How does this stocking sound for a 21 gallon tank?

steviesaquariums

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Hello I’m new here. Been doing freshwater on and off for 25 years and want to try a nano reef.

I’m planning a 21 gallon. I’m retired so I have a lot of free time for monitoring parameters, testing and water changes. I want start with soft corals and build up to LPS.

The livestock I’m thinking off are:
2 ocellaris clownfish
1 banggai cardinal
1 royal gramma
2 cleaner shrimp.

How does this stocking level sound? Is it too much?
 
Hello I’m new here. Been doing freshwater on and off for 25 years and want to try a nano reef.

I’m planning a 21 gallon. I’m retired so I have a lot of free time for monitoring parameters, testing and water changes. I want start with soft corals and build up to LPS.

The livestock I’m thinking off are:
2 ocellaris clownfish
1 banggai cardinal
1 royal gramma
2 cleaner shrimp.

How does this stocking level sound? Is it too much?
the cardinal is short-lived and disease prone
clowns as a pair fine''
royal gramma can be scrappy. rest fine. u would start with the clowns and shrimp. not the gramma or cardinal
 
As mentioned above, plan on a pair of clowns - from the same tank preferably. Otherwise don't get the biggest clown from the tanks - bigger is more likely to be a female. Starting with two males increases your chances of success.

For the Gramma - make sure it is a Royal Gramma and not a Dottyback. They look similar and can often be mislabeled/misidentified. The Gramma is semi-aggressive while the Dottyback is usually just plain aggressive.
 

WHAT KIND OF SUBSTRATE ARE YOU RUNNING ON YOUR TANK?

  • Bare bottom

    Votes: 5 29.4%
  • A shallow bed of fine sand

    Votes: 3 17.6%
  • A shallow bed of coarser sand

    Votes: 3 17.6%
  • A deep sand bed

    Votes: 2 11.8%
  • Mixed substrate or varying sand depth

    Votes: 4 23.5%
  • Some other substrate (posted in the comments)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I don’t have a reef tank yet

    Votes: 0 0.0%
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