55 Gallon Stocking List, First Timer

[Tyyrlym]

I am just getting started in salt water. I recently got my hands on a complete 55 gallon set up and once I have a stand built I'll be in business.
http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f7...nk-136742.html
My current plans are for it to be a FOWLR tank at the moment but with an eye towards becoming a reef tank one day. Therefore I'd like to avoid making choices down the line that I'll regret should I ever start putting coral in it.

This isn't a list of things I plan to put in the tank, merely a listing of fish that I like. Recommendations about these fish or anything else you think I might like or go well in a tank like this would be appreciated.

Oh, I should also mention that some sort of clownfish is non-negotiable. Both my youngings (3 and 1 1/2) both love finding Nemo, if I had a salt water tank and no clownfish they'd lynch me, or at least pout.

Clownfish - I adore picassos but I don't think the wife will like me spending $300 on a pair of 3" fish. I prefer the smaller varieties, preferably with black white and orange.
Regal Tang Mimic - something that looks like a regal tang but that will do fine in a 55, for my kids.
Anthias - I love them
Chromis - I like small schooling fish
Cardinals
Wrasses - the brightly colored ones
Blennies
Gobies
Long Nose Hawkfish
Royal Gramma

[motorslave]

Narrow the list down. That's way too many for a 55. 6 or 7 tops IMO. I cant think of anything that mimics a tang. Be careful on wrasse as some will emjoy your shrimp and crabs of you have any. Anthias can be difficult but not at all impossible, I would say do them last after a while. They generally require a lot of feeding.

[Tyyrlym]

I know it's too many, that's why I said its just a list of fish I enjoy, not a stocking plan. I'm asking what ya'll think on that list could work in the tank ie, the right size for the tank, which ones might not get along with one another, that sort of thing. With a bit more info (all I've got so far are several books which I learned a long time ago are usually 5+ years out of date) I would work this down to a stocking plan.

[Dragonist]

You can try out a Canary Wrasse. They are reef safe imo. I have had mine for say 4-6 months. Has not attacked a shrimp or snail.



Long nose hawkfish will possibly go after your shrimp.

You could also try out a Pygmy angel.

[firsthesitation]

Originally Posted by Tyyrlym

Clownfish - I adore picassos but I don't think the wife will like me spending $300 on a pair of 3" fish. I prefer the smaller varieties, preferably with black white and orange.
Regal Tang Mimic - something that looks like a regal tang but that will do fine in a 55, for my kids.
Anthias - I love them
Chromis - I like small schooling fish
Cardinals
Wrasses - the brightly colored ones
Blennies
Gobies
Long Nose Hawkfish
Royal Gramma

You can get quite a few different clown morphs now for a good price. Otherwise start with the norms, True Percs, Black Onyx, something like that.

Nothing like a regal tang that will fit in a 55, or any tang for that matter. They'll quickly even within a year with some species outgrow a 55.

Anthias, beautiful fish, good choice. I belive the smallest tank they recommend for them is 100 gallons.

Chromis are fun, but they are a damsel, they will pick on other fish and be dominant. I'd prefer your other choice here with the cardinals. They require a high protein diet to keep their colors sharp but worth it, very peaceful and they breed fairy easily in captivity.

Wrasses, there are a ton of reef safe ones that are truly beautiful. Flashers or Fairy Wrasses are a great way to go for a splash of color and something that will do a lot of swimming.

Blennies are cool too, I waited a long time to find a starry blenny in stores, he was definitely worth the wait.

Also a lot of cool gobies out there too.

Hawkfish...speaking from personal experience, I LOVE my flame hawk but he eats all my inverts....so shrimp are completely out of the question in my tank because of him.

Royal gramma would be cool too, they can be mean but the one i've got spends more time hiding then anything.

You're on the right track though since you're planning ahead of the tank for your livestock. Too many people buy on impulse and end up regretting it later.

Hope that helps. Check out Fosters site, http://www.liveaquaria.com they have a lot of cool fish and things to look at and make a list.

[Tyyrlym]

If the hawkfish goes after shrimp I can live without him. I definitely want some shrimp in my tank.

[Tyyrlym]

The 100 gallons for anthias thing is a big bummer. I love'em. I didn't think i could keep a tang, just hoping for something somewhat like a regal. If I have clownfish but no regal tang my kids will ask, "Where's Dorrie?" If the chromis are bullies I can easily leave them and take another cardinal or two.

[motorslave]

I have had several groups of chromis and never saw them act aggressively or dominant. The only issue I ever had with them was at feeding time. They are so quick and voracious its hard to get food to the other fish, so feed on two ends of the tank. Keep in odd numbers. With the exception of the hawk (and any tang)you are good. Go yo Vivid Aquariums.co as they have decent descriptions of fish and a great list to look at. Blennys are awesome fish, I like the Starry and the Striped (aka poison fang blenny) both have different swimming hbits and like different places in the tank.
Wrtasse are beautiful fish, just b sure of what you get, some are death to your cleaner crew, some arent. The site I gave you has a great selecion.

[Tyyrlym]

Not unlike some of my freshwater fish. I have to feed my platys at one end of the tank or they'll eat most of the food before it can drift down to my other fish. We'll have to see about the chromis. I like small schooling fish but push come to shove I like cardinals more. I'll take a look at that site.

[bluelobstor]

engineer gobies would be a great addition. and if you wanted a tang a yellow tang would do good. my best friend had a yellow tang in a 60 gallon hex that didn't have the foot print that yours has and it lived for years with no problems before he sold the tank. also a sixline wrasse would be good especially if you decide to get a clam one day as it will eat parasitic snails that could harm clams. a scarlet cleaner shrimp would also be good i had one that loved to clean other fish which was very enjoyable to watch. if you ever thought you would get corals i would definitely plan for that now with your selection all of the above would be great for a reef tank. i haven't had no luck with cardinals but they may be linked to where i got them. hope that helps

[Loverotties]

Engineer gobies are great workers and they keep the sand right were they sift it.