New to saltwater, need help picking fishies

Do not get a linkia.... They are one of the hardest species of star fish to keep alive as I have been told often. Mine is surviving, but we will see for how long. Sandsifters like chocolate stars are no better though.

Also do not add a mandarin or any tangs. 1. because mandarins need a huge amount of specialised food and tangs need much more space to swim or they will get stressed and get ich...

In my 55g I have:
- 2 oscellaris clowns
- 2 blue reef chromis
- 1 flame angel
- 1 porcelain crab
- 1 peppermint shrimp
- 1 Purple and tan Linkia Star.

I am planning on adding to this:
- Watchman goby and pistol shrimp pair
- 2 x Cleaner shrimp
- A bigger CUC

I am debating
- Either; 3 bangaii cardials or 3 anthias
- Six line wrasse (have heard good and bad about these)
- Tiny green coral clown goby (<1" they are so cute) when I get some SPS.

 

Just to follow up, ideally dwarf angels are added last, with damsels (clownfish) second to last. A sand dweller would be fine I think since they occupy different space, but the angel may harass a column swimmer like a wrasse, anthias or cardinal (although 6-lines can hold their own!).

 

Okay thank you, what Do you guys think the biggest fish I should put in there would be

 

I hate to keep doing this to you, but it depends on the rest of your inhabitants! You could actually make it a predator tank and go with smaller eel(s) which are long, and/or dwarf lionfish which look quite large. But then you are really limited on any actual fish. LiveAquaria lists a couple butterflyfish which have a 50 gal minimum, but I am not sure if anyone would actually recommend them in a 55.

 

I'm sorry if I'm repeating here but I think there are a wide range of angels that you can look at for color. Angels I've had have not been super aggressive. Definitely agree with putting in any damsels last. They have a good range of color as well. One of the hardiest and coolest fish I've had in my FOWLR was an engineer goby. Builds tunnels and has an eel like appearance - very colorful as it ages. Dwarf lionfish stay on the smaller side and are cute but IME, they don't move around much. I don't know why you couldn't keep a chocolate chip star in a fish only....just my input.

 

Add damsels and clownfish last, some of the most territorial fish on the reef for their size.

 

Even after a dwarf angel? I have always been under the assumption angels were more aggressive than damsels.

 

I have not found angels to be aggressive....I've not had some of the more expensive and beautiful ones though. I've heard coral beauties are pretty hardy and I've kept lemon peel angels and have not found them to be aggressive. I have no corals or softies - I'm just referring to fish....

 

Depends on the individual fish, generally damsels/clownfish are more aggressive/territorial.

 

Chocolat chip star should be fine in a fish only,they are not sand sifters.A midas blenny might be a good add,very colorful and lots of personality.