Just putting together all the equipment for a 50g mixed reef. It will be mostly zoa/lps. I have been researching fish but every fish I seem to like needs a bigger tank or something else. Was hoping to get some recommendations on what others have kept in tanks of similar sizes. Looking to have a beautiful mix of colours/shapes/sizes as I can only have a few fish in a tank this size. Any and all help is much appreciated.
Fish compatible with a 50g(36x18x18)
- Thread starter Wretch
- Start date
rssjsb
New member
Those fish are doable in a 50 gallon. However, the angels may pick at your corals, especially LPS. I believe lemonpeels are one of the less cora-safe dwarf angels. Also, clown gobies can be a bit of a challenge.
There are a number of smaller fish you could do - clowns, tailspot blenny, cardinals, possum wrasse, assessors, chalk bass, royal gramma. Barnacle blennies are a riot.
There are a number of smaller fish you could do - clowns, tailspot blenny, cardinals, possum wrasse, assessors, chalk bass, royal gramma. Barnacle blennies are a riot.
What makes clown gobies a challenge? Live Aquaria and my LFS have them listed as easy care level.
SecretiveFish
Member
I would not recommend the lemonpeel angel as the one I had was an 'evil' fish. He killed his only tankmate in my 65g which was a pink spotted goby and apparently this level of aggression is not uncommon with that type of angel. They are gorgeous though.
My experience with flame angels has been poor; I have not been able to obtain a healthy specimen and if you did not know, they require a very mature system to do well. The ones I tried only lasted a few days with one dying while it was on hold at the LFS!
Coral beauties can be gorgeous, but you are rolling the dice with these fish. The one I had was a terrible coral nipper, would never let my toadstool leather open! I nearly lost the leather, had to move it to a different tank.
Other fish suggestion:
- Blennies ( I think these are fun fish although I am not a big fan of the lawnmower blenny)
- Royal Gramma
- Hawkfish if you are not planning on keeping ornamental shrimp
- Cardinalfish
My experience with flame angels has been poor; I have not been able to obtain a healthy specimen and if you did not know, they require a very mature system to do well. The ones I tried only lasted a few days with one dying while it was on hold at the LFS!
Coral beauties can be gorgeous, but you are rolling the dice with these fish. The one I had was a terrible coral nipper, would never let my toadstool leather open! I nearly lost the leather, had to move it to a different tank.
Other fish suggestion:
- Blennies ( I think these are fun fish although I am not a big fan of the lawnmower blenny)
- Royal Gramma
- Hawkfish if you are not planning on keeping ornamental shrimp
- Cardinalfish
velvetelvis
Active member
Here's what I would do:
Black (onyx?) percula clowns: One pair; OR
Starcki damsel:One; OR
Flasher wrasse: pair or trio; OR
Dottyback: One of either species (a 50 is too small for more than one dottyback--they're very territorial)
Black (onyx?) percula clowns: One pair; OR
Starcki damsel:One; OR
Flasher wrasse: pair or trio; OR
Dottyback: One of either species (a 50 is too small for more than one dottyback--they're very territorial)
nanoreefer1000
Active member
orchid dottys are very peaceful compared to others, but I don't know about one with a damsel....
Look into a cherub angel also known as an Argi, and checkout the Flameback angels. These are known to be a little hardier angels and rarely grow more than 2"s in a home aquarium. I have never heard of either of these two nipping corals. I have an Argi in my mixed reef for 3 years now and it has been fine. Word of caution though, add the angel last to the tank as they can become aggressive towards newcomers.
