Stocking list for 56g aquarium

[Newreeflady]

I'm brainstorming stocking ideas for my 56g aquarium. The fish that I already own are:

Ocellaris pair
African Flameback Angelfish (a dwarf angelfish)

After loosing another jumper, I've decided this will be a sealed system- so jumping fish are OK. There will also be a sand bed (4") and rock pillars. Lighting is primarily 250w MH. Flow will be moderate (Eheim 1262 return pump, Eheim 1262 CL on OM squirt)

Concerns with adding new fish: My ocellaris are fairly territorial as they are a mating pair. It took quite a while for my angel to accepted, and I think my Yellow Watchman Goby was driven to suicide by them. The angelfish is not aggressive from what I've seen- and I don't want to add aggressive fish to the system as I like to see her come out.

--- fish I'm thinking about: ---

> Leopard wrasse
Can be delicate, concerned about Ocellaris bullying.

-and-
> Midas Blenny
May have to get a large one so that it can hold its own I'd suppose.

-and-
> Blue/green chromis - 3
Only issue is that some people have trouble with them becoming aggresive. I was hoping for a group of 3, which I was told means I have to start with 5 because they will kill each other:/ hmmm.

-or-
> Pajama Cardinalfish - 3
Concerned about their being bullied as well.

Thoughts?
Thx!
Angela

 

[block head]

i'd vote for the chromis, they are fast enough to keep away. having three will spread the love from the clowns and angel.

 

[eugeneK]

Dont know about chromis but I had a bad experience with pijama cardinals in a group of 3 in 55 gallon. 2 paired up and 3d just got beaten up constantly and bullied. I searched around and even though the fish schools in nature, they dont do well outside of pairs in the tanks. In nature they school for protection from predators and in a small tank get comfortable and territorial. Some people have had success with some other species of cardinals in groups of 5+ in larger tanks. Such as red spot or glass cardinal.

-and-
> Blue/green chromis - 3
Only issue is that some people have trouble with them becoming aggresive. I was hoping for a group of 3, which I was told means I have to start with 5 because they will kill each other:/ hmmm.

-or-
> Pajama Cardinalfish - 3
Concerned about their being bullied as well.

Thoughts?
Thx!
Angela

 

[Haffs09]

I caution against the chromis. When I had my 125gal, I started with 6 and within a year or so, there was only one left. They're great looking fish, but in my experience, not too friendly towards each other.

 

[Newreeflady]

Dont know about chromis but I had a bad experience with pijama cardinals in a group of 3 in 55 gallon. 2 paired up and 3d just got beaten up constantly and bullied. I searched around and even though the fish schools in nature, they dont do well outside of pairs in the tanks. In nature they school for protection from predators and in a small tank get comfortable and territorial. Some people have had success with some other species of cardinals in groups of 5+ in larger tanks. Such as red spot or glass cardinal.

How is the pair in your 55g? I don't mind if they pair up But, yeah, I've read this as well with the shoaling. I would suppose if you add 3 they might get along forever if they end up all being female maybe? Else, if one is a male then two will probably pair and kill the 3rd, or if all are males then only 1 will survive. Does that sound right?

 

[Newreeflady]

I caution against the chromis. When I had my 125gal, I started with 6 and within a year or so, there was only one left. They're great looking fish, but in my experience, not too friendly towards each other.

Man, looks like without a pair you might not be able to keep same species of fish in the same tank without some enormamous reef. :fun2:

Maybe I should just choose fish that I will keep only one of per species. I'll put together a new list of prospectives I suppose. Now that I'm thinking about it, I am guessing that one mating pair of fish is about all a 56g aquarium can handle, and my ocellaris have already filled that spot.

thx!
Angela

 

[superkat]

i had two bengai cards in my first tank...they did just fine.

 

[naprestsleep]

I had 3 Blue/green chromis in my 92gallon, made it 1yr before it was two against one, removed the third. Then a few months later the two turned on each other. So I got one left.

Loved having three but it didnt work out long term.

 

[eugeneK]

2 is no problem. I dont have them anymore but they got along for over a year.

 

[toddmh]

unless you have lots of rock I'd stay away from the Leopard wrasse,they can be very finicky on food

 

[Newreeflady]

OK, scratch previous list then. New list:

Dwarf Fuzzy Lionfish or D. Barberi
+
Yellow Coris Wrasse.

These would be housed with my ocellaris pair and my dwarf angel. These are all full grown fish, so don't think they'd be attacked by lionfish. I'm not too concerned that I can't keep shrimp or small fishes. Sounds good?

...
-A

 

[dreaminmel]

Yellow coris wrasse is one of the favorites in my tank so that one gets a big thumbsup. :thumbsup:

 

[Newreeflady]

Yellow coris wrasse is one of the favorites in my tank so that one gets a big thumbsup. :thumbsup:

I've heard this from almost everyone that has one- very encouraging. It is also so brilliantly colored, and can also use the sandbed. So, I think I'll ditch the leopard for the coris then. Now it's just deciding if the lion is right for the tank... I can spend a while on that, though. I'm going to let the system settle with my clowns and angelfish for a few months until the biofilter kicks up. It'll be half live rock from my old tank, and half base rock- plus I'm probably going to use all new sand with just a little old sand for seeding. So, it will likely need some time to ramp up.

Thanks!
Angela