75g Stocking List - Thoughts?

NotSoCivil_Engineer · Apr 21, 2019

We are prepping for the next step in stocking our tank. Hopefully increase bioload and get a bit more balanced over the next year. After a few hundred hours of youtube videos, here is what my partner and I have put together for fish. Let us know of anything is a big red flag please! We are relatively new to the hobby and appreciate any insight. Thanks!

Tank is RS350 - 75g - 4' long with decent rockwork to hide in. Regal 150int skimmer, (3) 8×4 marine pure blocks, filter socks/pads, chaeto fuge, and carbon/gfo (only runs when needed). Project reef rock (hence lots of marinepure) w/ live sand. I believe my export capabities are decent and can handle the bioload. I think.

Currently in the Tank:
(2) Frostbite Clowns - 6" full grown
Diamond Goby - 6"
Sixline wrasse - 3"
Flame Angel - 4"
Coral Beauty - 4"

Rolling the dice with the angels for coral I know. All good so far and everyone seems to be happy. All small juvies now, but total 23" once fully grown.

Next QT Phase / Future Fish:
Neon Dottyback: 4"
Flasher Wrasse: 3"
(3) Chromis or (3) Anthias: 15"
One Spot Foxface: 8" (yikes spikes!)

Final QT Phase / Future:
Yellow Eye Kole Tang: 7"
Green Mandarin: 4" (if pods are good)

Total Proposed is 64" in the tank. Mostly peaceful with heavy bioload removal. We're debating on anthias from feeding perspective. Currently autofeeding twice a day and hand feeding the good frozen stuff in the pm. Not sure if we can keep them happy 4-5 times a day (vacations).

Let us know your thoughts and if anything looks like a big no go that we are overlooking! Thanks.

Dragon52 · Apr 21, 2019

The Chromis may kill each other, mine did & I have read here that this has happened to others also. Tank may be to small for the Foxfish & Tang. The 6 Line could become a problem, mine started going after everything that was near his size, no longer have it.

NotSoCivil_Engineer · Apr 21, 2019

Dragon52 said:
The Chromis may kill each other, mine did & I have read here that this has happened to others also. Tank may be to small for the Foxfish & Tang. The 6 Line could become a problem, mine started going after everything that was near his size, no longer have it.

Thanks! We're leaning away from the chromis for the anthias. And noted on the sixline. Ours is peaceful so far, have to keep an eye on him.

Hopefully we can upgrade tanks in 3-4 yrs. Thinking the foxeye and tang will be fine until then or rehome if necessary. Order em small.

Jesterrace · Apr 22, 2019

I would strongly advise getting the Foxface and Tang AFTER the new tank is in place. The reason being that transfers and rehoming are super stressful on both the fish and the owner. IMHO your tank is fully stocked as is given that you have 2 semi-aggressive and very active dwarf angels in there. Dottybacks are jerks so I would avoid them. Adding a Flasher Wrasse to an established 6 line would be a recipe for disaster. Anthias might work.

Greneis · Apr 28, 2019

NotSoCivil_Engineer said:
We are prepping for the next step in stocking our tank. Hopefully increase bioload and get a bit more balanced over the next year. After a few hundred hours of youtube videos, here is what my partner and I have put together for fish. Let us know of anything is a big red flag please! We are relatively new to the hobby and appreciate any insight. Thanks!

Tank is RS350 - 75g - 4' long with decent rockwork to hide in.

Next QT Phase / Future Fish:
Neon Dottyback: 4"
Thanks.

My Neon Dottyback was the devil himself. He killed a shrimp, some hermits, a few snails, picked on coral and killed a Blue Reef Chromis before I tried catching him. He jumped into the back and I couldn't get him out, I wasn't totally sad. Two days later, he reappeared and when I found him headbutting the giant Trochus, I wound up emptying EVERYTHING to catch the little booger. He is currently in my friend's tank with a pair of clowns that don't take any poo!

mattzang · Apr 28, 2019

I'd donate the sixline to the lfs. It'll probably become a terror, but even if it behaves, it's a major pod eater and could out-compete the mandarin. Or it might just peck out the mandarin's eyes. I'd also change out the neon dottyback for at least an orchid dottyback as they're much nicer. Or go with basslets

NotSoCivil_Engineer · May 2, 2019

Thanks for all the comments!

Sounds like we should look into a different dottyback. And definitely evaluate the wrasse as the tank matures.

Greneis · May 3, 2019

Our Orchid Dottyback is nice and a very colorful addition to our tank. We got him when he was very small.

Jesterrace · May 3, 2019

An Orchid is the only Dottyback I would look at. Even then it can still be a bit of a gamble.

408Dartfish · May 3, 2019

My orchid dotty captive bred has been an awesome fish. Hides quite a bit but is mostly friendly and will pop out from under random rocks with sand and mouth.

Jesterrace · May 3, 2019

408Dartfish said:
My orchid dotty captive bred has been an awesome fish. Hides quite a bit but is mostly friendly and will pop out from under random rocks with sand and mouth.

Forgot to mention that the Captive Bred ones are the way to go.