50g fish list help

[GermanDreams]

After tons of planning I have bought a IM 50g AIO. I have a decent list of parts and supplies coming thanks to countless hours of research on this forum.

Here is the current setup.
-40lbs of rock
-40lbs of pink sand
-Mightyjet pump
-Filter sock on one side
-caddy basket on the other
-Tunze 9004 protein skimmer
-eflex wavemaker to help with water circulation
-IM spin stream outlets
-300 watt heater w/ inkbird controller
-IC Loop led


The one thing I'm struggling with is my fish list or how many fish to keep in a Fowlr. My goal is a semi full and active tank. I know for sure I want 2 clowns, a watchman gobbie, royal gobbie and a peppermint shrimp. How many other fish can I keep or am I at the limit ? I know Fowlr setups you need to have proper filtration and perform frequent water changes. I'm good with that but don't want to over populate and end up hurting or stressing the fish.

 

[vlangel]

I have a mature 56 gallon tank with a clownfish, a royal Gramma, a Coral Beauty angelfish, a Midas blenny, a watchman goby, a barnacle blenny, a pajama cardinalfish, a tomini tang and 3 yellow tail damselfish, which makes 11 fish. I do have a 30 gallon fuge and 20 gallon sump attached to this tank so a lot more water column, but no skimmer. I would think you could have 7 or 8 if you chose similar fish that occupied different areas of the tank.

 

[blaxsun]

I personally found the one filter sock/caddy to be the best combination - using filter floss and ChemiPure Blue (or Elite) in the caddy. How many fish can you keep? It really depends on your bio filter. The more rock you have the more area for beneficial bacteria. The fact that you're running a good skimmer also works in your favor.

In my pair of IM Nuvo Lagooon 25-gallon tanks I ran 7-8 small fish per tank. Note that I was changing out socks and filter floss on a semi-daily basis and testing for nitrates and phosphates every few days (with more fish you really need to stay on top of things.

Easily 10 fish for sure - more over time.

 

[GermanDreams]

I have a mature 56 gallon tank with a clownfish, a royal Gramma, a Coral Beauty angelfish, a Midas blenny, a watchman goby, a barnacle blenny, a pajama cardinalfish, a tomini tang and 3 yellow tail damselfish, which makes 11 fish. I do have a 30 gallon fuge and 20 gallon sump attached to this tank so a lot more water column, but no skimmer. I would think you could have 7 or 8 if you chose similar fish that occupied different areas of the tank.

I have a mature 56 gallon tank with a clownfish, a royal Gramma, a Coral Beauty angelfish, a Midas blenny, a watchman goby, a barnacle blenny, a pajama cardinalfish, a tomini tang and 3 yellow tail damselfish, which makes 11 fish. I do have a 30 gallon fuge and 20 gallon sump attached to this tank so a lot more water column, but no skimmer. I would think you could have 7 or 8 if you chose similar fish that occupied different areas of the tank.

This helps a ton, thank you! I noticed with Fowlr most people don't use much of a clean up crew. Is there a reason behind that?

 

[GermanDreams]

I personally found the one filter sock/caddy to be the best combination - using filter floss and ChemiPure Blue (or Elite) in the caddy. How many fish can you keep? It really depends on your bio filter. The more rock you have the more area for beneficial bacteria. The fact that you're running a good skimmer also works in your favor.

In my pair of IM Nuvo Lagooon 25-gallon tanks I ran 7-8 small fish per tank. Note that I was changing out socks and filter floss on a semi-daily basis and testing for nitrates and phosphates every few days (with more fish you really need to stay on top of things.

Easily 10 fish for sure - more over time.

That is awesome thank you! Is there a list of fish that you would suggest? Also , do you run carbon with the filter floss and chemipure?

 

[blaxsun]

That is awesome thank you! Is there a list of fish that you would suggest? Also , do you run carbon with the filter floss and chemipure?

The ChemiPure is mostly carbon (the Blue has some limited phosphate-removal while the Elite has more with the GFO component, hence why it's kind of a rust color). In terms of fish, I have literally tried almost everything. Top choices:

* Flame hawkfish
* Dottyback and/or royal gramma
* Small coral beauty or flame dwarf angel (you'll be limited to one total)
* Sixline or melanarus wrasse (pest control)
* Midas blenny
* Azure damsel
* One of the more exotic chromis, like black bar or bi color

 

[vlangel]

When my tanks were FOWLR I still had clean up crew. I like small blue legged hermit crabs, and nassarius snails. I also always have different shrimp; coral banded, cleaner and peppermint shrimp. They actually put a negligible of bioload so you can have several without a problem.