Small fish in a medium/big tank?

[squidarcher]

I've always loved the whole "lots of small fish in a big tank" dynamic that freshwater tanks often have, and I was wondering if I could possibly do that in my 75 gallon mixed reef that I'm setting up. I planned the rockscape to have tons of hiding places for any small fish, and my filtration is well over what I need, to account for the bioload for all the fish that I want. I am also planning my stocking to have mostly peaceful fish. The only large fish will be a foxface, and technically a group of engineer gobies. I love wrasses and there will a lot of those, but nothing known for being aggressive. I want to be able to have lots of small fish such as small dragonets and even clown gobies, and I want to decrease aggression as much as possible, while having lots of small fish. Could this work?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Of course
Some popular are:
Anthias
Fire fish goby
Cardinals except banghai
Chromis

 

[nereefpat]

Definitely, lots of small fish in a big tank is a way to go. I prefer that look too.

We can even help you with a list. A dragonette, clown goby, and foxface, and several wrasses is a good start.

 

[Aquachristik]

I love the "many small fish in a big tank" dynamic as well. I have a 55 gallon freshwater tank that is pretty much a breeding ground for mollies (didn't plan it that way they just never take a break!) and cherry shrimp. I love the movement and chaos that ensues at feeding time.

Following this thread as I might want that same dynamic in my new Reefer 170.

 

[Jon Fishman]

When I think of small fish for a 75g, a lot Wrasses doesn’t really strike me...... I think most would need a bit of room, and I thought they get fairly big. I only have one, don’t know what type it is, and am genuinely just asking.......

 

[squidarcher]

Definitely, lots of small fish in a big tank is a way to go. I prefer that look too.

We can even help you with a list. A dragonette, clown goby, and foxface, and several wrasses is a good start.

Oh, I forgot hwo epic the SW community is! To everyone: these are all the fish I'm considering (Not gonna add all of them, just that all are in consideration):
Timid fish
Purple, regular, or helfrichi firefish
Midas, fanged, or tailspot blenny
Blue spot Jawfish
One-spot foxface
Coral Beauty/flame back angelfish (maybe)
Sunburst anthias
Naoko’s Fairy wrasse
Earmuff or other halichoeris wrasse
Longnose/flame hawkfish and/or geometric Pygmy perchlet
Yellow Assessor
Engineering goby group
Barnacle Blenny group
Black cap basslet
Chalk bass pair
Valentini Puffer (maybe)
Candy Basslet
Radial Filefish (needs xenia!)
Cleaner wrasse
Cleaner goby
McCosker’s Flasher Wrasse
Melanurus Wrasse
Tomini tang(?)
Ocellaris Clownfish pair
Orchid or splendid Dottyback (?)

Requires mature tank/experience:
Ruby/spotted Dragonet
Garden eel
Blue star leopard wrasse
Court Jester Goby
Cuttlefish hatchlings