Fish options for new tank

[Pufferluv09]

I'll be setting up a marine tank in the near future, and don't plan on stocking it for some time after it's up and running, cycled, etc., but I am brainstorming and researching possible options of fish for when the time comes. It is 50 gallons with a 30 gallon sump, an in-sump skimmer, etc. Will be FOWLR, at least for the time being. And I plan on it being the permanent home for Toki, my GSP who currently resides in a 30-gallon brackish. I would appreciate any suggestions for neat fish to go with a GSP and suggestions of how many of each kind, etc. I like the idea of having a small school, and a few other single fish, but I'm up for any suggestion.

One arrangement idea is this:

1X GSP
6X blue-green Chromis
1X false perc clownfish
1X 6-line wrasse

Would this be overstocked, or could it be done comfortably?

Comments? Other suggestions?

P.S. This will be my first marine set-up.

[Pufferpunk]

I'd skip the clown. My GSPs ate 1 of the 2 I placed in there, overnight.

[SammyDee]

I keep my two GSP in a 55gal with two blue/yellow tail damsel, two smallish maroon clownfish, and one yellow tang. Also a dozen hermits and a few SW snails. Every one gets along fine. Just make sure the fish you purchase are around the same size or a lil bigger than you GSP so he doesn't get any crazy ideas. But even if you try the same exact fish it still may not work. Just be prepared to save a life instead of letting em beat eachother. I think a wrasse won't work with GSP. And get pretty big too. Too big for one too be comfortable in a 50g with other fish.

[Pufferpunk]

Will you be upgrading? Adult tangs need 90g, GSPs 30g ea, Maroon clowns get about 7".

[Pufferluv09]

Thanks for the feedback both of you. I sorta had my heart stuck on a clownfish, but I wouldn't want it to get eaten! I have seen many people keep clownfish with their GSPs with no problem though, so I guess it depends on the puffer? Whatever I do, I would watch all the fish I add to make sure they get along and remove any that aren't working out. The fish shop I'm planning on getting most of my fish at will take any fish back for store credit at any time. And also Sammydee, the 6-line Wrasse only gets to be 3 inches.

[Pufferpunk]

I think the wrasse would be great--nice & fast & slim enough to fit into a crevasse that a GSP won't fit into, if it needs to get away. I just think percs are too delicate. Tomato clowns are a better choice.

[Pufferluv09]

Awesome, the wrasse is one of my favorites. I will take that into consideration about the clownfish. Thanks.

[jdak]

I agree with the perc. They kind of float around as an open target. I a tomato myself and he seems pretty smart. He will come to me when i look into the tank and not like he is begging either. Just so curiously checks me out and moves on.

[Pufferluv09]

Would the tomato be more aggressive to the other fish like the gentle Chromis?
Also, my GSP is very docile, at least so far she has been. A couple of guppies moved into her brackish tank awhile back due to over population of my community tank. It was going to be short-term until I could give them away, but there has been no fin nipping or anything-- Toki completely leaves them alone, even though they swim around her obnoxiously at times and get in her face and in the way during feeding time, she doesn't seem to care. I know it could be in part that she is still young (2 inches), but I have seen some very aggressive GSPs smaller than her. I would like to try the perc clown because I like the way they look the best and I think there is a good chance Toki would leave it alone... and if she didn't, I could remove the clown. I am considering a tomato now though, but would they harass the other fish?

I am also looking at the longnose hawkfish. They look really cool. Just don't know much about that one's temperament.

[SammyDee]

Will you be upgrading? Adult tangs need 90g, GSPs 30g ea, Maroon clowns get about 7".

definetly in my near future...prolly a 120g. Right now I live in apartment so I'm not even suppose to have any tanks. I have 3 thou.
Maroons are no bigger than 3" likely two GsP and the tang is about 3.5" total ATM. If they outgrow my tank before an upgrade I'll adopt him out. I alwAys try to give my pets the best I can give em. That's why I come here lol


Ask for the wrasse I tried to get a blue lined wrasse and the lFS said it won't work. But... I trust the ppl here more. Try the wrasse I'm sure you'll remove him if things get crazy between them.
Don't wrasse get really big thou for a 50g? Whoa what happened to the font here. Oh well..

[Pufferluv09]

120g would be awesome. You could do a lot with that. I live in an apartment too, so I know what you mean.
btw, everywhere I've looked says maroon clowns get to be 6" http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/clownfish/maroon.php

And 6-line Wrasse are almost half the size of a blue lined
http://www.reeftime.com/profiles/marine ... 100002.htm
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productD ... 10&cid=290

[Pufferpunk]

Hawkfish are really cool. I love how they sit around on everything. Another reason they could possibly be an easy target for a puffer. Tomato clowns are not aggressive.

[Pufferluv09]

Yeah... I was afraid of that. So I guess the hawkfish would be a no go. XP
Oh ok, I was just going off of some sites that said Tomatos can be aggressive to fish that get in their way. It would probably be fine though like you said.

What do you think of fire gobies?

[Pufferpunk]

Very delicate fish, IMO. I can't even seem to keep one in my mild reef tank. I've tried several.

[Pufferluv09]

Oh, bummer.