Stocking speed, capacity

[museaddict]

I have a 55 gallon tank using an AquaC Urchin Pro skimmer with a mag3, 65 lbs. live rock, 20 lbs. live sand. Here are my questions:

1- How many fish can I add safely per cycle?
I was planning on these fish in this order based on aggressiveness:
-2 b&w false percs
-2 Orange Stripe Prawn Goby
-2 Fridmani Psuedochromi (dottyback)
-1 Midas Blenny
-2 Firefish
-5 Green Chromis (Maybe too many, but I read they like larger shoals)
-1 Longfin Fairy Wrasse
-3 Yellowtail Blue Damsel (Read it's ok to add this many if it's at the same time and in odd numbers)
-1 Longnose Hawkfish
-1 Yellow Tang
-1 Flame Angel
(note: I know this is too many fish, i'm just trying to narrow it down)

2- Can you have a bigger bio-load with a higher rated skimmer?

3- What is the bioload effect with adding coral?

[petoonia]

I would get rid of the chromis, the damsels, the dottybacks, if you want to keep more fish I would also take the tang off of the list.

Heres what I would do: 2 firefish, 1 goby, 2 clowns, 1 wrasse, 1 blenny, 1 hawkfish, and 1 flame angel.

I would also add them in that order.

You could push the biolaod a bit with a larger skimmer, but if you are planning to keep corals I wouldnt add to large of a bio load.

[VisionsSS]

1. Really it would be best to add one fish at a time and monitor your parameters. See how your tank does before you add another. Just don't go too fast. (Also NO on the Tang, tank too small)

2. Yes a bigger skimmer means you can handle a heavier bioload

3. Corals are an increse on the bioload and will require much more pristine water conditions.

It is often recommended to get a skimmer that is rated for double your tank size.

[museaddict]

So do the cycles get longer as you go? How do you know when to stop adding fish? I heard a good rule is 4 inches of fish per 10 gallons.

[Tswifty]

Get rid of the damsels, as they are a nightmare and will terrorize the other fish.

Also, I recommend leaving off the chromis. True they enjoy larger groups, but only in larger tanks. When put in a smaller tank, the dominant one will pick off all the other ones.

[herostar]

What cycles are you talking about? As long as you don't add 8 fish at once there probably won't be much of a secondary cycle. Don't forget that it's about 4" of FULL GROWN fish per 10 gal., so plan accordingly to your livestock's adult size down the road.

[Tswifty]

The "inches" of fish per gallon is not a good rule... throw it out the window.

[Tswifty]

Ok I just read my post... that doesn't mean go crazy... but your stocking list will depend more upon the type of fish you wish to add, and their demeanor.

Some fish do well in heavily stocked tanks, while other will become stressed or extremely agressive.

[museaddict]

I read you could only add one fish per month. Could I get away with 2 or 3? Thanks so much by the way!

[Nano Chris]

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Thats 20 fish, i think that may be a lil bit much for a 55 gallon.

[museaddict]

thanks for all the replies!