Looking for Pretty Peaceful Playmates

[New&no clue]

Hi my favorite fish people,

I just stated up a 55 gallon tank, currently all that is in it is live rock, hermit crabs, snails, peppermint shrimp and (2) black and white clown fish. When I first started this tank a month ago I had a pretty clear plan in mind for what I would be stocking it with

(2) Black and white clown fish
Yellow Tang
Diamond back goby
Fire fish
Lots of corals

After I added the clowns I was showing my husband pictures of the other fish I was planning to get, to which he pointed out that I didn’t want to do freshwater because I thought the fish were boring and here I was filling a tank with basically all white fish, with a splash of yellow.

So now I am thinking of scrapping this list but I’m not sure what would be some good, really colorful tropical fish. I started to research new fish, but thought I should ask this group as well as you all have a wealth of knowledge and may think of something I haven’t. As this is my first tank I am looking for fish that are on the easier side to take care of, not something that is really aggressive, and something that is okay with corals as that is one of the most important things to me to have.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and my clowns thank you as well.

 

[BestMomEver]

I wouldn’t suggest a tang. They get too large for a 55. Go to liveaquaria.com and look at their fish for nano tanks. Your tank isn’t a nano but it does fall in that place where it’s too big to be a nano yet too small for larger fish.

I would suggest Firefish, Royal Gramma, gobies, blennies, wrasses, maybe a dwarf angel... there are tons of great choices.

 

[New&no clue]

Aren’t dwarf angels not great with reef tanks? I’d love a flame angel, but it’s says monitor them with corals. Wrasses I though were pretty aggressive as they got bigger.

What about damsels?

 

[robocop1906]

Be careful with Angels as they are not 100% reef safe so you run the risk of them munching on corals. Some do, some don't. Another option is to go aggressive (Clowns, Damsels, Dotty backs, etc) and try to add them all at the same time. I have clowns, dotty backs, damsels. I did not add them all at the same time but they all are aggressive enough to fend for themselves. There are acclimation boxes that also help with the aggression process. You could do Tangs just be prepared to take them out when they get too big. I'm sure you will get addicted and eventually want a bigger tank anyway so just plan on your fish growing along with your tank lol! Your 55g will become your sump one day!

 

[mta_morrow]

Aren’t dwarf angels not great with reef tanks? I’d love a flame angel, but it’s says monitor them with corals. Wrasses I though were pretty aggressive as they got bigger.

What about damsels?

Dwarf angels are hit or miss with other tank mates and corals.

Any of the chrysiptera species of damsels are fine. I have 3 azure damsels with no issues.

Check out tailspot and flametail blennys. Wheeler and pink spot gobies. Any of the flasher wrasse. Royal gramma, zebra barred gobies

 

[New&no clue]

So my new list is

(2) Black and white clowns
Diamond back gobie
Fire fish
(??) Blue Chromis

My question is how many can I have in a tank? I’d like a school, but I don’t want to crowd everyone else.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

How about a watchman goby, pistol shrimp pair?

 

[Bob Weigant]

So my new list is

(2) Black and white clowns
Diamond back gobie
Fire fish
(??) Blue Chromis

My question is how many can I have in a tank? I’d like a school, but I don’t want to crowd everyone else.

3 would be a decent number for chromis . And please don’t any damsels. Those guys can be evil

 

[Idoc]

Look up a Midas Blenny.... beautiful fish and amazing movement... very peaceful.

I have an exquisite firefish that is also very pretty coloration... but it stays hidden all the time due to a mean clown fish!

A Fire Shrimp adds nice color as well.

 

[Idoc]

Look up a Midas Blenny.... beautiful fish and amazing movement... very peaceful.

I have an exquisite firefish that is also very pretty coloration... but it stays hidden all the time due to a mean clown fish!

A Fire Shrimp adds nice color as well.

 

[bwomac44]

+1 on Royal Gramma
Midas blennies are so cool but are jumpers! Be sure you have lid
McCosker Wrasse is s’cool

 

[cpbartak]

Why not consider a Bella Goby instead of the Diamond Goby if you want more color? Same goby genus and will also sift the sand for you.

 

[SinkyShippy]

Firefish and, usually, tailspot blennies are nice. I have a tailspot blenny which attacked and killed my first firefish. No idea why. Totally abnormal. If you're going to introduce new fish, I would suggest getting an acclimation box.

 

[Scurvy]

Have a look at the Tri-Color Fairy wrasse or any of the Flasher wrasses for some color splash. A Geometric Pygmy Hawk would be cool along with The Long Nose or Flame Hawk. Already suggested Midas Blennies have great personalities too. Lid with any wrasses, Blennie or Hawk.

 

[New&no clue]

I already added the two clown fish, but would it be better to add all the rest at once or one at a time?

 

[Jekyl]

Don't add a ton at once unless the tank is very well established. Would be too much bioload for your tank to handle

 

[Jon Fishman]

Careful with the sand sifter guys. If you want a lot of coral, you’ll find yourself constantly blowing sand off of your coral....