Stocking Ideas 75G

[billswin99]

Have a 75 gallon

Currently have:

3" sailfin tang
3" niger trigger
1-2" nemo / clown

Want some nice looking fish that pop under the lights. Not exactly sure what to look at.

Just want to make sure they are reef safe adding coral soon. I know this removes a ton of fish.

Also want to make sure the trigger does not eat them as he grows.

I do plan to upgrade to a 200+ gallon in the next year or so.

Any suggestions would be great.

 

[shaggydoo]

Can't go wrong with some reef safe wrasses as long as your top is covered. I'm also a big fan of dragonets such as a ruby red or mandarin but those would have to wait until your system matures.

 

[Maritimer]

I'm quite fond of diversity - shrimpgobies on the sandbed, grammas in the rocks (consider a harem!) with basslets and blennies, damsels (wait, what? damsels in a community?? Some of the Chrysipterus genus are pretty easy-going ... for damsels!) flitting just above, anthias and dartfish in the water column. I've got a couple of dwarf angels, as well - the flame seemed to have beef with one favia coral, leaves the others alone - and very few fish's colors "pop" more than a flame angel's! Love the fairy and flasher wrasses as well, but as mentioned - you'll need a top. (You'll likely need a top for anything other than seahorses, really . . . ) Possibly a significantly smaller clownfish to pair with your existing one.

You'll eventually need that bigger tank - I've seen sailfins the size of small dinnerplates. They're spectacular in a 3,000 gallon tank at the local Public Aquarium, but in a 75, they'll block your view.

~Bruce

 

[AtulR]

I'm quite fond of diversity - shrimpgobies on the sandbed, grammas in the rocks (consider a harem!) with basslets and blennies, damsels (wait, what? damsels in a community?? Some of the Chrysipterus genus are pretty easy-going ... for damsels!) flitting just above, anthias and dartfish in the water column. I've got a couple of dwarf angels, as well - the flame seemed to have beef with one favia coral, leaves the others alone - and very few fish's colors "pop" more than a flame angel's! Love the fairy and flasher wrasses as well, but as mentioned - you'll need a top. (You'll likely need a top for anything other than seahorses, really . . . ) Possibly a significantly smaller clownfish to pair with your existing one.

You'll eventually need that bigger tank - I've seen sailfins the size of small dinnerplates. They're spectacular in a 3,000 gallon tank at the local Public Aquarium, but in a 75, they'll block your view.

~Bruce

Bruce has some great points, and I wholeheartedly agree with all of them. Your stocking list is extremely limited with the fish you have in your tank right now unfortunately
I would remove the Niger Trigger and the Sailfin Tang.
Then I would look into:
Most of the genus Cirrhilabrus(Fairy Wrasses)
White Tail Bristletooth Tangs are stunning in that size of a tank
Flame Angel is a great suggestion
If you're looking for pop and reef-safe you can't really go wrong with Cirrhilabrus.

Atul

 

[billswin99]

Bruce has some great points, and I wholeheartedly agree with all of them. Your stocking list is extremely limited with the fish you have in your tank right now unfortunately
I would remove the Niger Trigger and the Sailfin Tang.
Then I would look into:
Most of the genus Cirrhilabrus(Fairy Wrasses)
White Tail Bristletooth Tangs are stunning in that size of a tank
Flame Angel is a great suggestion
If you're looking for pop and reef-safe you can't really go wrong with Cirrhilabrus.

Atul

I love the look of the flame angel just figures he would be to aggressive with the trigger and sailfin?

I really want to keep the current 3 fish, going to look into all the suggestions. I heard damsels were mean fish that most regret putting in a tank.

Wrasses do look nice but it is a open top will have to fix that if I get one.

 

[Maritimer]

Flames vary a bit in who they're aggressive with and by how much. Mine is a large male, and he chases my smaller coral beauty (predictable, but in a 220 they have room to maneuver - and she's faster than he is.) and the much smaller damselfish. He leaves everyone else alone, but is best buddies with a similarly sized kole tang. On introduction to the new tank, those two never left one another's side for a few days 'til they'd settled in.

I've got three azure damsels and two Talbott's damsels in the tank, and they're charming flecks of color and flit. By and large, they keep their tiffing and feistiness among their own group. Only once have they caused trouble; one of the azures took exception to a newly added social fairy wrasse for a couple of days.

~Bruce

 

[billswin99]

I should probably stick with smaller fish maybe damsels probably want aggressive fish since the trigger and sailfin are? Or does that matter at all

 

[Maritimer]

Super-passive fish like possum wrasses and firefish may be intimidated by the big guys. Damsels and clowns would be less likely to have that problem.

~Bruce

 

[AtulR]

I love the look of the flame angel just figures he would be to aggressive with the trigger and sailfin?

I really want to keep the current 3 fish, going to look into all the suggestions. I heard damsels were mean fish that most regret putting in a tank.

Wrasses do look nice but it is a open top will have to fix that if I get one.

I would highly recommend finding new homes for the Sailfin Tang and the Niger Trigger. They both get too large for your tank. It'll be tough to add anything else when those two are obviously the dominant fish in the tank.

 

[billswin99]

I would highly recommend finding new homes for the Sailfin Tang and the Niger Trigger. They both get too large for your tank. It'll be tough to add anything else when those two are obviously the dominant fish in the tank.

I will upgrade to a 220g in a year or so. Just want some more activity in the tank only 3 fish. Already have a clown so maybe some damsels like bruce suggests.

Any other fish that may work? What about a kauderns cardinalfish?