Fish Selection for My 40 Breeder

[FlipFlops24/7]

I'm about to make an order with Live Aquaria, but I wanted to ask others opinions since I'm not very experienced with fish.

Right now I have a 40 breeder tank with SPS, LPS and softies. I also have 1 small royal gramma, and one large Maroon Clown. **I also have a true percula clownfish in my sump, which I can substitute with the Maroon clown if you think this poses any danger to the fish I want to purchase. My tank is an open top design, so fish prone to jumping out are "out" of the question :-)

I want to purchase:

2 blue neon gobies
3 Blue/Green Reef Chromis
2 Kaudern's Cardinal (I believe these are the replacement for the Bengaii Cardinal which was recently added to endangered list).

1 Six Line Wrasse (is this too much for a 40?)

Would I be safe with these? Please feel free to add or subtract to this list.

Here are some updated tank shots too:
1. Yes I'm going to continue to frag that unproportional gorgonian :-)
2. Bummer you cant see the gorgeous red monticap that bri guy gave me.

[MSU Fan]

I don't know about the fish list (sounds like a bit much to me, but what do I know?), but your tank is looking good TJ!

I see you managed to get the valonia under control - good job!

[FlipFlops24/7]

Thanks Craig. THe bubble algae has become more of a manual removal process which is still ongoing. I bought 2 emerald crabs and they wouldnt touch it.

I was hoping I'd hear some members chime in on their nano fish, and what they were happy with. I'm thinking maybe some shrimp gobies(like the randall gobies link )but they aren't all that cheap.

[RCS]

Personally, I think that's too many fish. The Chromis should ideally be in a larger tank (4 feet+). Are you looking at the cleaner gobies? Unless they're a pair, there's a good chance they'll fight. Same goes for the cardinals (Banggai is the common name, scientific name is Pterapogon kauderni; same fish).

[FlipFlops24/7]

Originally posted by RCS
Personally, I think that's too many fish. The Chromis should ideally be in a larger tank (4 feet+). Are you looking at the cleaner gobies? Unless they're a pair, there's a good chance they'll fight. Same goes for the cardinals (Banggai is the common name, scientific name is Pterapogon kauderni; same fish).

Could I go with

1 neon gobi
1 cardinal
1 chromis
1 six line

??? I was thinking pairs so nobody gangs up on each other..lol.

[RCS]

I would skip the chromis completely. They're a schooling fish and generally do better in groups. If you want something passive and schooling, you might want to consider a small group 4-6 of the Pajama cardinal instead of the Banggai. The rest should be fine.

[jmkarcz]

I remember when you needed to have your arm practically twisted off to get that tank, and now look at it. Wow.

What about this?

1 Maroon Clown (existing)
1 Royal Gramma (existing)
2 blue neon gobies
1 Pygmy Angel
1 Yellow Headed Jaw Fish


I find that my angles all nip and clean the glass in some degree, and consider them at least partially functional, and my jawfish kept the substrate moving and turned over... and was cool to watch. The gobies are so small they almost don't even factor... and you could offset this equation my moving that clown out of the sump all together (find it a new home) and it's like your only adding 1.2 fish to the system.

[FlipFlops24/7]

Originally posted by jmkarcz
I remember when you needed to have your arm practically twisted off to get that tank, and now look at it. Wow.

What about this?

1 Maroon Clown (existing)
1 Royal Gramma (existing)
2 blue neon gobies
1 Pygmy Angel
1 Yellow Headed Jaw Fish


I find that my angles all nip and clean the glass in some degree, and consider them at least partially functional, and my jawfish kept the substrate moving and turned over... and was cool to watch. The gobies are so small they almost don't even factor... and you could offset this equation my moving that clown out of the sump all together (find it a new home) and it's like your only adding 1.2 fish to the system.

Thank you Jason, it wouldn't have happened without all of yours and Rons hard work.

I looked up the Pygmy angel, and Live Aquaria says It may nip at large-polyped stony corals and clam mantles. :-(

[jmkarcz]

Never had a problem with mine... but I done have either.....

[kiowascout]

Six lines are known jumpers. ask mine. He's jerky on the floor behind my tanks.

[FlipFlops24/7]

Originally posted by kiowascout
Six lines are known jumpers. ask mine. He's jerky on the floor behind my tanks.

Good to know. Thats the only drawback I had of having an open top design. My Lawnmower Blenny took the jump!

[siropa]

knocking on wood, but i've had mine 6 line for 8 months or so in tanks without covers.

[johnanddawn]

i have both a 6 line and a blennie - neither of which has jumped yet - but with your set-up and that maroon your going to have to be very cautious on tank mates - as both the maroon and the royal can be territorial - after being in charge for a while they might hassle anything you put in there. FWIW i think i would bite the bullet and wait till i found a pair of shrimp gobies - randals, yashias, or yellow watchmans. their secretive bottom dwelling behavior would be less likely to draw attention from your clown and eventially could be quite nice watching them interact with a shrimp and you have a nice sandbed/reefscape for them to build in.

[FlipFlops24/7]

Originally posted by johnanddawn
i have both a 6 line and a blennie - neither of which has jumped yet - but with your set-up and that maroon your going to have to be very cautious on tank mates - as both the maroon and the royal can be territorial - after being in charge for a while they might hassle anything you put in there. FWIW i think i would bite the bullet and wait till i found a pair of shrimp gobies - randals, yashias, or yellow watchmans. their secretive bottom dwelling behavior would be less likely to draw attention from your clown and eventially could be quite nice watching them interact with a shrimp and you have a nice sandbed/reefscape for them to build in.

As gorgeous and healthy as my maroon is, its hard for me to think of parting with it. However, he's just so mean to everyone else in the tank. My Royal Gramma hides constantly. When I feed, he chases him away and eats almost everything. I wish I had a 2nd tank for him.

Decisions Decisions...

by pair, do you mean mated pair, or just 2 in general?

[johnanddawn]

yeah mated pair but they are expensive - DD - has them frequently even come with the shrimp.... but I'm not sure i would spend that kind of money though till after you removed the maroon - to risky - that maroon could make a jumper out of any fish

[BryanJ]

What about a green or a spotted Mandrin? Nice looking fish won't jump and gets along with everything.

[Aquabucket]

Wow. Your tank looks great TJ!

For a tank your size:

A Yellow Watchmen Goby and a Pygmy Angel are good choices. (I know where you can nice little Pygmy that's been in QT for a few months now). With an open top many other fish like the six-line are good candidates to carpet surf.

I would trade out your Maroon though. They get too big for a 40 IME. Your Gramma might become more active with it out there.

[sunfish11]

I think your tank looks great! As far as the fish list goes I think you just add slowly and watch the tank. Some tanks can handle more fish than others based on the level of biological/mechanical filtration. As long as your parameters stay good you can keep adding fish. As far as the chromis go, I had a couple in my 24 gal nano for a year and they did fine. I moved them to my 210 almost two years ago and they are still fine. I have never had an issue with my Coral Beauty eating coral or clam but some do nip at it so that is going to have to be a risk if you decide to get a pygmy angel. Blenny's and wrasses are known jumpers so be careful with those. My six-line hasn't jumped out yet (knock on wood) but I guess he could at any time. A watchman goby and pistol shrimp would be cool. I have a pair in my nano cube and they are really neat, but they dig ALOT.

Lisa