45gal Stock help

cjtabares · Dec 28, 2023

I am setting up a 45gal(24x24x18) sps dominated reef tank. I will be starting to cycle as soo as everything gets in in the next few weeks. I am just looking for a little help with my stock list.
So far I want:
2x Ocellaris clowns
1x Purple Firefish
1x Royal Gramma
and a goby shrimp pair

I would really like an anthias or a wrasse of some kind, but not sure any will work in the tank size/dimension. I also had a long nose hawkfish in a tank before and really enjoyed it, just not sure it will be ok with sps corals. I also would love to add a mandarin at some point, but not sure if i should, i want a captive breed one, but guess this will depend if I have a good pod population. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated, even ideas I have not listed are welcome.

shakacuz · Dec 28, 2023

pink streaked wrasse, or any of the possum wrasses will and can work in that size tank. just depends no how nice the other fish are.

littlefoxx · Dec 28, 2023

Your list looks good! Ive heard hawk fish can perch on corals and damage them and eat shrimps. I have a longnose in my tank, not many corals but he does perch on them sometimes. I dont have a shrimp in that tank as it has predatory fish but heard stories of them eating shrimps. Anthias usually do best in harems, so I would probably pass on them. But @Slocke and @i cant think are good people to ask about wrasses for this tank! Also look into a blenny, they are super fun personality wise and perching fish!

i cant think · Dec 28, 2023

cjtabares said:
I am setting up a 45gal(24x24x18) sps dominated reef tank. I will be starting to cycle as soo as everything gets in in the next few weeks. I am just looking for a little help with my stock list.
So far I want:
2x Ocellaris clowns
1x Purple Firefish
1x Royal Gramma
and a goby shrimp pair

I would really like an anthias or a wrasse of some kind, but not sure any will work in the tank size/dimension. I also had a long nose hawkfish in a tank before and really enjoyed it, just not sure it will be ok with sps corals. I also would love to add a mandarin at some point, but not sure if i should, i want a captive breed one, but guess this will depend if I have a good pod population. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated, even ideas I have not listed are welcome.

In a 2’ cube are you after a fish that you don’t mind if it outgrows the system or a fish that doesn’t outgrow the system?

cjtabares · Dec 28, 2023

i cant think said:
In a 2’ cube are you after a fish that you don’t mind if it outgrows the system or a fish that doesn’t outgrow the system?

I would like something that does not outgrow the system.

vlangel · Dec 28, 2023

My tank is only slightly larger than yours, (30"x 18" x 24") and I love blennies and gobies in my display. I have a neon cleaner goby that adds a nice splash of blue plus it will clean exoskeletal parasites which is handy. It eats prepared food when the tank is parasite free. I also have 2 masked gobies but it took them almost a year to be brave enough to stay out in the open. I like clown gobies too. I love Midas blennies, barnacle blennies, bicolor blennies and tail spot blennies. These fish all have big personalities and will work in your tank.