Reefer 350- help stock list (desire active swimmers)

[Reefer Dan]

Hello!

I have a reefer 350 (4 ft, ~75g tank + sump =~83 gal total water volume). It is a mixed reef with heavy sps.

I’m looking for some more active swimmers to go along with what I have and I am uncertain how many fish I can add to this size of tank.

Current stock list:
Clownfish (x1)
Neon goby
Biota court jester goby
Pink streaked wrasse

I plan to get a white tail tang (last fish add), I would love more tangs but based on what I’ve read only one and this variety would be best?

Any insights or help here would be awesome! I am not looking for “high maintenance” fish like a mandarin goby, etc.

Thank you for your help!

 

[AJsReef]

Firefish come to mind, generally a pair or trio do well and will swim in the water column.

Chromis are cheap but definitely add a ton of activity to a tank.

Ive always found wrasse such as fairy wrasse to be active swimmers as well.

Good call on the tang, 4’ is on the smaller side for most species. A white tail will to well if your aquascape leaves good swimming space.

 

[nereefpat]

If you have sand, I always recommend H. chrysus, melanurus, or biocellatus.

 

[Jfeldman63]

Chalk bass get 4-5 of them great fish active swimmers. Nice colors and very docile.

 

[Reefer Dan]

Firefish come to mind, generally a pair or trio do well and will swim in the water column.

Chromis are cheap but definitely add a ton of activity to a tank.

Ive always found wrasse such as fairy wrasse to be active swimmers as well.

Good call on the tang, 4’ is on the smaller side for most species. A white tail will to well if your aquascape leaves good swimming space.

Thank you for the helpful insights. I’ve considered fire fish and a wrasse or two. I’m curious about the chromis. Aren’t they a little more on the aggressive side? Any idea how many fish I can comfortably fit in this tank?

 

[Reefer Dan]

If you have sand, I always recommend H. chrysus, melanurus, or biocellatus.

I have sand, I’ve been considering the yellow coris wrasse. Sounds like it may be a good idea.

 

[Jfeldman63]

If you havnt seen them before

 

[AJsReef]

Thank you for the helpful insights. I’ve considered fire fish and a wrasse or two. I’m curious about the chromis. Aren’t they a little more on the aggressive side? Any idea how many fish I can comfortably fit in this tank?

Chromis are semi aggressive among their own kind. IME they may chase the occasional fish for a brief second but not relentlessly. I find a group of Chromis usually brings all the other fish out as they act as dither fish.

For a 75g I’d say a group of 5 of the smaller species such as blue-green Chromis would look great! I wouldn’t add less than 5 personally as keeping a group spreads the aggression.

 

[Reefer Dan]

Chromis are semi aggressive among their own kind. IME they may chase the occasional fish for a brief second but not relentlessly. I find a group of Chromis usually brings all the other fish out as they act as dither fish.

For a 75g I’d say a group of 5 of the smaller species such as blue-green Chromis would look great! I wouldn’t add less than 5 personally as keeping a group spreads the aggression.

Would this be too many fish?
Yellow coris wrasse
Clownfish
Neon goby
Court jester goby
Pink streaked wrasse
5 chromis
White tail tang

Additional fish to consider if more space available:
Royal gramma
Helfrenchi fire fish
Pintail wrasse

 

[AJsReef]

Would this be too many fish?
Yellow coris wrasse
Clownfish
Neon goby
Court jester goby
Pink streaked wrasse
5 chromis
White tail tang

Additional fish to consider if more space available:
Royal gramma
Helfrenchi fire fish
Pintail wrasse

I would say you’d be fine with those fish assuming you have good filtration methods and water change cadence. Doesn’t strike me as overstocked at all.

These days filtration methods are so much more efficient I usually struggle with too low nutrients than too much, so I’m all for a healthy stocking

 

[Reefer Dan]

If you havnt seen them before

Appreciate the suggestion, I haven’t considered those before.

