Fish for 30gallon tank?

[mushy coral]

I just started cycle on a 30 gallon tank, without the filter chamber its 67x37x40cm or 26.4x14.6x15.8” (length x width x height). This going to be a mix reef with mostly lps and softies, maybe I’ll put a monti cap as well. Im currently making a list of fishes for this tank: a sailfin tang, an orange shoulder tang, 2 mandarin dragonet, a naoko wrasse, a midas blenny. Any suggestion on the compatibility of these fishes? And I also want to add more open/top swimmer, and considering between a single bicolor dotty back or a trio of blue eye anthias. Are there any better option for this open swimmer position?

 

[Jekyl]

No tangs or mandarin can be in a tank that size.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I wonder if your serious or if your trolling.....

but in case your serious, only 5 or 6 small fish in a 30 gallon. No tangs, no angels, no anthias no mandarins. Stick to clownfish and gobies and blennies and cardinals and basslets.

 

[Lavey29]

Why not add a shamu or 2 also?

 

[TX_REEF]

if those are the types of fish you want, you need to get a bigger tank. period.

a single mandarin may be ok for a tank that size with LOTS of live rock and a stable pod population. Other fish that may work for a tank that size:

clownfish
damsels (probably only 1 in a tank that size, they will fight to the death otherwise)
pygmy angelfish
small wrasse

For a tank that size, I'd recommend something like:

pair of ocellaris clowns
small wrasse
cleaner shrimp
snails
serpent star
corals galore

 

[Dom]

When planning a tank, it is best practice to decide which fish you want and then tailor your tank build around those fish.

Tangs of any type are a hard NO in a tank that size.

 

[Kooma]

Pair of clowns and a chromis is all I have in my 30. Max fish size is about 2-3”.

 

[mushy coral]

Tks to all reply. I will reconsider about my livestock list. I already have a pair of clown in a nano cube and got badluck with my 2 previous banggais so is it possible for me to keep a wrasses only in this tank? The sand bed is not deep enough so i will go for wrasses that dont need sandbed like sixline and naoko

 

[TX_REEF]

in my opinion, a sixline wrasse would be ok in a 30 gallon, as long as you aren't overstocking with other fish. sixlines are very aggressive when crowded. my sixline in my 70 gallon has plenty of room and will still randomly go on a rampage hunting my damsels from time to time.

 

[mushy coral]

in my opinion, a sixline wrasse would be ok in a 30 gallon, as long as you aren't overstocking with other fish. sixlines are very aggressive when crowded. my sixline in my 70 gallon has plenty of room and will still randomly go on a rampage hunting my damsels from time to time.

I mean I will put the sixline in last cause I know they are pretty aggresive but I just want to know that is it possible that i keep different species of wrasses in one tank? Like maybe 4-5 wrasses in my 30gallon tank

 

[TX_REEF]

I mean I will put the sixline in last cause I know they are pretty aggresive but I just want to know that is it possible that i keep different species of wrasses in one tank? Like maybe 4-5 wrasses in my 30gallon tank

no, absolutely not. a sixline will fight to the death with any other wrasse you put in that size tank. you really need to re-assess your expectations, if you are serious.

 

[mushy coral]

Thanks! Its kinda sad that fishes I like cant be kept together but guess I have to accept it then

 

[TX_REEF]

Thanks! Its kinda sad that fishes I like cant be kept together but guess I have to accept it then

they can, just not in a tank that small. You should decide which fish you want, and then we can advise you on appropriate tank size. At the end of the day, you "can" do whatever you want, but it is irresponsible to the fish, and also to your wallet, because it will likely result in dead fish and wasted money.

 

[redacted_]

If you really want wrasse, your commonly available options are likely limited to sixlines and other members of the genus Pseudocheilinus. If you are concerned about aggression, consider Wetmorella wrasses or the pink-streaked wrasse, but supply is sporadic.

I would consider perhaps basslets too. Liopropoma are some of my favorite, but hard to come by. There are some great captive bred options available too.