What fish/fishes for a 40 gal AIO CORAL tank?

[OrionN]

I plan to have a 40 gal cube (22x22x22 inches) AIO tank in my office. This will have minimal water change, 10% monthly. Right now open top, but this can change if the fish is a jumper.
Moderate to high blueish light (two A360W Tuna Blue)
I this tank I plan to have a MP10 for circulation in addition to the circulation pump. It has a dinky skimmer for aeration, not so much for skimming.
I plan to have a bunch of Rock Flower Anemones and Zoanthus colonies. Maybe some encrusting SPS, LPS and soft corals that can tolerate conditions similar to the two main group of animals.
I like a few utility fish/fishes in this tank, in addition to a male Mandarin. I don’t have to have a Mandarin but prefer to have one.

What are your opinions on the 1-3 fish I should but in it and why, if there is a reason other than be beautiful
The window is a full wall window facing NE and get several hours of natural sunlight in the early AM.
TIA
BTW here is the empty tank, just need water, sand, rock and the second Kessil 360X

 

[Dom]

By the window?

 

[OrionN]

By the window?

Yup. Lots of natural light

 

[exnisstech]

Yup. Lots of natural light

I get direct sunlight on one tank for several minutes each day as the sun is setting. The tank looks so beautiful at that time compared to any combination of artificial light.
As to fish maybe a small wrasse for pest control. I like six lines but only in larger tanks and I'm also bare bottom so my options are limited. If you are using sand there will be a lot more wrasse options.

 

[OrionN]

I am really think of either an 4 line or 6 line wrasse, maybe even a pair. They are so beautiful. I can’t have a Mandarin in this case. They will be perfect for this tank as pest control.

 

[Dom]

Yup. Lots of natural light

I did notice a light on your setup. Do you need a light at all with so much natural light? I'm wondering how you plan to schedule your lighting with all of that natural light?

I'm curious because I often read posts that say tank placement by a window is a "no-no".

(Sorry for digressing the conversation)

 

[bakbay]

If it’s my tank, I would go with a flame angel to add some color/pop, small yellow/purple/gem tang for algae control, and a pair of “designer” clownfish!

Perhaps add a small nem later — not sure who’s the expert to ask there?

 

[EricR]

I have a 40 gallon tank with just 4 easy/beginner fish.
My favorite is tailspot blenny.

Since you mentioned wrasses, I'd think about a pink streaked wrasse instead, especially for this size tank.
*I don't have one but have often been tempted

 

[Sump Crab]

Since you seem to be a high end fish nerd (no offense at all) I would recommend a candy basslet! Keep it as the only fish in an otherwise coral dominant tank for a true stunner of a set up!

 

[JoJosReef]

Pygmy angel, like a cherub or flameback, royal gramma or goldan cuban ($$$) or candy basslet ($$$$), a firefish, a four line would be really cool, a saddle valentini puffer, and if you went with a deeper sand bed, a jawfish would be really cool.

 

[SomeHappyFish]

Since you are going with only 1 to 3 fish I would do

Sixline (Active swimmer)
Yellow Watchman (Rock/Bottom dweller)
royal Gramma (Mid level swimmer/Rocks)

You get a good mix of colors purple, blue, yellow and green with these fish.


Pygmy and flameback might be prone to fight a sixline or eat corals.

Mandarin eats too many pods for a 40G from what I have read.

Flame angel or tangs are too active and requires more lateral swimming space imo.

 

[Vinaka_vakalevu]

Personally for me I prefer wetmorella wrasses over the 6 line. Although the 6 line is probably a better worker. Tanakas being my favorite

 

[OrionN]

I did notice a light on your setup. Do you need a light at all with so much natural light? I'm wondering how you plan to schedule your lighting with all of that natural light?

I'm curious because I often read posts that say tank placement by a window is a "no-no".

(Sorry for digressing the conversation)

Sunlight may cause several problems. Sun can heat up the tank and cause instability. If the nutrient in your tank is not the rate limiting factor for algae growth, then given a lot of light algae can really grow fast. These are the reasons why people don’t recommend aquarium near window.

In this tank, I plan to have nutrient is the rate limiting factor, not light. My office is cold, running at about 70F. Heat is not going to be a problem for a NE facing window so I am not concern about heat either.
Because if this, there isn’t any reason not to have the reef tank (that I keep anyway) next to a window.

 

[OrionN]

If it’s my tank, I would go with a flame angel to add some color/pop, small yellow/purple/gem tang for algae control, and a pair of “designer” clownfish!

Perhaps add a small nem later — not sure who’s the expert to ask there?

I think these fishes outgrow the tank rather fast. I like of a more permanent resident in this tank.

 

[OrionN]

Since you seem to be a high end fish nerd (no offense at all) I would recommend a candy basslet! Keep it as the only fish in an otherwise coral dominant tank for a true stunner of a set up!

I need to research more on Candy Basslets. Thanks

 

[JoJosReef]

I need to research more on Candy Basslets. Thanks

It's a pricey fish to be mixing with others! In a guaranteed peaceful tank, maybe not a bad centerpiece (maybe candy with a pair of pinkies?).

I'm still thinking that a jawfish would be quite entertaining in that tank!

 

[OrionN]

If I put a fish in there it would a very nice fish. IMO nice and expensive are two separate things. I love Mandarin and think that they are very nice fish. They are not at all expensive. I never keep candy basslet. They are beautiful. I have a tiny baby Regal. Maybe I will use this tank as a grow out tank for my 1 inch regal until he is ready for my DT at home

 

[OrionN]

It's a pricey fish to be mixing with others! In a guaranteed peaceful tank, maybe not a bad centerpiece (maybe candy with a pair of pinkies?).

I'm still thinking that a jawfish would be quite entertaining in that tank!

I agree. If I have a Candy Basslet, I will not have an aggressive fish with it.

 

[Sump Crab]

I agree. If I have a Candy Basslet, I will not have an aggressive fish with it.

I house mine with golden assesor, coral beauty, mystery wrasse, ocellaris, azure damsel, and pink spotted goby. 65 gallon tank.

 

[littlefoxx]

If this was my tank I would go with a pair of clowns (love them and classic fish!) a sixline wrasse to control pests (and their colors are stunning, love mine in my biocube) a blenny of some kind (algae and personality) a cardinal fish (since they just float in open water and are cool) and the mandarin!

My biocube:
Clown pair
Starry blenny,
Zebra dart goby
Sixline
Cardnial
3 saltwater mollies
Neon dottyback