Appropriate Fish for a 55g reef tank

[kacey]

So, heh, I am still in the dreaming/collecting supplies phase of tank set up. The tank isn't even set up yet, let alone cycled, but of course I'm already daydreaming about the fish I'm going to add. I want it to ultimately be a reef tank, but as it will be my first, my plan is to start with easy soft corals like zoos and mushrooms and work my way up to the more challenging SPS and LPS as I gain experience and confidence.
So, here's my dream list of fish I would have. Any obvious conflicts? is this just way too many fish for a 55g? I'm going to have a refugium and a sump that will add another 20g of water to the system, and I plan to take my time and QT everybody, but still, how does this look?
1 purple firefish
6 blue-green chromis
1 royal gramma
1 mandarin dragonet (6-12 months down the line, assuming all goes well and I can grow enough copepods)
It's the blue-green chromis that worry me. I'd love to have a little school of their shimmery selves darting about, but I worry that 9 fish total is too much fish for a 55g.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Revisions?

 

[cherber01]

i have 2 clarkii's..mandrian goby, domino damsel, 2 blue damels, yellow tang, coral beauty, blue/yellow damsel, and an orange damsel, and a watchman goby.....and im still thinking of adding another but your list sounds good i havent had any space issues

 

[black cobra]

For a 55G I think 6 Chromis are too many. I would also look into maybe a mated clown pair. A Kole tang would probably be a nice addition as well.

 

[kacey]

I'm kind of a freak in the saltwater world in that clownfish and tangs don't really do it for me. I know, I know. Sacrilige!

 

[flower]

Pick your absolute most favorite must have fish you can have in your tank...build your stock around that. What you put in the tank dictates what you can add later, so be picky.

 

[kacey]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3237891

Pick your absolute most favorite must have fish you can have in your tank...build your stock around that. What you put in the tank dictates what you can add later, so be picky.
That's the mandarin. I really, really want one if I can get my pod population high enough. So, I'm trying to pick mellow, non-aggressive fish that won't bully a mandarin and won't need pods as a primary food source themselves (and, also, lord help me, whose colors will complement).
Also, while not a fish, I am quietly falling in love with ricordeas, so some of those will have to move in. So, fleshy-coral nibblers need not apply.
Other fish I was considering was a chalk bass, a neon goby and a sixline wrasse. Unfortunately, the more I read about the wrasse, the more I think he'd have a field day knocking the snot out of the milder denizens. Plus, they're big copepod eaters.
I might nix the chromis all together and try for a chalk bass and neon goby, instead. Hmm...

 

[hunt]

I want a mandarin (30g)so im doing this Im starting a 2 gallon pod tank and im making the back corner of my tank a 2"5" pod pile. If i can get my pod population up enough i will definantly get one and then try to train it to mysis.
I havnt got anything setup yet but im starting the 2g this week

 

[kacey]

Originally Posted by Hunt
http:///forum/post/3237905
I want a mandarin (30g)so im doing this Im starting a 2 gallon pod tank and im making the back corner of my tank a 2"5" pod pile. If i can get my pod population up enough i will definantly get one and then try to train it to mysis.
I havnt got anything setup yet but im starting the 2g this week
Awesome, let me know how it goes! I found a few sites that talk about culturing copepods, which I may try to do. (That would also give me an excellent excuse to set up a 10g dwarf seahorse tank... >.>) For right now, the plan is to divide the last three inches of tank from the rest via egg crate and set it up as a chaeto refugium. I'm hoping not only will it help the water quality, but that it'll also really encourage pod breeding. I may also try to make an algae skimmer for the sump for the same reasons.

 

[hunt]

good luck

 

[kacey]

Revised!
1 Purple Firefish
1 Longfin Fairy Wrasse
1 Royal Gramma Basslet
1 Mandarin Dragonet
aaaand....??? I'd like to add one last fish, someone that will do a bit of swimming and doesn't have that long body type as the other four do. So tempted to consider a Pygmy Dwarf Angel, but I just don't want to risk ending up with a coral nibbler.
Any suggestions? And do the other four look compatible with each other and with coral/inverts?

 

[ibanez]

How about a couple of Blue Reef Chromis, or a Midas Blenny, or a blue dot (spotted) jaw fish, or a Flame Hawk fish if you don't have any real small shrimp like sexy shrimp.

 

[ashkan]

I have a 55g tank with:
Red Scooter Blenny
Mandarin Dragonet
Used to have 6 but now 3 Blue Green Chromis
Maroon Clownfish
A monster 3-stripe damsel who I am trying to get rid of.
And I plan on adding a whole bunch of more fish.
And plus I have several corals, adding more soon.

 

[donkeys4hire]

Do you have a fuge?
Originally Posted by ashkan
http:///forum/post/3240287
I have a 55g tank with:
Red Scooter Blenny
Mandarin Dragonet
Used to have 6 but now 3 Blue Green Chromis
Maroon Clownfish
A monster 3-stripe damsel who I am trying to get rid of.
And I plan on adding a whole bunch of more fish.
And plus I have several corals, adding more soon.