Reef Fish choices

[Akadios]

So I am expanding my 36 gal bowfront fish only to a 75gal reef.

I currently have:

2 Scarlet Hermits
3 Astraea Turbo Snails
2 Blue Claw Hermits
2 Chestnut Turbo Snails

1 Yellow Tang (currently 3")
1 Six Line Wrasse (currently 3")
1 Figi Blue and Gold Damsel (current 2")

I am going to be using a 29gal as a sump/refuge with chaeto and some live rock/pods. I will be using 2 AI Prime HDs so I will probably not be going for SPS except maybe 2 with 1 being directly under each light. I will have protein skimmer in sump and will be using a fluval 206 as a reactor I currently use it in this capacity and clean the foam filters every week. It has no biomedia and runs chemipure elite, purigen, and phosguard. My plan is to put the intake and output in the last section of the sump (thoughts on this location welcome).

Thanks.

 

[SourAngelfish]

If I were you I would get rid of both the yellow tang and damsel as they may cause problems, you could possibly add a blenny of some sort and a clown pair. Are you going for a more aggressive tank?

 

[Akadios]

What problems might they cause I heard more about problems with six line wrasse. I don' want to get rid of any of these they have been living together no problems for 8 months now. So I am only looking to build around them.

 

[SourAngelfish]

The tang will get to large, six line and damsel will be aggressive with newer fish. I would look into adding more aggressive fish so the other fish won’t destroy any new additions. You could also add the fish in groups.

 

[Akadios]

Any thoughts on specific fish?

 

[SourAngelfish]

Some assorted damsels possibly (add more than one at once), maybe a clarkii clown pair, a larger blenny like a starry blenny, dwarf angel, possibly a dottyback of some sort.

 

[Akadios]

My thought was to get the new tank cycled and setup add everything else first and the wrasse last.

Everyone will be new this way, thoughts?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Adding fish will be a challenge with the fish you currently have.

Active, fast fish, such as a group of chromis, or Lepidozygous would work. A handful of damsels would, although 1 or 2 may get killed in the process.

A sixline and damsel won't tolerate a dottyback. And the yellow tang may take issue with a dwarf angel.

Perhaps a grammistes blenny? They have venomous fangs, so are usually left alone.

 

[SourAngelfish]

My thought was to get the new tank cycled and setup add everything else first and the wrasse last.

Everyone will be new this way, thoughts?

That actually sounds like a pretty good idea

 

[Akadios]

If we add a lawnmower or starry Benny how many other fish with what I have for stability?

What about spotted Hawkish, Diamond Goby, Green Mandarin?

I also want to add more cleaners, crabs, shrimp too.

 

[SourAngelfish]

You can definitely add more cleaners. With your current fish and a blenny you could probably add about 5-6 more smaller fish. I think the hawkfish and diamond goby would do fine.

 

[Akadios]

So basically I need to pick some other things before starting so the current "mean" fish are last lol. If I get those three thoughts on 1 more? I' rather be under than maxed tbh

 

[Akadios]

How many more cleaners do you think I should get too, I know reefs are a whole different balance issue than my freshwater planted tank or this current fish only set
tup

 

[SourAngelfish]

Maybe another damsel like a three stripe... I’m not really sure, you may also be able to get away with a coris wrasse. As for cleaners I would probably have one snail/hermit per 2 gallons and get and emerald crab either a peppermint or cleaner shrimp and a serpent star. The clean up crew won’t really be determined until you see how much waste all of these fish will produce.

 

[Akadios]

Do they not add to waste like in freshwater? My trumpet snail explosion I went through in my planted tank created a ton of excess waste because they ate nitrate eating elements and turned them into nitrates. Is it different in the reef?

 

[SourAngelfish]

Yes, most of the cuc will scavenge detritus before it becomes nitrate, they also control algaes.

 

[Akadios]

They don' poop out nitrogenous waste?

 

[Zack K]

They don' poop out nitrogenous waste?

Not close to the extent of Freshwater.

 

[Monti34]

Lyretail Hawkfish Love mine he is pretty much a dick if others go near his perches. But interesting behavior.

 

[Monti34]

How many more cleaners do you think I should get too, I know reefs are a whole different balance issue than my freshwater planted tank or this current fish only set
tup

Cerith snails I always hated how they look but they are work horses of my clean up crew.

nassarius snails

I’d look at a snail only clean up crew and look for a package that is for a 50 gal since your tank is a 75 since most of those crews in my opinion are oversized.

I recommend this based only on experience with my own system. You kinda have to do a lot of research before taking anyone persons advice. Including mine I recommend BRS tv to start on YouTube.

You have the right idea w taking fish out letting tank cycle then adding all new additional fish in at one time. On your scape lots of caves/hides really helped for me.