50 Gallon stocking help...how many fish?

[smilodon]

My next tank is 50 gallon cube TD with 18 gallon sump.

Here is what I have so far:
A pair of Ocellaris clowns,
A green mandarin which eats pallets food.
A tail spot blenny.
A yasha goby and a Randall's Pistol Shrimp which pair up.
A yellow tang (too big for 50 gallon?)

I want to add a Flasher Wrasse and a Fairy Wrasse,
do you guys think they will flash to each other?
How about two different flashers,
like a Paracheilinus mccoskeri (McCosker's Flasher) and
a Paracheilinus carpenteri (Carpenter's Flasher)?
are they gonna fight to death?

A pair of Bartlett's Anthias. I know they are hard to keep as
male and female, the most changes the female will end up male,
and then the two male will fight each, so I think maybe just keep
one male and another different Anthias.

And a pair of purple firefish.

A royal gamma. is this fish gonna harass flashers and firefish?

A flame angel.

Yellow tang is the most concein here, maybe I will get rid of it.
But I need a fish which can pick on the algea off the rock.
my yellow tang doing this job excellent.

So if I get rid of the yellow tang, which small fish you guys recommend
to eat off the algea on the rock? I know Lawnmower Blenny will do the job
here, but since I got tailspot blenny already, so i don't think they will get
along in one tank.

Any input will be appreciated.

 

[teriyakithunder]

Yellow tang should be fine. How big is it? I don't know much about the Flasher/Fairy wrasse but I did have a 6 line wrasse that went from being a good fish to constantly attacking all 4 of my Oci clowns. The clowns were already established in my 120g before I got the wrasse, but I'm done with wrasses now. Just my experience, not saying that it will always happen. Firefish are cool, just not sure on how much space in your tank to add all those fish you want to get.

 

[snorvich]

Yellow tang should be fine.

Actually Reef Central recommends the minimum tank size for Zebrasoma flavescens at 100 gallons and 5 feet length.

How big is it? I don't know much about the Flasher/Fairy wrasse but I did have a 6 line wrasse that went from being a good fish to constantly attacking all 4 of my Oci clowns. The clowns were already established in my 120g before I got the wrasse, but I'm done with wrasses now. Just my experience, not saying that it will always happen. Firefish are cool, just not sure on how much space in your tank to add all those fish you want to get.

Well having 4 clown fish in a 120 gallon tank is not a stable situation, as two will likely perish. Firefish and sixline wrasses often end badly.

 

[snorvich]

My next tank is 50 gallon cube TD with 18 gallon sump.

Here is what I have so far:
A pair of Ocellaris clowns,
A green mandarin which eats pallets food.
A tail spot blenny.
A yasha goby and a Randall's Pistol Shrimp which pair up.
A yellow tang (too big for 50 gallon?)

I want to add a Flasher Wrasse and a Fairy Wrasse,
do you guys think they will flash to each other?
How about two different flashers,
like a Paracheilinus mccoskeri (McCosker's Flasher) and
a Paracheilinus carpenteri (Carpenter's Flasher)?
are they gonna fight to death?

A pair of Bartlett's Anthias. I know they are hard to keep as
male and female, the most changes the female will end up male,
and then the two male will fight each, so I think maybe just keep
one male and another different Anthias.

And a pair of purple firefish.

A royal gamma. is this fish gonna harass flashers and firefish?

A flame angel.

Yellow tang is the most concein here, maybe I will get rid of it.
But I need a fish which can pick on the algea off the rock.
my yellow tang doing this job excellent.

So if I get rid of the yellow tang, which small fish you guys recommend
to eat off the algea on the rock? I know Lawnmower Blenny will do the job
here, but since I got tailspot blenny already, so i don't think they will get
along in one tank.

Any input will be appreciated.

As mentioned above, RC recommends the minimum tank size for a yellow tang to be 100 gallons. Mandarins need constant feeding. Even those that eat prepared food must be spot fed multiple times per day. The flasher wrasse will likely be fine, depending on which fairy wrasse, you may also do ok.

 

[teriyakithunder]

As mentioned above, RC recommends the minimum tank size for a yellow tang to be 100 gallons. Mandarins need constant feeding. Even those that eat prepared food must be spot fed multiple times per day. The flasher wrasse will likely be fine, depending on which fairy wrasse, you may also do ok.

What RC recommends sounds more like an opinion/myth. I've kept yellow tangs in my 55g for years without any trouble before upgrading to a 120g. Maybe this article can help with actual studies done.

 

[snorvich]

What Reef Central recommends is based on the experiences of many highly seasoned reef keepers. We here find the term "tang police" to be a pejorative and hence immediately reduces the potential credibility of any author using it.

 

[Sk8r]

A yellow tang in a 55 is like a racehorse in an efficiency apartment. It'll survive, but it will in no wise thrive or develop into a decent horse.

 

[Toddrtrex]

What RC recommends sounds more like an opinion/myth. I've kept yellow tangs in my 55g for years without any trouble before upgrading to a 120g. Maybe this article can help with actual studies done.

So wait, you have had multiple yellow tangs in a 55 gallon tank for 2+ years??

 

[Ninong]

A yellow tang (too big for 50 gallon?)

I would pass on the yellow tang, or any tang, in a 50-gallon aquarium. It's true that some people have done this but I don't think it's a good idea.

I want to add a Flasher Wrasse and a Fairy Wrasse...

