Stocking and aquascape for for 50 gallon

[Reesj]

Hi all. I'm new to saltwater although have many years of fresh water and planted tank experience.

I'm setting up a new 50 gallon reef tank 39x13.5x23 (LxWxH) )with 15-20 gallon sump. Ofc I would have loved to setup a bit wider lower high tank but went with this as this is a more sleek looking tank custom build tank with sump. (Its been setup at living room)

I'm from Sri Lanka and can mostly source fish from around here(price and availability). So far my ultimate stocking list is something like this,
1- Yellow tail damsel (start off in 1 weeks)
2-Sabae or pink skunk clownfish (in 2 weeks)
3-4 lyretail anthias (in 3 weeks)
2- Ruby Longfin Fairy Wrasse (in 2 weeks)
1- powder blue tang small size (in 8 weeks)
1- Cleaner Shrimp (2 weeks time)

I have already used bacteria bottle to the tank up and going.
Is this too many fish and what are you guys opinion on keeping the small school of Sri Lankan lyretail anthias?

What you guys idea about the Aquascape?
Thanks.

 

[Reefpuck]

Powder blue tang will outgrow that tank. Everything else looks fine.

 

[Reesj]

Powder blue tang will outgrow that tank. Everything else looks fine.

Thanks. Yes I read of it. I saw somewhere though that they grow really slow. So was thinking of getting one small 2-3 inches.
Actually all the fish I will get small and final size say what they wuill be in about 1.5 to 2 years time.
By that time I will take them a lfs or will hopefully upgrade the system

 

[LiveWire]

Welcome to the REEF!! Looks good so far. Also keep in mind that Anthias (unlike many other fish species) need to be fed several times a day in order to stay healthy and thrive.

 

[Blitheran]

I would advist against a yellow tail damsel just imo

 

[GatorScott]

Thanks. Yes I read of it. I saw somewhere though that they grow really slow. So was thinking of getting one small 2-3 inches.
Actually all the fish I will get small and final size say what they wuill be in about 1.5 to 2 years time.
By that time I will take them a lfs or will hopefully upgrade the system

With all due respect, that’s not the way to approach this hobby and stocking your tank. Just do your research and get fish that are suitable for that size tank. Ooorrrrr just go ahead and upgrade the tank

 

[PatW]

You should not put a tang in a tank that size. It might be a small tank for anthias. It is a bit high on load but with good husbandry, should be ok.

 

[Reesj]

I was hoping for a tang as its great for algae control and general husbandry and that is the only thing can I can source locally from Sri Lankan waters.
Any idea of a different choices to fill my stocking list ? Hopefully with colourful fish that are from sri lankan waters?

 

[Bryson.bobby]

I would add the yellow damsel in last; they get very territorial, especially when added in first. I wouldn’t get that tang either.

 

[Reef-junky]

I was hoping for a tang as its great for algae control and general husbandry and that is the only thing can I can source locally from Sri Lankan waters.
Any idea of a different choices to fill my stocking list ? Hopefully with colourful fish that are from sri lankan waters?

Are you able to get urchins or snails? Tank wise I would have gone with a 75 or 40 breeder.

 

[lonelyfloat]

I was hoping for a tang as its great for algae control and general husbandry and that is the only thing can I can source locally from Sri Lankan waters.
Any idea of a different choices to fill my stocking list ? Hopefully with colourful fish that are from sri lankan waters?

I would go for a One Spot Foxface with that size tank, but maybe even that’s stretching it. A Kole Tang would work. I know neither of those are native to Sri Lanka, but those are your best options, IMO.

 

[Reesj]

Thanks guy for the replies.
My choices are quite limited, but one shop here do make imports from somewhere. Although their pries are quite a bit expensive (over 10 times the price than local fish). They did have fox face, copper band and yellow tangs though. The yellow tangs were crazy expensive with even very small one over $75. For reference i can get a powder blue for about $6-10.

Regarding clean up crew its quite slim pickings from what I have seen. You get cleaner shrimp and hermit crabs and that is it. Unless I might have to go and see if i can score some clean up crew off beach rocks.

Regarding the Kole tang: I don't think it is from water around here and have ot seen it even at the place they import reef fish.
Here is a link to all the reef fish you get in Sri Lanka guys.

 

[Reesj]

Also looking back at the list of fish, I just realised that the fish I thought Yellow tail damsel is actually called Similar damsel. Amazing how similar they are to each other. I mean I have seen them at fish store and they look exact carbon copy of yellow tails, although some internet links show a different fish.
Also it seems I can stock multiple of those .

I guess even people in this forum must have been fooled I'm sure by exporters. I originally thought its the same thing as I saw a Yellowtail demoiselle in the list of reef fish for Sri Lanka. Apparently that's again a different fish lol.
Here is proper link about the real fish

 

[Reef-junky]

Damsels are very territorial and may cause you problems. As others have started I would not get one.

 

[Reef-junky]

Chromis viridis

 

[Reesj]

Damsels are very territorial and may cause you problems. As others have started I would not get one.

It seems most of them are like that but the one i;m talking seems to be not that bad.
"these are generally less aggressive than what we see in the more strictly benthic species that browse upon algae. In an aquarium, a small to large group is strongly recommended, though single specimens will generally fare fine in smaller tanks with docile tankmates."
Link

 

[Tiger Brown]

Welcome to our forums Reesj. I've had yellow tail damsels and haven't had trouble with them, I currently have a 55 gallon with 2 chromis, an azure, and a pacific jewel. They will chase each other but no nipping and they ignore both my cleaner shrimps. I know with damselfish personalities vary, so I may be just lucky. The Powder Blue tang is a very, very, bad choice for your size aquarium in my opinion, even a juvenile.

 

[Reef-junky]

I had damsel in a 30 gallon with a clown and royal gramma. Damsel cause nothing but problems. Also inherited a 50 gallon tank with one and it was the same damsel caused problems. Both would attack anything that got near what they considered their territory even my hand and they were relentless. If I remember in the wild they farm algae and will fight off other fish from it.

 

[Reesj]

Some people seems to reply only looking at first post. I wanted to get the powder blue as I saw a fish like that will keep the anthias group busy. If not they tend to pick off the weakest one by one. I guess then i have to reconsider both Anthias group and tang both and go in a different direction. Or maybe get just 1 anthias.