Hi all, I am a new hobbyist and I just setup my 54 gallon FOWLR corner tank. I was wondering what would be the best selection of fish to put in there. I have been researching what kind of fish are compatible with each other and came up with: Naso Tang, Yellow Tang, Percula Clownfish, and Flame Anglefish. A cleaner shrimp and some kind of starfish would be used as invertibrates. Is that a good selection for my size of tank?
What kind of fish should I add to my new tank?
- Thread starter awwad_m
- Start date
craftytony
OT Godfather
I think you may want to rething the yellow tang and naso tang, i believe they need a 90 gallon or larger. Instead of one clownfish, do a pair...an onyx pair preferably 
Flame angel is hit or miss on wether it will nip at corals, but a beautiful addition. You could add a watchman goby and 6 line wrasse. A watchman goby paired up with a pistol shrimp is great, I highly recommend.
Flame angel is hit or miss on wether it will nip at corals, but a beautiful addition. You could add a watchman goby and 6 line wrasse. A watchman goby paired up with a pistol shrimp is great, I highly recommend.
paininthewrasse
In Memoriam
Def. NO tangs as everyone else said. The rest of the fish listed are fine.. All of them are reef safe w/ the exception of the flame angel, so you could, if you decide to eventually switch it over to a reef tank.. I started FOWLR and had a reef tank in no time.
Me personally here is what I would do...
1- Pair of clowns Onyx or Black Occelaris clowns are very cool, true perculas are great as well either would be great, but not both
(reef safe fish if you ever decided to switch over)
2- Flame Angelfish (if you decide on this fish, you may or may not be able 2 switch it to a reef eventually, as like craftytony said these fish are hit or miss.)
3-I'd personally throw in a cooler wrasse then a 6-line they are to common.. no big deal to me.. I'd go w/ a fairy wrasse like a long finned fairy wrasse, mine is gorgeous (reef safe fish for later possibly)
4- I think a Bangaii Cardnalfish is a great way to add some variety to the tank, they are very interesting fish, and are also very pretty. They are slow moving.. I really like mine.. However if you did this fish and the black clowns you would have 3 black and white fish in your tank, so maybe the true percs would be better..
5- Bi-color blenny, tailspot blennie, something like that.. they are also very neat little fish. They have alot of personality.
and
as far as the watchman/pistol shrimp.. As you can see, its not on my list... It is very neat, however the way they move sand around would drive me crazy.. if thats not an issue for you, they'd be great, but if that is an issue, you may want to pass..
Me personally here is what I would do...
1- Pair of clowns Onyx or Black Occelaris clowns are very cool, true perculas are great as well either would be great, but not both
(reef safe fish if you ever decided to switch over)2- Flame Angelfish (if you decide on this fish, you may or may not be able 2 switch it to a reef eventually, as like craftytony said these fish are hit or miss.)
3-I'd personally throw in a cooler wrasse then a 6-line they are to common.. no big deal to me.. I'd go w/ a fairy wrasse like a long finned fairy wrasse, mine is gorgeous (reef safe fish for later possibly)
4- I think a Bangaii Cardnalfish is a great way to add some variety to the tank, they are very interesting fish, and are also very pretty. They are slow moving.. I really like mine.. However if you did this fish and the black clowns you would have 3 black and white fish in your tank, so maybe the true percs would be better..
5- Bi-color blenny, tailspot blennie, something like that.. they are also very neat little fish. They have alot of personality.
and
as far as the watchman/pistol shrimp.. As you can see, its not on my list... It is very neat, however the way they move sand around would drive me crazy.. if thats not an issue for you, they'd be great, but if that is an issue, you may want to pass..
fishgeeksrus
New member
Not only do you want a fish that looks great, but you also want them to serve a purpose...(IMO)
Algae eater- angel will somewhat take care of that.
Pest remover- wrasse possibly
etc...
Just keep this in mind when selecting.
Andrea
Algae eater- angel will somewhat take care of that.
Pest remover- wrasse possibly
etc...
Just keep this in mind when selecting.
Andrea
Thank you guys for all your suggestions. paininthewrasse, you mentioned that having the shrimp/goby pair would drive you crazy with the sand movement, how bad is it, would u need to re-organize the sand on a regular basis?
