Stocking a 55 gal reef

[crazymnkeyman77]

I currently have a 30 gal biocube filled with lps corals and a 75 gal fowlr tank. Im starting a 55 gal sps reef. The tank has two mp40's. For lighting it has two 360 kessils'. I have no clue what fish to buy. I want one main fish and then maybe two other small fish? Like for the main fish could i have something like a kole tang they look nice. i have about 75 pounds of live rock in there and a 30 gal refugium. Its overkill but a good thing to have i guess. have a skimmer rated to 100 gallons. Any suggestions will help thanks. The tank is in the cycling process fyi.

 

[Dayson]

55 is a tough size. Not really big enough for swimmers... Maybe a dotty back if you don't have shrimp. There are some good looking wrasse that would do well. I like the looks of the 6 line and they are pretty active but I had a really mean one that tried to take out everything in my tank.

I would probably just end up with a pair of designer clowns. I have Picasso's and they are really cool fish.

 

[texdoc77]

You probably won't get a lot of takers on RC for a Kole Tang at 55g, however, I would do it. You could also consider a flasher wrasse like a carpenter's or mckoskers for your "show" fish or something like a Midas Blenny. A couple of clowns sounds good, but you could also do some anthias or pseudochromis. If you will have a refugium and will have a bunch of copepods a mandarin is another option. Let us know what you choose...

 

[scooter31707]

I don't recommend a Kole Tang for that size tank, recommend at least a 75 or bigger. couple of the smaller wrasses, clowns, midas blenny are all good choices.

 

[crazymnkeyman77]

You showed me some great fish I havent seen that gave new options.
I liked the Wrasse you showed me, and i happened to notice its one fish but has 3 different names. I liked two of the anthias, but they're to expensive. I didnt really like the look of the pseudchromis too much. If I can get by with a kole tang i would really like it. My possible list would be

1. Flasher wrasse
2. bangaii cardnialfish
3. Kole tang
4. Some sort of blenny
5. fire shrimp

Is this list alright? Im willing to compromise on the kole tang if theres any other tangs out there that will be a better fit for me or is something like a tang or angelfish.

 

[crazymnkeyman77]

Do you know of any other tangs or fish like tangs that would be a better fit for me? @scooter31707

 

[crazymnkeyman77]

55 is a tough size. Not really big enough for swimmers... Maybe a dotty back if you don't have shrimp. There are some good looking wrasse that would do well. I like the looks of the 6 line and they are pretty active but I had a really mean one that tried to take out everything in my tank.

I would probably just end up with a pair of designer clowns. I have Picasso's and they are really cool fish.

I like the look of those clowns but there a bit expensive. Im already going to be spending a lot for corals. Im looking for fish like $60 or less

 

[crazymnkeyman77]

You probably won't get a lot of takers on RC for a Kole Tang at 55g, however, I would do it. You could also consider a flasher wrasse like a carpenter's or mckoskers for your "show" fish or something like a Midas Blenny. A couple of clowns sounds good, but you could also do some anthias or pseudochromis. If you will have a refugium and will have a bunch of copepods a mandarin is another option. Let us know what you choose...

Sorry i forgot to quote you in my reply. My message is above. I also just realized the wrasses are jumpers and it would take a lot of work and diminish the beauty of my tank to seal the top because its pretty close to a rimless.

 

[Deinonych]

I don't recommend a Kole Tang for that size tank, recommend at least a 75 or bigger. couple of the smaller wrasses, clowns, midas blenny are all good choices.

I agree. They are very active swimmers. I have a small Kole (~4" ) and he's always on the move. My tank is 48" long and he uses every bit of tank length.

 

[crazymnkeyman77]

I agree. They are very active swimmers. I have a small Kole (~3" ) and he's always on the move. My tank is 48" long and he uses every bit of tank length.

So im guessing your kole is in a 75 gallon tank.

 

[Deinonych]

105 gal - 48x24x21

 

[crazymnkeyman77]

105 gal - 48x24x21

oh ok, so the Kobe tang is out of the picture for me. any other recommendations?

 

[Deinonych]

Flameback (Centropyge acanthops) or Cherub (Centropyge argi) Angelfish would work in a 55gal. Tangs just need more space that what you can provide with a 55. They get ornery (well, more than usual) if they are confined.

Edit: Never mind, saw you are going with an SPS tank. Angelfish are out. LiveAquaria has a selector through which you can sort fish by aquarium size, reef compatibility etc. Might give that a whirl and see what shakes out for you.

 

[DopeCantWin]

Guys there are a million threads on this. Everybody with 1000+ rep and biology degrees will tell you a 75 is too small. Somebody with 5 posts will come in and say a 5 gallon is enough. That's why we have http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079 right at the top of this forum. 75 gallon is the minimum.

Edit: the other advice texdoc77 gave you sounds pretty scary too. Mandarin are hard fish for a 55 gallon, even with a fuge. Maybe if it was a 55 gallon fuge, but otherwise that's also a no.

 

[crazymnkeyman77]

Guys there are a million threads on this. Everybody with 1000+ rep and biology degrees will tell you a 75 is too small. Somebody with 5 posts will come in and say a 5 gallon is enough. That's why we have http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079 right at the top of this forum. 75 gallon is the minimum.

Edit: the other advice texdoc77 gave you sounds pretty scary too. Mandarin are hard fish for a 55 gallon, even with a fuge. Maybe if it was a 55 gallon fuge, but otherwise that's also a no.

Im not getting a kole tang anymore as i stated above. Im asking for other recommendations. I was thinking of a midas blenny. They look cool.

 

[crazymnkeyman77]

Flameback (Centropyge acanthops) or Cherub (Centropyge argi) Angelfish would work in a 55gal. Tangs just need more space that what you can provide with a 55. They get ornery (well, more than usual) if they are confined.

Edit: Never mind, saw you are going with an SPS tank. Angelfish are out. LiveAquaria has a selector through which you can sort fish by aquarium size, reef compatibility etc. Might give that a whirl and see what shakes out for you.

Ok thanks man ill check it out.