Suggestions for a 55 gallon mixed reef tank.

Sacohen · May 30, 2014

I have a 55 gallon mixed reef tank (mostly softies and LPS I'm not really interested in the SPS).
I currently have a Flame Angel, a orange Fire Fish, a black True Perc an Orange False perc and a Hi Fin Red Banded Goby.

Inverts are a Pencil Urchin, cleaner shrimp, and 2 pistol shrimp.

I'm trying to find fish I can put in this tank. It seems like everything I like (Tangs and Butterfly) the tank is too small for.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Tahoe61 · May 30, 2014

Chalk Bass, Midas Blenny, Royal Gramma, Possum Wrasse, Yellow Stripped Cardinal fish. You could try one of the Hawk Fish, but they can take a liking to shrimp or sometimes become aggressive.

Sacohen · May 31, 2014

Thanks. I had a Royal Gramma once (I think it was a Royal, it could have been a [FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Bicolor Dottyback) and it terrorized my fish to death.

I'll have to look into the others.[/FONT]

Sacohen · Jun 23, 2014

I got a Royal Gramma a couple of weeks ago and put him in the tank and he went into the rocks.
Didn't see him for a couple of days and heard my pistol shrimp going crazy so I thought they got him, but he came out about 3 days later and is starting to come out more and more.
Still hids alot and is not out as much as the others, but I'm sure that will change the longer he is in there.

Joeganja · Jun 23, 2014

You can add a small yellow tang or a small regal tang. You just have to have good filteratiom to filter all their waste. I had a 36 gallon with a purple tang and 3 mono argentus in it for around 6 months and they seemed to do just fine. My Royal gramma is very teritorial towards my baby blue regal and my chromis. I would recommend you to get an orchid dottyback. They are peaceful as long as their is enough hiding spots in the tank and there aren't boisterous fish around.

Sacohen · Jun 23, 2014

The tangs may be fine at first, but they will outgrow that tank.
I am probably going to a 90 in about 6 months and may consider a Tang when I do that.

Joeganja · Jun 23, 2014

If you do. Get a purple tang. Yellow everyone has them you know? I have a naso, a male bluethroat trigger, a purple, 2 black ocellaris clowns, a diamond goby, a orchid dottyback, a ruby red dragonet, a blue chromis and blue damsel. In my Refugium are a maroon and white clownfish and a red corris wrasse. Everyone's fine. The naso might have to move in a couple of years but they get along just fine.