Possible in a 55-gal?

[Underwaterfragglerock]

Hello. I am new. I have a 55 (duh) and I have the following wish list. I currently have no fish. Tell me if you think it is possible and what I should get first. Thanks.

2 True Clowns
3 or 4 Green Chromis
Yellow-Headed Jaw
Powder Blue
Yellow
Royal Gramma
Copperbanded Butterfly
Long-nosed Hawk
Couple of compatible Blennies
Some Crabs and Snails
Eventually Hard and Soft Coral

Note: My plan for the tangs is to introduce them both simultaneously as the last fish in the tank. I have heard things about Copperbandeds and coral. Any thoughts?

My filtration:
FLUVAL 304 Canister
Protein Skimmer
Power Head
almost 40 lbs. Live Rock
DSB (Deep Sand Bed) - Arogonite with a layer of live sand from a lcal fish store on the top.

 

[baseballfan111]

ok um if you are new too fish keeping a salt water tank im thinking this is, is SUICIDE salt water tanks are very hard 2 keep and very very pricey, i think clown fish are like $60 of something like that, and you cant keep that many fish in a small tank like that( its big for me but salt water tank thats a small tank lol) and as for crabs they need just a little water i think and i dont think they are salt tollerent, ok as for saying that dont do salt please i probley cant do salt water tank , what i would do if i was you is get some neons, some guppys or some other live bearer get just males cause they breed 2 easy, next i would get some yo yo loaches and some albino cories, then maby a bristal nose pelco. dont get all of those at one time, get the gupps (5-7) for cycling then after cycling(look up what it is) get the neons (6-10) then after a week or longer get 4 cories then a bristal nose pelco, that maby 2 many fish i dont know, you can also do fishlis cycle.
good luck hope it works out

edit: i just noticed you have a protine skimmer well that works with fresh water too, but um just saying dont do salt please if you are new you will waste hundreds of dallors on fish an their lives and your sanity also your wallet

 

[Braddah]

There is a good "beginners guide" on the salt water part of this forum....but it tells how to get from a sand only couple fish to a reef tank.....ummm other than that I wish you luck!

 

[CFC]

edit: i just noticed you have a protine skimmer well that works with fresh water too, but um just saying dont do salt please if you are new you will waste hundreds of dallors on fish an their lives and your sanity also your wallet

Baseball fan, please can you tell us where you have found a protein skimmer that works in FW ?

Protein skimmers only work in SW, the bubbles thst are needed for them to work cannot be made fine enough in FW.
BTW, there are many crabs, snails and other inverts which can go into marine tanks, more then there are available for FW set ups.

UWFR, although i know little about the marine fishkeeping side of the hobby i believe you have too many fish for the size of your tank. Ill leave this post here and if you havent had anymore replies in a day or so will move it to the marine forum for you.

 

[Underwaterfragglerock]

Well, thank you all for your input. I just wanted to make clear that I have taken the necessary precautions to do the saltwater tank correctly. I do not plan on waiting money or time, thank you very much. I also am determined to give my fish the safest, best home as possible. Please see my filter info on the orriginal message.
Thanks to the third person on the list who will move this to the marine section. It was my mistake not having it there in the first place. Feel free to remove all other comments when you do. Thanks!

 

[ostrow]

That's way too many fish for a 55G!!!!! You could do the clowns and the royal gramma. I wouldn't do two tangs in anything less than 120G ... way too territorial.

Skip the CBB as well ... you can't keep them with tangs in general and in any case htey are extremely sensitive/difficult fish to keep alive. You could add a blenny to the clowns and gramma. Or you could do the chromis. But clowns, chromis and gramma would be too much IMO.

 

[Great Lakes]

Fraggle, sounds like you have a good plan except for the tangs. Go with the clowns and chromis and a gramma.....slowly, not all at once. They are all hardy fish and easy to care for. With a large enough sump, you ought to be able to house these with little trouble. Save the tangs for when you get a bigger tank. It will happen before you know it.

Also be prepared to make a major investment in lighting when you start getting corals.

Don't despair on the tangs, there are many times I wish my fish weren't in the way when I am trying to examine some fascinating new life form growing on a rock.

GL

 

[Underwaterfragglerock]

YOU GUYS RCOK FRAGGLE STYLE! Thanks for all your input! I hear ya loud and clear: Skip the tangs. Gotya. GL, no doubt the big tank will certainly comer sooner than later!
Ostrow, thanks for the tip on the Butterfly. Never knew. Not thrilled with them anyways - heard they are a mennace to some corals and the one I was eye balling at a store died due to lack of eating. GL, good advise for viewing life forms! Thanks again, all.