Suggestions for new addition to 40 breeder reef

[Jcon82]

Hi All,

I want to add some more fish to my 40b reef. The setup is about 7 months old. It has quite a bit of coral and inverts like snails and starfish.

Fish include:

2 black/white occellaris clowns
1 firefish goby
4 Chromis

I'm looking for something that is a contrasting color from what I have and that is reef safe. I also have long term goals to get a mandarin so compatibility with that is important

 

[Jekyl]

Do you have sufficient hiding / sleeping places for the 8 fish you have already accounted for? That would be my first concern. Without each fish having some personal space aggression may become an issue, especially if considering a mandarin that is slow moving and peaceful.

 

[Jcon82]

Do you have sufficient hiding / sleeping places for the 8 fish you have already accounted for? That would be my first concern. Without each fish having some personal space aggression may become an issue, especially if considering a mandarin that is slow moving and peaceful.

I would think so. The rock work has many caves.

 

[Jekyl]

I would think so. The rock work has many caves.

I have 8 fish currently in my 90g. Even then my damsel and flame angel are jerks. Lawnmower blenny is always fun to watch. Royal gramma has been something I've been thinking about adding. If it were me, I'd decide on color rather than fish. Then see which fish match the color I'm lacking and which are compatible.

 

[kevgib67]

I second Jekyl on a Royal Gramma. The colors pop and mine plays nice with others.

 

[i cant think]

Honestly, don’t look for certain colours. Just look for a fish you like! Why does it matter if the fish doesn’t match the colour you need? If you enjoy it, take it. It’s like fish you want just because they do a job, if you don’t like it for whatever reason don’t get it but if you like it then get it, the working part is JUST a second pro.
Some of my favourites you should look at for a 40:
- Centropyge species (My personal holy grail is C. multicolor)
- smaller Cirrhilabrus species (I recommend looking into the lubbocki complex)
- Escenius species (My personal favourites are E. pulcher and E. bimaculatus).

Getting a photo of your rockwork from these 3 angles will help us to see what fish is going to be best for you. The three angles are; Top Down, Side On, Front On.

 

[LeftyReefer]

A couple of the smaller species of anthias (that get 3"-4" max) might be a option.

Beautiful colors on them and they are very active fish that prefer to swim in the upper portions of the tank.

 

[Jcon82]

Following up,

I picked up a Carpenters wrasse and a Royal Gramma Basslet. I should be good with fish for a while