75 gallon discussion

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NathanC

New member
I am setting up a 75-gallon reef 30-gallon sump t5 lights

My current planned stock list is

1x Kole tang

1x snowflake eel coming from a friends tank is fine around corals

possibly a six lined wrasse

any recommended stock or criticism on current list is encouraged


various lps corals



Any tips would be very helpful

thanks
 
I tend to err on the side of larger tanks, so take this with that in mind. A 75 is too small for the Kole Tang - I don't put any tang in less than a 6 foot tank. Some may think a 4 foot tank is ok, but not me...

I've never kept eels, so can't speak much to that - except to say that in order for any fish to not be in threat of being eaten, it will have to be a good bit larger than the eels mouth. Meaning the Tang would have to be large(r) and likely rule it out of a 75. Six line wrasse is definitely snack size I would think. But, maybe someone with eel experience can chime in. In my reading, they are supposed to behave more or less if you keep them well fed, but you can never remove the predator from the predator - if you know what I mean : )
 
I would not advised putting a Kole Tang in that size tank. Kole could easily go into a 90 or 120 gallon, 4ft tank, but a 75 gallon is pushing it. I he was the only fish, you might could get away with it. 6-Line Wrasse could be a snack for the eel as mentioned earlier and they can also be complete jerks towards other fish.
 
liveaquaria.com recommends minimum 70g for a kole tang. i have one in my 75g reef and he does just fine.

are you planning on any other fish besides the ones you listed? your tank will have to be 100% escape proof if you plan to keep an eel. also, six lines can be extreme bullies. if you want a wrasse, there are many other options. in my tank, i have a vrolik's, yellow coris, red velvet fairy, all wrasses. many wrasses require a sand bed deep enough to bury themselves during sleep or if stressed so keep that in mind.
 
Liveaquaria is really interested in selling fish to as many people as possible, with as wide a range of tank sizes. I would double any of their recommendations for min. tank sizes, especially for Tangs. But, as you are seeing - opinions differ : )
 
Thank you everyone for the responses. I have scratched the tang and the wrasse. Would a Foxface rabbit fish work or are there any tangs that would be fine.
One spot foxface rabbit fish. The eel and other fish of undeterminedness would be only fish.
 
Just remember that fish/eels will try to fit anything in their mouths : ) Pic I took off CA coast - this rockfish is about 2/3 the size of the sculpin. It won't be able to swallow it, but will kill it just the same...

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/97630512@N02/11702175455/in/album-72157639300213473/" title="lunch"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7361/11702175455_2839c39227_k.jpg" width="2048" height="1365" alt="lunch"></a>******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Last edited:
Entacmaea said:
Liveaquaria is really interested in selling fish to as many people as possible, with as wide a range of tank sizes. I would double any of their recommendations for min. tank sizes, especially for Tangs. But, as you are seeing - opinions differ : )
Click to expand...

i find LA general spot on when it comes to tank sizes. Scott Michael, author and reef fish authority, also recommends a 75 gallon minimum size; and i don't believe he is selling anything but books? what is it that makes you suggest a kole's needs a 150 gallon? the fish generally only grows to about 6", not too big for a tang.
 
Kindness I guess : ) 6 foot tank minimum for any Tang, and really any fish that is an open water swimmer. From your avatar photo, you are a diver like me, and have seen Tangs on the reef. They are not clowns, or gobies, or other fish which are more adapted to living in a defined restricted area.

I don't advocate for doing the "minimum" in most things, especially when it comes to taking a fish from the wild and making it a pet. I think in general the hobby needs to re-calibrate these minimum standards for giving these amazing creatures the best possible environment we can.
 
Entacmaea said:
Kindness I guess : ) 6 foot tank minimum for any Tang, and really any fish that is an open water swimmer. From your avatar photo, you are a diver like me, and have seen Tangs on the reef. They are not clowns, or gobies, or other fish which are more adapted to living in a defined restricted area.

I don't advocate for doing the "minimum" in most things, especially when it comes to taking a fish from the wild and making it a pet. I think in general the hobby needs to re-calibrate these minimum standards for giving these amazing creatures the best possible environment we can.
Click to expand...

sound like a good reason!!!:thumbsup: however, i think my 5', disease free dt provides my tangs with a good home. imo, tank size is only one criteria in providing a habitat for reef fish and i generally follow Scott Michael's advice.
 
Totally, and I fully acknowledge I err on bigger in general, so I respect other opinions. There is another reason for the 6 foot criteria, at least in my mind - to your point about tank size only being one criteria, which I absolutely agree with. Generally, when people have a 6 foot tank, it is their 2nd or 3rd tank, having graduated to that size, and they have reached a certain level of experience that makes them more successful keeping Tangs and other open water fish, which are in general less adapted to tank life and harder to keep. Lots of generalities there :) LOL. But, that is part of my thinking.
 
Yeh I have a fox face in my 6 ft 180g he started out 4 inc 6 months ago and has doubled in size! ! I'm not sure how big he will get but I wouldn't put him in any smaller than that just my opinion.
 
wij said:
Yeh I have a fox face in my 6 ft 180g he started out 4 inc 6 months ago and has doubled in size! ! I'm not sure how big he will get but I wouldn't put him in any smaller than that just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Oh that is alot bigger than I have read!

How would a yellow tang work?
 
NathanC said:
Oh that is alot bigger than I have read!

How would a yellow tang work?
Click to expand...

imo, i would skip the kole, yes sorry!!:uhoh3: however, a single yellow would be the only tang i would put in a 75g. i would also skip the eel.
what about a dwarf lionfish?
 
Personally I think all the bristletooths are prettier than any of the tangs mentioned thus far.

1-spot fox should be cool though.
 
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