Flasher wrasses and fairy wrasses are very nice fish but some of the fairy wrasses (e.g., Scott's) get too big and are too rambunctious for a 50-gallon tank. I would go with either flashers or fairies but not both.

If you choose to go with fairies, be sure to pick a species that does not get larger than about 3.5". The fairy wrasses that get to be 5"+ wouldn't be a good choice for a 50-gallon tank because they are very active swimmers.

My personal choice for that size tank would be flashers. I would get three of the same species -- 1 male and 2 females. The male will flash at the females to keep them submissive. Three McCosker's would be very nice.

A pair of Bartlett's Anthias. I know they are hard to keep as
male and female, the most changes the female will end up male,
and then the two male will fight each, so I think maybe just keep
one male and another different Anthias.

The female will not "end up male" in the presence of a male in a little 50-gallon tank. However, it would be a bad idea to try these in a little tank. These fish really need a 6' long tank to do well.

A flame angel.

This is quite possibly my favorite fish! However, just remember that it is not 100% reef-aquarium safe. I would choose a small specimen and add it last.

Good luck!

 

[smilodon]

thanks guys.
McCosker's is my favorite fish, but it's hard to find female for them.
and I don't know how to tell the difference between male and female either.
Can I put one male McCosker's and one male Carpenter's?
Or one male McCosker's and one male long fin fairy wrasse?

It looks I have to give up the Anthias.

About the flame angel, I know it's not 100% reef safe, But I do love the color of them.
I only keep LPS and Sofies, no SPS. Seem there is no 100% reef safe angel out there.
Even tangs are not 100% reef safe either.

I have to give up yellow tang. But I do want some fish can pick the algea off the rock, what fish do you guys recommend.

I love

 

[teriyakithunder]

So wait, you have had multiple yellow tangs in a 55 gallon tank for 2+ years??

I have kept multiple tangs. This is from my experience, I know its looked down upon on this site but its worked for me so it really doesn't matter what anyone elses opinion is. I've upgraded to a 120g now and I have 1 yellow in there and I have a purple tang in the 55. Both are healthy as can be, they are grazers so they are always picking at the rocks that grow the most algae.

 

[teriyakithunder]

thanks guys.
McCosker's is my favorite fish, but it's hard to find female for them.
and I don't know how to tell the difference between male and female either.
Can I put one male McCosker's and one male Carpenter's?
Or one male McCosker's and one male long fin fairy wrasse?

It looks I have to give up the Anthias.

About the flame angel, I know it's not 100% reef safe, But I do love the color of them.
I only keep LPS and Sofies, no SPS. Seem there is no 100% reef safe angel out there.
Even tangs are not 100% reef safe either.

I have to give up yellow tang. But I do want some fish can pick the algea off the rock, what fish do you guys recommend.

I love

Lawnmower blenny is a small fish that can help eat algae. I'm not sure about any other small fish that eat algae. If anything a good clean up crew of hermits, snails, or emeralds could work.

 

[smilodon]

Lawnmower blenny is a small fish that can help eat algae. I'm not sure about any other small fish that eat algae. If anything a good clean up crew of hermits, snails, or emeralds could work.

I got one tailspot blenny already, I don't they will fight or not.
I don't like emerald, and hermit seems didn't do much about clean the algea.
Snails are low efficient cleaners.

 

[scrambler1880]

About the flame angel, I know it's not 100% reef safe, But I do love the color of them.
I only keep LPS and Sofies, no SPS. Seem there is no 100% reef safe angel out there.

I eventually had to trade out my flame b/c she ONLY ate my LPS's -- killed a scoly in three days... and began work on my blasto's shortly thereafter

Had her for 6mos or so before there were any issues almost like a light switch went off one day

 

[acoff87]

i agree with snorvich, id find a bigger home for the tang.

 

[smilodon]

I eventually had to trade out my flame b/c she ONLY ate my LPS's -- killed a scoly in three days... and began work on my blasto's shortly thereafter

Had her for 6mos or so before there were any issues almost like a light switch went off one day

Ok, then I give up the flame, I love my blasto, I don't want it to be a fish food. A lot of the people had bad experience with flames, so the conclusion
is that the flame is not the reef safe. It's not if, it's when it will become a reef eater.

 

[smilodon]

i agree with snorvich, id find a bigger home for the tang.

If I give up the yellow tang, than I have to buy a Salarias fasciatus (Lawnmower Blenny), I don't know what is gonna happen when
the Lawnmower Blenny meet the tailspot blenny.

And I'm also interesting in Atrosalarias fuscus (Yellow Sailfin Blenny),
it's not in the same family of Lawnmower Blenny, so the question is
it the Atrosalarias family consume algea as much as Salarias falmily?

I don't like the color of Salarias falmily, they are dull.
But I know they are the best algea consumer among the blenny family.
how about Blenniella chrysospilos (Orange Spotted Blenny), I always want to have one,
if it can eat as much as algea as Lawnmower Blenny, I will definitly want one, even that means
I have to give up my tailspot blenny.

 

[Stumped]

A yellow tang in a 55 is like a racehorse in an efficiency apartment. It'll survive, but it will in no wise thrive or develop into a decent horse.

This is an awesome analogy. Just had to give you credit.

 

[MikeandNicole]

If you really really want an angel look at the bellus, wanatabei, or lamarack. Most reef safe.

 

[snorvich]

If you really really want an angel look at the bellus, wanatabei, or lamarack. Most reef safe.

None of which are appropriate to the OP tank.