Hey guys! I have a 55 gallon reef tank and i want to know the best fish for a 55. I currently have a small yellow tang and he is doing awesome! I was looking at a Lieutenant Tang but I've read so many different needed tank sizes I don't know if i can have one. I would get it small and then re-home it when it got bigger. I have only a few corals like a couple star polyps, mushrooms and a leather coral. I just want to get some opinions from you guys to see what would be the best fit or my tank! Thanks!
55 Gallon Aquarium Fish.
- Thread starter Dan Sirna
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3dees
Well-Known Member
you won't like the answers you'll get. hate to sound like the tang police but your tank is too small for any tang. people who think that they will just keep it until it outgrows the tank find out that it's not that easy to find someone willing to take the fish. especially a tang. these fish need room, and if they don't get it, it leads to aggression and that will lead to sick fish and sick tanks. you may get lucky with the yellow, but I would really advise against adding another tang.
melypr1985
totally addicted
So i just want to take a minute and ask you to really think about how difficult it will be to remove a fish to rehome it. I just removed all my fish from my 75 reef and it's not that easy. Your tank (as mentioned above) is too small for a tang and so you may find that your attempting to rehome them pretty quickly. I had to remove all the rock and corals from my tank to get the fish out. My point being, dont get a fish that wont stay in your tank for it's full life. It's just not as easy as it sounds to keep them for a bit then rehome.
rajkovich207
Well-Known Member
I could list a whole bunch of different fish that would be perfect but it would be a little easier to know what you prefer. Whole water colum swimmer, anything imbetween? Bigger/smaller, color size preference, how many fish do you think you want? How often do you think you will feed? How old is the tank? What's your algae like?
In essence give me a synopsis of your tank and what is visually appealing to you. I know it may seem silly but I sort of "match" my fish and corals. I'm drawn like a bug to a zapper to blue and green corals and most of my fish are some hue of red. This imo is appealing to the eye and makes you look more fully into the tank.
In essence give me a synopsis of your tank and what is visually appealing to you. I know it may seem silly but I sort of "match" my fish and corals. I'm drawn like a bug to a zapper to blue and green corals and most of my fish are some hue of red. This imo is appealing to the eye and makes you look more fully into the tank.
Thanks for the input! I'm actually glad you guys told me because i wouldn't want the fish to not like his home! I'll have to figure something out for the yellow tang. But I'm really just looking for fish with lots of color and fish that I can actually see. I like gobies a lot. I'm only looking for about 5-7 fish because I don't want a huge bio load. My tank is 4 weeks old I'm not looking to get more fish soon i just want some opinions on fish that would fit. I feed daily.
rajkovich207
Well-Known Member
If your heart isn't set on certain corals or clams. Or you are willing the risk. Pygmy angels offer a lot of movement to the tank, are colorful and have great personalities to boot.
melypr1985
totally addicted
yellow coris wrasse- mine is always out where i can see him and gives a lot of movement
Helfrichi firefish (or any firefish really) - not a lot of movement, but 3 colors to choose from and mine is always out front for me to see
Cardinals, basslets- check out the black cap it's beautiful (next on my purchase list) There are tons of options.
Helfrichi firefish (or any firefish really) - not a lot of movement, but 3 colors to choose from and mine is always out front for me to see
Cardinals, basslets- check out the black cap it's beautiful (next on my purchase list) There are tons of options.
melypr1985
totally addicted
That doesn't look bad. It looks new that's all. You'll be amazed by how it changes through time. I would suggest bigger powerheads. Those look like koralia nanos and wont push much water. You'd be suprised by how much water flow you really need for corals. Other than that, it looks like a good start. Do you mean a blue spot jawfish? i had one and loved him! He died rather mysteriously a while back. They need deep sand, stable rock work (they will burrow under all your rock) and can bury corals. Lots of personality too.
3dees
Well-Known Member
there are many colorful fish for your tank. a clown or two, many wrasses to choose from, blenny's, hawkfish, firefish, etc. I would wait on a dwarf angel. they do better in a mature tank. some flame angels are still captured with cyanide and seem healthy for a few months and die even with qt. just research before adding anything and don't go to the lfs for advice.