 

[Zionas]

Do you want a Tang? If so, you can fit the smallest Tangs in a 75. That is: Tomini, Squaretail, Kole, White Tail, Orange Striped (cf. Striatus) and Blue Eye (Binotatus).

A dwarf angel would be great. Your best chances at getting a hardy one would be a CB Coral Beauty from Biota. Get two small ones maybe even a pair lol.

Oh I see you already have a Tang.

 

[i cant think]

Hello!

I have a reefer 350 (4 ft, ~75g tank + sump =~83 gal total water volume). It is a mixed reef with heavy sps.

I’m looking for some more active swimmers to go along with what I have and I am uncertain how many fish I can add to this size of tank.

Current stock list:
Clownfish (x1)
Neon goby
Biota court jester goby
Pink streaked wrasse

I plan to get a white tail tang (last fish add), I would love more tangs but based on what I’ve read only one and this variety would be best?

Any insights or help here would be awesome! I am not looking for “high maintenance” fish like a mandarin goby, etc.

Thank you for your help!

Ever thought of a tilefish? They aren’t high maintenance but are risky when it comes to a stressful introduction. They will hide for the first few days to acclimate to the light and temperature of the water though. If they get scared by any fighting near them they will go into hiding again, as long as they eat it shouldn’t be too bad. Shipping is the issue with these fish and why they’re expert only.

 

[Zionas]

You’re one of the few who are keeping these fish. I think a tank that’s partially or fully centered around them would be a sight.

I also want to add that these absolutely need the best lid possible. They’re escape artists. Torpedo shaped fish have a generally greater risk of leaving for the great outdoors.

 

[i cant think]

Thank you for the helpful insights. I’ve considered fire fish and a wrasse or two. I’m curious about the chromis. Aren’t they a little more on the aggressive side? Any idea how many fish I can comfortably fit in this tank?

I have a 4’x2’x2’ tank with 11 fish, soon 13 and here’s the stock with their temper:
- Magnificent foxface (Siganus magnificus) Peaceful but can stand up for itself, max size of 9” but a slow grower.

- Swallowtail angelfish (Genicanthus melanospilos) Peaceful but will stand up for itself, Max size of 8” but a slow grower.

- Black Photon Clownfish (Amphiprion oscelaris x Amphiprion percula) Semi-aggressive when fish the same size as it come too close to its ricordea yuma but for the most part peaceful, max size of 4” average grower.

- Blue Eye Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus binotatus) semi-aggressive, will hold up against other fish and keeps everyone in place, rather slow grower.

- Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus) Calm unless a new fish is in the tank, it will be rather aggressive to that fish, VERY slow grower… Please just grow already…

- Flashing Tilefish (Hoplolatilus chlupatyi) I think mine is being bullied by my Jade but I am unsure, these fish are peaceful, can stand up for themselves in some cases but usually not much, growth? I think it’s a slow grower but can’t tell.

- Cebu Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus Lubbocki) Peaceful temperament will defend himself and rather fast growth.

- Indo Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lubbocki) peaceful and can defend himself but a much slower growth rate and I can’t see one being 3” long.

- Black Margin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus melanomarginatus) Semi-Aggressive, these aren’t meant to work with other wrasses of the same genus or even a peaceful temperament, Growth rate? I’d say slow.

- Jade wrasse (Halichoeres iridis) if I could change my tank with temperament, this girl would be out. Not suitable for tanks with other wrasses in, they are peaceful and fine as juveniles but as maturity hits, aggression is BAD. Growth rate, they aren’t slow growers and can hit 4.5” rather quickly.

- Radiant wrasse (Halichoeres iridis) beauties and absolutely fine with inverts and other wrasses. Peaceful for sure, I will always love mine and it was my dream wrasse I thought I’d never have due to the wrong sandbed but then I changed the sandbed to a fine sand and got one, I have no regrets!! Growth rate is rather slow.

