opinions on stocking a 55 gallon tank

curently i have a 55 gallon tank with a 29 gallon sump/fuge(fuge is probably +/- 8 gallons) in it is on average ~2.5-3" LS and ~50-55lbs of LR(want to add another ~20-25lbs eventually still), return pump from the sump is 580gph before ~4 of head pressure, also have an additional aquaclear 50 as a mechanical filter and an aquac remora pro w/mag3 skimmer. the fuge is stocked with 6 mangrove seeds(1 is starting to take nice root) some chaeto and other macros that i got from someone who was trimming their macros down in the tank currently:

Livestock I'm keeping:
1)Domino Damsel(very mild mannered)
1)3 stripe damsel(also not too aggressive)
2)blue/green chromis
1)cleaner shrimp
1)emerald crab

Unsure if I'm keeping or finding good home for:
2)bicolor damsels or some similar variation of maybe a hybrid between them and a borneo or another similar damsel that i cant remember the name of(they are semi agressive but mostly toward each other)

and Looking for a good home for:
1)African Moony

most these fish were not my original thoughts on livestock but the guy i got my LR from was tearing down his tank one way or another so I took them atleast for temporary keeping

Fish I am interested in getting for the tank are:
(these are fish i like, not planning on placing all of them in tank)

1)yellow watchman goby(maybe with a pistol shrimp unsure yet)
2)Flame angel or Coral Beauty or maybe both?(would they get along? i know angels may nip coral its 50/50)
3)a pair of black ocellaris clowns
4)strawberry basslet
5)green mandarin dragonette(not sure if i want to take that plunge yet(im aware of the means of how to take care of one)
6)green coris wrasse

which of these would get along and it is going to be a reef tank with soft corals and some lps so reef safe is a must also what are some other interesting fish to add to a tank of this size that wont really break the bank to badly and i am not stocking all at once, im going piece by piece so what order would you recommend as well

also while i still have you're attention i am helping my brother start a 20 hex with a 5 gallon sump and a 5-10 gallon fuge(so total capacity 30-35 gallons)
......i was thinking about starting him off with a pair of clowns (possibly another pair of black ocellaris) and maybe a little later a tiger watchman/tiger pistol combination does anyone see a problem with this? what are some other interesting options for a tank of this size? this tank is going to be started off as a FOWLR and if he does well probably some softies like zoas and mushrooms

thanks for your time

 

You could definatley try some type of dottyback, firefish/dartfish, or some type of flasher/fairy wrasse for your tank and/or your brothers. As far as the mandarin goes you could see if one of your local lfs could get some tank raised ones. These eat brine and mysis readily and are much eaiser to care for. With the angels there is, as you know, a chance they will eat corals, so that should be taken into consideration. I'm not sure if you would be able to do both, but if you did they would probably have to be put in the tank at the same time. Most of the fish you have on your list will get along fine, the strawberry basslet is probably the most aggressive on your list. The clowns could also be somewhat territorial. I would reccomend starting with the more docile fish and putting the most aggressive in last, so that way the peaceful fish will be able to claim territory for themselves. Hope this helped!

 

Very helpful, thanks for the input...you think a flasher/fairy wrasse would be ok in a 20 hex? And what else would be alright with that in a 20 hex?

 

Wrasse are very active swimmer, mine goes from one end of the 75 to other pretty much non stop, and in and out the rockwork all the while. A 20 would definitely be too small.

A green wrasse is one of the larger ones and can get to be +/- 8 inches. They are recommended for 75 or larger.

I do acknowledge that a 75 and a 55 are similiar in dimensions, just 75's have more depth, but even watching my wrasse I feel it is sometimes cramped, so with the reduced depth I wouldnt recommend it.

 

these are just ideas, thanks for the info...the previous poster wasnt clear on which tank for the fairy wrasse so i was just double checking and online i saw minimum size for the coris wrasse green was a 55 but i would not like to cramp him so im not sure on what to do, i may or may not get the coris but i do like how he looks maybe ill try and see how he fills out and if he gets to big trade him with some local reefers if he is too cramped. any other ideas on some interesting fish for a 55 though?

 

bump

 

had wrasse just die from a move, he got stressed very easy. idk if this is a common thing or not of them but i wont ever get one again. sucks when my fishies die