Noob Stocking Questions

tail spot bleeny is one of my favorite small fish
wrasses are a great choice as well but make sure your tank has a net cover to prevent jumpers
 
Thank you everyone for all the help. Now as to what small Alien was saying. The problem I was having was that I wasn't even sure where to start. If I had my way My tank would have sea horses and rays and sharks and dolphins in it. I needed to learn about what kind of fish are even acceptable in an aquarium setting.

Since this thread started I have now looked into a large array of fish. Liveaquaria is a very helpful site. Thank you for that. Here is a list of fish that have caught my eye. I'm pretty sure that I can't throw all these in there but it gives me something to start asking questions about. Thank you again for all the help and patience you all have shown me.

Hi Fin Red Banded Goby
Orange Stripe Prawn Goby
Zebra Barred Dartfish
Jawfish, Yellowhead (Opistognathus aurifrons)
Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
Acares Midget Reef Chromis
Chalk Bass
Gold Assessor Basslet
Royal Gramma Basslet
Flame Angelfish
Golden Angelfish

Now with these fish, I would love to throw a few corals in early on here. I have the proper light. What are great beginner corals that don't cost to much while i'm starting out and are easy to care for?

I've heard things about "zoa's" and "poly's"?

Thank you again everyone.
 
Samurai Jack 77 said:
Thank you everyone for all the help. Now as to what small Alien was saying. The problem I was having was that I wasn't even sure where to start. If I had my way My tank would have sea horses and rays and sharks and dolphins in it. I needed to learn about what kind of fish are even acceptable in an aquarium setting.

Since this thread started I have now looked into a large array of fish. Liveaquaria is a very helpful site. Thank you for that. Here is a list of fish that have caught my eye. I'm pretty sure that I can't throw all these in there but it gives me something to start asking questions about. Thank you again for all the help and patience you all have shown me.

Hi Fin Red Banded Goby
Orange Stripe Prawn Goby
Zebra Barred Dartfish
Jawfish, Yellowhead (Opistognathus aurifrons)
Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
Acares Midget Reef Chromis
Chalk Bass
Gold Assessor Basslet
Royal Gramma Basslet
Flame Angelfish
Golden Angelfish

Now with these fish, I would love to throw a few corals in early on here. I have the proper light. What are great beginner corals that don't cost to much while i'm starting out and are easy to care for?

I've heard things about "zoa's" and "poly's"?

Thank you again everyone.
Click to expand...

Those are all great fish for a 55. I'm not sure what a golden angel is. If it's a lemonpeel, those can be tough. The flame may or may not nip your corals.

I think if you do just one angel, you could have your whole list in your 55. If you do the zebra darts, I would do a group of 3. Much more visually cool. Maybe drop the chromis and one of the two shrimp gobies.

Over-all, that's a great list of fish for your tank.:thumbsup:
 
Sweet, I'll drop the chromis. that was kinda a just throw in there option. I like the idea of extra dartfish. Wasn't sure if i could do multiple ones. And all these fish are good with my current fish? two perc clowns and two firefish? (one purple and one normal)
 
Dottybacks are nightmares. Pitbulls of the reef.

Midas blennies are great. So is a Sunburst Anthias--very attractive and stays relatively small.....not an active swimmer though. If you have the bank, Candycane Basslet has colors that can't be beat. Royal Grammas are fantastic as well. If you care about the corals, you might want to forget the Centro Angels. Sooner or later, your pretty and expensive corals can end up as a buffet.
 
small alien said:
I think if you do just one angel, you could have your whole list in your 55. If you do the zebra darts, I would do a group of 3. Much more visually cool. Maybe drop the chromis and one of the two shrimp gobies.

Over-all, that's a great list of fish for your tank.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

+1 but I'd skip the jawfish, too, and just one of the gobies. We had a sleeper and a shrimp goby in our 55 and they didn't get along.
 
Thank you for all the help! The list is getting more refined. :) Its nice when you finally start having somewhat of a plan. So here is what I got so far.

Currently:
Perc Clown (x2)
Purple firefish
firefish

Adding:
Hi Fin Red Banded Goby
Zebra Barred Dartfish (x3)
Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
Chalk Bass
Gold Assessor Basslet
Royal Gramma Basslet
Flame Angel

A few final questions. Is it ok to have that many basslet?
 
Samurai Jack 77 said:
Thank you for all the help! The list is getting more refined. :) Its nice when you finally start having somewhat of a plan. So here is what I got so far.

Currently:
Perc Clown (x2)
Purple firefish
firefish

Adding:
Hi Fin Red Banded Goby
Zebra Barred Dartfish (x3)
Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
Chalk Bass
Gold Assessor Basslet
Royal Gramma Basslet
Flame Angel

A few final questions. Is it ok to have that many basslet?
Click to expand...

I don't think the basslets will be a problem. If I were you, I'd just do the gramma. Better colors and much more active and out in the open. Chalk are cool though. I'm not an assessor fan but that's me. Kind of cryptic and I find their particular yellow unappealing.

I would do a single firefish unless you can get a known m/f pair.

Sounds like a beautiful tank.
 
Thank you good sir! I have seen the firefish fighting actually quite a bit. and i'm not a fan.. the purple just hides and only comes out for feeding. I'll probably get rid of the regular firefish and only keep the purple one.

Would ditching the other two basslets open up room for something else?
 
If you look at my fish list, you'll see I think there's always room for something else. ;)

Maybe a small Escenius spp. blenny like a tailspot. Maybe a scooter dragonet. If you lightened the Basslet lineup. Add your angel last.
 
Alright Last night I took a trip to the lfs and got a starfish and a frag of zoas, and mushroom corals. I think thats what they are called. Anyways all three were doing great last night! this morning nothing was dead. lol. I'm not sure what to look for when it comes to sick corals or how to tell if they are growing. It should be fun learning!

And lastly I got another gooseneck clamp for my second kessil light. so the whole tank is lit very nicely now instead of just half of it.

I'll look into those other fish today. and I'm probably over due for some pictures!
 
Sounds groovy except the starfish concerns me. What type? Most are virtually impossible to keep feed and die a slow, dissolving death. Fish stores will generally sell you anything, even when they know the likelihood of long term survival in aquaria is very low to nill.
 
Have you considered a McCosker's Flasher wrasse instead of the carpenter? I think the colors of the McCosker's are more vibrant...just suggesting but I wouldnt do both in a 55
 
FishAddict87 said:
Have you considered a McCosker's Flasher wrasse instead of the carpenter? I think the colors of the McCosker's are more vibrant...just suggesting but I wouldnt do both in a 55
Click to expand...

Ohh, I like that one too. I guess it'll come to whichever one I can get my hands on.


I noticed last night that one of the clowns has a tiny bit of film forming on the tailfin?

I'll take pics tonight after work.
 
A little cloudiness of fins is generally not a big deal and will clear. I agree about the mccoskers. They're both very available so hold out for the one you want. In general, hold out for the one you really want and you'll be happier long term.
 
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