30 Gallon Stocking Ideas?

[jacobc1199]

Hello there,
I'm starting up a new 30 gallon tank within a few weeks and i'm looking for ideas stocking. I'm moving from a smaller system so ill be bringing with me one clown and a couple of LPS. I'm looking for a range of movement, personalities, coloration, etc. I'm not afraid to work my way to the heavier side of stocking as I plan to have a 10 gallon fuge and got a skimmer that is slightly overrated for a 30. This is what i'm thinkin'

Have:
Oscellaris Clown (Don't really know if I want another)
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
2 Acans
Hammerhead colony

Really Would Like to Have:
1 Firefish (Personal favorite)
1 Coral Beauty Angel / Wrasse (As main showpiece)
1 Dragonet (Yes I know they are difficult to keep it would likely be my last addition after letting the tank fully mature for a long period)

Additional ideas:
Another benny (I quite like Canary and Midas)
A goby of any kind
A Jawfish of sorts

I'm not dead-set right now on anything and am open to any suggestions or personal experiences people have with any of the above listed fish.

 

[James M]

The tank is too small for a CB but the fire fish and blenny would be great additions

 

[Jesterrace]

The tank is too small for a CB but the fire fish and blenny would be great additions

Agreed on the Coral Beauty. Had a Flame in my 36 gallon bowfront and he was an unholy terror to his tank mates and always looked cramped. If it were a 30 Long then I would feel comfortable recommending a Pygmy Angel (Cherubfish in particular) but I generally say 3 feet in length for Pygmy and 4 feet for Dwarf Angels. Dragonet is also out other than maybe a Scooter Blenny, Mandarins are definitely a no as the cost of supporting a pod population or the need to feed almost constantly even if it adapts to frozen rules them out. As for the firefish, personally I would trade one for a Royal Gramma Basslet as they tend to be more bold and able to stick up for themselves if they get pushy. Firefish are just to skittish for my tastes.

 

[Tamberav]

Midas can be bullies and firefish are a personal favorite for them to bully.

Since firefish is your favorite I would pass on the Midas. The canary is probably okay though.

Mandarin will pollute your tank to keep fed so keep that in mind...you may to pass on things like acros and stick more to dirtier corals. They require a lot of attention to keep fed. I know because I kept one for 5 years in a 20g...it was 5 years of slaving over a fish.

 

[nereefpat]

For your 30 gallon:

I like the firefish.

Don't like the coral beauty, for size reasons. You did mention having a wrasse instead. Lubbock's fairy is small enough, easily found, and some of them are really pretty. A possum or pink-streaked wrasse would be another option.

Check out tailspot blenny, yellow watchman goby, grammas, and cardinals.

 

[jacobc1199]

Thanks for the input everyone, much appreciated!

 

[OrionN]

Difficult to keep a Mandarin in a 30 gal tank and impossible to do this with an angel or wrasse that also hunt for Mandarin’s food.
30 gal is too small for angel. Forget the dragonet.
Consider Royal Gramma harem or Orchid dottyback pair. Consider two flasher wrasse but must have tight fitting top with No opening. They are excelence jumper.
Shrimp goby with shrimp pair. Jawfish, like yellowhead Jawfish.

 

[minus9]

A trio of barnacle blennies would be nice. Maybe a possum wrasse, as mentioned above (all 3 species are great!), I love my Tanaka. Geometric pygmy hawkfish, royal gramma, neon or sharknose gobies, yellow or randall's assessor, shrimp goby w/pistol shrimp. There are a lot of nano fish that would fit the bill for a 30g. I would skip the major pod eaters like mandarins.
Regardless, cover the tank if you don't already have one?

 

[sfin52]

A Toby puffer. Oh wait you did say you have a shrimp right?

 

[jacobc1199]

To whoever was asking yes, its a 30l. After all your suggestions and my own research here's where i'm at.

2 Ocsellaris Clowns
Midas or Canary Blenny (still doing more research)
Goby/Shrimp pair firefish

I have some concerns with the clowns, even though he's an OC he has a taste for human fingers and i'm afraid he would bully something like a firefish. Maybe putting him in a pair would help. Not much experience with clowns so if anyone knows. Still split between Midas or Canary, I'm leaning towards Midas due to their personality so Firefish isn't looking likely at this point.

 

[sfin52]

Yellow watchman goby
Royal Gramma
Ocellaris clown fish
Pink streaked wrasse
Pink bar goby
Radial Filefish
Orange Spotted Goby
Harptail Blenny
Hi Fin Red Banded Goby
Green clown goby
Yellow clown goby
Yellow tail damsels
Chalk Bass

A good list to start

 

[Pbh-reef]

Yellow watchman goby
Royal Gramma
Ocellaris clown fish
Pink streaked wrasse
Pink bar goby
Radial Filefish
Orange Spotted Goby
Harptail Blenny
Hi Fin Red Banded Goby
Green clown goby
Yellow clown goby
Yellow tail damsels
Chalk Bass

A good list to start

To add to this list -
Trio of scissor tail dartfish
Pair of Banggai cardinals
Trio of red striped cardinals
Orchid dottyback (a bit more aggressive)

 

[sfin52]

K

To add to this list -
Trio of scissor tail dartfish
Pair of Banggai cardinals
Trio of red striped cardinals
Orchid dottyback (a bit more aggressive)

I can't believe I left the cardnials off the list. Thank you for adding them. They are truly a great fish.

 

[jacobc1199]

Would the two clowns, a midas blenny, and ORA radial filefish later on be too much for a 30l with a 10g sump?