How many fish is too many fish......

[Sinestro30]

Hi All,

Im just getting into the hobby and just wanted some advice/opinions on my fish wish list. I have a 220 gallon tank with 50 gallon sump. Plan to start with a FOWLR system before eventually have a few SPS coral later on. The fish I would like are as follows:

• Powder blue tang
• Hippo tang
• Yellow tang
• Clown x2
• Banggai cardinal x3
• Schooling banner fish x3
• Blue-green chromis x 3-6
• Yellow watchman goby
• Blue face angel
• Fire fish
• Azure damsel
• Flame angel
• Flame hawkfish
• Diamond goby
• Orchid dottyback
• Neon goby
• Bicolour blenny

Is this too many fish for this size tank with decent skimmer/filtration etc??

thanks

 

[BlennyTime]

It seems like a pretty good list, maybe a little much, but the key is to add them slowly and test your parameters as you go. There are too many factors specific to your system to say for sure up front.

 

[SPR1968]

Provided you have enough systems in place for nutrient export you should be fine with that list, infact I think i have more fish than that in my Red Sea S650 which is smaller.

I have even more fish in my big tank.....!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, "too many fish" is usually determined in an emergency, such as a power failure, not under ordinary circumstances.

 

[Bellasmith]

A pretty list but I think it too much for 50 gallon tank.

 

[Jon Fishman]

A pretty list but I think it too much for 50 gallon tank.

it’s 220g

 

[Dbichler]

List looks good to me. Careful with the tangs though that’s a lot of similar shapes and colors with the 2 and yellows can be nasty or nice depending.

 

[Auquanut]

Be cautious with the Banggai cardinals. If two pair up, they may kill the third. I have a pair that absolutely wouldn't tolerate the other Banggai cardinals that I introduced at the same time. Model citizens otherwise.

 

[DonDrummond]

Solid advice from everyone- I'd say it may be a bit much but just go slow-- quarantine first- it's a pain but way better losing a few in quarantine than losing twenty after putting your last fish in who brought a lovely case of velvet with it. And have a plan for power failure as per randy because it will happen one day

 

[Bellasmith]

it’s 220g

oh sorry, I'm wrong. I think for 200 gallons, it would be fine.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Looks good to me. Just take your time and add a few at a time, starting with the more passive fish.

Where you may encounter issues is in a power failure, oxygen will deplete much faster with a large number of fish, so you will definitely want some sort of backup in place.