Stocking questions!

Hey yall.

I've been putting some thought as to what livestock I'll end up going with. I have a 40 breeder reef.. Right now it's housing 2 ocellaris clown, a yellow watchman, and I have a longnose hawkfish in QT that I'll be adding within the next week. Now, I have had many ppl tell me manyyy different theories as to how many fish would be safe to keep in my tank. I've heard the 1 inch per gallon rule, but then again I've heard that with the technology for inhome tanks are far more advanced, making that rule outdated. I know it depends a lot on how big the fish are.. My skimmer is rated to 60 gal (i'll have to double check), and my canister is rated to 75.

So, I'll be adding a carpenters wrasse into my QT once transfer the hawkfish into the DT. The guy I buy my livestock from in town is saving it for me, so unless I really don't like how it looks, I'm going to get the wrasse. I've really been up in the air about what I'll add after the wrasse.. I love pygmy angels, and have been considering getting a Bicolor or coral beauty angel. I've heard that dwarf angels can be somewhat of a crapshoot, in terms of getting a coral nipper or non coral nipper. So that definitely plays a factor in my decision. Another possibility is a mandarin of some color. I know the difficulty involved, and I've been doing my homework on them. I'd have to buy pods for him, to add frequently. I have a little in-tank fuge w/ chaeto that houses a fair number of them, and I have a bottle of pods coming to me in the mail as we speak. So if I do decide on the mandy, I'll be building up my pod pop for a good while beforehand. Another thought is a royal gramma, I really like these guys too lol. Maybe both the mandarin and the gramma.. I was thinking these 2 small fish would prob produce the same about of waste as an angel.. Correct me if I'm wrong though, it's just speculation haha.

So what would yall do? I'm open to any suggestions really. Thanks for any help guys!

 

I do know there is a high potential of conflict between the hawk & a mandarin. Hawks get territorial and can bully other similiar style fishes (ie, the place to place hoppers). Iread royal gamma's can be a little territorial once grown as well. the bicolor looks & sounds good, but ive never had one to base personal experience. I've got a CB and havent had no problems with mine, but yes they are a 50/50 gamble and even safe ones have been known to wake up & start coral snacking.

 

"I've heard the 1 inch per gallon rule, but then again I've heard that with the technology for inhome tanks are far more advanced, making that rule outdated."

very untrue for saltwater, they need tons of swimming room. You said you have a pair of clowns, ive heard not to add the carpentars wrasse with a pair of clowns because the clowns will get aggressive, im not 100% sure though maybe someone here like evovled who has experience with wrasses can chime in.

also a good skimmer wont be enough for a heavy bioload, your going to need a stronger cleanup crew for that mostly

 

a pair of clowns will get aggresive to any fish that won't eat them. even towards you.

also it depends on the species of fish as far as swimming room and actual water volume goes. i beilieve 2in10 has a link call "Is my tank big enough?"

 

yes angels are a crapshoot, i would add like 3 anthias or something to get some good color.

 

No. I disagree. like 95% of anthias are all very active swimmer and are not recommended for anything less than a 50-75 for a solo fish and even more if kept in schools.

 

depends on the anthia, a group of 3 anthias could easily be kept in a 40 gallon tank.

 

I dont think that Anthia would be a good fit either. He already has 3 fish currently in the tank and 1 in QT.

 

this is true, that would be a little much, it depends, what type of fish are you looking for exactly? freeswimming? bottom dwelling? perching?

 

which ones work in schools in a 40?