55 Gallon Reef First Fish

Mr. Fish · 09/13/2010, 10:33 PM

I don't want any damsels and probably no clowns, so I am looking at more of an nontraditional first fish. The only thing I know I want in the tank is sps, lps, softies, shrooms, clams and a yellow tang. I hear the tang police sirens already. I have a 180 gallon and if the tang gets too big for the 55 I can move it into the 180 down the road, so no worries. So what would be a compatible first fish?

Thanks

E36328i · 09/13/2010, 10:43 PM

I would say NO on the yellow tang. Not that they aren't hardy and a easy fish to keep, but they can get aggressive and territorial--especially if they are the first fish added. I would add a yellow tang last if you ever want one in your 55g.

A good non-traditional fish to add could be a jawfish of some sort, most of them are hardy if you have the sand bed for them. You could also try a hawkfish, cardinals, reef-safe triggerfish (juvenile--would eventually outgrow its confines), maybe a fairy wrasse of some sort, or even a rabbitfish (although you would have to supplement its needs for algae with nori if the tank has no established algae).

Just be sure the tank is 100% ready for a fish and you really need not be concerned about the fish dying.

Tony78 · 09/13/2010, 10:44 PM

Royal gramma or a goby? My yellow watchman is peaceful and yet amusing.

Mr. Fish · 09/13/2010, 10:58 PM

I wasn't planing on putting the tang in first its just a fish I want in there at some point. I would love to have a hawkfish, but would it harass bottom dwellers I know the one in my 24 gallon used to. Is it true that blennies nip at sps and clam mantels or would they be fine in a reef. Would a yellow watchman goby spit sand all over my rock and eventually corals, or is that just something diamond gobies do. And if I wanted to have a pistol shrimp watchman combo would I have to add them at the same time or could I wait to add the shrimp later after my water gets more stable.

Thanks

Tony78 · 09/13/2010, 11:29 PM

The yellow watchman doesn't filter sand like the diamond gobys do. The watchman will dig a burrow or two for a home. You can add the pistol shrimp later. They will find each other. I plan on doing the same thing.

julie180 · 09/13/2010, 11:33 PM

I would not suggest a rabbit fish for a 55. I have one in a 180 and I feel bad because he is so big.

There are a lots of different types of smaller wrasses that are interesting. I would suggest looking on some of the on line vendors for ideas.

Happy reefing

theatrus · 09/14/2010, 12:01 AM

Six-line wrasse? Common, very hardy, and active in the rockwork.

sneakerpimp · 09/14/2010, 12:13 AM

Chalk bass. Neon goby.

Hermes` · 09/14/2010, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theatrus

Six-line wrasse? Common, very hardy, and active in the rockwork.

If you add the six-line first, it will also be your last. IME and from observing friend's tanks, they are peaceful when they are added last.

mallorieGgator · 09/14/2010, 05:46 AM

Wrasses are pretty cool! Look into a fairy wrasse or a flasher wrasse. Just make sure you have a top on the tank because they like to go carpet surfing.

09/13/2010, 10:33 PM	#1
Mr. Fish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 828	55 Gallon Reef First Fish I don't want any damsels and probably no clowns, so I am looking at more of an nontraditional first fish. The only thing I know I want in the tank is sps, lps, softies, shrooms, clams and a yellow tang. I hear the tang police sirens already. I have a 180 gallon and if the tang gets too big for the 55 I can move it into the 180 down the road, so no worries. So what would be a compatible first fish? Thanks

09/14/2010, 12:01 AM	#7
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Six-line wrasse? Common, very hardy, and active in the rockwork. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

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09/13/2010, 10:43 PM	#2
E36328i Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atascadero, California Posts: 241	I would say NO on the yellow tang. Not that they aren't hardy and a easy fish to keep, but they can get aggressive and territorial--especially if they are the first fish added. I would add a yellow tang last if you ever want one in your 55g. A good non-traditional fish to add could be a jawfish of some sort, most of them are hardy if you have the sand bed for them. You could also try a hawkfish, cardinals, reef-safe triggerfish (juvenile--would eventually outgrow its confines), maybe a fairy wrasse of some sort, or even a rabbitfish (although you would have to supplement its needs for algae with nori if the tank has no established algae). Just be sure the tank is 100% ready for a fish and you really need not be concerned about the fish dying.

09/13/2010, 10:44 PM	#3
Tony78 Boston Terrier Fan Club Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bolingbrook IL Posts: 209	Royal gramma or a goby? My yellow watchman is peaceful and yet amusing.

09/13/2010, 10:58 PM	#4
Mr. Fish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 828	I wasn't planing on putting the tang in first its just a fish I want in there at some point. I would love to have a hawkfish, but would it harass bottom dwellers I know the one in my 24 gallon used to. Is it true that blennies nip at sps and clam mantels or would they be fine in a reef. Would a yellow watchman goby spit sand all over my rock and eventually corals, or is that just something diamond gobies do. And if I wanted to have a pistol shrimp watchman combo would I have to add them at the same time or could I wait to add the shrimp later after my water gets more stable. Thanks

09/13/2010, 11:29 PM	#5
Tony78 Boston Terrier Fan Club Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bolingbrook IL Posts: 209	The yellow watchman doesn't filter sand like the diamond gobys do. The watchman will dig a burrow or two for a home. You can add the pistol shrimp later. They will find each other. I plan on doing the same thing.

09/13/2010, 11:33 PM	#6
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	I would not suggest a rabbit fish for a 55. I have one in a 180 and I feel bad because he is so big. There are a lots of different types of smaller wrasses that are interesting. I would suggest looking on some of the on line vendors for ideas. Happy reefing

09/14/2010, 12:13 AM	#8
sneakerpimp Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 154	Chalk bass. Neon goby.

09/14/2010, 05:46 AM	#10
mallorieGgator Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Gainesville, Fl Posts: 1,134	Wrasses are pretty cool! Look into a fairy wrasse or a flasher wrasse. Just make sure you have a top on the tank because they like to go carpet surfing.