Fish Stocking Ideas

[ArowanaLover1902]

I run a 35 gallon shallow reef. Next month, I'm off to college and the tank comes with me (no they don't allow 35 gallons on campus, I have family nearby that I'm living with, they said they'd be happy to have my gorgeous reef in their home) and I'm looking to add one more fish to get my tank just right. Here are the fish so far:
- 2x yellow watchman gobies (a mated pair - no eggs yet but the sexual dimorphism has developed, I'm super happy about that) (I'm waiting for them to move in with my pistol shrimp...one day)
- 1x mexican barnacle blenny (super cool little dude, lives at the highest point of the rocks) (there may actually be a second one that lives in the caves of the bottom half, I added 3 and only 1 remains visible but I've caught glimpses of something over there and I'm 70% sure its one).
- 1x lawnmower blenny
- 1x small clownfish

As you can see, my fish stocking focuses more on the rock dwelling fish, the ones that hide most of the day. I've tried a few other over the years:
- Royal gramma (got super aggressive and started killing everything, he took a trip back to the LFS)
- Amber Damselfish (I loved this guy...until the royal gramma began his rampage) (I'd get another but my LFS never seems to have them in stock)
- Cardinalfish (Didn't like this at all, stayed so still all day, rarely moving from his area of the tank; he disappeared about 1 month ago) (I never found a body and he looked super healthy the month I had had him, same as all my other fish)

I'm looking for a showfish, something that stands out and is an active swimmer, because of my small tank, many of those options (tangs, most angels, giant squids, and etc) are elimated so here is what I've come down to:
- Flame Angelfish (This is one of my all time favorite fish, I'm heavily considering this but don't want to rush into anything)
- Purple Firefish (Ehh...these guys are always a little bit squirrely and seem to always rush to cover when I approach) (I had one years ago and he was pretty, just don't like the personality)
- Chalk Bass (I have zero experience with these and haven't seen one at LFS)
- Amber Damselfish (It was an awesome fish, really small though)
- Another clownfish (I don't really want one, but I do like the idea of having two protandrous pairs of fish)

So what do you guys think? Any fish you'd rule out or add to the list? Again, I'm looking for a showpiece fish that will not disturb my reef's inhabitants (like the royal gramma) or hide all day. Thanks for the advice

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Oh I should mention fish that like to sleep near the rockwork are probably a no-go, I have an emerald crab problem, he's over two inches now, he's difficult to catch though. I suspect him in the missing cardinal-fish and barnacle blennies as they all liked to sleep near the rockwork. He will be removed before I move though, I'll buy my fourth baby and watch it grow into another monster, I may add two and see if competition keeps them down.

 

[BioBill]

how about a solar fairy wrasse like this.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/product-solar-fairy-wrasse

 

[Devaji]

if your willing to do the work to hatch BBS I would say a mandarin goby with a paul B feeder.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

I have had two mandarins over the course of my reefs, they've never lasted long. They are by far one of my favorite fish and as much as I would love to have one (That was one of the first fish I thought would look good in my tank when I realized I needed a show fish) I obviously cannot do it. The first one I got early on, he decimated my pods so fast and then expired, the second was tormented by my royal gramma and couldn't even leave a cave without being nipped, he was killed within 2 days. I don't want to take them away from another hobbyist who could have great success with them.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

That wrasse is really pretty, alas, no cover on my top leaves me afraid of them jumping (a problem I've never had in all the history of my uncovered reefs, but still)

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

I really wish there was a small tang.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Bump