Fish stocking for 40 gal

  • Thread starter Thread starter DmitryB
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

DmitryB

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
May 26, 2026
Messages
1,372
Reaction score
1,059
Location
Hunter, NY
What state or country do you live in
New York
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
My 40 gallon is coming along nicely and tomorrow I have 3 fish coming in from Marine Collectors. I'm actually trying to determine if they should all go into the 40 or should someone go into the 170.

The 40 currently has a baby Coral Beauty that when I catch it is going into 170. But he is currently a squatter. And there's a Whitespotted Pigmy Filefish. I also intend to have a pair of Clowns in there because there's a bubble tip anemone in the tank.

The fish coming in tomorrow are Starry Blenny, Purple Firefish and a Royal Gramma. With the two Clowns (coming in the future) and a Pigmy Filefish - that's 6 fish. Most quite small and some not huge swimmers. But I'm just wondering if these 6 fish are too much for a 40 gallon?

Starry Blenny
Purple Firefish
Royal Gramma
Pigmy Filefish
Clown Pair
 
My 40 gallon is coming along nicely and tomorrow I have 3 fish coming in from Marine Collectors. I'm actually trying to determine if they should all go into the 40 or should someone go into the 170.

The 40 currently has a baby Coral Beauty that when I catch it is going into 170. But he is currently a squatter. And there's a Whitespotted Pigmy Filefish. I also intend to have a pair of Clowns in there because there's a bubble tip anemone in the tank.

The fish coming in tomorrow are Starry Blenny, Purple Firefish and a Royal Gramma. With the two Clowns (coming in the future) and a Pigmy Filefish - that's 6 fish. Most quite small and some not huge swimmers. But I'm just wondering if these 6 fish are too much for a 40 gallon?

Starry Blenny
Purple Firefish
Royal Gramma
Pigmy Filefish
Clown Pair
I’m sure opinions will vary on this but I don’t think it’s too much. I have eight fish in a 40 gal (3 young chalk bass, 2 wrasses, diamond goby, Molly miller, and a cleaner goby) and it still seems rather empty. Chemistry is great so far. No skimmer, just floss, uv, bag of carbon. If nutrients get too high and stay there, I’ll get a skimmer.
 
I’m sure opinions will vary on this but I don’t think it’s too much. I have eight fish in a 40 gal (3 young chalk bass, 2 wrasses, diamond goby, Molly miller, and a cleaner goby) and it still seems rather empty. Chemistry is great so far. No skimmer, just floss, uv, bag of carbon. If nutrients get too high and stay there, I’ll get a skimmer.
Yeah I feel like it's on the border, but half of these guys are really small. (Clowns will be introduced last.)
 
I think you should be fine I've done similiar and all turns out well and coral and fish alike thrive
 
Ok so! The 40 gallon (23 x 20 x 19) has been doing pretty well with the following fish:

2 True Percula couple (aquacultured)
Spotted Pigmy Filefish
Royal Gramma
Starry Blenny (nobody told me these guys were such jerks! He spits sand everywhere and rearranges my frags!)

In any case, I'm contemplating adding one last fish to the tank: a Possum Wrasse I'm going to get from a fellow reefer here. Unsure if the tank can handle it in terms of bioload and tank size. There is a fair amount of live rock there, so I think the bioload is fine. (Running protein skimmer, two UV units (occasionally replacing one of the UVs with media reactor). But as far as tanks size and the number of fish. Right now the Starry Blenny is by far the biggest fish in there. And nobody is a huge swimmer - Starry Blenny hops around a lot, but Clowns stay in their corner with an MP10 they apparently host and Royal Gramma just mostly hovers. The biggest traveller is the Filefish, but he's not fast and is super chill. Nobody is fighting. I'd say Starry Blenny has the most attitude.

I have a 170 I can place the Possum Wrasse into as well, but... maybe the 40 is ok?
 
Ok so! The 40 gallon (23 x 20 x 19) has been doing pretty well with the following fish:

2 True Percula couple (aquacultured)
Spotted Pigmy Filefish
Royal Gramma
Starry Blenny (nobody told me these guys were such jerks! He spits sand everywhere and rearranges my frags!)

In any case, I'm contemplating adding one last fish to the tank: a Possum Wrasse I'm going to get from a fellow reefer here. Unsure if the tank can handle it in terms of bioload and tank size. There is a fair amount of live rock there, so I think the bioload is fine. (Running protein skimmer, two UV units (occasionally replacing one of the UVs with media reactor). But as far as tanks size and the number of fish. Right now the Starry Blenny is bye far the biggest fish in there. And nobody is a huge swimmer - Starry Blenny hops around a lot, but Clowns stay in their corner with an MP10 they apparently host and Royal Gramma just mostly hovers. The biggest traveller is the Filefish, but he's not fast and is super chill. Nobody is fighting. I'd say Starry Blenny has the most attitude.

I have a 170 I can place the Possum Wrasse into as well, but... maybe the 40 is ok?
40 should be fine for a little possum wrasse, they stay tiny they’re peaceful and they have a small bioload
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART OF REEFING TO EXPLAIN TO A NON-REEFER?

  • Why a tiny coral frag can cost that much

    Votes: 17 29.3%
  • Why I spend time testing and adjusting water

    Votes: 9 15.5%
  • Why the fish I want might not fit my tank

    Votes: 9 15.5%
  • Why I have buckets, tubing, and salt around the house

    Votes: 1 1.7%
  • Why corals are living animals, not decorations

    Votes: 15 25.9%
  • How much time and attention a reef takes

    Votes: 17 29.3%
  • The difference between freshwater and saltwater creatures

    Votes: 2 3.4%
  • I’ve stopped trying to explain

    Votes: 15 25.9%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 7 12.1%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new