New 55 Gallon Tank, need fish advice

[jw]

Just finished cycling my 55 Gallon tank. No live rock, just decorative coral, protein skimmer, canister filter, uv sterilizer.
I was planning on putting the following fish in:
2 Banggai Cardinals
2 percula clowns (or maybe 1 tomato or fire)
1 Wrasse (probably Scott's, six line, or velvet)
1 Dwarf Angel (Probably flame or bicolor)
1 puffer (Fiji) or cowfish
maybe 1 flame hawk.
Please give me advice to pros.cons, maybe other fish suggestion and also the order to add these. I would like to buy my first fish this coming weekend and need to know which to buy first. PLEASE help me determine if these fish sound good and the order, or if I should put in some different ones instead of the ones I mentioned. THANK YOU!!!

 

[saltwater4me]

That should be good as long as you don't overcrowd.

 

[cchung718]

I think that's fine since all the fishes you want stay relatively small.

 

[jw]

Actually my tank is 65 gallons not 55. I have an internal filtration system so the tank is 65 in front and with all the filters and behind the divider it is about 85 gallons. Fish area is 65. What order should I put the fish in the tank. Which one first??

 

[guppie]

You always want to go with the most mellow fish first, and let them get settled into the tank, so with that said I would start with the cardinals, then the wrasse, the clowns, stay with the perculas, the other two you mention can get nasty, and they might not get along, after that the angle, and last the puffer. Hope this helps, Good Luck

 

[krazzydart]

You can start with the cardinals, then the wrasse, the clowns, go with the perculas, after that the angle, and last the puffer also be sure to have plenty of hiding spots for the fish.... you could also get a few chromis to start as well (about 3)... good starter fish and usallay cheap.... you only want to add only a few fish every 3 weeks or so,,,so you do not cause a spike in the readings.... (what did you use to cycle your tank???)

 

[jw]

I used 4 yellow tail damsels to cycle the tank, but when I buy my first fish I am giving the LFS the damsels back. (Actually I only have 2 right now, 2 were killed by the remaining 2)

 

[jw]

I was thinking of getting a cowfish instead of the fiji puffer. (The cowfish that only grows to about 5-6") If I do that when do I get him first or after the Cardinals???
Thanks!

 

[dugan]

If you go with the cowfish, I would add him first. When stressed, cowfish secrete a poisonous substance through their skin. IMHO, you are better off putting him in the tank first so that he doesn't poison the other fish in your tank.
Once he's settled in I would think you'd be OK adding the others, over a period of weeks.
Katie