Stocking thoughts?

55 gallon reef with 20 gallon sump...
2 O. Clowns
3 (maybe 5?) Red Stoplight Cardinalfish
1 Flame Angel
1 Watchman Goby

Maybe 1 Carpenter Flasher Wrasse

What are your thoughts..too much?
Modifications?
Ideas?

Thanks Guys!

 

I like the list, if you're going to go with the Cardinals I would get the 5, a couple always go to the fish tank in the sky. Also remember Angels and corals are always a risk.

 

Yea I know the risk of the Angel but.... I am willing to take it because Flame Angels are my favorite fish.
And you dont think 5 cardinals will overcrowd the tank ?

 

I do.

 

I think with 75 gallon of water you should be ok, add to that if all 5 live I would be surprised. They are not big swimmers nor are the Clowns or YWG, the only real cruiser is the Angel.

 

+1 I would go with the 5 Cardinals for the reasons Cheryl mentioned. The other stocking list sounds fine as well. I would not add the Flasher Wrasse if you do go with that list though. I would add in the following order:

-YWG (would normally be after Cardinals, but you don't want to start a tank off with 5 fish)
-Cardinals (would normally be first, but see above)
-Clowns (get them young; normally they should be last, but you want the tank established for the angel)
-Flame Angel (see clowns)

If you go another route or lose more than a couple Cardinals, then I would say you should be ok to add a Flasher Wrasse after the Cardinals. Space out the additions by 2-4 weeks.

The Flame Angel should really be added once the tank is nice and matured (think at least 6 months). Get a small one that has been at your LFS for minimum of 2 weeks. Make sure it is eating prepared foods. Do some research on here on the recent posts on Flame Angels. As far as corals go, the more corals you have, the better off you will be. That way if it does nip, it can spread it out and hopefully not cause any real damage.

 

What do you guys think for instead of the cardinals I do chromis?
Let me know your thoughts...

 

I have four Blue/Green Chromis and two Cardinals.. The thing with my Cardinals is they are getting big and I'm glad now I only purchased two. They just kinda hover in one spot as well. You'll get more action out of the Chromis IMO.

 

I am a wrasse guy, so I would not do either and get a couple wrasses But you may not want to go down that road...

I have never kept either though, so I can't offer any personal experience. All I know is it seems everyone that started with a group of Chromis ends up with only one eventually. I have nothing to back that up with besides just seeing it posted over and over.

 

What Marshall said. I started with five Chromis, down to four!