40 Gallon Breeder - Fish choice

mmittlesteadt · 04/22/2015, 08:45 AM

Nowhere near ready to select fish...don't even have the tank filled with water so I'm a long way off. But I'm thinking ahead here. I am in no rush and any fish I select when I am ready, will be added slowly, over time.

My family wants at least one larger "feature" fish for the tank. I realize the tank is not that large so I'm not looking to put Tangs in it. LOL. I have a 40 gallon breeder with a 65 gallon sump for a total water volume (combined) of roughly 70 gallons, with a 20 gallon section in the sump for a refugium. The display will be easy to keep soft corals with just a few fish (not sure how much I can go with stocking fish yet). I will have a 20 gallon QT tank.

I'm wondering if any of the smaller angels will be a good choice for a main feature fish. I will only have one of these if they would make a good choice or not.

Flame angel
Lemonpeel
Coral Beauty

Other fish I want to have, but have not decided on yet (and I'm not meaning I want all of them...still trying to decide)...

Percula or Ocellaris Clownfish (one or a pair)?
Firefish
Chromis (how many?)
Cardinalfish (Pajama, Banggai...how many,each, together?)

I also want some kind of mostly bottom dwelling fish. I'd love to have a Mandarin (who wouldn't?) but I realize with my tank size (and even with a refugium where I could get a fairly good pod colony established, it's probably not a wise choice). So what would be a good selection instead of a Mandarin?

Variety of Blenny(s). One only...more?

This is not a comprehensive list by any means and I do not want to overstock my tank so I'm just throwing these ideas out there to see what is compatible with a soft coral reef and with each other, given my tank size.

Any suggestions or recommendations by those of you with far more knowledge and experience would be greatly appreciated. I don't have my heart set on any (except for the clownfish) and I want what's best for the fish and coral.

Kyle461 · 04/22/2015, 08:55 AM

The only recommendation I have seen for the Mandy is at least a 20G refugium, but only after about a year or so to get the pod population up. I would say that if you want it, plan for it and watch your pod population.

Goldmund · 04/22/2015, 08:59 AM

In my 40b tank I've got a pair of occ clowns, a bi-color blenny, royal gramma, and a skunk cleaner shrimp. Honestly, with just those it feels pretty active and full. I used to have a banggai cardinal and firefish as well, but the blenny killed both of them =(

mmittlesteadt · 04/22/2015, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle461

The only recommendation I have seen for the Mandy is at least a 20G refugium, but only after about a year or so to get the pod population up. I would say that if you want it, plan for it and watch your pod population.

I still think a Mandarin in my tank is an iffy proposition at best.

PeterHall · 04/22/2015, 09:12 AM

Midas blenny!

mmittlesteadt · 04/22/2015, 09:15 AM

I'm thinking maybe a Bi-Color Blenny too.

mmittlesteadt · 04/22/2015, 09:32 AM

It was recommended to me, to NOT have a dwarf angel in my tank. So...what other reef compatible fish could I get that is similar in size/color? I really want one larger "feature" fish. Obviously not one that grows too large, but something along the lines of the dwarf angels.

04/22/2015, 08:45 AM	#1
mmittlesteadt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rothschild, WI Posts: 1,209	40 Gallon Breeder - Fish choice Nowhere near ready to select fish...don't even have the tank filled with water so I'm a long way off. But I'm thinking ahead here. I am in no rush and any fish I select when I am ready, will be added slowly, over time. My family wants at least one larger "feature" fish for the tank. I realize the tank is not that large so I'm not looking to put Tangs in it. LOL. I have a 40 gallon breeder with a 65 gallon sump for a total water volume (combined) of roughly 70 gallons, with a 20 gallon section in the sump for a refugium. The display will be easy to keep soft corals with just a few fish (not sure how much I can go with stocking fish yet). I will have a 20 gallon QT tank. I'm wondering if any of the smaller angels will be a good choice for a main feature fish. I will only have one of these if they would make a good choice or not. Flame angel Lemonpeel Coral Beauty Other fish I want to have, but have not decided on yet (and I'm not meaning I want all of them...still trying to decide)... Percula or Ocellaris Clownfish (one or a pair)? Firefish Chromis (how many?) Cardinalfish (Pajama, Banggai...how many,each, together?) I also want some kind of mostly bottom dwelling fish. I'd love to have a Mandarin (who wouldn't?) but I realize with my tank size (and even with a refugium where I could get a fairly good pod colony established, it's probably not a wise choice). So what would be a good selection instead of a Mandarin? Variety of Blenny(s). One only...more? This is not a comprehensive list by any means and I do not want to overstock my tank so I'm just throwing these ideas out there to see what is compatible with a soft coral reef and with each other, given my tank size. Any suggestions or recommendations by those of you with far more knowledge and experience would be greatly appreciated. I don't have my heart set on any (except for the clownfish) and I want what's best for the fish and coral. __________________ Every life on this planet deserve respect, no matter how small or insignificant it may appear at first glance. 40 Gallon Build Thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2486801 Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder, Eshopps PSK-100, Kessil A160WE, 70 lbs. rock, 65 gallon sump, 27 gallon refugium

04/22/2015, 08:55 AM	#2
Kyle461 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 438	The only recommendation I have seen for the Mandy is at least a 20G refugium, but only after about a year or so to get the pod population up. I would say that if you want it, plan for it and watch your pod population. __________________ Nadie me paga en chicles!! Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2485917 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon breeder (2/17/15); 20L 3-chamber sump; Tunze Nano ATO; Hydor 320gph return and Circulation 850 gph; Coralife Super Skimmer 125 G; Marineland 24"-36" Reef LED

04/22/2015, 09:15 AM	#6
mmittlesteadt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rothschild, WI Posts: 1,209	I'm thinking maybe a Bi-Color Blenny too. __________________ Every life on this planet deserve respect, no matter how small or insignificant it may appear at first glance. 40 Gallon Build Thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2486801 Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder, Eshopps PSK-100, Kessil A160WE, 70 lbs. rock, 65 gallon sump, 27 gallon refugium

04/22/2015, 09:32 AM	#7
mmittlesteadt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rothschild, WI Posts: 1,209	It was recommended to me, to NOT have a dwarf angel in my tank. So...what other reef compatible fish could I get that is similar in size/color? I really want one larger "feature" fish. Obviously not one that grows too large, but something along the lines of the dwarf angels. __________________ Every life on this planet deserve respect, no matter how small or insignificant it may appear at first glance. 40 Gallon Build Thread - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2486801 Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder, Eshopps PSK-100, Kessil A160WE, 70 lbs. rock, 65 gallon sump, 27 gallon refugium

04/22/2015, 08:59 AM	#3
Goldmund Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 83	In my 40b tank I've got a pair of occ clowns, a bi-color blenny, royal gramma, and a skunk cleaner shrimp. Honestly, with just those it feels pretty active and full. I used to have a banggai cardinal and firefish as well, but the blenny killed both of them =(

04/22/2015, 09:12 AM	#5
PeterHall Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Pacific Palisades, CA Posts: 199	Midas blenny!