proposed fish list question

[jaf2h]

We have a 55 gal reef tank that we plan to have heavy with coral. We have four small fish 1 Tail spot Blenny, 1 Green clown goby, 1 wheeler goby, 1 green barred goby. They get along well and in 1/2 the tank( the side with more coral) we want to put in 1 royal gramma , maybe a small group(3) of catalina gobys. We would also like some kind of hair algae eating fish that will be a larger show fish that will stand out and free swim in the tank rather than find a cave to hide in a pop in and out. It is cute to watch the little fish but we want something that will be easy to see and active but NOT A BULLY OR A CORAL NIPPER!! :strooper:Any suggestions would be awesome?! Also we want to be sure we aren't over loading the tank with too many fish for a heavy coral tank.

 

[Lightsluvr]

Sounds like you're getting heavy in gobies and eventually might be inviting some competitive aggression. I hesitate to suggest a lawnmower blenny for algae control because of the Tail Spot.
Tangs, such as a small yellow tang, are the obvious choice for algae control, . The Tang police will correctly advise that 55G is too small for any tang, but if you start with a small yellow, and are willing to pay him forward (or upgrade your tank) as he grows, that might work. Tangs are usually only aggressive toward other tangs or rabbitfish.
I like Royal Gramma for color and interest, and you haven't mentioned the obligatory ocellaris clown pair for your tank...
Just a suggestion...

LL

 

[tkeracer619]

Fish don't control algae. They might eat it but they still poop it out which fuels more algae.

A 5g a week water change with RO/DI water, a good skimmer, GFO reactor, responsible fish stocking, and proper feeding will give you an algae free 55.

Look at a dwarf angel species. Maybe a flame angel as your stand out fish. I would not add many more though. I would go with your main addition and see how that works out. You really need to stock slowly and base it off your nitrates, aggression, adult size.

 

[Ritten]

Catalina gobies, I believe, are a cooler water fish, preferring temps of 60-70.

 

[jaf2h]

Sounds like you're getting heavy in gobies and eventually might be inviting some competitive aggression. I hesitate to suggest a lawnmower blenny for algae control because of the Tail Spot.
Tangs, such as a small yellow tang, are the obvious choice for algae control, . The Tang police will correctly advise that 55G is too small for any tang, but if you start with a small yellow, and are willing to pay him forward (or upgrade your tank) as he grows, that might work. Tangs are usually only aggressive toward other tangs or rabbitfish.
I like Royal Gramma for color and interest, and you haven't mentioned the obligatory ocellaris clown pair for your tank...
Just a suggestion...

LL

We had a pair of clowns in our first tank three years ago and they were so aggressive to us when feeding that we had marks from their teeth we gave them to a friend looking for a breeding pair and decided to avoid them as we have several corals that must be hand fed in our new set up