Nuvo 38 stocking advice

[SkyShark]

I'm finally ready to start stocking my Nuvo 38! The tank has been setup for 5 months and has stable parameters and good coral growth. I plan on adding fish at a slow pace, but I want to plan what I will have so I can come up with an order to add them. What do you think of the list below? Too much? I really want both the cardinals and clowns, but I have a feeling I may have to choose between the two. Any other suggestions of peaceful fish for a tank this size? Thanks.

2 Banggai Cardinals (captive raised)
2 Ocellaris clowns (probably non-premium snowflakes)
1 Goby/pistol shrimp pair (maybe a Yasha)
1 other small fish (firefish, blenny, royal gramma, or possibly a small wrasse)

 

[FinsUp]

Following along, because I'm fixing to stock my nuvo 38.

 

[jahmic]

IMHO...you may have to choose between the two pairs. If they start breeding, both have a tendency to get fairly aggressive. It may work out just fine; in those situations you just need to consider whether you're willing to remove fish if they become a problem.

I wouldn't add a single firefish with your current stock list, they are pretty docile and may be stressed by the clowns/cardinals. My pick would be the wrasse since even the non-aggressive species tend to hold their own, and they also have the added benefit of pest control.

 

[SkyShark]

IMHO...you may have to choose between the two pairs. If they start breeding, both have a tendency to get fairly aggressive. It may work out just fine; in those situations you just need to consider whether you're willing to remove fish if they become a problem.

I wouldn't add a single firefish with your current stock list, they are pretty docile and may be stressed by the clowns/cardinals. My pick would be the wrasse since even the non-aggressive species tend to hold their own, and they also have the added benefit of pest control.

Good things to consider. What wrasse options would you recommend?

 

[jahmic]

Most of the "smaller" halichoeres species should work well in a tank that size. They tend to be non-aggressive but will flare up if they feel threatened rather than run and hide. I have had a yellow coris that I picked up almost 2 years ago as a tiny juvenile and he is maybe 4" long at this point. You have plenty of options though...take a look at some pics on liveaquaria and pick one that looks attractive and stays under that 5" mark.

The only downside is that when they get larger, they can go after snails and inverts. My yellow coris nips at snails, but won't eat them. If he finds a hermit crab changing shells, or stuck upside down and vulnerable...he will shake them out of the shell for a meal. My red-lined wrasse ignores all inverts and only forages for pods though; the smaller species tend to behave a little more.

 

[sethsolomon]

I would go with a leopard wrasse assuming you can find one that eats frozen food.

 

[FinsUp]

A leopard wrasse in a 38?? Have you seen the size of them? Not only is it hard to find one that'll eat, they do better in groups of 3 and get 6" long. Each.

 

[sethsolomon]

A leopard wrasse in a 38?? Have you seen the size of them? Not only is it hard to find one that'll eat, they do better in groups of 3 and get 6" long. Each.

I have had one for the past year and he hasn't grown at all. Mine I bought at 1.5 inches from GWA and still is 1.5 inches. But I guess its true that they can get to 6 inches.

 

[Nmertz1]

You can do a lot with the 38. I have a baby tomini tang, 2 true percs and a handful of corals

 

[SkyShark]

Nice looking nuvo. That clam really pops!

 

[Nmertz1]

It does well. What kid of lighting are you doing? And make sure to get the spin stream return nozzles! They do wonders

 

[SkyShark]

I have the Maxspect r420r 120w 16k led. It fits the tank great and looks slick. I recently got the spin streams - marine depot had them half off over the holidays. Much better than the stock returns!