Stock List

[sassy51486]

I'm a beginner at all this, only been in the hobby for about 6 months. My question is about stocking. I have a 55 gallon with 7 fish currently and a cleanup crew. Right now there are 2 yellow tail damsels, a four stripe damsel, one false percula clown, an orchid dottyback, and my most recent addition, a coral beauty. I am having trouble figuring out what are some good candidates to add and how many would be acceptable for this size tank. I don't know how to tell what my bio-load is or how much more room it allows for. I've got no problem spreading these out over time, adding them slowly. I also need help deciding on an order at which to introduce different species based on compatability. If anyone has any suggestions i will gladly take them

 

[sassy51486]

Would a six line wrasse work out ok with my setup??? I kind of have my heart set on one

 

[geridoc]

The bad news is that you have already a series of stocking mistakes by adding the damsels so early in the stocking sequence. They become very territorial, and will eventually even attack you when you put your hands in the tank (Flower, from this board has even had damsels draw blood from her hand!). That said, a six line wrasse has as good a chance of surviving as any other fish I can think of (barring some triggers, sharks and maybe young adult groupers). You do have room for the six line, but watch out for aggression.

 

[sassy51486]

Oh wow, i did not know that. Thank you for informing me...So this particular mistake can't be undone because they won't allow for easy removal, correct? Also i was wondering if another dwarf angel would be suitable, or would my coral beauty be aggressive towards it ?? I was thinking a bicolor angel or flame

 

[geridoc]

I would not mix two dwarf angels in your system. You can get away with a lot of incompatible fish in a large system, but in a 55 the chances of territorial aggression are just too high. Take a look at some of the reef-safe fairy wrasses. My current fave is the red velvet fairy wrasse - beautiful in shades of raspberry and orange sherbet, peaceful and personable. About 4 inches as an adult, it would fit into your system well.

Yeah, getting damsels out of a tank often requires a complete teardown - they are very good at avoidance, although they can sometimes be trapped during feeding.

 

[sassy51486]

Alright, i've heard its not the best idea. Just needed confirming. I was also thinking of schooling fish like blue/green reef chromis but have been informed that they don't last very long because they tend to kill eachother off when in groups. Is it better to keep them in odd or even numbers ??

 

[geridoc]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sassy51486 http:///t/397091/stock-list#post_3538744
Alright, i've heard its not the best idea. Just needed confirming. I was also thinking of schooling fish like blue/green reef chromis but have been informed that they don't last very long because they tend to kill eachother off when in groups. Is it better to keep them in odd or even numbers ??
The word "on the street" is to keep them in odd numbers. That said, I have tried shoals of 3, 4, 7 and 11 in my 220 gallon system with no luck. My most recent effort resulted in one survivor (it survived, but not intact since it only had one eye after the fighting was finished) who lasted about 6 months. However, others have had success, and these beautiful little fish, in some tanks, live for years.

 

[sassy51486]

Ok so that may be a wasted effort, i don't know if i'd want to attempt it. And you're right that is a very nice fish but super expensive. I'd have to save up for one of those! Plus from what i understand most wrasses like to jump and i do not have a secure fitting lid, hence why i cant keep any 'jumpers' right now. Anyway i recently went with the 6 line...As well as a pair of engineer gobies, only to later find out they grow to be a foot!! Do these guys really get that big??? Even in a small tank ?? Could this pose a potential risk as time goes on? By the way i think my next will be a neon goby

 

[flower]

Hi,

Just for the record, I personally never kept a damsel, as a beginner the husband who owned a fish store with his wife, is the one that got bit and blood was dripping down his arm and hand. I was told then, and I believe them....damsels are evil little fish, and will kill any fish less aggressive then themselves. Most posts from folks who keep them that I have seen on this site, confirms that opinion. There are a few who insist they are just fine...

IMO...The 7 fish you have already is over stocked in a 55g. Adult damsels reach 4 inches, they are not small fish for a 55g. If you remove the damsels, you can get ONE dwarf angelfish, keep the dottyback and clown, a wrasse would be a nice addition, but they have a reputation to jump and commit sushi. That should be all that you keep in there...maybe one more clown. a 55g is a very small SW tank....once you add the live rock there just isn't much space in there. A dwarf angelfish likes to swim in and out of rocks, so if you go that route be sure to make some caves.

Always purchase a fish according to the adult size, rehoming is stressful on the all the fish of the tank, not just the one you are chasing around with a net. Keeping a fish for a long time before it outgrows the tank, means you then have an older established tank when it comes time to rehome the fish... removing rocks could release toxins that had been trapped under the sand for years.

If you are going to rehome the damsels, now is the time to do it.

 

[jay0705]

What kind of filter do you have

 

[sassy51486]

Oh wow, i had no idea i was at my limit. I already have a dwarf angel, dont know if you missed that. I couldn't get another could i?? And also, there was no mention of the engineer..Will he be a problem ?

 

[sassy51486]

I've got an Aqueon filter which I think is good for up to 75 gallons....

 

[jay0705]

No more angels. Goby is fine. You can get away w minor overstocking if u have enough filtration. Also u have to add fish slowly to let the bio load build up to handle it.

 

[sassy51486]

Ok how much is enough filtration, am i supposed to use two filters??? And should i honestly consider getting rid of my damsels????? Or will i regret it down the road

 

[sweatervest13]

There is nothing wrong with having two filters... Lots of folks do that. The more filtration the better. IMHO, I don't think anyone has ever regretted removing Damsels. Sooner or later you will take them out, or just have damsels in your tank. There is a reason that they are cheap.

 

[jay0705]

Lol I agree w the filtration u cant over filter. Now w the damsels. I have one yellow tail I got w some lr lol he wouldn't come out of it. Hes in my 20 gal w As sunrise dotty back, a spotted mandy and a scotter Benny. He doesnt bother anything. There are diff types of damsels that are more aggressive tho. Such as the fiji devil.