Next phase of my 75g build

[Akadios]

So when my wife approved the 75gal it was under the agreement my 36 gal and 29 gal would go away. I used the 29gal as a sump, unfortunately now I feel I have too many fish. The effect is that I need to get rid of some fish trying to decide which ones I should let go of.

Here is the list of what I have,
FWIW it is a 75 gallon, 29 gal sump (18 gal in sump). dual chamber reactor, 120gal skimmer that is skimming well, 4x gen 3 hydor 1950s kn a wavemaker, 2 a aiprime hd, about half of sump is a live rock/chaeto refuge with 10 lbs live rock in it. 1.5" live sand and 60 pounds of life rock. I do weekly 30gallon water changes with rodi 0 tds. Everything is in atm water parameters are fine but probably walking a thing line atm. Thoughts?

On to live stock fish options
1 Kole Tang - new purchase and keeping it
1 Yellow Tang- see below for reason I have it

Up for discussion to cut back:
2 orchid Dottybacks
2 Ocellaris Clowns
1 Sixline Wrasse
1 Starry Blenny
1 Sleeper Gold Head Goby
1 Cardinalfish
1 Blue Gold Damsel

Non-fish friends:
2 RBTA
2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 Emerald Crab
About 25 assorted Snails and Hermits

In b4 Tang Police the yellow tang was rescued for free from a Petco sick tank, it was nursed back to life in my 10 gal from a bad case of ich where it wasn't even eating at first, then added to the 36 gal. I'm keeping it. The 75gal was the upgrade to give it more space from the 36.

 

[jsker]

I would definitely launch the Damsel and dotty backs.

 

[mic209]

Why do you need to let go of fish? I personally do not see anything wrong with your list in a 75 gallon.

 

[Akadios]

@mic You dont think it is overstocked?

@jsker Why would you get rid of the damsel and dottybacks?

 

[mic209]

I don’t think you are overstocked at all, don’t buy into what you see on the forums as what is an appropriate fish to gallon amount, no one can say unless they’ve seen and know your system personally. If you aren’t having any issues with the system and all fish are doing well and happy then I would say you can add more fish.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Each tank certainlyvvaries as far as nutrient control goes, however, that is not the only factor. As these fish mature they will put more pressure on the bio-capacity, use more oxygen, and get increasingly aggressive.

2 tangs in a 75g isn't ideal and will likely lead to trouble in the future. If you aren't going to get rid of the yellow tang, at least consider removing the kole. Sixline wrasses also get increasingly aggressive as they mature.

 

[jsker]

@mic You dont think it is overstocked?

@jsker Why would you get rid of the damsel and dottybacks?

The dottyback and damsel are also know to get pretty agressive. I have two tangs in my 72 bow front with the understanding that they will be rehomed, a 8 line wrasse two maroon clowns, matted filefish and now a niger trigger and that will be it.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Orchid dottybacks are pretty mellow.

 

[Akadios]

So if I remove the damsel should I remove the goby to reduce the number of bottom / rock dwellers with the wrasse and dotty backs? Or does it provide a true benefit and I should try to remove the wrasse? My wife will merc me if I remove the dottybacks.

What about the cardinalfish? It seems to be in it's own swim space in the upper tank area.

The tangs are buddies and have been for 2 months they sleep next to each other when they could easily have different areas. Do you think that will change?

 

[Sistawolf]

I think your stock is absolutely just fine.. keep an eye on the tank and watch for aggressive behavior from any of the fish. As long as the tangs are getting along.. keep them.. of course I don’t know how big the two are but for some it takes 10-20 years for them to get really really big.. but just be ready to upgrade within the future.. to a larger tank.. trust me.. now that you have a 75... you will want to go bigger real soon.. good luck..

 

[eatbreakfast]

If it takes 10-20yrs to reach full size then something has stunted their growth, so something was inadequate.

Getting along as juveniles is one thing, but 2 growing, maturing tangs in an undersized tank will result in eventual fighting, or at the very least, increased stress making them more susceptible to parasites and disease.

 

[Akadios]

If I upgrade in about 3 years to a 180 (which my wife said she would be okay with provided this one goes away and I still am into the hobby) would that be soon enough?

 

[eatbreakfast]

If I upgrade in about 3 years to a 180 (which my wife said she would be okay with provided this one goes away and I still am into the hobby) would that be soon enough?

Hopefully it will be soon enough.

 

[Akadios]

I got rid of the cardinal, one dottyback, the damsel, and the goby ti open up swim space.

Current stock:
Kole Tang
Yellow Tang
Starry Blenny
2x Ocelarius Clown
Orchid Dottyback
2x Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Assorted Snails/Hermits
Emerald Blue Crab

My thoughts being the clowns basically hang near the RBTA. The Orchid Dottyback and Starry Blenny hang out in the rocks. leaving the rest of the tank open for the two Tangs

 

[mic209]

If it takes 10-20yrs to reach full size then something has stunted their growth, so something was inadequate.

Getting along as juveniles is one thing, but 2 growing, maturing tangs in an undersized tank will result in eventual fighting, or at the very least, increased stress making them more susceptible to parasites and disease.

Have you kept 2 tangs in a 75 that ended up fighting?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Have you kept 2 tangs in a 75 that ended up fighting?

I have not, but I have been called upon to catch out aggressive tangs in too small of a tank or to help rehome aggressive tangs, or to help solve disease problems from stressed out fish.

 

[Akadios]

So now I have a different issue sadly, removing those fish caused some issue maybe stress in the other fish. Last night I lost the starry Blenny, Orchid Dottyback, and Kole Tang.

No obvious wounds on Kole Tang the Blenny and Orchid were half eaten but covered in snails and hermits unsure if that was the culprit.

Water Parameters:
1.025
0 to 5 Nitrates ( Api Kit not 0 but not 5 either somewhere in between)
0 ammonia
0 phosphates
0 nitrite
Temp 77
Alk 9
Calcium 460

Thoughts?
Nothing else has changed just the removal of fish as stated above.

Sad, never lost a fish before this
Current Stock:
Yellow Tang
Sixline Wrasse
2 Clowns
Emerald Crab
2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Assorted Hermits and Snails