Stocking my 55 gallon tank..

[Joshua Agostoni]

So I've bin doing some research on my own and found that everyone has an opinion and not all are good nor bad however I'm wondering what my R2R community members think?

So the question is what fish do you think are good for a 55 gallon saltwater tank. Currently I have two Mocha Clown Fish and two Blue& Green Chromis. What do you guys think would be some good tank mates for them.

 

[Biokabe]

Well, there's an awful lot of options for a 55g, even with what you already have in there. What are you planning on doing with the tank - is it going to be a reef tank? Any particular invertebrates you want to keep? Do you want to keep a more aggressive tank, or are you looking for something more peaceful? Do you want fish that are easier to care for, or are you willing to put more time and effort into the husbandry?

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

Well here is my plan.. I recently and by recently i mean today ordered a new sump in which i can house a refugium. I wanted to make sure i could help keep the water nice and clean between water changes. As for the stocking.

Currently I have:
2 Mocha Clown Fish
2 Blue/Green Chromis
1 Cerith Snail ( This guy was attached to the live rock i bought and is doing great.)

I plan on add more to my cleaning crew which will be:
3-5 Nassarus Snails
3-5 Trochus Snails
5 Blue or Red Legged hermit Crabs
1 Peppermit Shrimp

After these addition I want like 3 more to 5 more fish. I was thinking of getting the 3 Cardinals

1 Gobie

And then i'm looking for a show fish.. Something that isn't uncommon but also isn't something that every starter has. This is where I'm stuck. I wanted a porcupine puffer but my local fish guys laughed.

 

[R€€F @DD¡ÇT]

Stick to a male female pair of bangaii cardinals rather than a trio.

Porcupine puffer will outgrow that tank and probably eat some inverts.

Maybe look at a fairy or flasher wrasse.

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

I was thinking as a show fish getting a foxface rabbit fish ( show fish for me is somthing that isnt a common starter fish.

 

[Biokabe]

And then i'm looking for a show fish.. Something that isn't uncommon but also isn't something that every starter has. This is where I'm stuck. I wanted a porcupine puffer but my local fish guys laughed.

Yeah, a porcupine puffer is really too much for a 55. However, if you want a puffer, look at some of the sharpnose tobies - Valentini, Barrett's, or Blue Spotted are all gorgeous fish that you don't see in every tank.

Other good fish that you don't see in every tank - Potter's angelfish, Engineer Goby, Golden Dwarf Moray Eel, Snowflake Eel, Hoeven's Wrasse, Marine Comet, Leopard Puffer, Fu Manchu Lionfish, Antennata Lionfish, or any of the anglerfish. And some of the fairy/flasher wrasses are absolutely gorgeous.

It all depends on what you want to do with the tank, though. If you're planning on corals, definitely stay away from puffers - the sharpnose tobies are safe-ish, but there's always a risk for your corals to end up on the dinner menu with a puffer.

 

[Vahanyos]

How long is your tank?