Pre-built stocking plan40-gallon Breeder Reef Stocking Blueprint
40-gallon breeder reef stocking blueprint with mixed coral + 4-5 fish.
Setup
40-gallon breeder (36"×18"×16") with sump, skimmer, return pump
Fish stocking
- Pair Ocellaris clowns
- Royal gramma
- Six-line wrasse
- Yellow watchman goby + tiger pistol shrimp pair
- Optional: Kole tang or tomini tang (last addition, year 2+)
Invertebrates
- 25x mixed CUC
- 2x cleaner shrimp
- Sexy shrimp group
- Crab cleanup squad (emerald, sally lightfoot)
Coral progression
- Soft coral foundation (year 1)
- LPS variety: torches, hammers, acan, blasto, micromussa, duncan
- SPS year 2 if alk + Ca + Mg stable: birdsnest, montipora, easy acro
Stocking timeline
Week/Phase 1Cycle 5-6 weeks
Week/Phase 2CUC week 6
Week/Phase 3First fish week 7-8
Week/Phase 4Second fish week 10
Week/Phase 5Third fish month 3
Week/Phase 6Coral start month 3 (softies)
Week/Phase 7LPS month 4+
Week/Phase 8SPS year 2
Week/Phase 9Tang last addition year 2+