Stocking Options For A 44 Us Gallon Reef

[1entra]

As the title suggests I am looking to stock my 44 US Gallon reef tank. The dimensions are 32" x 18" x 18". As the tank has got corals and a few cleaner shrimp in it I want fish that are completely reef and invert safe. The tank contains approx 22kg LR but I am looking to get some more cured to top up. It also has many caves and hiding spaces.

I am after fish that are quite peaceful (will get along with each other), contrasting colours (stand out), hardy and ones that will hopefully occupy all areas/regoins of the tank, so basically I have something for everything. I dont mind not being "original" as I would like a pair of clownfish as part of my stock.

Any list of recommendations along with info on what order to put them into the tank as well as any other comments is appreciated.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish
Midas Blenny
pair of sebae or clarkii clowns
blue assesor
some kind of wrasse

 

[matt295]

firefish, small wrasse, if you want a pistol shrimp and goby pair but i find mine are kind of a nuisance, some knid of blenny. can you return fish once they grow too big for your tank back to your lfs? if you can then maybe a tang. i have a blue tang and a sailfin tang in my 50 gallon. the blue tang is almost ready to go but i just got the sailfin so i will probably have him for a little bit

 

[SkiFletch]

1. Purchase Fairy Wrasse
2. Remove kidney and sell on black market
3. Fill tank with fairy wrasses

 

[1entra]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Does anybody have any experience with keeping flame angels or know much about them? I quite like them and was wondering if one would be ok in my tank?

I am not too keen on a tang as I've heard they can be abit hard work to look after as well as being quiteprone to ich, and also if I get a fish I want it for life not to let it grow up and have to get rid of it!

Also how many small(ish) fish could I keep in my tank?

 

[chrissaysyes]

12x yellow tail damsels. Do it. Cmon, it'll be pretty.

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

Flame angels= £££, my lfs sells them at £70 a fish lol maybe some a different agle e.g. cherub or coral beauty?
Firefish are nice although the one with my clowns gets bullied so maybe not the best idea to put with clowns.

Maybe a royal grammar? They like hiding in caves, so it fits perfectly as you have loads of caves etc. Do you like bangaii cardinals a nice tank bred pair would look nice. A loads of damsels like chrissaysyes would look nice, blue star or yellow tail etc. although humbug damsels rock lol. b
Do you gave any pods? If yes maybe a mandarin or a purple tang? I dont think the tangs need massive tanks like the other tangs.

Just some food for thought.

Will

 

[n3ont3tra]

Flame angels could nip at corals and clams. There's about a 50/50 percent chance. They are also pretty bold, so it might not be that great with things like firefish.

 

[1entra]

Keep the ideas coming guys. I seen some really nice trand bred true percs today so might get a pair of them.
So far my stocking list includes:

• 2 x Perc Clownfish (pair)
• 1 x Banghai cardinal
• 1 x Pajama Wrasse
• 1 x Scooter blenny (my tank is crawling with pods and also the ones at my LFS eat frozen food!)
• 1 x Royal Gramma
• 1 x Either Yellow Watchman or Clown Goby
• 1 x Fridmani Pseudochromis (does anybody have any experience with these?)??
• 1 x Purple Firefish
• 1 x Neon Goby??
• 1 x Cleaner Wrasse??

The ones without any Q marks are ones I defo want to get, the ones with Question marks I am not sure about so any advice or experience with them would be appreciated.

I am not too keen on damsels and defo do not want a tank full of the same fish so sorry chrissaysyes!

So what do you think about my above listing? This wouldn't be overstocking my tank would it? And finally what order should I get the above?

 

[n3ont3tra]

I'd say it's definately overstocked.

2 x Perc Clownfish (pair) -- sounds good.
1 x Banghai cardinal -- good
1 x Pajama Wrasse -- no clue, sorry
1 x Scooter blenny -- awesome fish, as long as they eat frozen.
1 x Royal Gramma -- nice fish
1 x Either Yellow Watchman or Clown Goby -- I'd go with yellow watchman b/c they help with the sand.
1 x Fridmani Pseudochromis -- i don't know, sorry. But they WILL fight with a royal gramma.
1 x Purple Firefish -- very timid fish. I wouldn't do it with a wrasse
1 x Neon Goby - nice fish, very small though
1 x Cleaner Wrasse -- avoid it... they generally don't eat prepared foods and in a smaller tank they can harass other fish a lot. the neon goby would do the same job.

I would probably pick about 7 or eight fish.

My pick:
2 percs
scooter blenny
neon goby
royal gramma
bangai cardinal
geometric pygmy hawkfish

 

[1entra]

Thanks for that Neontetra.

The geometric pygmy hawkfish sounds good and I seen one in my LFS today went I went up!

So don't you think a firefish is a good option as I quite like them? What about the pajama wrasse (also called 6 line wrasse)?

 

[Lynden]

Cleaner wrasse are great fish, one of my favourites actually. If you choose to look for these fish, never buy them unless you see them feed first. In my experience (I have owned three and two fed and subsequently survived until, ironically, being killed by diseases) they clean fish efficiently and only do so when signaled to, meaning they usually won't pester other fish. But, I wouldn't keep them unless I had fish that are laterally compressed (triggers, angels, tangs, damsels) as cylindrical fish won't find them as useful.

1 x Pajama Wrasse -- no clue, sorry

Pyjama wrasse... another name for the sixline Pseudocheilinus hexataenia, which is why I encourage scientific names. Good fish generally but may eat small shrimps.

1 x Fridmani Pseudochromis -- i don't know, sorry. But they WILL fight with a royal gramma.

Generally easy but tends to be aggressive and can eat tiny shrimp.

Firefish... docile, colourful, easy to feed, but could be outcompeted by a trichordate. They may coexist with most of your proposed fish (SkiFletch used to keep one with wrasses and a psuedochromid), but make sure it is getting enough to eat.

 

[1entra]

So heres my new list:

• 2 x Percs
• 1 x Banghai Cardinal
• 1 x Royal Gramma
• 1 x Yellow Watchman Goby
• 1 x Scooter Blenny
• 1 x Geometric Pygmy Hawkfish
• 1 x Neon Goby
• 1 x Purple Firefish (possibly)

Do you think that would be ok for a 44G tank bearing in ming I do have a 2G HOB refugium on the back to add to water capacity giving it a total of 46G!

What order should I add the above into my tank? What fish should I start with and which one should be added last?

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

add the more timid fish and less aggressive first e.g. the purple firefish and the cardinal then add the more aggressive ones. Thats the mistake i made, adding aggressive first then timid meaning my firefish gets bullied by my clowns.

Will

 

[1entra]

Awsome I will do.

So which ones from my list are the most timid and which ones are known to be abit aggressive so I add them last?