Help Stocking a 75g mixed reef

oigimsar · Mar 5, 2012

I have been finalizing my equipment list for my new tank and I wanted to start thinking about my stocking list as well. I am not thinking about putting all of these fish in my tank but I would love to get opinions on how many fish would work and compatibility.

I prefer more smaller fish than a few large fish. I would like to maintain a peaceful tank.

Tank info:
About 75g with 48" width (mixed reef)

Current Stock I plan on keeping:
Clownfish Pair
Purple Tang

Planning on adding:
(2) Blue Assessors
Randall's Goby or Yasha Goby and Pistol
Golden Midas Blenny

Would like to add a group or harem of fish:
* a group of Damsels or Blue Reef Chromis (do these ever last?)
* a group of Anthias (I like Barbonius, Lyretail, Bartletts and Fatheads - open to other ideas here)
* a group of Flasher Wrasse
* Other options?

Other fish I also like that might be better substitutes/ additions to above
Blue Dot Jawfish
Swissguard Basslet
Barnacle Blenny
Yellow Assessor
Pair of Bangaii Cardinals
Mandarin Goby
Tailspot Blenny
Rainford Goby
Green Banded Goby
Twin Spot Goby

Thanks

ColaAddict · Mar 5, 2012

The purple tang is not known for being peaceful. I would add it last. it swims alot and harrasses everything that you will add after it, especially other tangs.

oigimsar · Mar 17, 2012

Ok, let's try this again...I think I gave too much info.

How does this stocking list look for a 75g. mixed reef? What or how many fish do I need to eliminate?

Clownfish Pair
Purple Tang(2) Blue Assessors
Randall's Goby or Yasha Goby and Pistol
Golden Midas Blenny
(3-5) Lyretail Anthias
1- 2 Barbonius Anthias
BLue Spotted Jawfish
Swissguard Basslet
Tailspot Blenny
Pair of Bangaii Cardinals
Mandarin Goby
Twisnpot Goby

btkrausen · Mar 17, 2012

You have a bunch of Goby/Blenny combinations that may cause issues since they are all the same body type. I'd remove some/most of those and put in a few smaller wrasses, maybe fairy or flasher since they are the most peaceful.

Reef Breeders · Mar 17, 2012

You should be fine with that, just go light on your rockscape, keep a lot of open space, and be sure to have a skimmer with that many fish, although most are smaller. Purple tangs are a must have IMO, and they should not be agressive towards any other fish on the list, but do not add a yellow tang, black tang, or any other tang with a similar shape, as it will be agressive towards it. I have never seen my purple tang show agression to a smaller fish, but he did have to put my coral beauty angel in place once or twice. Once the biggest fish establishes "dominance" fighting should be minimal. Be careful mixing blennies with mandarins, mandarins are not good fighters at all, and I have seen them be bullied by other species of rock dwellers. You can only choose one kind of rock dweller (goby, dragonet, blennie) in that size tank.

Reef Breeders · Mar 17, 2012

btkrausen said:
You have a bunch of Goby/Blenny combinations that may cause issues since they are all the same body type. I'd remove some/most of those and put in a few smaller wrasses, maybe fairy or flasher since they are the most peaceful.

Dang, beat me to the blenny/dragonet combo

oigimsar · Mar 17, 2012

Very helpful input. Thanks. So, here is an updated list:

Clownfish Pair
Purple Tang
(2) Blue Assessors
(3-5) Lyretail Anthias
1- 2 Barbonius Anthias
BLue Spotted Jawfish
Swissguard Basslet
Pair of Bangaii Cardinals
Pair of Fairy or Flasher Wrasse
Randall's Goby or Yasha Goby and Pistol
Golden Midas Blenny

Eggs · Mar 19, 2012

Just a heads up in case you're not aware, the Blue Spotted Jawfish is a jumper so you'll need a screened top or some other type of cover.

oigimsar · Mar 19, 2012

Thanks for the heads up...I do have a cover in the works.

