70g (3ft) tank stocking.

[Raibaru]

Hey all,

Here's the deal... I currently have a 36g with no sump. It has 2x Osc.Clowns, a Midas Blenny, a Chromis, and a Six Line wrasse.

I am planning to break this tank down and build up a 70 to replace it. The 70 will have a sump (don't have details yet. Still planning out).

I want a larger fish to be the focal point of the tank. I realize tangs aren't ideal, but do things like butterflies do well in this size tank?

Will Anthis in this size tank exhibit their schooling behavior, and will chromis fish join in with them? Any Anthias that should be avoided in a tank of this size? And will a trio do well?

So far the only things for sure I want to add are a sand sifting fish (Yellow Watchmen Goby or an Algae Blenny[will this do alright with the midas?], a second chromis to hopefully encourage my current one to do more then hover around the clowns all day, and a green mandarin.

About how many fish would you suggest being the more comfortable limit? Will this number change if a larger fish is added?

Thanks all. Sorry if this thread is a bit jumbled.

 

[Moonstream]

if you want to add more schooling fish, and also want to add a schoaling fish, it would IMO be best to add 4-6 more chromis, a YWG would be a great choice, mine is one of my fave fish.

a mandarin dragonet is a bad idea with a sixline, because the sixline will completly decimate the pod population. I would remove the sixline, alos because they get aggressive to new additions.

so then you stocklist would be
2 clowns
midas
5-7 chromis
YWG
green mandy

if you want a focal fish then I would look into dwarf angels, I have a rusty now, but if I had to re-choose one, I would get a flame. you could also do a carpenters flasher wrasse or a large male lyretail anthias.

 

[Raibaru]

Yea, I was here a week ago or so because of my aggressive sixline. He'll likely be moved to the sump when I upgrade. I really do like him and it would be a shame to lose him completely. But you are right, he cruises all day looking for pods and him and a mandarin may not be an option.

Do YWG sift sand too? Or do they just dig their den and that's about it? I want a critter that will really get into the sand in my new tank, though I absolutely love my midas blenny and I'm hesitant to add an algae/lawnmower blenny in with the midas.

Anthias you don't think would work in a tank this size?

And are Dwarf Angels reef safe? I've seen several up for free because they nip at corals and clams.

 

[Moonstream]

my YWG uses a cave between the rock and sand for his home, he hollowed it out more so that there is about 2 by 1 by 3" in there, he used to share his home with my pair of firefish and sometimes sleeps with the carpenters wrasse.

dwarf angels are hit or miss. my rusty does well in my tank with zoas, mushrooms, fleshy LPS, and SPS. havent tryed a clam yet though, or softies.

a single anthia might work, but in a 36" tank thye might be a bit cramped with more. if you really want some, maybe try getting a single male first, if it seems like 2-3 females would fit, then go for it.

 

[Raibaru]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13248994#post13248994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Moonstream
my YWG uses a cave between the rock and sand for his home, he hollowed it out more so that there is about 2 by 1 by 3" in there, he used to share his home with my pair of firefish and sometimes sleeps with the carpenters wrasse.

dwarf angels are hit or miss. my rusty does well in my tank with zoas, mushrooms, fleshy LPS, and SPS. havent tryed a clam yet though, or softies.

a single anthia might work, but in a 36" tank thye might be a bit cramped with more. if you really want some, maybe try getting a single male first, if it seems like 2-3 females would fit, then go for it.

Yea, I don't know what to do. I don't know many people who'd take a misbehaving fish, and the LFS would likely give me enough store credit to buy a gumball if I tried to return it. Then the whole idea of tearing down a tank to get one fish out is also a major hassle.

Rather bank on the more "sure thing". The Dwarf Angel is something I'll consider though. I've heard the Fire Angels are a bit better then most. Lemon Peels I've been told to stay away from. And hopefully in a healthy tank they won't do enough damage to kill anything anyway?

I just want to have more colorful fish. I love my little chromis and would love to see them school. But they are also quite boring to look at.

I'll have to put more thought into it. I certainly want more swimming fish though. My clowns stay in my torch all day, my chromis stays within 5 inches of the clowns, and my six line ensures no one strays to far away from where they wake up every morning.

I also want to get an anemone for the tank. But I want a sand based one which rules out the BTA, and all the others are highly likely to eat my mandarin if I get one.

Maybe I'll get 5 20gallon tanks instead This hobby sure is good at sucking people in and making sure they're always buying more!

 

[Moonstream]

it sure is! LOL.

personally, I would do 2 29g tanks side by side, drill them and connect them to a single 30g long fuge. in one, do a reef with SPS, clams, LPS, ect. and your clowns, midas and chromis. get 1-2 friends for the chromis and a YWG.

then in the second tank keep tons of softies, mushrooms and zoas, a pair of SH or pipefish, a pair of neon gobies, a trio of greenbanded or clown gobies, a firefish and a barbershop goby with a randalls pistol shrimp.