Stocking ideas

[Fatrob164]

I'm currently stocking my 55... This is what I have to far
Melanurus wrasse
Valentini puffer
2 large brittle starfish
4 huge turbos
Like ten or fifteen hermits
2 nassarius snails
Snowflake eel
About 60 pounds live rock
Thinking about a bonded pair of clowns with a RBTA I have another reef tank to put them in if the puffer decides to nibble. I would love some input and am open for ideas thanks

 

[Johnny C]

At some point you'll have to decide between a reef
tank and an aggressive FOWLR tank. Eels and puffers don't always play nice with small fish like clowns and the excess nutrients from feeding those types of fish will stunt coral growth.

Anyway, I'd vote for a Picasso Trigger.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

I was waiting for someone to chime in. I did not want to be the rain cloud.

 

[DustyReefer]

In my opinion i'd stay away from the snowflake it sounds like a good idea until its making a meal of your fish

 

[Fatrob164]

I don't mind rain clouds. Its gotta rain sometimes if it didnt how could anything grow? haha I already have a reef tank and am gonna keep this one mostly fish. I had luck years ago with a puffer, eel, and rbta I'm just hoping that I got lucky again with these guys. I'll buy clowns that are bigger than the valentini as well to try and help. Was thinking about one or two more fish I like the trigger idea but don't they get like 10 inches?

 

[Fatrob164]

Oh and I was looking how I wrote the post I already have everything on the list except the clowns and RBTA the eel I have had like 8 months and hasnt eaten anybody yet knock on wood (expect my staghorn crab that is)

 

[DustyReefer]

Well its good your snowflake is behaving, I had one for about 20 minutes before it ate my sixline

 

[Newreeflady]

I am setting up a more fish-centric tank myself- just throwing in the hardy coral I have (mainly soft coral but one lps) and hoping for the best. Some of the fish I think are coolest are below, but you would have to research their compatibility with your current stock and one another, of course:

boxfishes/cowfishes -- not really long-term candidates for a small tank, but in the shorter term. Difficult, though.
lionfish -- a medium-sized would be okay in a 55
catalufa soldierfish -- nocturnal, and listed as difficult.
triggerfish -- many get too big long-term, and this would be for an aggressive tank
damsel schools -- in theory, I think that many have trouble with them eventually thinning out
saddleback butterfly -- I think they have to eat very often, though.

Good luck figuring it out.

 

[Fatrob164]

Very nice I was thinking about a Damsel school as well. Thanks for sharing and the tips good luck on yours and let me know how it works

 

[Newreeflady]

You, too. I will get a pic of it after I've got my new additions out of quarantine.