Is this going to be too many fish? I want to recreate a bunch of tanks I've seen with a ton of fish and movement but don't want to overstock either.

aherre07 · Mar 19, 2012

I dont think there is ever a way of saying too many fish or not enough fish...I think that the question you should ask yourself is will I be able to remove all of the nutrients that size of a bio load will create. More fish is more food and poop so just keep that in mind as you do decide on your equipment. I would increase the size of your skimmer and probably run carbon and GFO in reactor...just my .02

indyjaco · Mar 21, 2012

For a comparison of my 75 stocklist, I am planning:

65 lbs of live rock in two islands and 25 in the sump

small yellow tang (added last)
1 small hippo or Tomini tang
2 clowns
1 firefish
3 Chromis (yes they will fight)
1 Coral Beauty
1 Flasher Wrasse
1 additional Goby

I'm also considering swapping the wrasse for 3 dispair anthias. My only concern is feeding once a day.

I have a 150 gallon skimmer and plan to do bi weekly water changes. My goal is to end up around 10 fish with a shrimp and see how things go.

shred5 · Mar 21, 2012

I would not put a purple tang in a 75 gallon you will have issues. A kole tang or a tomini is a better choice for a 75 gallon.

edit: Just saw you added a yellow tang, still not a good choice but better than a purple. A hippo no way. It is not about the actually size of the fish it is swimming room required. Most Bristletooth tangs will do good in a 75 but not many of the other tangs. Some large fish are ok in very small tanks while some very small fish require very large tanks. What happens is tangs can get very aggressive in two small of a tank or they go crazy and pace. Try a kole tang really they are very pretty and do well.

Mixing tangs in that small of a tank, there will be aggression for sure plus tangs are big and with 2 tangs you better cross several other fish off that list, your pushing the limits. Saltwater fish are very territorial and you are going to cause death or some too constantly hide.

oigimsar · Mar 21, 2012

aherre07 said:
I dont think there is ever a way of saying too many fish or not enough fish...I think that the question you should ask yourself is will I be able to remove all of the nutrients that size of a bio load will create. More fish is more food and poop so just keep that in mind as you do decide on your equipment. I would increase the size of your skimmer and probably run carbon and GFO in reactor...just my .02

Thanks. I do have a skimmer that is "overrated" for the tank. I also plan on running both Carbon and GFO.

shred5, that is not my list. It is a list posted of someone else's 75 for comparison. I already own the purple tang from my previous set up and I never had any problems with him at all...the rest of the tank was mostly gobies and blennies. I did plan on only having the one tang but I would sell him if the consensus was that it wouldn't work.

Jeppeterpan · Apr 1, 2012

In my 75 gallon....a kole tang, swallowtail pair, clownfish, yellowtail damsel, 4 chromis, six line, and a sand sifter goby. No fights and no problems w them in my mixed reef. The six line and kole are best friends and the kole also follows the swallowtails around...I run carbon do not run gfo. Use to run it in my biocube. Just weekly partial water changes....one good thing about starting w a bio cubes is that it makes you absolutely OCD about not overcrowding and water changes. Lol

REEFKEEPER10 · Apr 1, 2012

In my 75 I have a flame angel, coral beauty, Lawnmower blenny, scooter blenny pair, yellow tang, clownfish pair, 8 inch engineer goby and a 5 year old marine betta. Still want to add a blue spotted jaw fish, a tiger goby a potters angelfish. I run npx biopellets I have gfo and carbon in my sump. I also dose mb7 once a week. Oh yeah I have a 30g sump. The key is to add slowly and add according to temperament. I hope this helps.

REEFKEEPER10 · Apr 1, 2012

Oh yeah forgot about my sixline wrasse.

oigimsar · Jul 27, 2012

OK...the tank is up and running and I am editing my fish list. Let me know if I could add a possum wrasse to this mix?

Clownfish Pair
Purple Tang
Pair of Bangaii Cardinals
Randall's Goby
Pair of Flasher Wrasse
Firefish
Longnose Hawkfish
Possum Wrasse

Way down the road:
Mandarin
Borbonius Anthias