55 gallon stock list.

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gourami5

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Dec 27, 2005
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Hi,

I am starting a new FOWLR (may be a couple of corals). I haven't buy any fish or LR yet. I just want to check with you guys on my initial fish list.

Basically, I want variety of colors, as many color as possible. I will have a 55 gallon (4 feet long) tank with about 50 lbs of live sand and 55 to 75 lbs of LR. I will have 10 gallon refugium with chaeto and LR in it. Here is my list.

2 False Percula clown (orange ) 2 because I heard they like a pair.
flame angel (red)
yellow tang (yellow)
blue damsel (blue)
orchid dortyback (orchid)
Mandarin Dragonet (green) will add after 6 months.

fire shrimp
cleaner skunk shrimp

some hermit crabs (blue leg, red leg, green leg)
some snails.

How does it look? Any problem, aggressiveness? too many fishes? Any other color suggestion? Do I need some fishes to turn the sand? any other clean up crew? All your inputs are much appreciated. Thanks.
 
A few comments.

clowns: you can keep one, a pair might mate up and might not

flame angels: some consider them a harder dwarf angel to keep and you should know they are hit or miss with corals

yellow tang: will outgrow your tank eventually

damsels: aggressive

orchid dottyback: the least aggressive of the dottyback I think, maybe someone else will chime in

mandarin Dragonet: I'd wait at least a year and make sure you have a fuge before adding so you have an established pod population

shrimps should both work

I would personally ditch the crabs and go with snails.

I do think a sand sifting goby or a lawnmaker blenny would make a good fish for you. They have loads of personality and both are beneficial as well.

For some alternate ideas check out some of the flasher wrasses and if you are able to feed a few small meals a day you might even want to try some anthias after you get going.
 
Grins said:
A few comments.

clowns: you can keep one, a pair might mate up and might not

flame angels: some consider them a harder dwarf angel to keep and you should know they are hit or miss with corals

yellow tang: will outgrow your tank eventually

damsels: aggressive

orchid dottyback: the least aggressive of the dottyback I think, maybe someone else will chime in

mandarin Dragonet: I'd wait at least a year and make sure you have a fuge before adding so you have an established pod population

shrimps should both work

I would personally ditch the crabs and go with snails.

I do think a sand sifting goby or a lawnmaker blenny would make a good fish for you. They have loads of personality and both are beneficial as well.

For some alternate ideas check out some of the flasher wrasses and if you are able to feed a few small meals a day you might even want to try some anthias after you get going.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much. A couple of follow up questions.

- so are you saying yellow tail blue damsel is ABSOLUTE no-no? or just MIGHT be a bit aggressive? because I have read lots of articles and it just say they are aggressive toward other damsel, but should be fine with others.

- why would you suggest against the crab? please elaborate.

- what kind of sand sifting goby you recommend? I don't like the look of lawnmaker benny. don't like anthias either.

Again, thank you for your reply.
 
Also please let me know the names and quantity of invertebrates (snails, crabs, what else) I should add to the tank. I don't want to start the wrong way, so I would really appreciate if you please share your experience. Thanks.
 
- so are you saying yellow tail blue damsel is ABSOLUTE no-no? or just MIGHT be a bit aggressive? because I have read lots of articles and it just say they are aggressive toward other damsel, but should be fine with others.
Although it is one of the least aggressive of the damsels the damsels are known for both their aggressiveness to other fish in the tank and their difficulty in removing them from the tank once you've tired of them terrorizing every fish you try to add. If you like the shape of damsels you might want to try chromis. There are different color variations although the blue green seem to be the most often discussed.

- why would you suggest against the crab? please elaborate.
They are opportunistic and will kill. They are known for killing snails for their shells and many try to offset this by adding lots of empty shells for the crabs to use instead. I found that my hermits would kill just for the fun of it and this week I sent them all packing to someone else's tank. Personally I don't plan to have another hermit again.

- what kind of sand sifting goby you recommend? I don't like the look of lawnmaker benny. don't like anthias either.
In my 55 gallon I have an Amlygobius phalaena (Also called a Banded, Barred, or Dragon) and love it. It isn't brightly colored but I do like the blue and oranges it has with the brown. More than color I love it's personality. It is not skittish and is often the first to eat at mealtime. Constantly stirs up the sandbed. There are other gobies that will sift though so pick one that appeals to you, maybe a Diamond Watchman.

Also please let me know the names and quantity of invertebrates (snails, crabs, what else) I should add to the tank. I don't want to start the wrong way,
I've chosen to only get what I need as I go along. Whatever algea I might be wanting to counteract I get that clean up crew member. That ensures that I have the right clean up crew for the problem and that I have plenty of food for what I'm adding. For starting snails I'd advise ones that eat diatoms. But you might also find your live rock has something else you need eaten so you'll want to add clean up crew for that too. All depends really. Some find that they have bryopsis in their tank so get a sea slug. I'd never suggest one to a new aquarium just to be prepared but I can see the benefit of having one while you have plenty of food for it to eat.
 
One of the books I'm very glad I bought for this hobby is Scott W. Michael's Reef Aquarium Fishes pocket guide. I highly recommend it. It is an average small paperback size and can easily be taken with you to the pet store to help when you're tempted by a fish on sight (we all are tempted). It will also be a great reference during stocking. I think I paid about $14 for it. Maybe a little more at Borders.
 
I have a Watchman Diamond Goby, and he is awesome. He is not an agressive fish, but he is a bottom dweller so he might be ok with the other fish. Maybe someone with more experience can comment. He stirs the sand a ton, and made his own cave under my moon coral to live in. Do not get him mixed up with the Orangespotted Goby, which looks very similiar, but has a black under chin.
 
I have a golden head sleeper goby that is a character. It has pretty much redecorated the sand in my tank, and really isn't disturbed by the other fish. She has created quite a few "caves" or dig outs underneath live rock areas in my tank and pretty much goes where she pleases.. (I say she because I named her Edna)..

She is comical to watch when eating and seems to be somewhat social on an occasion.
 
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