Fish Recommendations for my 75G SPS Tank

[Patrick Cox]

I am building a 75G SPS reef tank with 36x24x20 dimensions and I am trying to decide the best fish to put in and how many. Here are my objectives...

1. A healthy SPS environment.
2. Attractive fish (I know this is subjective.)
3. A good amount of fish but not too many for the health of the tank.

I have an Octopus skimmer sized for a 90-160 gallon tank (SRO1000LSS). I also plan to keep a small fuge with Chaeto and reactors with GAC and GFO.

Finally, I have two percula clowns and a BTA that I plan to move into this new tank.

So, what other fish would you add to this tank?

Thanks for your suggestions!
Pat

 

[Guygettnby]

a wrasse of some sort, maybe a sixline, mystery or melanarus? i love them and will always have one in my tank to help keep little nasties in check. but are you going to have sand on the bottom or BB? mystery and sixline will sleep in the rocks but melanarus along with many others require substrate.

 

[DopeCantWin]

Wrasses are a good choice, but which ones is dependent on whether you have a sandbed. Candy Hog. A Blenny, or two if you get the tiny species. Gobies which don't mess with the sand, regardless of whether you have a sandbed or not. Stay away from Tangs, save yourself the headaches. I know the smaller ones say 70 gallons, but I've tried it in a 90, and it leads to unhappy aggressive fish.

 

[Patrick Cox]

a wrasse of some sort, maybe a sixline, mystery or melanarus? i love them and will always have one in my tank to help keep little nasties in check. but are you going to have sand on the bottom or BB? mystery and sixline will sleep in the rocks but melanarus along with many others require substrate.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I am starting out BB but will likely add sand in the not too distant future. I read somewhere that it is a good idea to start bare bottom and I think that was to make it easier to remove debris from shedding rock. I did cook my rock though so I probably won't have much of that. On the fish, do I need to have a cover with the wrasses? Also, can I keep different wrasses together?

Wrasses are a good choice, but which ones is dependent on whether you have a sandbed. Candy Hog. A Blenny, or two if you get the tiny species. Gobies which don't mess with the sand, regardless of whether you have a sandbed or not. Stay away from Tangs, save yourself the headaches. I know the smaller ones say 70 gallons, but I've tried it in a 90, and it leads to unhappy aggressive fish.

Thanks. Yes, I would love to have a yellow or kole tang but I do worry that I don't have enough length and the fish will not be happy. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Ok, I have been researching fish a bit more and one thing that confuses me is that I keep reading about fish that should only be put in singly, rather than in schools, so I don't really know how I am going to get up to the 8-10 fish I am thinking of. Here is where I am so far..

2 Percula Clowns
1 Blue Green Chromis (Can I have more than one of these?)
1 Anthias (Bartlett's, Ignitus or Dispar) (Can I have more than one of these?)
1 Fairy Wrasse
1 ORA Mandarin


Question is - could I up either the Chromis or Anthias to maybe 3? That would get me to where I am thinking I want to be on total fish but I also don't want to create aggression in the tank.

Thanks!

 

[BucNtears]

You could look towards smaller fish = more fish.

 

[rsaha]

Tailspot blenny is a very cool fish.

 

[Dexters Reef]

In my 75g sps tank I have a sebae mono, 4 blue chromis, a black and white clown, and two lyretail anthias (male and female). I consider myself maxxed out

 

[Patrick Cox]

In my 75g sps tank I have a sebae mono, 4 blue chromis, a black and white clown, and two lyretail anthias (male and female). I consider myself maxxed out

Any problems with the Chromis getting aggresive with each other? I keep reading that if you put more than one in you will end up with only one left. Is that true or urban legend?

Also with the Anthias, will they eat pellet food at all or is it all meaty foods?

Thanks!

 

[Laddy]

Any problems with the Chromis getting aggresive with each other? I keep reading that if you put more than one in you will end up with only one left. Is that true or urban legend?

No, this is not an urban legend, a lot of people have this happen.....however, its been my experience that chromis can live a happy co-existence with other chromis if they are fed heavily and have adequate space. Feed 3-4 times a day as if you had a harem of anthias. Just my opinion.

 

[glennr1978]

I have 4 chromis, 3 lyretails, 2 percs, and a yellow coris wrasse in my 40. Also kept 2 small tangs (before the lyretails) for well over two years before I lost them due to a power outtage. I plan to add a yellow eye kole tang soon. Your list is a little short imo, lol.

 

[Patrick Cox]

I have 4 chromis, 3 lyretails, 2 percs, and a yellow coris wrasse in my 40. Also kept 2 small tangs (before the lyretails) for well over two years before I lost them due to a power outtage. I plan to add a yellow eye kole tang soon. Your list is a little short imo, lol.

Thanks, and I agree on your last point!

 

[Dexters Reef]

Any problems with the Chromis getting aggresive with each other? I keep reading that if you put more than one in you will end up with only one left. Is that true or urban legend?

Also with the Anthias, will they eat pellet food at all or is it all meaty foods?

Thanks!

My chromis all get along great! It was a rough start though...started with 3, ended up with 1. After a few months added a group of 3 and they all just got along this time. All 4 schoal together for much of the day. My LFS said thats just how it is with them...hit or miss. They said it helps if you can make sure the Chromis you buy are captive raised