All my fish except the Second lubbocki (Indo) and Tilefish have been with me for almost two years if not over that (Foxface has been over two years now). The fish that are going to be in here eventually are below.

- Naoko fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus naokoae) temperament is a mix depending on specimen, mine is peaceful with the wrasses he’s in the nano with, growth rate is fast till they hit 2-2.5” then it’s slow.

- Blue Star Leopard Wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus) these are easy to keep if you get one without internal parasites and that eats, don’t be scared if they vanish in the sand bed for a week or longer since this is normal, growth rate, Id say slow since I got her in September at 0.5” and she’s now 1” temperament is peaceful, they just cruise the tank for small crustaceans (Pods!!) and mind their own business.

a photo of the two next to eachother

 

[i cant think]

You’re one of the few who are keeping these fish. I think a tank that’s partially or fully centered around them would be a sight.

I also want to add that these absolutely need the best lid possible. They’re escape artists. Torpedo shaped fish have a generally greater risk of leaving for the great outdoors.

Yeah, I’m hoping to try and get a 3’ tank for just tilefish and wrasses to try improve care information for both of the families harder to keep species. I don’t think these fish deserve to be ignored just because “Oh they need peaceful tankmates” or “They’ll escape too easily” yes they are a peaceful fish and probably shouldn’t be thrown into an aggressive tank (Semi-Aggressive is the furthest they’d go) it’s all about making sure none of the fish in there will bully the tilefish. And they should probably go in earlier because of the shy behaviour they have.

A 7-8’ tank would be the dream to have some of the other fish labelled as expert only but still keep it tilefish/wrasse heavy.

 

[Zionas]

Really looking forward to that upgrade of yours. An 8’ tank I’m sure would make you really happy. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting not two, but three Regals as I’ve come across sources that say they are more commonly seen in pairs but harems of 1 male to 2-3 females are their preferred social unit whenever possible. Regals are a very slow growing species.

Who knows? Maybe you could do your side tank and your main tank (the upgrade). I’m not sure how well a Leopard would do in a 3’ tank but Tilefish I can see that work.

 

[i cant think]

Really looking forward to that upgrade of yours. An 8’ tank I’m sure would make you really happy. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting not two, but three Regals as I’ve come across sources that say they are more commonly seen in pairs but harems of 1 male to 2-3 females are their preferred social unit whenever possible. Regals are a very slow growing species.

Who knows? Maybe you could do your side tank and your main tank (the upgrade). I’m not sure how well a Leopard would do in a 3’ tank but Tilefish I can see that work.

Hopefully!! Also that idea of 3 regal angels is a nice one since they do seem to prefer smaller harems, also wonder if that would change their behaviour in any way!

 

[Zionas]

Will keep you posted!!!! I hope they’re a species that Bali Aquarich decides to produce in numbers because the market is going to be huge. Where do you usually get fish in the UK and has Brexit made it much harder to get anything from continental Europe?

I think a harem would be a pretty lively sight, I’m not sure if they’re different from dwarf angels in this regard but what I see with dwarfs is the male kind of swims in front, with the dominant female following closely, and then the second female kind of “joins up” with the other two.

They stick together more like Clownfish, whereas you get species where mated pairs only come together to breed. I think many damsels are like this. And I like fish that are actual couples and act like it more than the ones that are more friends with benefits lol.

Tilefish also seem to like being in pairs or groups, I am not sure how their social structure works (will try to do some research on that) and whether they change sex but I assume they can. This article suggests that a pair or more will adjust more easily than a lone specimen:

Aquarium Fish: Reconsidering the Sand Tilefishes

There is much to be learned about this valuable aquarium fish (reports of captive spawns of some sand tilefish species have certainly been encouraging); clearly, the suitability of these intriguing animals for the home, and public, aquarium has yet to be fully demonstrated.

reefs.com

I’m not saying lone specimens don’t do well / can’t do well, but I’m sure a pair or small harem would be more entertaining.