Newbie Starting a 55 Gallon FOWLR

Snowflake88 · 11/12/2012, 07:22 PM

Hi everyone I'm looking for help/advice on my tank. Its currently a week into its cycle cycling with the raw shrimp method. I have 45 pounds of live rock and sand that can be used in either fresh or salt. Once its matured I would love to get 2 clowns 1 royal gramma 4 yellowtail damsels 3 blue green chromis and 1 neon blue goby. I have done a lot of research and they are all compatible for my tank sized. A question I have is can I keep Xenia coral for the clowns to host in as I read Xenia are great for beginners (like me).

Bike2k · 11/12/2012, 08:14 PM

Welcome Snowflake, I'm new also, you fish list seems like too many for a 55. I recommend posting it in the Sticky "please check your intended fish purchases here". Steve provides great advice for beginners. Unfortunately it is not just if the fish get along but also their bio load. I was told to figure about 1 fish per 10 gallons

However ymmv

awcamp · 11/12/2012, 08:34 PM

This doesn't sound too overloaded to me but I would call it borderline. These are all relatively small species of fish that which would work in your favor... The problem you may run into is that the yellowtail damsels, while beautiful, are fairly aggressive. The more fish you have in the tank the more likely you are to witness their aggressive behavior. Trust me, if you're hoping to have a beautiful and relaxing aquarium it's not an easy thing to watch your fish aggressively attack and pursue the weaker fish in the tank. If it were me I would take out the damsels and instead get something like 3 bangai cardinals (look for tank raised as they will be more likely to make it in your setup). People will tell you the yellowtail damsels are compatible and they are to a degree but you will find that they are pugnacious and sometimes devilish and my guess is that your chromis would soon become victim to bullying and you may find that they butt heads with the clownfish as well given that both are damsels.
As far as the xenia goes the only thing you really need is a type of lighting that will support it. You could go with a basic power compact light and could probably find a good deal on one but the best long term investment that would give you room to grow would probably be a t5 light. You don't need anything high powered since you don't plan to keep much else but a basic t5 would actually give you several options if you just wanted some basic beginner corals. Don't be so sure that the clowns will host in the xenia though... they may or they may not... those little clowns can be fairly unpredictable in that sense.
Will you be running any filtration on the tank such as a canister filter? Also, are you familiar with protein skimmers and have you considered these at all? These things become more important whenever you keep more fish. If I can answer any questions for you let me know. Otherwise, best of luck

PowerNap · 11/12/2012, 09:10 PM

awcamp is 100 correct on the Damsels. If you do get them, put them in last. Green Chromis can be just as bad, toward eachother. Like Highlander there can be only one.
Xenia is a great starter coral. I suggest you put the frag on an island, otherwise it can grow out of control, and it can be a difficult to get rid of. I suggest you buy the best light you can afford. I know it sounds hard to justify now, but once the bug bites, it's game on! In no time you will want to start with SPS corals. Plenty of used fixtures available for fractions of what they retail for.
Most clows are captive bread, and you will have a hard time getting them to host in anything. Try asking your LFS to host them for you with the promise that you will buy all three.

Snowflake88 · 11/12/2012, 09:28 PM

Thank you for the replies I was planning on putting damsels last cause I know they can be a bit aggressive. I also am looking for a skimmer I have a Jebo 180 someone gave me for free but its not doing anything but leaking. Ok powernap I will try and see what they can do

11/12/2012, 07:22 PM	#1
Snowflake88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Jennings Mo Posts: 25	Newbie Starting a 55 Gallon FOWLR Hi everyone I'm looking for help/advice on my tank. Its currently a week into its cycle cycling with the raw shrimp method. I have 45 pounds of live rock and sand that can be used in either fresh or salt. Once its matured I would love to get 2 clowns 1 royal gramma 4 yellowtail damsels 3 blue green chromis and 1 neon blue goby. I have done a lot of research and they are all compatible for my tank sized. A question I have is can I keep Xenia coral for the clowns to host in as I read Xenia are great for beginners (like me).

11/12/2012, 08:14 PM	#2
Bike2k Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 251	Welcome Snowflake, I'm new also, you fish list seems like too many for a 55. I recommend posting it in the Sticky "please check your intended fish purchases here". Steve provides great advice for beginners. Unfortunately it is not just if the fish get along but also their bio load. I was told to figure about 1 fish per 10 gallons However ymmv __________________ Bike2k Water parameters:PH: 8.0, SG:1.025, Ammonia:0, NO2:0, NO3:5, PO4:0.08,dKH:6.2,Ca :375,Mg:1080__75g DT, Solarmax H.O. (2) 54 watt T5 lights & night LEDs, RO NWB-150 skimmer, Eheim 1262 main pum

11/12/2012, 08:34 PM	#3
awcamp Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Andover, CT Posts: 214	This doesn't sound too overloaded to me but I would call it borderline. These are all relatively small species of fish that which would work in your favor... The problem you may run into is that the yellowtail damsels, while beautiful, are fairly aggressive. The more fish you have in the tank the more likely you are to witness their aggressive behavior. Trust me, if you're hoping to have a beautiful and relaxing aquarium it's not an easy thing to watch your fish aggressively attack and pursue the weaker fish in the tank. If it were me I would take out the damsels and instead get something like 3 bangai cardinals (look for tank raised as they will be more likely to make it in your setup). People will tell you the yellowtail damsels are compatible and they are to a degree but you will find that they are pugnacious and sometimes devilish and my guess is that your chromis would soon become victim to bullying and you may find that they butt heads with the clownfish as well given that both are damsels. As far as the xenia goes the only thing you really need is a type of lighting that will support it. You could go with a basic power compact light and could probably find a good deal on one but the best long term investment that would give you room to grow would probably be a t5 light. You don't need anything high powered since you don't plan to keep much else but a basic t5 would actually give you several options if you just wanted some basic beginner corals. Don't be so sure that the clowns will host in the xenia though... they may or they may not... those little clowns can be fairly unpredictable in that sense. Will you be running any filtration on the tank such as a canister filter? Also, are you familiar with protein skimmers and have you considered these at all? These things become more important whenever you keep more fish. If I can answer any questions for you let me know. Otherwise, best of luck __________________ A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.

11/12/2012, 09:10 PM	#4
PowerNap Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Turnersville NJ Posts: 132	awcamp is 100 correct on the Damsels. If you do get them, put them in last. Green Chromis can be just as bad, toward eachother. Like Highlander there can be only one. Xenia is a great starter coral. I suggest you put the frag on an island, otherwise it can grow out of control, and it can be a difficult to get rid of. I suggest you buy the best light you can afford. I know it sounds hard to justify now, but once the bug bites, it's game on! In no time you will want to start with SPS corals. Plenty of used fixtures available for fractions of what they retail for. Most clows are captive bread, and you will have a hard time getting them to host in anything. Try asking your LFS to host them for you with the promise that you will buy all three. __________________ Engineer Extraordinaire My other aquarium is a corvette. Current Tank Info: 56g column, RKL controler, 2x AI Sol white, custom stand and canopy.

11/12/2012, 09:28 PM	#5
Snowflake88 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Jennings Mo Posts: 25	Thank you for the replies I was planning on putting damsels last cause I know they can be a bit aggressive. I also am looking for a skimmer I have a Jebo 180 someone gave me for free but its not doing anything but leaking. Ok powernap I will try and see what they can do