Damsels good or bad

manissen10 · 10/10/2010, 01:24 AM

Here is my stocking plan for my 55 gallon tank. I already have 2 saddleback clowns and a kole tang and a mixed reef. I'm thinking about getting a snowflake eel and 3 damsels. Using an hob filter bakbak 2 skimmer no sump. Is this too big of a bio load or will the damsels get too aggressive??
Thanks

khaosinc · 10/10/2010, 04:28 AM

I think you are going to get crowded in a hurry.. Damsels are cute and colorful, but they are territorial, as are the clowns.. eels are a whole different pile of headaches as well.. especially in what most would call a smaller tank...

I'll skip the usual commentary on tangs..

Chris27 · 10/10/2010, 06:55 AM

Damsels are the devil's soldiers of a saltwater tank - just plain evil. If you want a cheap colorful fish, go with some blue-green chromis, they come from the same family, but didn't inherit the pure anger of most other damsels.

Gary Majchrzak · 10/10/2010, 06:57 AM

I had green Chromis that would bully large Surgeonfish.
JMO but I'd overhaul the stocking list here.

Denbf58 · 10/10/2010, 07:03 AM

before to long the eel is the only thing that will be left

A sea K · 10/10/2010, 07:20 AM

Most Damsels are "bad", however there a few that are "good".

isildursbane · 10/10/2010, 07:27 AM

^^ If you do decide to add some damsels, get ready to learn how to use a Hawaiian Sling and if that does not work, you can always re-scape your reef when you pull all the rock out to get them . . .

Gary Majchrzak · 10/10/2010, 07:38 AM

I've never viewed a critter as being "good" or "bad".

Even dung beetles perform a function in the overall scheme of things.
Damselfish can be great aquarium inhabitants if one knows what to provide and expect.

potterjon · 10/10/2010, 07:51 AM

I had a yellow damsel for many years, like 7 or eight. He was indestructible, when I finally made up my mind to take him to the lfs, I felt guilty because I had kept him for so long, but it opened my tank up to so many other possibilities for inhabitants, that it was worth it in the end. But then again, I was going in a reef tank direction and it doesn't sound like you are trying to do that. I would reconsider the eel, unless that is pretty much what the tank will be based around.

Sk8r · 10/10/2010, 08:40 AM

The only damsel appropriate for a 55 is ONE chromis.
Damsels require a lot of territory---make a stunning display, but require over a hundred gallons, and ideally about 300.

The value of one chromis is that they're insanely active, and their being out and about reassures the other fishes there's no predator.

davocean · 10/10/2010, 09:59 AM

Not all damsels are aggro, there are a number of less common ones that are fine.
I personally do love chromis and have had great luck w/ them, wouldn't be w/out them.
A 55g does limit space though, and your clowns are going to claim a good piece of that space(they are damsel family BTW)
The kole should have more space than a 55g provides, if looking for algae control I'd replace it w/ a lawnmower blenny.

davocean · 10/10/2010, 10:00 AM

Here's a good link to some safe damsels.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/hcs3/index.php

rancoo · 10/10/2010, 12:16 PM

I really enjoy the damsels that i have. I have a Blue Velvet damsel and a domino damsel, but they are both very aggressive and i had to ban them to the quarantine tank for now. I have two percula clowns and they didn't do well with the damsels

david pinder · 10/10/2010, 02:34 PM

damsels especially schools of them really add a lot of color to my reef but its a very large tank. In smaller tanks they tend to reek nothing but trouble

reefWW96 · 10/10/2010, 03:34 PM

I have had a few damsels in the past. They are terrible fish in a community reef tank. A perfect damsel biotope would be a 180+ gallon tank filled with staghorns, and only damsels. beautiful fish though

10/10/2010, 01:24 AM	#1
manissen10 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Saint Charles Posts: 199	Damsels good or bad Here is my stocking plan for my 55 gallon tank. I already have 2 saddleback clowns and a kole tang and a mixed reef. I'm thinking about getting a snowflake eel and 3 damsels. Using an hob filter bakbak 2 skimmer no sump. Is this too big of a bio load or will the damsels get too aggressive?? Thanks

10/10/2010, 04:28 AM	#2
khaosinc The cyborg reefer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Washington state Posts: 2,345	I think you are going to get crowded in a hurry.. Damsels are cute and colorful, but they are territorial, as are the clowns.. eels are a whole different pile of headaches as well.. especially in what most would call a smaller tank... I'll skip the usual commentary on tangs.. __________________ Disclaimer: I have not yet figured out how to install a breathalizer on my computer. Current Tank Info: It's all torn down... someday I might rebuild.

