36g Bowfront Stocking Advice

[bryan071108]

Hey! I have a 36 gallon bowfront reef tank that is currently cycling. This is my first saltwater tank so I'm trying to do my research and wanting advice on stocking.
My thoughts:
- x2 Ocellaris Clownfish
- Royal Gramma
- Neon Goby
- Firefish (heard conflicting things about keeping with other gobies but have overall heard good things as long as there are plenty of hiding spots)
- x3 Blue Reef Chromis (feel like this is pushing it but I know they like to be in groups and I really want a blue fish)

All fish would have to be ok with Scarlet Skunk Shrimp.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Hoodstream]

I’ve had terrible luck with grammas. I have a 37 gallon and my stock is,
- 2 Snowflakes
- 1 Fire Fish
- 1 Watchman Goby
- 1 Bicolor

and that feels like a lot. But post what you choose. Might I ask where did you get your bow front and did you get a lid for the leds? If so where I wanted to do a bow front cause PetSmart had em on sale but couldn’t figure out a glass canopy situation for an led since I have corals.

 

[bryan071108]

I feel like my idea is pushing it so I'll probably have to edit.

I got it from PetSmart years ago and don't have the lid anymore. Thinking about just making my own out of mesh but my light have brackets to hold them up.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Welcome to the forum!
I’d pass on the chromis (they will likely kill each other and frequently die of uronema), everything else is good. I’d say you could also squeeze a shrimpgoby + pistol shrimp as well.
All would be fine with a skunk cleaner.
Quarantine all fish!!! It’s never fun to lose them all to disease, so it’s best to keep that in check beforehand.

 

[bryan071108]

So I've done some more digging and here is what I am thinking:

- x2 Ocellaris Clownfish
- Royal Gramma
- Neon Goby
- Yellow Watchman Goby
(Going to make plenty of hiding places for the 2 gobies)
-Blue Sapphire Damselfish
(There is a lot of them at my LFS and from what I've read, they are fairly peaceful. No more aggressive than a clownfish. I would add it last just to be safe.)

Do you all think this would work?

 

[Andresnyc93]

I think your last list might conflict with both gobies, I would also add the gramma last or second to last as they get very territorial over sleeping area.

 

[vlangel]

I would add the Gramma and the damselfish last. I try never to add a single fish in by itself, as they get picked on because of low man on the totem pole. That spreads out the bullying. I have 12 fish in a 56 gallon tank(and some have been there several years so are more territorial) and have had great success with adding 2-3 fish at one time.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Add the clowns last, they are evil. Damsel isn’t nearly as bad but will be meaner than everything else.
Gramma are harmless.

 

[bryan071108]

Sounds good! Thank you all for your help! I will definitely do a couple at a time.