55 gallon fish choices

[Geaux_mrJ]

Hello all!

New to the forum! Just had a few questions. I recently set up a 55 gallon tank with 40lbs of live sand and about 40lbs of love rock (and growing). Ive also got a HOB filter with 2 biowheels. I have not purchased a skimmer or a sump.

I'm wondering about some fish choices for the tank. I'm looking for some very colorful and relatively large fish (relatively) for the tank. I've got a couple clowns in but the tank is a little boring at the moment. Could you recommend any colorful fish that would fit well in a 55 gallon?

Also, before I add any sort of fish that are recommended is it absolutely essential to invest in a skimmer and sump? My tank stand couldn't fit a sump underneath (unless it was around a 10 gallon) and I'm rather nervous about buildig that myself since I'm fairly new to the hobby.

Help a guy out! I'd be grateful.

Jeremy

 

[papagimp]

to start, a 10g sump on a 55g would be a nice investment IMO. I've used that specific combination many times. Luckily 10g are fairy cheap and readily available so I say give the DIY methods a shot. I've never had a problem from the first time I made a refugium/sump out of one. It really isn't that difficult at all and doesn't have to be the prettiest thing ont he market, functionality over appearance

as for the skimmer, I'd say yes get one. If you want any corals then YES GET ONE. word of advice, keep the HOB filters and biowheels free of detritus and cleaned often.

just a few specimens I've kept in a 55g before (this is not my stocking list or a recommended stocking list, just stock that I 'have' had before, not all at once mind you)

Yellow wrasse, 6 line wrasse, Bangaii cardinals ( :thumbsup: ), Chalk Bass, Coral Beauty (excellent choice imo), Ocellaris clownfish, Neon Gobies, PJ Cardinals, misc. flasher wrasses, royal gramma, Firefish, yellow headed jawfish (really needed a taller tank as the sandbed needed took up alot of space and they like to hang out vertically over their burrows) , Scooter blenny, lawnmower blenny, and various damselfish (which I won't ever do again for various reasons I won't go into )

just a few ideas to look at.

 

[dzfish17]

I think most folks are going to agree that a skimmer is a good idea unless you like doing alot of water changes. You dont have to have a sump to have a successful tank but it does make it nice to hide equipment. You could use a HOB skimmer and be just fine.

I think a midas blenny, one blue/green chromis or an orchid dottyback would be good choices too.

 

[1Fish]

I currently have a 55 with no sump. Its been running for nearly 3 yrs. Iwould do a skimmer for sure IMO here are some good HOB's reef octopus, CPR aeroforce. The sump is not a must. All I run in my filter is the 2 bio wheels ESV carbon, brightwell nitrate and chemipure elite.

And fish are wide open. Some say tangs are a no go in a 55 but i have regal blue and a yellow. So here is my list
-Regal Blue Tang
-Yellow Tang
-Clown
-Flame Angel
-Lawnmower Blenny
-6 Line Wrasse
-Royal Gramma
-Chromis

:bounce1:

 

[dzfish17]

I currently have a 55 with no sump. Its been running for nearly 3 yrs. Iwould do a skimmer for sure IMO here are some good HOB's reef octopus, CPR aeroforce. The sump is not a must. All I run in my filter is the 2 bio wheels ESV carbon, brightwell nitrate and chemipure elite.

And fish are wide open. Some say tangs are a no go in a 55 but i have regal blue and a yellow. So here is my list
-Regal Blue Tang
-Yellow Tang
-Clown
-Flame Angel
-Lawnmower Blenny
-6 Line Wrasse
-Royal Gramma
-Chromis

:bounce1:

When is the upgrade to a bigger tank scheduled. I dont think you should be bragging about the tangs in a 55g tank... way to small. Please dont encourage other aquarists to be irresponsible too.

 

[papagimp]

when is the upgrade to a bigger tank scheduled.

