Please help me pick out fish

[carrieforadis]

Hello!

I am new to marine tanks but have kept freshwater tanks for nearly 10 years. There are 3 freshwater tanks in my house along with my new marine tank.

My first marine tank is of 55 gallon FOWLR that I started Thanksgiving weekend. It has a Marineland HOB filter with Seachem Matrix and the standard carbon filters. There is about 7lbs of live cured rock from the lfs and 15lbs of brs reef saver. I'm in the process of cleaning and prepping a very dirty 10lbs friend gave me from his sump so he could make room for a protein skimmer.

My must haves are some sort of sea star and urchin, which I don't want to add for several more months since my tank is still so new. Other than that, I'm pretty open. I currently have 2 blue damsels and a purple dottyback. What are your suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks for your input!

 

[CStrickland]

Welcome!

You may need more rock in your display. I've got about 30# in my 55 and people say that's too little. SW tanks are diff from FW because most of the filtration is done by the bacteria that live on the surfaces of the tank. The hob filters and carbon pads aren't really needed for marine tanks, and they don't work as well. It's more of an issue if you decide later that you want corals, since that type of filtration can elevate your nitrates. But urchins and some inverts are sensitive to nitrates too, so you'll wanna keep an eye on it even without coral.

The type of star that does well in a tank is called "brittle star" but they don't look like regular starfish, unfortunately. Some people keep "chocolate chip" stars to, but other say they kill fish, and they're def not coral safe.

Damsels and dorty backs can be territorial, try to look for fish that aren't the same body shape, and occupy diff parts of the tank to cut down on that aggression. There are gobies that hop around on rocks for example, that might work. Check out liveaquaria.com they have good pics and info about whether the fish needs special food, or how big of a tank is required.

Good luck

PS make sure that if you add rock, it is cycled first. If you bring over some from a friends tank and scrub it, then put it into yours, there might be dead bacteria and worms deep inside that will cause an ammonia spike. There's good info about marine tank cycling, and lots of other stuff, in the thread called "setting up"

 

[TimeConsumer]

I really like linckia starfish, but they eat bacterial film and would likely require a tank with more rock.

 

[Fiver]

With a fish only, I'd go for fish that are unsafe with invertebrates and corals, like the smaller puffers and angels, dwarf lion fish.

 

[Deberber]

Okay, so you have a rather aggressive tank right now. I'd aim for maybe a coral beauty or flame angel. Perhaps a six line wrasse.

 

[carrieforadis]

I will definitely be cycling the rock before adding it to my tank. Especially considering how gross it was when I got it. It spent two weeks in bleach. Then a week in dechlorinator. It'll spend the next couple of days out in the sun. Then probably another round in dechlorinator before I cycle it. A lot of work for free rock! Lol

I do plan on getting more rock but can't afford to get a ton all at once.

The tank is a little more aggressive than I would like but I didn't want to start with expensive fish my first go around so damsels seemed the best option. Regretting listening to the lfs and my wallet on that one. The dottyback was my second purchase which was based on what would get along with the damsels and the color.

I have a Seneye which I check several times a day and test my water every week. My ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are all at 0. Ph is stable but high at around 8.5. Still have diatom bloom which I know is normal.

 

[CStrickland]

Sounds like you're off on the right foot

Might be worthwhile to plan the whole stock list for the tank. A 55 can house one or two larger fish (4-5") and another 3-4 little guys, subject to temperament and diet. If you can't work your dream tank around the fish you already have, maybe think about returning them rather than being stuck. That'd also give you a chance to put a good quarantine protocol in place, which is great peace of mind.

 

[Sk8r]

Fish that do well in a 55: gobies of all sorts---just don't get two the same general size, shape and style, unless they're a mated pair: they are jealous of their jobs. Blennies: the starry and tailspot do well together and are funny and entertaining. Basslets, either chalk bass or royal gramma. Damsels: the azure or yellowtail are of a species that stays small and is relatively quiet---only one, or you'll have aggression. Dartfish like firefish, only if you have a jump screen: they're Olympic jumpers.

 

[A.Astore]

"Jealous of their jobs" :lolspin:

Have a Royal Gramma and he is interesting to watch. Kind of spunky in his quirky movements and perches. Also showed us that our rockwork has a MASSIVE tunnel system going on that we didn't completely understand the vastness of!

Gobies are also a fun one to watch. I think this would be one of my favorite types for a smaller tank size. Not only are they interesting to watch, most will help clean the tank!

Have a pincushion urchin thanks to the four year old. We had to talk him out of the long spin but once Zeke was here little one was all pour joy. Zeke and I have a love hate relationship. He likes to move small rock that were scattered on the sand bed, he likes to move frags, he likes to push frags off, but I think my biggest beef with him is the fact he lawn mowered my coralline algae that was coming in so nicely. I guess that is what I get for cleaning the glass?! So, the coolest thing about him at the moment though is he now almost begs for Nori. He will go up to the top, right corner and just sit there... and sit there... and sit there until he finally gets some. Hilarious because as soon as he gets it he goes on his merry way.

The six line wrasse that was suggested is a great addition that will add a lot of swim to the tank.

Coral Beauty or Flame would provide another flash of color and spunk to the tank. I would make sure to get a smaller sized one though and not go too crazy loading the tank since they are recommended for a 70 gallon (I had a Coral Beauty in a FOLWR that was a 55 and it was fine but the tank also was not overloaded with a lot of other fish).

LiveAquaria is a great reference for fish options and it will allow you to filter by minimum tank size so you don't fall in love with something that simply won't work in your tank.

As mentioned above you will probably be better off making a list of everything you would like to have in the end and post it so people can help guide you from there. There are endless options though and it is not easy to narrow it down (hence the revision of our stocking list like a million times even after swearing we weren't changing it ever again).

 

[carrieforadis]

Well, I'm down to one blue damsel and the purple dottyback. Bigger damsel took care of his competition overnight.

I've been looking at Live Aquaria's site. So many options. I usually buy fish by seeing what is at the lfs that is in my budget and compatible with what's already in the tank so building a stock list is out of the norm for me. I know that I want a sea star and an urchin and need to get some crabs and shrimps. Maybe a sea cucumber? No preferences for fish.

I do have hoods on the tank with LED lights. I got the tank as a Marineland kit with the tank, heater, filter and hoods with lights. It was too good of a deal to pass up!