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i need help deciding on fish for a 55
- Thread starter paul.k
- Start date
Behrmon
pr (BearMon)
Some of the sites like saltwaterfish.com & liveaquria have compatibility chart in the livestock charts that you may want to look at, as for the 55 and a Yellow Tang I personally would say no - I have a YT in my 72 and feel that is prob the smallest tank for that fish, thats just my opinion.
As for the water change - I may be wrong here but I would say no, let the tank cycle out, you may not have enough rock to make that happen very fast. I think 14 days is way to early to be adding fish, unless I misunderstood how long your tank has been up.
As for the water change - I may be wrong here but I would say no, let the tank cycle out, you may not have enough rock to make that happen very fast. I think 14 days is way to early to be adding fish, unless I misunderstood how long your tank has been up.
Gina McReeferson
My sweet Baby David
I agree, those charts are great for fish compatibility. I have also found a lot of useful information on http://www.wetwebmedia.com/.
Behrmon
pr (BearMon)
No - cycled with established Live Rock from another tank. 1st fish was about 3-4 weeks after the cycle.
Gina McReeferson
My sweet Baby David
You are right, the clowns should not have been added yet. The live rock would have been sufficient to start the cycle. This is a mistake many have made before you, it is tough to resist when starting your first tank and you do not fully appreciate all that it takes to get things running. People often use this approach to jump start their tank's ammonia cycle, the problem with this is, the fish are exposed to extremely poor conditions, in fact, they often die as a result of toxic ammonia build-up.
This being said, I would not do a water change, this will only prolong the time required to cycle the tank. You should not worry about water changes until your ammonia cycle is complete, after that, if you have only fish and a couple of "polyps" (again, after the cycle), you will be doing regular water changes to control nitrates and phosphates that build up in the system from decomposing fish waste and excess food.
Be patient, err on the side of caution, and pay close attention to what input you get from members of this site. We have learned much from many people here, and continue to learn, as will you. I believe you will find people more forthcoming on "what fish to buy" when they see you are progressing in the right direction and can provide a good, concientious home for them.
I hope this has helped, and welcome to the club!
-Dave and Gina
This being said, I would not do a water change, this will only prolong the time required to cycle the tank. You should not worry about water changes until your ammonia cycle is complete, after that, if you have only fish and a couple of "polyps" (again, after the cycle), you will be doing regular water changes to control nitrates and phosphates that build up in the system from decomposing fish waste and excess food.
Be patient, err on the side of caution, and pay close attention to what input you get from members of this site. We have learned much from many people here, and continue to learn, as will you. I believe you will find people more forthcoming on "what fish to buy" when they see you are progressing in the right direction and can provide a good, concientious home for them.
I hope this has helped, and welcome to the club!
-Dave and Gina
Fish for a 55
Yellow Clown gobies are really small and they have a lot of personality. That would be a hearty starter fish. A blue damsel (not a yellow tail damsel--those grow large and tend to be aggressive). neon gobies, blue green reef chromis ( 3 or 5 keep in odd numbers) and a watchman goby are all reef safe fish that are possibilities.
Try not to add too much at a time. You want to watch your bioload and go slowly adding a couple at a time. If you go to liveaquaria.com there is a section of beginner fish. You can see pictures, how much tank size is recommended and also what they eat, if they are reef safe and there is a chart showing what fish are compatible. You want fish that are peaceful and also get along relatively well together.
Some of the salt water fish are nicely colored, large and really expensive. Stay away from those for the time being. They usually take more mature tanks and special care. Some of them eat corals.
What do you have in the tank now? I may be able to help with a couple of corals when your tank has been running for a while. I live in westwood so it would be not to far.
Yellow Clown gobies are really small and they have a lot of personality. That would be a hearty starter fish. A blue damsel (not a yellow tail damsel--those grow large and tend to be aggressive). neon gobies, blue green reef chromis ( 3 or 5 keep in odd numbers) and a watchman goby are all reef safe fish that are possibilities.
Try not to add too much at a time. You want to watch your bioload and go slowly adding a couple at a time. If you go to liveaquaria.com there is a section of beginner fish. You can see pictures, how much tank size is recommended and also what they eat, if they are reef safe and there is a chart showing what fish are compatible. You want fish that are peaceful and also get along relatively well together.
Some of the salt water fish are nicely colored, large and really expensive. Stay away from those for the time being. They usually take more mature tanks and special care. Some of them eat corals.
What do you have in the tank now? I may be able to help with a couple of corals when your tank has been running for a while. I live in westwood so it would be not to far.
Dwarf Sea Bass
The dwarf Sea Bass will probably eat any of your other small fish. I would avoid that fish. They are nice to look at.
Barnes and Nobles has a hardbound book on Marine Fish by Axlerod for $4.99.
That will show you pictures of fish, it will tell if they are reef safe. I bought one and also donated one to the Boston Reefers Society Library.
If you join the club, you can go to meetings and also borrow books from the library and return them the next month.
The dwarf Sea Bass will probably eat any of your other small fish. I would avoid that fish. They are nice to look at.
Barnes and Nobles has a hardbound book on Marine Fish by Axlerod for $4.99.
That will show you pictures of fish, it will tell if they are reef safe. I bought one and also donated one to the Boston Reefers Society Library.
If you join the club, you can go to meetings and also borrow books from the library and return them the next month.
MikeG
Non-member
I agree with not doing any water changes right now, it will only prolong the cycle. Just watch ammonia then nitrite rise and then fall and then finally your nitrate will go up. When you have no more measurable ammonia or nitrite, the cycle is done and you can start thinking about water changes.
As far as the yellow tang, I don't think it is the best judgemnet to just look at how many gallons. Fish like this, I feel benifit most from the length of the tank. A 55, 75, or 120 are all 4 feet long. Although the 55 at only 12 inches wide is not ideal, I think it still gives the fish some room to swim. The other thing to keep in mind is that active big fish like tangs tend to eat a lot and contribute a lot to the bioload on the tank.
Dwarf angels in general and the flame angel you metioned can all possibly eat coral polyps. This is a risk you take putting one in the tank. Flame are one of the safer species to try.
If you want to add a royal gramma, I would add it last or close to last because the can be territorial at times as mentioned earlier.
Gobies or blennies can be added as some of the first fish.
As far as the yellow tang, I don't think it is the best judgemnet to just look at how many gallons. Fish like this, I feel benifit most from the length of the tank. A 55, 75, or 120 are all 4 feet long. Although the 55 at only 12 inches wide is not ideal, I think it still gives the fish some room to swim. The other thing to keep in mind is that active big fish like tangs tend to eat a lot and contribute a lot to the bioload on the tank.
Dwarf angels in general and the flame angel you metioned can all possibly eat coral polyps. This is a risk you take putting one in the tank. Flame are one of the safer species to try.
If you want to add a royal gramma, I would add it last or close to last because the can be territorial at times as mentioned earlier.
Gobies or blennies can be added as some of the first fish.
Angels and butterflies
It would be good to stay away from Angels and butterflies until you have a lot more experience. Some nip at corals and other fish and some are not reef safe.
As a general rule, I would avoid those.
Also avoid triggers, batfish, bass, anything venomous.
It would be good to stay away from Angels and butterflies until you have a lot more experience. Some nip at corals and other fish and some are not reef safe.
As a general rule, I would avoid those.
Also avoid triggers, batfish, bass, anything venomous.
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