+1

 

[RiffRaff]

If you have a decent depth on your sanded then look at diamond gobies. They're really fun to watch. Pajama cardinals are boring if you only have a single. I have a Midas blenny now and he's cool too. But I don't think a Midas would mix well with a diamond. A flame angel would be cool too but you have to watch them with some corals

 

[lacosta28]

I currently have a 55 with no sump.
And fish are wide open. Some say tangs are a no go in a 55 but i have regal blue and a yellow. So here is my list

That's the equivelant of buying a car from the junkyard and putting nice wheels on it :hmm4:

You may be proud and happy with your setup but the fish certainly aren't. Please don't encourage others to do the same thing. I hope you have an upgrade planned in the near future. Nothing wrong with housing tangs in a smaller tank if an upgrade is in the works. Heck, they are in pretty small tanks at the LFS before they are sold. Just as long as it isn't their permanent home.

 

[ErinCahir]

+1 on the tangs.

I'd also like to suggest a lemonpeel angel to the OP. I had one that I loved, and he only went after my SPS...

 

[Saadatski]

lol that sucks for your SPS.

look into the Anthias or a Flame Angel if you enjoy really sensative fish lol, jk if your a beginer dont get a Flame.

On the skimmer option, im not gonna say in my opinion to get one. a skimmer is a must in a successful reef tank. and if your tank is not drilled for a sump, dont get a sump cause if you buy those hang on back overflows, good luck with all the flooding.

 

[Saadatski]

im sorry, let me reword that, in my opinion you should definetly get a skimmer, and a good one. ill tell you right now good in sump skimmers are $160+, and good HOB skimmers are the same.

 

[SecretiveFish]

I would definitely get a skimmer; you will be surprised how much stuff gets pulled out of the water! To save money, check craigslist for people selling off their used skimmers or check if you LFS sells used equipment. We have a Bak-Pak skimmer on our 65 and have been happy with it.

A note in regards to my experience with a lemonpeel angel, he was in the 65 and killed off other the fish inhabitants, including a pink spotted goby. They are lovely fish, just beware.

 

[felixfish]

I too just started up a 55 gal tank with only a skimmer. I am trying to figure out to fit a small sump in the cabinet. Would I be ok just with a biowheel & frequent water changes? I would like to do a sump, but it my tank is not drilled, and I've heard horror stories. I have a Coralife 48" light maybe a T5, what type of corrals can i have?
THanks

 

[ErinCahir]

lol that sucks for your SPS.

look into the Anthias or a Flame Angel if you enjoy really sensative fish lol, jk if your a beginer dont get a Flame.

On the skimmer option, im not gonna say in my opinion to get one. a skimmer is a must in a successful reef tank. and if your tank is not drilled for a sump, dont get a sump cause if you buy those hang on back overflows, good luck with all the flooding.

Yeah... I had a couple little inch or so frags, so no big deal.

I've used an HOB overflow for years with no problems, however.

 

[asid61]

as for the skimmer, I'd say yes get one. If you want any corals then YES GET ONE. word of advice, keep the HOB filters and biowheels free of detritus and cleaned often.

I've been keeping a frogspawn and a green star polyp for a couple months without a skimmer, but I have a lot of snails and LR.

 

[papagimp]

I've been keeping a frogspawn and a green star polyp for a couple months without a skimmer, but I have a lot of snails and LR.

and only for a couple months

I won't say it's impossible to do so, but it's not optimal by any means. Green star polyps are uber easy to keep regardless and have survived every tank crash I've ever experienced. and some LPS can handle worse water than most the SPS. that being said, as mentioned, it's only been a couple months, see how it's doing a year from now as far as growth goes. the LR will help cause it obviously is our filter, snails, not going to phase the health of your corals, they dont' clean the water, they just eat algae, which is caused from excess nutrients in the water fueling it's growth. (i know i'm generalizing, their are carnivorous snails that don't eat algae) Doing regular water changes as needed to keep water quality up will help too since it removes some of what the skimmer would. I see it said all the time around here and i'll say it again, big difference between alive and thriving.

fwiw, I've kept some nice euphyllia without a skimmer as well, but I would never suggest to another reefer that they should try it. My bad habits are mine alone, and when I screw up my tank, it's my fault and nobody elses. except maybe the wifes...

 

[1Fish]

+1

In the works.