New to salt

hello everyone, I've been getting a sudden urge to delve into the saltwater world. So I've decided to turn my 40 breeder into a fowlr. I know the basics. What I need help with is stocking. I know I want a flame angel. I'm unsure as to if I should let that be my only fish choice or to add to him. If I can add I'd like to have a group of cardinal fish, 6 to be exact. Would that set me over the limits of what my tank can house? For filtration I'm going to use an ac110 and 40 pounds of live rock and sand(about 30 pounds of the rock will be dry and the rest will be live, but before I add any fish I wanted to wait for it to become matured live rock.)

 

Bump

 

My wife is a huge fan of the Kaudern's Cardinalfish, we had a group of four in a sixty gallon and they were very happy, I really like their pattern. I would be careful with the pygmy angel, maybe add him last as they can be a bully. Most importantly, get the tank mature and have a good skimmer to handle the fish waste and excess fish food in the system. Best of luck and welcome to the monster that is saltwater tanks!

 

According to specialists, flames needs 70g minimum. In smaller tanks may be more aggressive. For cardinals - those guys are static fishes and don't need too much space, but be aware that not all of them will eat flakes/pellets and you will have to feed frozen foods. Angelfishes need lot of greens too, so will have to balance the food regime.
Adding 7 fishes in a small tank - just consider well your skimmer capacity and buy something overrated. Fishes will do well in higher nitrates / phosphates environment, but you may end up in endless ugly algaes fight.
And be sure that once you start visiting fish shops will fall in love with another fish and another and then some corals.... And then your tank is too small and too crowded already ... I bet 99% of guys on this forum knows what I am talking about (just this one - I swear is the last one - is out fight anytime we visit a fish shop )
My approach in the end is one fish / species. So I have more or less everything I want.

 

welcome to the site and the hobby soon! dacianb is so correct! I had a 54 gallon FOWLR for many years - since you don't keep corals, your choices in fish increase and imo it's really no harder or complicated per se than keeping a freshwater tank - many principles are the same. There are many knowledgeable and talented reefers on here so it's a great place to get advice and ask questions. You may also want to search the site for some good reads on various subjects.