Best fish for 50 gallon reef and under: A List

[Sk8r]

Blennies
Gobies
Basslets
Percula or Ocellaris clown
Jawfish (requires 3" medium grain sandbed)
Fairy wrasses
Dartfish
Cardinals

Avoid:
rabbits
dragonets
anthias
tangs
angels (reef-nibbling a strong possibility even with 'reef-safe' small angels)
damsels besides clowns (1 chromis or 1 yellowtail is possible, not 2)
also recommend pep shrimp rather than cleaner shrimp: cleaners can get too enthusiastic if fish have no escape.

Also useful with the more carnivorous types, lions, et al, as a specialty tank, but small tasty fish are not good tankmates for them.

Reefs do great in this size tank---with adequate lighting.

 

[nuxx]

Great list

Maybe a little iffy on Fairy Wrasses?

 

[hkgar]

Why iffy on the Fairy Wrasse?

 

[nuxx]

Sort of feel a 5" Fairy wouldn't have the needed room in a 50 gallon tank.

 

[e048]

I think a tomini tang as a "centerpiece" fish would work in a 4 foot 50g

 

[Reef Frog]

Good list. Certain Hawkfish would work because they perch. There may be a danger to some very little fish or ornamental shrimp.

 

[CStrickland]

Yeah, I'm curious to see how my melanurus wrasse behaves after I upgrade from a 55 to a 120. They are supposed to be ok, but his swimming looks kinda neurotic. I know they peck all day but it just looks a little boring to go back and forth and forth and back.

I'd add possum (wetmorella) wrasse to the list. They're dorbles

 

[snorvich]

Sort of feel a 5" Fairy wouldn't have the needed room in a 50 gallon tank.

I agree, but not because of size, but rather activity level.

 

[snorvich]

I think a tomini tang as a "centerpiece" fish would work in a 4 foot 50g

I disagree. Fish size is fine, however grazers need larger tanks as they are inefficient eaters and graze constantly.

 

[JammyBirch]

Dwarf Angels? I can speak to the cherub angel I have, it's very happy and peaceful in my tank.

 

[drillsar]

Hawkfish?

 

[Sk8r]

Angels are hit and miss. In the wild, they graze along a reef, and cover a lot of territory---the little ones less so.

Hawkfish perch and wait for food. They can predate smaller fish. Watch your compatibility list on places like Live Aquaria, which has a pretty good one. They're a little skimpy on their size recs for tanks, imho, but close. And they show pix of the species.

Tank shape matters, too. If you have a long, you can have more active fish; if you have a wedge, it's a different list. Consider the fish habit as well as the adult size. I do agree the wrasses are iffy, but the ones I know have been inclined to move with some deliberation rather than in wild rushes, but again, it's a good thing to go to a store and watch a fish for a while, if at all possible. But always bear in mind that adult size.

 

[mav3rick478]

Fire fish or are you grouping them in with gobies? Six line Wrasse?

 

[Sk8r]

Firefish, scissortails, blue gudgeons, banded dartfish---all are dartfish: they jump like Olympians through the darnedest holes, so be sure of your jump prevention.

 

[WaReefer458]

I have a 2" kole tang in my 40. He is a happy camper.

 

[e048]

I second that tank dimensions thing

You could theoretically have a 90inch 60gallon tank (3 20g longs fused) and it would house a tang or two way better then say a standard 48in 60g

 

[nuxx]

When I hear 50 gallon I just think standard 55 gallon tank.

 

[Sk8r]

I've used a 54 bow wedge as a very-small-species tank, piled high with rock. Grew corals like mad, little fish darting about their business. It supports a high rock build against the monster downflow box at the apex of the wedge. And for little fishes, holey rock and a lot of caves is as good as empty space and a whole lot safer-feeling. I've now scaled that up to 100 gallons and slightly larger species, but the principle is the same. To some fish, rockwork IS home, and they're happiest when there's a lot of it.

 

[e048]

I think that's what everyone thinks, I just now read the title of this thread haha, so throw out tangs all together

 

[Sk8r]

Yes, the reason I created it is that stores keep selling the 30-50 gallon tanks---and the fish most prominent in the store displays are for 100 to 500 gallon tanks. The mismatch kills a lot of fish and makes a lot of people very unhappy. Unfortunately nobody did a movie about Bobby the Blennie or Gary the brave little goby, so people new to the hobby don't know that Bobby can change colors 3x a minute or that Gary is a charming little grump who's hardy and a real pretty yellow to boot. These fish just aren't advertised, and if you don't know to look behind the rock in the store tank, you may never even realize they're in there. Do they get friendly and personable? Yes, once they're in your home tank and they know your presence means food.