activity of the green chromis - but I feel these guys will get to large for my tank.)

 

[Ron Reefman]

I have a 40g cube (2'x2'x18") with a 40g sump/refugium. It's fully loaded with zoas and Rock Flower Anemones with just a few lps and sps corals. I have a couple serpent stars, a sand sifting sea cucumber, some snails, an emerald crab. I have a big, very old pajama cardinal I've had for many years, a small scopas tang, one clownfish (her mate died) and an indigo dottyback.

Damselfish are often quite aggressive, I wouldn't use one in a small tank like this. Maybe a good algae eater like a lawn mower blennie or like me, a small tang. BTW, I've had mine for 2 years in this tank and it seems to be doing just fine. Most people say a tang needs a bigger tank. If mine gets big, I can always trade it off to somebody with a bigger tank and get a new small one.

 

[mattybecks]

I have a 40g cube (2'x2'x18") with a 40g sump/refugium. It's fully loaded with zoas and Rock Flower Anemones with just a few lps and sps corals. I have a couple serpent stars, a sand sifting sea cucumber, some snails, an emerald crab. I have a big, very old pajama cardinal I've had for many years, a small scopas tang, one clownfish (her mate died) and an indigo dottyback.

Damselfish are often quite aggressive, I wouldn't use one in a small tank like this. Maybe a good algae eater like a lawn mower blennie or like me, a small tang. BTW, I've had mine for 2 years in this tank and it seems to be doing just fine. Most people say a tang needs a bigger tank. If mine gets big, I can always trade it off to somebody with a bigger tank and get a new small one.

Thanks for the input. One of the very first fish I started researching was the Tang. Love their activity levels, but I read a lot about them needing to go in a 75 because of their activity. Scopas Tangs look beautiful! Ill have to do some research on them and see.
Funnily enough I was thinking about the blennies this morning. this may be the way to go. I always find them interesting little guys.

 

[Colinadam80]

I would suggest a flasher wrasse and a blackcap basslet.
The wrasse will be more active and they look good. The blackcap has amazing color and is a water column swimmer, you will see it a lot.
I would only do 1 firefish, in large tanks they can be paired up but in too small of a tank they can pick at eachother.
A blenny is a great choice.
I hate tangs in small tanks. There was a recent thread in the fish forum about Tangs and how overhyped they are.

 

[sfin52]

pygmy angel. Fairy wrasse , royal gramma, gobies, cardinals. These are a good group of fish for you to look into.

 

[Katrina71]

Imo a pair of clowns and a tailspot blenny are musts! The firefish are only ok as a Mated pair. If not, you will only have one. A watchman goby and tiger pistol are awesome if you don't mind your sandbed getting moved around. If that would be an issue, consider a hi fin goby and candy cane pistol pair.

 

[Buccal]

I have a Flametail Blenny that adds a lot of life to the tank, although you don’t see them for sale often near me. He hangs around with a pair of Ocellaris clowns and a Lubbocks Wrasse.
This is a stock pic, not mine he’s too hard to take photos of being black.

 

[mattybecks]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I have noted all these names down and will do further research on each. Some good suggestions here! Ill keep you all posted on my tank once with pics and videos once I have decided.

 

[OpenOcean33]

As the title suggests, I am looking for some ideas and feedback.

My current saltwater setup: A 1m long, 170L tank (I think this is around 40gal) with about 12 - 13kg of live rock (I got some of the last avaliable live rock from the LFS display tank before LR was banned here). Got enough filtration for now and consistent stable parameters. I don't have space for a sump or protein skimmer yet, my apt is only so big but I do plan on getting a skimmer within the next month or so and try fit it in somewhere.
Current filtration is sunsun 304b canister filter (2000Lph), all the trays being packed with ceramic rings. I also have a 90cm x 10cm x 10xm "tray" that runs across the top of the tank (wet/dry filter) that is also packed with ceramic media.
Salinity is at 33ppt (1.025), currently doing 20% water change weekly.

I got some new purple coralline algae growth on the LR, and loads of interesting life forms coming of out the LR that I didn't realize was there and don't know the names of yet. Too small to photograph.
The current stock is now at
6 red legged hermit crabs
4 blue legged hermit crabs
2 cleaner shrimp
2 ocellerious clownfish

I only have soft corals for now, a bunch of mushrooms and Xenia both of which have been doing splendidly these last few weeks. Especially love the look of the Xenia.

So taking the above into account - I was thinking of adding 2 x firefish gobies. I understand that it is best to keep only two of them? In nature they like to hang around in groups, but in an aquarium they land up killing each other until only 2 are left. Is this correct?

coral beauty dwarf angelfish - most online info related to this fish states that these guys don't really go for soft corals? or do they?

Or I could go for a azure damselfish?

any other suggestions and feedback would be appreciated.

(I like the look and activity of the green chromis - but I feel these guys will get to large for my tank.)

Thats a good clean up crew, I would add a handful of nasarius snails in there (but that's just my personal taste lol). I really enjoy Xenia aswell just make sure you control them so they don't go out of control. The coral beauty dwarf should not go for your coral as they are reef safe with caution every fish has its own personality.
Damsel fish can be defenilty dominant and agressive.
Two fire fish are great, also a Midas blennywould be a good alternative as you shouldn't keep them together in a nano tank as the Midas will be aggressive towards them.
Two clown pair would be great, maybe a goby for the sand (yellow watchman, yasha goby pair, or goby and shrimp pair. If you have a nice deep sand bed and a little extra money a blue spoted jaw fish is amazing.