Aquarium Centrepiece!

[DansMarineTank]

Hello All,

My 40G tank is going well but looks a little empty, I want your advice on what i should get for a centre piece, I would like one largish fish. But the girlfriend has said i cant have a dwarf lionfish or Fu Manchu. Can any reconmend a suitable fish for my tank size maybee a butterfly fish or a Tang?

I currently have the following setup

40 G tank
40LB arogonite reef sand
20LB live rock
Fluval 204 Canister filter
Seaclone 60 Skimmer

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Livestock

2 Percula Clowns (1")
1 Boxer Shrimp
1 Red Starfish

Thanks in advance

 

[gbolton]

In a 40 gallon possibly one of the dwarf angels there are several that are quite colorful such as the coral beaty and flame angel.

 

[MonoSebaelover]

Both Butterflies and Tangs will get too big for your set up. I would second gbolton on the Angel. Too bad you can't have Lions. I have 2 Fu Manchu's as the centerpiece of my 55g tank. I love them! Plus they would eat your Boxer Shrimp so that wouldn't be good. I would also look into Dart Gobies (schooling fish that like hanging out in the upper water column-species such as the Bar, Scissortail,etc) or a type of Basslet, or a small Wrasse, or a Blenny. All should be great candidates for your tank. Hope this helps.

 

[Kevin McG]

I would go with the flame angel or coral beauty

 

[DansMarineTank]

Has anyone had any experiance of keeping smaller lions with clownfish? I am really keen on a dwarf lionfish but the better half loves the clowns. Maybe if they had an anenome home they would be safe?

 

[Gealcath]

A Fu Manchu is actually smaller then a dwarf lion by about 1-2", otherwise its the same thing, anything that is about 3/4 its size can be swallowed.

 

[redpaulhus]

In time your female clown will be an awesome centerpiece fish, about as big as a dwarf angel.
You may want to add some accent fishes - a pair of blue neon gobies would be sweet, or a pair of chalk bass, or two cardinals (lots of cool cardinals to choose from). A royal gramma would look good, and a lawnmower blenny would have awesome personality.
As was mentioned - a sixline or canary wrasse would work well instead.

What characteristics are you looking for in your centerpiece fish ? color ? Personality ? activity level ?

 

[DansMarineTank]

i would like and active colourfull fish, i was drawn towards a yellow tang, but i discoved it needs a 75g

 

[stephenray75]

get a mated pair of maroon clowns. their colors can be beautiful if under some good lighting. some gobies are cool and active. Maybe a eel.