Any thoughts on my fish load out for 55G reef?

[r3o3]

Hello TRT,

I've been reading these forums for over a year now, and believe it or not this is my first post! (And in that year I feel like I've only touched on a 10th of the knowledge this place has)

What I was hoping for was some advice on my planned fish load out for my 55G reef tank. Right now it is only stocked with some LR and an assortment of soft corals. It's been up an running for about 6 months. I didn't want to wait this long to put fish in, but the short story is it took me 6 months to build the stand and associated equipment and move the tank to where I wanted it (a great post I should make for the DIY forums! You guys over there ROCK BTW!! )

I'm looking at putting in
x1 Yellow Tang
x1 Yellowhead jawfish
x1 royal gramma
x2 steinitz Goby
x1 pistol shrimp
x2 cleaner shrimp
x1 peppermint shrimp

and my wife really wants damsels, but there is no way in the world I'm going to put those demons in the tank. I was thinking of adding some blue or blue/green chromis instead.

My quarentine tanks are all set up and ready for new inhabitants. Just wanted to get some experienced advise on this loadout.

Oh, also is there any particular reason to add/not add all of the at the same time? (benefits, which ones first, etc...)

Thanks for any and all of your help!!

Tyler

[Melissa]

Welcome to TRT! I can't comment on the fish, but the shrimp should be fine. You may want to add another peppermint shrimp to your list so you'll have a pair. They are hermaphroditic and will spawn frequently. The little shrimp feed your corals. I've had my cleaner shrimp spawn already in my tank. Unfortunately I missed the "birth". It's fun to watch them because you can see the shrimp carrying all the eggs around for quite a while - seems like a couple of weeks.

I added my shrimp crew prior to adding any fish.

Melissa

[Kevin1000]

In general tangs need large and mature tanks - I think the 55 is a little small for a tang. You might consider a dwarf angel - not 100% coral proof but I have never had a problem and many posters would say chances are pretty good that a dwarf will do OK in a reef tank.

Good luck.

[kal2310]

I have a 54g tank, so I have a little experience with that size range, and I would say that that fish load should be fine. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

[Phishnoob]

We had to move out our coral beauty. He was a bit too agressive for the rest of the tank. In our 55g we have about a dozen various shrimp, one goby, a royal gramma, a cardinal and a blenny and it seems maxed with that load based on others opinions. This is not what you are planning exactly but just put up as a guide.

The tank has a skimmer and full time UV and probably on the high end for the size as far as clean up crews go.

We are crossing our fingers but so far not one fish death or worry in a few months now on this tank.

[SPC]

Originally Posted by Phishnoob

We are crossing our fingers but so far not one fish death or worry in a few months now on this tank.

...and isn't that nice . My reef has been up for 4 years now and I have never lost a fish or seen one with any type of problem.

Hi r3o3,

You will get many different answers to your question, but IMO I would leave the yellow tang out of the mix.
Steve

[Phishnoob]

Originally Posted by SPC

...and isn't that nice . My reef has been up for 4 years now and I have never lost a fish or seen one with any type of problem.

*Phishnoob kneels*

[Doug1]

I concur on leaving out the yellow tang. Jawfish are interesting but they have fairly sppecific needs, research that one well first please.
The Gramma is good, not familiar with tha goby but as a rule they are not a problem, with a couple they should have enough rock space so that territorial imperative isnt too much an issue, to that you might add 3 chromis for contrast but IMO/IME 6 fish that size are pretty max for a 55g tank

[Jackclown]

Royal gramma's are beautiful, reef safe and always get a lot of compliments. Dwarf angel would be nice. A Small yellow tang should be fine. (A great colorful easy fish for most part.)
How about a coulpe of clowns? Nothing beats watching clowns in your tank!