10/10/2010, 06:57 AM	#4
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	I had green Chromis that would bully large Surgeonfish. JMO but I'd overhaul the stocking list here. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

10/10/2010, 07:03 AM	#5
Denbf58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: selden N.Y. Posts: 885	before to long the eel is the only thing that will be left __________________ Life is good Current Tank Info: 75gal reef ready koralia 3, 30g sump, 4b 48" t5s lighting, 29g reef with breeding pair clowns 55g reef 55g freshwater

10/10/2010, 07:20 AM	#6
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	Most Damsels are "bad", however there a few that are "good". __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

10/10/2010, 06:55 AM	#3
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Damsels are the devil's soldiers of a saltwater tank - just plain evil. If you want a cheap colorful fish, go with some blue-green chromis, they come from the same family, but didn't inherit the pure anger of most other damsels.

10/10/2010, 07:27 AM	#7
isildursbane Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 219	^^ If you do decide to add some damsels, get ready to learn how to use a Hawaiian Sling and if that does not work, you can always re-scape your reef when you pull all the rock out to get them . . . __________________ 29BC -- 20lbs LR -- 3 to 4-inch sandbed -- LR rubble for fuge(setup in Chamber 2) -- 3 Cerith Snails and 1 Trochus for CUC

10/10/2010, 07:38 AM	#8
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	fwiw I've never viewed a critter as being "good" or "bad". Even dung beetles perform a function in the overall scheme of things. Damselfish can be great aquarium inhabitants if one knows what to provide and expect. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

10/10/2010, 07:51 AM	#9
potterjon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 933	I had a yellow damsel for many years, like 7 or eight. He was indestructible, when I finally made up my mind to take him to the lfs, I felt guilty because I had kept him for so long, but it opened my tank up to so many other possibilities for inhabitants, that it was worth it in the end. But then again, I was going in a reef tank direction and it doesn't sound like you are trying to do that. I would reconsider the eel, unless that is pretty much what the tank will be based around.

10/10/2010, 08:40 AM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The only damsel appropriate for a 55 is ONE chromis. Damsels require a lot of territory---make a stunning display, but require over a hundred gallons, and ideally about 300. The value of one chromis is that they're insanely active, and their being out and about reassures the other fishes there's no predator. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/10/2010, 09:59 AM	#11
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Not all damsels are aggro, there are a number of less common ones that are fine. I personally do love chromis and have had great luck w/ them, wouldn't be w/out them. A 55g does limit space though, and your clowns are going to claim a good piece of that space(they are damsel family BTW) The kole should have more space than a 55g provides, if looking for algae control I'd replace it w/ a lawnmower blenny. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

10/10/2010, 10:00 AM	#12
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Here's a good link to some safe damsels. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-11/hcs3/index.php __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

10/10/2010, 12:16 PM	#13
rancoo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 128	I really enjoy the damsels that i have. I have a Blue Velvet damsel and a domino damsel, but they are both very aggressive and i had to ban them to the quarantine tank for now. I have two percula clowns and they didn't do well with the damsels

10/10/2010, 02:34 PM	#14
david pinder Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: houston tx 77316 Posts: 538	damsels especially schools of them really add a lot of color to my reef but its a very large tank. In smaller tanks they tend to reek nothing but trouble

10/10/2010, 03:34 PM	#15
reefWW96 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 300	I have had a few damsels in the past. They are terrible fish in a community reef tank. A perfect damsel biotope would be a 180+ gallon tank filled with staghorns, and only damsels. beautiful fish though __________________ Will 75 gallon Pacific island reef, 40 breeder reef Current Tank Info: 75g reef and 40 breeder reef

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