First Ever Reef Build - 55g

how may pounds of rock do you have? what type of rocks.

 

okay, the hippo is back on the outs as well as the mimic. What kind of temperment should I go with next then? I keep hearing tame to aggressive is the way to go but don't know. The one fish I know I want eventually is a manderin (know I need to wait for food to develop) and probably a goby. Would a six line wrasse or other wrasse work for my next fish?

 

I have 60# of rock from reefrocks.net I believe

 

Yes to wrasse, see my previous post

The key is to either get fish with similar temperament (i.e. all semi-aggressive), or if not, add the most peaceful fish first. Unfortunately Clowns are actually pretty aggressive, and really should have been added last.

 

yeah, I heard they are pretty aggressive but also hardy so I thought to get them in first and get another fish in there within a week to keep them at bay. The pair of clowns I got are really small so I am hoping the aggression will be suppressed

 

Good that they are small, so hopefully that is what happens. However, I would wait at least 2 weeks (ideally more) before new additions. It gives time for the tank to adjust to the new bioload from the additions.

What I would do is come up with your proposed stock list now to make sure everything will work together, and to get them in the right order. I can help (as will many others) once you have a list together. I also have a 55 BTW

 

in no particular order:

some kind of wrasse (maybe, would like the flame angel)
green madarin
goby
dotyback

of those I think I am really solid on the mandarin. the others could be changed.

 

If you do the Mandarin, then you can not have anything else in the tank that eats pods, such as wrasse or even a Flame Angel. So make sure you really consider this, as you can not have other fish competing with the Mandarin. And if you do add a Flame Angel, as mentioned, add it last. They can be aggressive, and it will give time for the tank to mature, especially since you do not have any live rock.

 

Also, I could not find in this thread if you had a sump with a refugium. If you do not, I would say no to the Mandarin as well Even in a tank the size of a 55, I fear it would very quickly consume all of the pods in the tank.

 

hmm alright might have to rule him out. I do have a spare 10 gal tank laying around and have been toying with the idea of a sump but didn't really want to get into that right now