Need Stocking Ideas for DT and Fuge

This is what I currently have: 40GB (36x18x16T, started 5/09/11) with XP3 Filter (350GPH), Aqueon 500 Powerhead (500GPH), Aqueon 150W heater, Coralife 36" 2 bulb T5 fixture (1x 10000K, 1x Actinic), 35G Sump/Fuge, and a Precision Marine Bullet2 Skimmer (up to 240G) using a Mag18 pump
Inhabitants: 1x True Perc. Clown (M for now), 1x Fuzzy Dwarf Lion (F), CuC (51x Blue, 2x Red, 1x Jade hermits, 1x Fancy Brittle Star, 1x Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, and 1x Lettuce Nudi.), 1x Emerald Crab, Eagle Eye Zoa frag, Pulsing Xenia.
I am wanting to know your guys' opinions on what I should stock my DT with, and what I can put in the fuge (~24"x12"x16" of swimming room), bio-load souldn't be too big of a problem with my skimmer/sump/fuge as it's as big as my tank and way over-rated but I know there is more to it than mechanical devices. I don't know if I will be going reef (more likely) or FOWLR so I can be swayed either way. Fish groups I'm looking at are Dwarf Angels, Blennies, Butterflies, Dragonets, Eels, Gobies, Lions (looking at a pair of fuzzies), Scorpians, and Tangs. I know a lot are incompatible and too big, which is why I want to see what you all would do. As far as lions go, I get them from an LFS and make sure they stay away from fish as much as possible and can feed often, so I'm willing to gamble. Dragonets, I am aware need lots of pods so I am willing to culture and wait. Tangs I can get small and upgrade in a few months (once I repay my parents for the skimmer) and I heard they can be slow growers (Yellow or any one of the Ctenochaetus sp.). Having a hard time with variables and different info on the same species, so I figured you all would know best. Thanks for the help.

TL;DR: ~70G of room to stock with a clown and a Fuzzy Dwarf Lion, need ideas on fish.

 

For that size tank I would stick with Gobies, Royal Gramma, Cardinal fish, maybe a Cherub angel. I would stay away from the Butterfly group.

Personally I would not mix an eel in that size of a tank. Nor would I mix the Scorpion group with clowns, dragonets, blennies or gobies.

I think you need to choose between an predator FOWLR or a tank with smaller reef fish. The combinations might work in a larger tank, but not in a 40 gallon breeder regardless of over all volume just because of the different traits of each group you mentioned.

Good Luck

 

Ok thanks, I don't know what I was thinking with the eel. I guess I'll go with some mid size fish like Gramma/gobies and a dwarf Angel, and maybe try a couple of <0.5"-1" community fish in the fuge as a kind of 'mini-ecosystem'. Do you think any type of Dragonet will be healthy in a 40G as long as I use a few cultures of pods a few months before getting the fish?

 

If you do not mix fish that eat in the zone of the tank or rely largely on the same foods. For instance a Dragonet may have to compete with a Gody or Bleenies.

Plan ahead and get a healthy population going in the fuge. You can use ball of chaeto in the fuge and switch them out in the display to increase the population. As always try to get one that is eating prepared foods or research how to get them to.