Upgrading FOWLR to beginner reef tank (stocking question)

[jt808]

Im planning to eventually move my inhabitants of my 15 gal fowlr tank to a 40b with a Eshopps R200 sump.

My current stocking is 1 small juvenile yellow tang, 1 small juvenile yellow watchman goby, 1 blue-green chromis, 1 firefish, 1 diadema dottyback. All fish have been in the tank for 6 months- 1 year

I want my 40b to be a very simple reef tank. Due to my location im limited to zoanthids and palythoas for coral selection. I dont want to add any more fish but I would like to add some zoas and palys, 1-2 cleaner shrimp 3-5 turbo snails and maybe eventually a sand anenome. I plan to eventually move the tang again as it continues to grow and maybe replace with a small kole eye tang down the line.

For filtration im only planning to run a skimmer, and a filter sock for now with plenty of room in my sump for improvements and upgrades down the road.

Based on the 60'ish gallons my system will hold is this reasonable stocking? I think the fish I have are reef safe but Im open to hearing concerns if there are any. Ive only been in saltwater for just over a year and I know fowlr has less stringent stocking rules than a reef tank.

 

[little_sardines]

Sounds like a good plan! You'll probably run into issues with your dottyback going after any shrimp your put in, but besides that it seems to me like that's a good list of things that should get along.

 

[tdileo]

I would drop the yellow tang. A baby wouldn’t be unhappy, but after a few months it’ll need more room to swim.

 

[jt808]

I would drop the yellow tang. A baby wouldn’t be unhappy, but after a few months it’ll need more room to swim.

The tang is currently in my 15 gallon tank so the 40 is an upgrade and only temporary until I get something much bigger. I know a 15 sounds very bad but he is quite small (3 inches) and has been doing great for about 9 months. The 40 gallon is a test of my diy skills before I try plumbing/ ruining a larger aquarium in the future. I have a 55 I could also put him in for now but its also already pretty heavily stocked. Once the 40 is up and running I will begin looking for a 125- 180 gallon range tank that will be for him and my 55 gallon inhabitants.

 

[jt808]

Sounds like a good plan! You'll probably run into issues with your dottyback going after any shrimp your put in, but besides that it seems to me like that's a good list of things that should get along.

I heard they could be jerks but I have been relatively lucky so far, hes's nipped a few fins and chases around the chromis occasionally but otherwise keeps to himself. If hes a problem i'll still have the 15 gallon tank hes in currently that I could set back up pretty quickly if he turns into a diva in a bigger tank.