Uncommon/Centerpiece: Fish, Inverts, Corals

[Vanilla]

Hello!! Been out of the hobby for awhile but want to come back now that I have some funding (wasn’t making much in high school)

Looking at AIO aquariums, specifically the IM 50g Lagoon because it’s a decent price for the display size.

Now I like being different and really want my tank to stand out, so what sort of suggestions do you guys have when it comes to stocking?

Will definitely have some clowns and basic inverts, but are there any that really stick out as interesting? I’ve always wanted a feather duster, maybe even a sea slug of some sort (Ik they secrete toxins when they die or whatever) been looking at sponges as well.

Would appreciate any comments/pics or even advice relating to the tank purchase. Let’s get this thread started!!!!

 

[blaxsun]

Designer clownfish, a really colorful wrasse, maybe a cat's eye or brain coral?

 

[Vanilla]

Designer clownfish, a really colorful wrasse, maybe a cat's eye or brain coral?

Definitely want to get a nice wrasse. So many good looking ones, gonna be tough to decide.

Will look into brains as well!

 

[blaxsun]

Definitely want to get a nice wrasse. So many good looking ones, gonna be tough to decide.
Will look into brains as well!

I've got 6 of them right now: sixline, melanarus, yellow coris, lubbock's fairy, blue star leopard and bicolor cleaner.

 

[Vanilla]

I've got 6 of them right now: sixline, melanarus, yellow coris, lubbock's fairy, blue star leopard and bicolor cleaner.

Nice! Which one is your favorite? And would they work in a the Nuvo 50?

 

[blaxsun]

Nice! Which one is your favorite? And would they work in a the Nuvo 50?

The lubbock's is my wifes favorite and the blue star leopard is probably mine - at least in terms of coloration. I've had the melanarus for almost 2 years and he's been a great fish.

I would look at one of the smaller varieties for your Nuvo 50 - probably the lubbock's fairy, blue star leopard or yellow coris. The leopard and yellow coris will need a 1" minimum sand bed (the others don't bury). I've had great success with my sixline (others have mixed opinions), but it's a great choice for pest control as the melanarus will probably outgrow the 50. The bicolor cleaner can be very mean towards certain types of fish so it's not one I generally recommend.

 

[damsels are not mean]

One single massive staghorn acro colony to fill the entire tank and a school of damsels or chromis.

 

[Vanilla]

One single massive staghorn acro colony to fill the entire tank and a school of damsels or chromis.

Lol idk where I would find that but it’s an interesting idea

 

[Jedi1199]

Lol idk where I would find that but it’s an interesting idea

You would watch for one of the live sales that happen here every week.. spend $75 on a frag plus shipping and then grow it out! This is how the majority of us do it.

Did you think we got those beautiful tanks overnight?

 

[BlakeStew]

Designer clownfish, a really colorful wrasse, maybe a cat's eye or brain coral?

Designer clownfish are definitely the way to go. I have a pair of Gladiator Davincis and so far I haven't found another pair out there.

 

[damsels are not mean]

Lol idk where I would find that but it’s an interesting idea

Find? You grow it!

 

[MoshJosh]

In a 50 gallon I would probably want a dwarf lionfish. . . but that might just be me.

That or one of the pygmy/dwarf angels. . . not sure how challenging it would be to find a breeding pair. . . but that would be sick

 

[blaxsun]

In a 50 gallon I would probably want a dwarf lionfish. . . but that might just be me.
That or one of the pygmy/dwarf angels. . . not sure how challenging it would be to find a breeding pair. . . but that would be sick

Two dwarfs aren't gonna be happy in a 50-gallon...

 

[MoshJosh]

Two dwarfs aren't gonna be happy in a 50-gallon...

I didn't realize the terms were not interchangeable, pygmys can be kept in a 50 gallon correct?

 

[DJF]

Christmas tree worms… tons of Christmas tree worms- and on the sand bed… giant wellsos- so many that when they puff up you don’t see any of the sandbed.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I didn't realize the terms were not interchangeable, pygmys can be kept in a 50 gallon correct?

The pygmy/cherub angelfish is a specific species of dwarf angelfish - dwarf applies to it, but pygmy doesn’t apply to all the dwarves.

But yes, the pygmy can be kept in a 50.

 

[Rtaylor]

Tank full of Sun coral, sponges, macro algae, and nps gorgonians. If you’re feeling really crazy, a pair of orange spotted filefish to finish it out.

 

[DJF]

Tank full of Sun coral, sponges, macro algae, and nps gorgonians. If you’re feeling really crazy, a pair of orange spotted filefish to finish it out. View attachment 2714461View attachment 2714462View attachment 2714463View attachment 2714464View attachment 2714467View attachment 2714468

Absolutely gorgeous

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

For something very uncommon/unique, you could so some predatory snails (muricid snails have some very interesting shells that would really stand out, but they’d eat your other snails), some saron shrimp (reef safe with caution), or a bongo shrimp (not starfish safe though). Beyond that, there’s things like barnacles or grocery store clams (hard to keep) and slipper lobsters.

There are also some great showpiece sponges out there (like the azure/blue vase sponge), and tunicates are always pretty unique. If you’re looking for interesting sea slugs, sarcoglossan slugs (like the lettuce nudibranch) are always fun, or you could potentially (you’d want to check tank size recommendations) do a medusa worm (or other sea cucumber) & emperor shrimp combo.

Lots of fun possibilities out there.

Edit: decorator and sponge crabs or an anemone hermit crab (with the anemone on its shell of course) are some good ones too - not exactly reef safe though.

 

[Vanilla]

For something very uncommon/unique, you could so some predatory snails (muricid snails have some very interesting shells that would really stand out, but they’d eat your other snails), some saron shrimp (reef safe with caution), or a bongo shrimp (not starfish safe though). Beyond that, there’s things like barnacles or grocery store clams (hard to keep) and slipper lobsters.

There are also some great showpiece sponges out there (like the azure/blue vase sponge), and tunicates are always pretty unique. If you’re looking for interesting sea slugs, sarcoglossan slugs (like the lettuce nudibranch) are always fun, or you could potentially (you’d want to check tank size recommendations) do a medusa worm (or other sea cucumber) & emperor shrimp combo.

Lots of fun possibilities out there.

Edit: decorator and sponge crabs or an anemone hermit crab (with the anemone on its shell of course) are some good ones too - not exactly reef safe though.

Some great insights

I’ve been doing heavy amounts of research into things like this, but you can only find so much. Always great to learn about the possibilities of reef keeping from someone that’s been in the hobby for a bit.

Can’t wait to look into some of these options!