Tank Mates

[jwarren220]

Hey guys and gals. I am in the process of a new mixed reef build and and almost to the point of posting pics of the process. I am almost finished with the filtration layout and plumbing and will start a build thread very soon. It has just taken so much longer than I thought due to careful planning and whatever life has thrown at me. Anyway apologies for the monologue, but my question was about livestock. Specifically fish. I would love some advice and tales of experience with recommended fish for my system as well as preferred vendors. I will be adding to this thread a list of what i would like to critique. I love lots of pics so post them if you got them. I have two independent quarantine tanks setup for incoming fish and corals. I am at the point of starting to quarantine while I finish the rest of my build. See below for my planned system. Feel free to ask anything I did not include that is needed for response. Thank you in advance for your time and advice. Sincerely stubbornly humble.

75g drilled AGA internal 1400gph overflow
48" Combo Fixture - 2x 250w DE HQI 15k/4x 65w 460nm PC
BAO U30
Vertex Omega 130
RODC 5500 return
Jebao DP-4
2x RW4

2x Independent Quarantine tanks
10g
5g

 

[jwarren220]

Just wanted to bump this a bit with my fish interests. Not too knowledgeable on whether to get males or females or pairs of the list below. Feel free to recommend ones I haven't listedI have listed my preference based on coloration. NOT saying I will put all of these in a 75g but i would like to have 10-15 fish at least I think. I dont mind a heavy bioload as I think i will be good for the corals I plan to have, as well as a good nutrient export process. Taking any and all advice!

Black Cap Basslet
Pajama Cardinal
Lyretail/Purple Anthias
Firefish Exquisite/Purple
Catalina Goby
Sleeper Banded Goby
Sailfin Tang, Desjardini
Blue Caribbean Tang
Kole Yellow Eye Tang
Powder Brown Tang
Achilles Tang
Mystery Wrasse
Lineatus Fairy Wrasse
Potter's Wrasse
Leopard Wrasse male/female
Blue Star Leopard Wrasse - female
Bennett's Sharpnose Puffer
Lemon Butterflyfish
Half Black Angelfish
Potter's Angelfish

 

[jwarren220]

Bump. I also have a build thread in reef aquarium discussion to follow if interested.

 

[Lesley]

hi, good luck with our build. It is very exciting, but yes the planning is long and the difficult part.
I cant speak about any of your other fish list but can speak in with a responsible knowledge of the Tangs you have listed.
Tangs are what got us into this hobby in the first place and we have over the 3 yrs in this hobby learnt a lot about them

Lest talk bio load first. No matter how well set up that tank and system is I don't believe 10-15 fish is possible in a 75g. But lest say for purpose of this discussion that bio load will not be an issue.

It is going to be the territory that makes it as I believe - not possible (with tangs at least)

Some of the tang you have listed
Sailfin Tang, Desjardini
Blue Caribbean Tang
will outgrow that size system very quickly.

Powder Brown Tang
Achilles Tang

both extremely territorial.

Kole Yellow Eye Tang

Good size

Now I am by no way the "Tang Police" I have prob more tangs than I should, but for now all is peaceful and we have a zero aggression policy in our tank.

But in our research of tangs and everyone speaking of aggression issues. Seems that tangs are grazers, they will travel miles every day and claim that mileage in reef space in the wild.
They eat all day and will defend that claimed space to death if need be. Now in a 75g tank they will be lucky to be able to claim a foot of reef.
And if tangs in general, especially the Achilles & Powder brown are stressed this will lead to healthy issues.

My advice would be to pick one tang out of your list only.
Pick that as your - Show fish.
and then try to add compatible fish around that choice.
Although I would also suggest that the tang (which ever you choose) should also be the last fish added to the tank not the first.
Tangs are also well know to not just pick on other tangs, but once they claim that whole space (75g) they will be very aggressive to any other new comers.

Hope this has helped a little.

I made the mistake as a newbie - aggression cant be that bad, what the heck are people talking about.
I had a 240g, thats enough room. And unfortunately my ignorance and pig headed attitude cost more than one beautiful creature and a whole lot of heartache for me.

I now have a 380g with a good mix of tangs, all added as juvinlles at the same time (which was planned and exicuted well). my tank is now peaceful and calm, but we also know this will change as the tangs mature, so we are already upgrading to a 600g to keep the fish we have happy and healthy and thriving.

Please dont be Pigheaded like I was and save yourself the heartache.

Here are some pics, and please take note this is in a 380g almost 5x larger than your build.
Soon to be 9 x for the healthy of these fish to remain good.

 

[jwarren220]

hi, good luck with our build. It is very exciting, but yes the planning is long and the difficult part.
I cant speak about any of your other fish list but can speak in with a responsible knowledge of the Tangs you have listed.
Tangs are what got us into this hobby in the first place and we have over the 3 yrs in this hobby learnt a lot about them

Lest talk bio load first. No matter how well set up that tank and system is I don't believe 10-15 fish is possible in a 75g. But lest say for purpose of this discussion that bio load will not be an issue.

It is going to be the territory that makes it as I believe - not possible (with tangs at least)

Some of the tang you have listed
Sailfin Tang, Desjardini
Blue Caribbean Tang
will outgrow that size system very quickly.

Powder Brown Tang
Achilles Tang

both extremely territorial.

Kole Yellow Eye Tang

Good size

Now I am by no way the "Tang Police" I have prob more tangs than I should, but for now all is peaceful and we have a zero aggression policy in our tank.

But in our research of tangs and everyone speaking of aggression issues. Seems that tangs are grazers, they will travel miles every day and claim that mileage in reef space in the wild.
They eat all day and will defend that claimed space to death if need be. Now in a 75g tank they will be lucky to be able to claim a foot of reef.
And if tangs in general, especially the Achilles & Powder brown are stressed this will lead to healthy issues.

My advice would be to pick one tang out of your list only.
Pick that as your - Show fish.
and then try to add compatible fish around that choice.
Although I would also suggest that the tang (which ever you choose) should also be the last fish added to the tank not the first.
Tangs are also well know to not just pick on other tangs, but once they claim that whole space (75g) they will be very aggressive to any other new comers.

Hope this has helped a little.

I made the mistake as a newbie - aggression cant be that bad, what the heck are people talking about.
I had a 240g, thats enough room. And unfortunately my ignorance and pig headed attitude cost more than one beautiful creature and a whole lot of heartache for me.

I now have a 380g with a good mix of tangs, all added as juvinlles at the same time (which was planned and exicuted well). my tank is now peaceful and calm, but we also know this will change as the tangs mature, so we are already upgrading to a 600g to keep the fish we have happy and healthy and thriving.

Please dont be Pigheaded like I was and save yourself the heartache.

Here are some pics, and please take note this is in a 380g almost 5x larger than your build.
Soon to be 9 x for the healthy of these fish to remain good.

B..E..A..utiful tank Lesley. Agreed for the bio load and quantity of fish. I have decided to make it a schooling reef and have the 1/2 show fish. Started with 3. Randal Anthias now quarantining

 

[Lesley]

B..E..A..utiful tank Lesley. Agreed for the bio load and quantity of fish. I have decided to make it a schooling reef and have the 1/2 show fish. Started with 3. Randal Anthias now quarantining

Fantastic. So glad to hear that news. That's a very responsible move. You will have a very successful reefing life. I am actually amazed that unlike me - a newbie listened & researched. Well done