55 gal salt need help

I just cycled my 55 gal reef tank and I'm ready for fish. I have a 30 gal tank stocked, and now I am wondering about ideas/ what I can fit in my 55

 

+1 for starting off right and getting your cycle done. There is a thread in the livestock forum that shows what fish that are suggest for certain sizes of tanks. I am currently cycling my 55g tank and have just put a list up of things I may put in my tank. Tangs are not recommended in this size of tank, but I know many that do stock them when they are young. I know that this is probably not the answer you are wanting, but I think it would be best for your livestock if you read up on the different types and the requirements in keeping them. Some fish like Dragonets - Manderins need a well established tank with a sand bottom, and a refugium because of the copepods it takes to keep them healthy. Some fish like clown fish are relatively easy to keep but some species can be aggressive like the maroon clown fish. I suggest you shop around a lot and don't be to hasty on your livestock purchases. I use a bunch of different websites to shop around and read their husbandry. Place like liveaquaria.com, saltcorner.com, and saltwaterfish.com just to name a few.

 

I also recommend the sticky on this site that suggests different fish for different size tanks (although right now I can't find it.. :-/ ). Maybe someone else can link it for you. Is it reef or FOWLR? The first thing I think you should decide is whether you want peaceful or aggressive fish, or in between. I really liked this site for compatibility Marine Compatibility Guide , and also live aquaria has a chart. Marine Compatability Chart
Is there any one fish you really really want? That's how I figured out the stocking on mine. I knew I wanted to move my yellow watchman goby into this tank and chose the rest of the fish based on compatibility with that.

 

yes, tell us a little more on what type of tank you are wanting to keep. Are you wanting to move some of your livestock from your 30 over to the 55? Do you want a reef type of tank or are you going to just have fish?

 

Sorry for the late response, i want my 55 gallon also a reef tank. my friend was leaving for the army so he gave me everything with the tank so i was wondering first, would the cycle process take just as long as a new tank? or would it not be as long because it was emptied for just a day.

Fish wise, my 30 gal reef has a psuedo, coral beauty angel, and 3 clowns (might be alot but i keep up on the maintenance) so im not going to transfer some fish in the 55. For the 55 i want 2-3 maroon clowns, angel maybe, a six-line wrasse.

please give me more suggestions!! i am buying my clean up crew today!

 

Tangs would be a great decision as long as you get them young. The tang police hate me but when they outgrow the tank I rehome them to a bigger tank and the tangs i have dont grow very fast. Some make it sound like if you get a certain fish youll only have it for a few months. Sounds like you keep maintenance up so I would buy on compatability versus what someone else thinks what would be to big for your tank. Remember, its you that's looking at the tank everyday. Just my 2 cents.

 

i would love a tang in my tank. my friend had a yellow tang in the tank before i got it. what tangs would be okay i know some get 10+ inches

 

Most tangs will eventually out grow a 55 in due time. I still have my yellow for over a year now. I just got a small ebli mimic tang, there awesome. You should wait until a few months before trying a blue regal tang or any difficult tang like powder brown or blue. My favorite tang of all time the clown tang. Once I get my 200 set up that's the first tang I'm getting. Start off with a dwarf angel and a small yellow tang. I honestly think 3 maroons are to much together. I got lucky with my 2 but the third got picked on badly.

 

Not the tang police, but concerned about husbandry, Tangs in a 55 nope!

Not everyone is able to upgrade, nor do most people, then you end up with disease and fish you can not take back or rehome. Ends badly for the fish.

I do many things that push the envelop but I do not advertise them.

Start smart.

 

I agree with Cheryl, stay away from Tangs. And that you should not house a fish that will outgrow the tank unless you already have the larger tank setup.

As far as your other fish you suggested, I have no experience with Maroons, but I would think you would do 2 max. I can't see 3 working out well in a 55. Sixline Wrasses can become terrors. Do some searching on that one. You have other options though. Any Flasher Wrasse will be just fine, as will any Possum. There are quite a few smaller Fairy Wrasses as well (stay 4" or less). You could even mix a couple of them.

From there, you could do a goby and a blenny. Plenty to choose from again. You could definitely do a dwarf angel as well (your Coral Beauty will be just fine). Cardinals, Firefish, Assessors, etc. would all be suitable as well (not all of them together of course).