Advise on new 55gal fish only

[BIGwillage]

I was looking for some advise on equipment I will need. I have a 55 gallon tank with about 50 pounds of live sand, 2 wet/dry filters running, a heater and a hood with lighting. I would like to eventually have 2 or 3 yellow tangs and a pair of percula clowns and maybe a small damsel. Also I would like to avoid live rock. Thanks.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

rule out the yellow tangs, you may be ok with 1 but deff. not with anymore than that. stick to the smaller fish IMO.

BTW [welcome]

 

[Allanira]

No tangs in a 55 gal unless you want the tang police to get you lol. But seriously a tank that is that size doesnt have enough room for a tang to swim. they need a lot of space. Kinda like Jack Russels need space to run. They are the same size as some small dogs but they need to run and get some energy out. I wanted one too and was told that if I got one then it would die cause it didnt have enough room to move around in. They are beautiful though. Look at the wrasses, dwarf angels, smal damsels, blennies, gobies and things like that. I have in a 55 gal right now 2 maroon clowns, a green chromis, and a coris wrasse. You cna make any of these fish your "center piece" fish if you want. Good luck

 

[kevin2000]

I think a 55 is too small for a yellow tang .. consider looking at a dwarf angel .. they tend to be colorful like a tang .. and have many of the same habits (good swimmers who stay out in the open) .. but will thrive in your size tank/

 

[brodden]

You could try some other type of angels as well. I have always wanted to get a flame angel; but have not tried it. However, I recently purchased a key hole angel and it has been doing well in my 54 Gal corner tank.

 

[BIGwillage]

Thanks to all on the tang info I will for sure look at some alternates. But another question I have is how important would it be for me to get a protein skimmer and is it necessary.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

for a fish only tank I don't really think you will need a skimmer, they do help alot though. but if you keep doing weekly water changes you should be fine.

get a skimmer if you have the extra money.

 

[kevin2000]

While a skimmer is isn't a requirement its a pretty good investment .. reef of FO. If it were my tank I would purchase a skimmer and if funds are short I would look for a factory second - minor blemish is no big deal.

 

[ahullsb]

I think some rock would be better than none. You can start with base rock or find some cheap through local reef clubs. Here is a link to them.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=80

Plus it is more interesting in my opinion to watch them swim in and out of the rockwork. I agree that a skimmer might be a good investment but not a requirement by any means.

 

[Flipper62]

IMO...More live rock. I always like to have 1 1/2 or more live rock per gallon of water.

A protien skimmer works better for a Reef tank, BUT it never hurts to have one......Weekly 20% water changes will do just fine.

NOW.....a Tank in a 55 gallon.........Realy not fair to the fish. He needs more space. Its kinda like......Could you live in a closet......YA, as long as someone feed you. BUT after a while, your gonna feel realy cramped.

 

[MinnFish]

Re: Advise on new 55gal fish only

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13001500#post13001500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BIGwillage
Also I would like to avoid live rock. Thanks.

Do you mean live sand? How are you planning on accomplishing significant biological filtration without it? LR is the backbone to our marine environment. I imagine without it, you would have to do a daily water change (with the bioload you are considering). Hope i could help.

[welcome]

 

[BIGwillage]

So is live rock that important because I was really hoping to stay away from it. So is there anything I can do to substitute what live rock does for biological filtration. Again thanks for the help.

 

[ahullsb]

Yes live rock is that important. Why is it you don't want any? I would think a big empty tank would look sterile and boring? It reminds me of the shark tanks I see. There are other things that can provide biological filtration, but rock is usually the main ingredient.