Also, I noticed that all of you guys are telling me to stay away from tangs, since my tank is pretty small. I was looking at some websites, and it seems that a small (2inch yellow tang, and a small blue hippo tang would fit in my tank). Should I beleive that or not?
Also, I noticed that all of you guys are telling me to stay away from tangs, since my tank is pretty small. I was looking at some websites, and it seems that a small (2inch yellow tang, and a small blue hippo tang would fit in my tank). Should I beleive that or not?
fishgeeksrus
New member
That is because they are babies. They will get bigger. I agree. I would definitely stay away from those. Sorry I know that is not what you wanted to hear.
Yes, I really did not want to hear that. But oh well, thank you guys for all your advice. One last question, sorry I am being a pain 
This website lists different tangs (the ones I was looking at will grow to a max of 2 inches - according to them) Is that real? or are they just babies as you said and they will grow bigger?
whiirly
Active member
No tangs stay that small but unlike the others here I say if you are willing to upgrade to a larger tank in a year or two the you will be ok with one tang or even disassemble your tank to remove it when it gets big will work as well
I know this wont be a popular answer but it can work if you have to have a tang
BTW I would love to know what site says a tang only grows to two inches
I know this wont be a popular answer but it can work if you have to have a tang
BTW I would love to know what site says a tang only grows to two inches
Thanks for your info whiirly. The website is saltwaterfish.com, please click on the link below to send you directly to the page for the blue tang.
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_1...ategory=4&category_search=61&root_parent_id=4
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_1...ategory=4&category_search=61&root_parent_id=4
badazztealcobra
New member
Hit the "next item" link under the picture though... It shows a medium size which starts at 3-4 inches, and then the next one is show size which is 4-5 inches... with a minimum tank size of 150 gallons.... they grow to that size pretty quick too....
I understand your wanting a tang as they are great looking fish, but its not in the best interests of the fish to keep them in a tank that small.
I wish they stayed small so I could fit one into my nano myself.
I understand your wanting a tang as they are great looking fish, but its not in the best interests of the fish to keep them in a tank that small.
I wish they stayed small so I could fit one into my nano myself.
whiirly
Active member
I believe that is the size they ship them out at I personallly have one about 4 inches right now
Its not like you have a nano I would be ok with one small tang (probally not a hippo though they grow rather quickly) as long as you realize that it will have to come out when it gets to big
My suggestion would be a Tomingi Tang the one I have seems to grow the slowest of the bunch
Currently in my 180 I have
1 yellow
1 hippo
1 red sea sail fin
1 powder blue
1 tomingi
all living peacefully together and when they get to big for that tank I will be upgradeing again
kimoy
Active member
i would agree with waht everyone said. but if you really want to keep a tang in your tank, get the smallest you can get and just like what everyone said upgrade your tank or get it out whe they outgrow the tank. my friend has a 2 inch yellow eye kole in his 25 nano which he will be moving to his 75 when it outgrow the nano.
me myself has a naso, orange shoulder, unicorn and yellow mimic on my tank and is going to add one more soon to avoid fighting.
me myself has a naso, orange shoulder, unicorn and yellow mimic on my tank and is going to add one more soon to avoid fighting.
suliaman007
Tap Water Only Club
clowns are awsome, so are tangs. dotty backs are also nice. sand sifting gobys are fun to watch.
Thanks guys for all your inputs. I really got a lot of help since you have more experience than I do. What about Butterfly fish? dwarf anglefish? These websites are really confusing, some say that triggerfish needs a minimum tank size of 20 gallons, others say 100 gallons.
I will just use the info I get from you guys here, since it doesnt look like I can trust other websites!
I will just use the info I get from you guys here, since it doesnt look like I can trust other websites!
Pufferpunk
New member
Triggers grow huge. I wish I could have one for my 50g.
Pufferpunk
New member
If you want to add all your fish at once, be sure to add Bio-spira to your filter at the same time.
suliaman007
Tap Water Only Club
also about the sites and pet stores that are selling the fish, they are a buisness. some of them try to sell whatever they can to new B's. iv been given a lot of false info by people at pet stores. not all of them are like this, but be carefull.
Pufferpunk
New member
That's why he came here for advice! No profit to us--just caring folks.
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