Starting a reef tank?

Question

I currently have a 55 gallon tank. 70 lbs of live sand 55 lbs of live rock tank. Tank has been up and running for about 2 months with no fish. I have the Bak-Pak2 Skimmer Reef Ready, Fluval 305, 48" Metal Halide and Actinic lights 10k all together 760w. I just want to start out with a decent good looking reef tank. Any suggestions on what to start out with and what fish are compatible to be in a reef tank. I am no expert on fishes but I have owned some freshwater tanks. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

What types of fish are you interested in? I wouldn't suggest most damsels as they're aggressive fish and will harrass any others introduced after them. Exceptions to this would be green and blue reef chromis (schooling) and some of the clownfish ( 1-2 per tank, buy as juveniles). And your tank is a little small for tangs - they're very active swimmers, and can get 7" and over depending on the species.

Some that I'd suggest are a longnose hawkfish (great personality, 5", one per tank, may eat very small shrimp), cardinalfish (I like Bangaii [also called banner, or Kaudern's cardinalfish] and spotted cardinals, peaceful fish that can spawn in the tank, they're mouthbrooders so the male scoops up the eggs in his mouth and holds them 3 weeks without eating till they hatch), clown gobies (cute little fish, several color types), scissortail gobies (schooling fish with odd body shape), canary blenny (another "personality", likes to hover at the center of the tank and watch the activity), firefish (small but colorful), and dwarf angelfish (lots of varieties).

Of course this list has way too many to add to one 55 gallon tank, so you'll have to choose.

I'll put a few websites below where you can check out these suggestions:
http://www.tropicalfishoutlet.com/
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/
http://www.liveaquaria.com/
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/

Answer 2

For a saltwater system, you want to start with Damsels. They are considered starter fish. Inexpensive and extremely tough, they'll get your tanks ecosystem on the right track.

Don't get too attached, they're just for getting started and creating good bacterias. These little fish are highly aggressive. You can keep them if you like, but you'll have to stay with other equally aggressive, same sized fish.

If you decide you don't want to keep them, some stores will allow you to bring back the Damsels. However, they usually won't give you a credit for them.

Then your tank is good and ready for other fish, etc. Stay away from anenomes unless you have proper UV lighting and your tank has perfect Ph, salinity, etc. levels. They are fragile and expensive! Keep to heartier fish until you feel you have the hang of it.

Yellow and Blue Tangs are good. Clowns are good. Triggers very good, but a little aggressive.

Your local salt water fish store will help guide you more.

Answer 3

I don't know to much about saltwater, but a relative of mine has a saltwater setup with live rock and Fiji sand, he added an anemone, clown fish, a blue crab, and some fire shrimps. They all live together peacefully.
Good Luck.

Answer 4

purely carry on with the Damsels for now. even nonetheless you bought water from the puppy shop does not recommend the water is cycled in 2 weeks. it may take months till the micro organism have well-known themselves sufficient interior the tank. Your tank may even cycle extra beneficial than as quickly as as you upload fish. purely shop checking stages of each little thing no longer in easy terms nitrite/nitrate and do partial water transformations on a conventional foundation. I killed fish for years till I won extra adventure. additionally, did you acclimatize the fish interior the bag precise via glide or drip technique earlier introducing them into the tank?