reef stocking for later

[NCreefwannabe]

Im starting my 55 gallon very very soon, and Im thinking of which fish to get first. Im not to worried about their mature size, as that in a year or less im getting a bigger 150 gallon tank. Id like to keep it a nice tank, no aggressiveness. That way any fish that are in my starter tank can be switched over to my 150 gallon reef later.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

Any ideas?

 

[NCreefwannabe]

Any ideas?

 

[techigirl78]

Any fish that you really like? Or colors of fish you like? There's endless possibilities.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

I like all fish actually. But i want nice fish that will coincide with each other. When I upgrade, I may actually be going alot bigger than what I thought. When that time comes, im going to make the 55 I have now a meanie tank lol. No coral, just aggressive fish.

 

[techigirl78]

The 55 isn't probably the best for a meanie tank. If that is the direction you want to take you'd be somewhat limited to smaller eels, tobies, pseudochromis, and drawf lionfish in a 55. Most of the agressive fish require large tanks.

Take a look in the galleries, some fish will catch your eyes. Once you find one, finding tankmates can become tricky. Personally, I like jawfish, gobies, blennies, and wrasses for reef tanks. All very colorful with a lot of personality. Get a list together and add them from the most peaceful on. For instance, if you wanted a jawfish, it should be added first.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

ok cool. I really have my eye on this red lip blenny at the store lol. I may end up getting him after I get my 3 stripe domino as my little starter guy. ( once he shows he can survive in my tank, hes going to my cousins tank lol. )

 

[Mariner]

Here's a list of some fish that can be mixed in a community reef tank with a good chance of success -- some require a mature and/or large tank:
-Clownfish (especially A. ocellaris or percula)
-Chromis
-Many gobies
-Possum or Coris wrasses
-Grammas
-Anthias
-Yellow, Scopas or Hippo tangs
-Firefish and/or dartfish
-Dwarf angels (especially of the Argi genus)
-Chalk bass
There are others, but these are few that came to mind.
Mariner

 

[NCreefwannabe]

What about Blennies??? My first 2 fish will either be 2 damsel or 2 chromis whichever the local store has at the time. If i get the damsels, when my tank is good for more fish, they are going to my cousins FO tank. So far my list that ive thought of is

2 chromis
pair clowns
red lip blenny
some kind of cleaner wrasse.
flame angel

thats probably it for this tank other than maybe 2 inverts. over the span of 6 months to a year. I may get a fish that will get bigger in the last few months or right before I get my bigger tank.

 

[janakaybravo]

I'm into color, both corals and fish. I have to have yellow, blue, pink, orange, all colors represented. I have a banner fish, yellow foxface, blue tang, two false percs, two yellow clown gobies and am going to add a female bellus angel. My royal gramma died, so I'm going to have to get another one or replace her or something pink. I have a pink anemone, blue SPS, rose digitata, crocea clam, purple digitata, purple poss something, green branching coral, galaxia, green frog spawn, zoos, flame scallop, two fire shrimp, red, coral banded shrimp and bright orange star fish. I guess I'm trying to get as much color in there as possible.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

Ill have color with my corals, my fish can be w/e as long as they all get along.

 

[Mariner]

The cleaner wrasse is probably not a great choice. They don't accept prepared foods well and tend to be short lived in an aquarium. A neon goby or cleaner shrimp might by a better pick.
FWIW,
Mariner

 

[techigirl78]

You could also look into the fairy/flasher wrasses and halichoeres wrasses. Still a wrasse, but much more durable and they come in almost every color imaginable.

Also, angels can be hit or miss on whether they'll munch on your corals. Lots of people seem to do it, just some risk involved.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

yeah thats what ive heard about them, but any fish that cant get along in my tank will have a new home asap lol.
I also thought about some antias. Any ideas on those?

 

[Sports Girl]

NC-

I have:
(3) Cross' Damsels (Which I think are prettier than chromis and nicer than most other damsels)
Orange spotted watchman goby
Tomato Clown/Bubble Tip Anemone
Scooter Dragonet
P.J. Cardinal
Green Clown Goby
Sm. Mimic Lemon Tang

All get along great and swim at different levels in my 60 gal. reef.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

Thanks for the setup.
I didnt mean the cleaner wrasse, I meant the neon goby now that I looked. Ive heard they help with some fish diseases and help clean your fish.

 

[janakaybravo]

I got a neon goby to help with the ich, but he immediately got ich himself. You can't depend on them or cleaner shrimp for ich. Course you probably know that. I'll always quarantine from now on.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

I had just thought they were like a sucker fish for other fish lol. Like the nurse shark kinda deal. So far my list will be
Paired percula clowns
red lip blenny and 2-3 chromis.

Ive thought about maybe a paired anthias also.

 

[Mariner]

I think that anthias don't really "pair" so much as "harem" -- if kept in a group they're usually kept with one male and several females. They can be kept singly though.
FWIW,
Mariner

 

[techigirl78]

I don't have anthias, but I've read on most sites that if you want a harem you should have a 125. Maybe wait for those until after you upgrade. Also, if your going the more peaceful route, have you thought about a goby/shrimp pair? They do require sand though.