60g Cube stocking *Newbie Alert*

[chrispyness]

Greetings all,

I’ve been keeping freshwater for a few years now and have been wanting to get into the marine side of things for about 6 months. I had envisioned it was going to be years until I’d be able to but my LFS was having a blowout sale and I got one of their used 60g cube display tanks, sump, return pump and protein skimmer for $150. I don’t plan to set it up for a bit but want to plan out a stocking list for when the tank is set up and cycled. I am planning on having live rock and softies for corals.

Here are a few of the fish that I’ve researched that I’m interested in

- Yellow Watchmen Goby
- Pistol Shrimp (ideas on which kind?)
- Royal Gramma
- Flame Angel (may be too big?)
- Yellow Tang (may be too big?)


I know everyone has a clown fish or two but I’m honestly not terribly excited about them right now. Does that make me weird? Haha

What other types of fish could work? Different kinds of shrimp?

I’d also appreciate any recommendations on material to grow my knowledge of reef keeping and marine fish. It seems there’s a lot less out there than freshwater has. So any articles, threads, websites or YouTube channel suggestions would be awesome!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tahoe61]

Hi and Welcome to R2R! Congratulations on your new tank. That's quite deal, what a price.
The Flame Angel will be a good choice, I feel the tank is too small for that kind of tang.
Look at some of the mellowed Damsel types, and reef safe wrasse.
Go window shopping @saltwaterfish.com

 

[Michael Hughes]

Sounds like you got a great deal!

For that size tank I'd also consider a firefish. Not the sharpest photo but the red firefish is a favorite in our household:

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome, glad you are here and good luck!

 

[chrispyness]

Hi and Welcome to R2R! Congratulations on your new tank. That's quite deal, what a price.
The Flame Angel will be a good choice, I feel the tank is too small for that kind of tang.
Look at some of the mellowed Damsel types, and reef safe wrasse.
Go window shopping @saltwaterfish.com

Saltwaterfish.com is such an amazing resource! I’ve spent the past several hours looking at everything and reading more about them. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

[saltwaterfish.com Verified Sponsor]

Welcome to R2R! Nice deal on the tank setup and stocking wise everything except the yellow tang would work well. If you were set on a tang go with one from the bristletooth family (Ctenochaetus) as they stay smaller, and stock lightly around it. There's lots of different fish that you can go for just make sure to do your research so you can make sure everything gets along and will live happily in your size tank. We have a key facts description on each of our items that will give a recommended minimum tank size and whether or not they are reef safe. But if you have any questions we also have a live chat option as well and are always happy to help
Thanks @Tahoe61 for the shout out!

 

[Zionas]

Welcome! What a deal you got.

Don’t mean to be a downer on things, but I was doing the math and a 60 Cube in terms of volume is quite deceptive.

A 24” x 24” footprint is basically a shorter and wider version of a standard 30-Gallon that’s 36” x 12”.

Just did the math. This means in terms of the actual territories and psychological fish for space, you don’t have a lot to work with.

Rule out the Tang, it doesn’t belong.

A Flame Angel’s in the “maybe” category, it’s a medium-sized dwarf Angel that’s about standard size for the type. Some will tell you it’s fine, others will tell you it’ll outgrow it.

If you go for one, start small, and be prepared to re-home it if you see it cramped for room.

The consensus is that for an Angel as a centerpiece, you’d do well with an African Flameback, Cherub, a Brazilian Flameback (African but with a blue tail), or a White-Tail Pygmy.

Royal Gramma’s good.

Piston Shrimp and Goby’s a good pick. For the larger Gobies like a Yellow Watchman, you can choose to pair them with either a Tiger Pistol, or a Candy Cane Pistol.

For a smaller Goby like the Stongobiops (think that’s how it’s spelled?), or many of the Anblyeoteoris (?), many would tell you to go for the Candy Cane instead.

The Tiger gets larger and is more of a digger.

A smaller, more peaceful Damsel of the Chrysiptera genus (Talbot’s, Springer’s, Azure maybe) or a smaller Chromis like the Black-Bar would work.

Firefish (be sure to add early, or first).

A small Wrasse.

Small perching Blennies.

Small Gobies.

Cardinalfish.

Yellow / Blue Assessor.

Liopropoma Basslet (2 Basslets but I’ve seen them mixed with a Gramma sp in this tank size).

If you’re willing to build a den for it, something like a Yellow-Headed Jawfish or one of the smaller Jawfishes.

Don’t go for the Blue-Spot, they need subtropical temps too cold for a reef.

To name a few.

Maybe something like a Midas Blenny or one of the Fang Blennies but they’re more active swimmers that could get up to 5” so, I’ll leave others to pitch in.


So far from your list, I’d do the Royal Gramma and Shrimp + Goby pair. I’d add a dwarf Angel, too nice to pass on although none are 100% immune to nipping corals.

Good luck!

I agree Clown pairs are pretty run-of-the-mill. One of those danged if you do, danged if you don’t additions. In 24” x 24” with them you’re almost certainly looking at a semi-aggressive setup.