Stocking Opinions

[Willy Honeycutt]

I'm looking for stocking opinions and advice for my 55 gallon (20 gallon sump) tank. It's mainly a soft coral tank, but I want a decent number of fish as well. Right now, it's been running for about two months and only has one green chromis. I particularly want to get a starry blenny, but other than that, I'm not sure what to stock it with. I'd like to hear y'all's suggestions and advice. By the way, I'm in no hurry with this tank, and I'll be adding fish and corals slowly over time.

 

[Peach02]

I'm looking for stocking opinions and advice for my 55 gallon (20 gallon sump) tank. It's mainly a soft coral tank, but I want a decent number of fish as well. Right now, it's been running for about two months and only has one green chromis. I particularly want to get a starry blenny, but other than that, I'm not sure what to stock it with. I'd like to hear y'all's suggestions and advice. By the way, I'm in no hurry with this tank, and I'll be adding fish and corals slowly over time.

You could try adding a coral beauty or a flame angel but it’s down to personality if they will nip too much at corals, mine will occasionally nip at my clam mantle but otherwise it does no harm.
Other suggestions are clownfish, firefish (the dartfish not the angel), mandarin fish if you can feed it 5+ times a day and with the starry blenny I found it hard to find one and instead got a bicolour blenny, it’s got a great personality and does no harm.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Agree except for mandarin, they are hard to keep. They need pods available to survive, in a newer tank the population may be limited.

Flame and coral beauty are nice. I like fire fish, diamond back gobbies to sift sand.

And #welcometoR2R

 

[Willy Honeycutt]

Yea, the mandarins are beautiful, but I'm trying to stick to "low maintenance" fish. I really wish yellow tail damsels weren't so aggressive.

 

[Jesterrace]

There are many wrasses that will work in a 55 gallon tank (I assume it's 4 feet long). Among the recommendations:


https://www.liveaquaria.com/categor...78&r=3166+28&s=ts&start=1&page_num=1&count=24

https://www.liveaquaria.com/categor...79&r=28+3124&s=ts&start=1&page_num=1&count=24

https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/2675/christmas-wrasse?pcatid=2675&c=15+1379+2675

 

[RobberyinCSharp1824]

Yea, the mandarins are beautiful, but I'm trying to stick to "low maintenance" fish. I really wish yellow tail damsels weren't so aggressive.

Totally agree. I had one yellow tail damsel that tortured every member of my tank until my clowns died of stress. I wrote them off completely. Beautiful little jerks!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Fairy and flasher wrasses, small Halichoeres wrasse species, royal gramma, a group of zebra or scissortail dartfish, flame or longnose hawkfish.