Reef coral and fish care sheets
20 species with real tank-size minimums, exact parameter ranges, what kills them, and the most common mistakes. No pet-store marketing copy.
Looking for a fish, not a coral? What size tank for… covers freshwater + saltwater fish (betta, oscar, clownfish, yellow tang, etc.) with adult-minimum tank sizes for 70+ species.
Fish
8Fish stocking starts with knowing the real minimum tank size — not the pet-store one. Sizes here lean conservative.
- Ocellaris clownfish Amphiprion ocellarisMin tank: 20 gal · 24 in long
- Yellow tang Zebrasoma flavescensMin tank: 75 gal · 48 in long
- Kole tang (yellow-eyed) Ctenochaetus strigosusMin tank: 55 gal · 48 in long
- Blue hippo tang (Dory) Paracanthurus hepatusMin tank: 180 gal · 72 in long
- Royal gramma Gramma loretoMin tank: 20 gal · 24 in long
- Six-line wrasse Pseudocheilinus hexataeniaMin tank: 30 gal · 30 in long
- Yellow watchman goby Cryptocentrus cinctusMin tank: 20 gal · 24 in long
- Lawnmower blenny Salarias fasciatusMin tank: 30 gal · 30 in long
LPS corals
4Large polyp stony corals. Mid-PAR, mid-flow, and dosing-sensitive. Most beginner-friendly stonies.
SPS corals
2Small polyp stony corals. High PAR, high flow, and the most chemistry-sensitive group in the hobby.
Soft corals
3Soft corals — toadstools, mushrooms, zoanthids. Hardiest coral group, lowest light/flow requirements.
Invertebrates
3Cleanup crew and miscellaneous invertebrates. Reef-safe support cast.
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