What fish can I put in my tank?

[Jon Fishman]

Going in, knowing I would like to keep and not rehome any fish due to size, I want to know what fish I can add to my new tank.

I currently have a 75g with a pair of flurry clowns, and a blue-spot sharpnose puffer. I ordered a new tank and would like to add a fish, but I don't have any particular fish in mind. Tangs are an option (powder blue, Purple, Gem, Yellow all in the running, in that order of "wanted" ) and I also like the cowfish or box-fish, and aside from the "poison your tank" thing, which I'm o.k. with, I just don't know if my tank would work for them. I haven't looked at them, but triggers are something I am a bit interested in as well.

The new tank I ordered is 96" x 16" x 16" because I am focusing on corals etc, and don't want the additional upkeep of a monster 300g aquarium etc.... but regardless of the reasons I decided on the size I did, it's a done deal, no putting that toothpaste back in the tube, so I just want to know what I can put in it fish wise.

I am keeping the two clowns no matter what, but the puffer just fell in my lap, and I can rehome him if needed in order to get something else.

MAX, I want is the 2 clowns, puffer, + one new one. So, with that said, what box-fish, tang, or trigger, or "Other" fun fish that I am not thinking of can I add? Will horizontal swimming room make up for shallow and tighter quarters? I will have my rock-work against the back wall, and doing a longer visual affect to make what is basically a frag-display tank I hope to fill out with coral and some fish to add movement.

Thanks.

 

[ccombs]

In a more shallow tank it might be cool to get a bunch of smaller schooling fish that move throughout. I think if you are wanting to do one 'centerpiece' fish, a yellow tang would be a nice pop of color and good with such a long tank.

I have some beef with Chromis and they can be known to pick each other off, some people have success with them and they are cool and shiny.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I don't know how much they school in captivity..... also, I guess I am open to predator fish, assuming I don't have the headache of feeding them live.

Am I sized out of getting a powder blue tang though?

 

[Mastiffsrule]

If you want it to be a frag tank stay away front th triggers except blue jaw. If fish only get a Humahuma, they are awesome.
Powder blues in my opinion are awesome but somewhat difficult and can get fairly big. Only reason I know is because I killed 3 before I stopped wiping out the species.

I alway love gobbies , blennies and Shrmp combos.

 

[MSB123]

boxfish are great, but a no go with clams or with any tank that has higher flow

 

[Jon Fishman]

boxfish are great, but a no go with clams or with any tank that has higher flow

Thanks..... I definitely like my flow high! Planning (although it may change) to do bare-bottom on this tank, although I've kicked around the idea of doing half with sand too!

 

[rkpetersen]

A tank like that would do well for any number of wrasses.
Not too large, can handle current, like the long horizontal swimming distances, and may even help keep pests away from your corals.
But if no sand you'd probably want to stick with flasher and fairy wrasses.
And both types love to jump; are you going to have a lid for this tank?

A small group of anthias could also do well there. They love current.
But you have to keep them well fed, more so than with many other fish.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I don't plan on having a lid. I guess that is another detail I should have pointed out! I wanted full-rimless, but couldn't swing the extra price for the thickness of acrylic they told me I'd need!

 

[rkpetersen]

That pretty much leaves out wrasses then! Could still consider anthias.

A group of chromis would be cool, as mentioned, but they need to be quarantined because uronema is very common with them and you don't want that getting into your DT.

 

[rkpetersen]

Am I sized out of getting a powder blue tang though?

My math puts that tank at just over 100g.
That would be somewhat crowded for all tangs except bristletooth tangs like the kole yellow eye.
However given how long that tank is, you could probably keep a Purple or even a Powder Blue well enough.
Especially if there are only a few other fish.

 

[Jon Fishman]

That's kinda my question...... so many factors come into play, I don't know how much I can rely on googling/live-aquaria's "guide" to what can/cannot fit.

in a description of the powder-blue I see this: "The powderblue inhabits shallow, clear coastal and island coral reefs."

Would a tang (of any variety) be happier/do better in the tank I'm getting, or 175g Cube? If it's still a fish I can't keep, I'm fine with that though, just want to know my options.

If I were having a 3' x 3' and 4' tall column tank built for my application, I'm guessing people would say "No way you can put tangs or angels in there" but if I said "hey, I have a 270g, what Angels or Tangs can I get" people would probably say multiples are o.k...... So I think there are other factors.

And yes, I am planning on 4 fish max..... Sounds like I can get away with a powder-blue, so I think I'll give it a try.