How much livestock?

[EricBrian]

I am preparing for building a 75 gallon reef tank and am wondering, how much livestock can I add? Is there a rule of thumb? Any help would be great.

Thanks
Eric

 

[EricBrian]

Ok, I guess my first post wasn't a taker.

So, how about this... I am going from two fishless tanks to a 75 gallon in which I want fish and critters.

I have, so far:

Powder Brown Tang
Yellow Tang
3 Blue Reef Chromis
2 Neon Blue (Cleaner) Goby
Bullet Goby
Neon Dottyback
Scooter Blenny

Red Feather Duster

6 Sexy Shrimp
2 Cleaner Shrimp
2 Peppermint Shrimp

Emerald Crab
Pom Pom Crab

Scarlet Hermits
Blue Hermits

2 - 3 Clams

1 Harlequin starfish

 

[maddyfish]

That would probably be it as far as fish go. My 75 has a yellow tang 2 clowns, 3 chromis, and a small damsel. Watch the tangs for aggression.

 

[EricBrian]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8068038#post8068038 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maddyfish
Watch the tangs for aggression.

Agression towards each other or towards the other fish.

And, the list above is my working wishlist.

Thanks.

 

[EricBrian]

Come on.... tons of you out there with opinions... Let me have them.

I forgot to mention that I will be adding my skimmer is H&S A110-F2000 and hopefully have around 100 lbs of LR. The sand bed I hope will be around 3 inches.

 

[bertoni]

I would ditch the powder brown, since it'd be better with a larger tank. The neon dottyback is aggressive, and I wouldn't mix it with the smaller fish or the shrimp. I'd probably stick to 5-6 fish, a few more if you're choosing small ones like the neon goby fish.

I'm not keen on stocking true crabs or hermit crabs because of their predatory nature. The porcelain crabs are supposed to be okay in that regard.

 

[jamal-188]

I would be concerned about the dottyback and the shrimp, especially the sexy shrimp.

Fish look good though

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I agree with the dottyback/sexy shrimp issue. I would ditch the blue hermits, stick with scarlet. Working with that fish list, I would add the dottyback 2nd to last and the tangs last. What exactly is a harlequin starfish? I would also add to the list of things to get: 20 Astrea snails, 20 cerith snails, 10 nassarius snails, a tiger tail cucumber, and an urchin (pincushion, tuxedo, or "short-spine"). I personally dont trust crabs, I wouldnt add the emerald, and I would think long and hard about the pom-pom.

 

[jamal-188]

Agreed with the crabs...I swore I'd never own another crab after my issues with several emeralds picking on clams and other stuff.

I now have probably 15 scarlets that make up my cleaning crew along with some cerith snails.

 

[EricBrian]

Ok, blue hermits are out and so is the dottyback. I am also going to pass on the yellow tang. I think I only want one 'big' fish.

Here is a pic of a harlequin starfish:

Thanks for the counts on the snails too. But, in my 12 gallon tank my snails just reproduced and I have TONS of them. I think I am good on those. hehehehe

I will think about the urchin. I do like them.

I forgot to mention that I have a tiger conch (sand conch) already that will join the crew in the new big tank.

Thanks for all the input. It really does help.

 

[EricBrian]

Oh, and the pom pom is off the list, too. Gonna keep the emerald, though, since I already have him in my tank.

 

[jamal-188]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8080824#post8080824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EricBrian
Oh, and the pom pom is off the list, too. Gonna keep the emerald, though, since I already have him in my tank.

I'd just keep an eye on him to make sure he's not causing problems.

 

[EricBrian]

I will keep an eye on him. So far, he has been a good tank inhabitant.

Here is the updated list:

Powder Brown Tang
3 Blue Reef Chromis
2 Neon Blue (Cleaner) Goby
Bullet Goby
Scooter Dragonet/Blenny (already have)

Red Feather Duster

6 Sexy Shrimp (already have)
2 Cleaner Shrimp (already have 1)
2 Peppermint Shrimp (already have)

Emerald Crab (already have)

Scarlet Hermits (already have)

2 - 3 Clams (already have 2)

1 Harlequin starfish (already have)

1 Spiny Urchin

Assorted snails (already have)

 

[stgla]

EricBrian,

Have you read up on blue reef chromis? I am considering adding some to a 75g as well but not sure. They are nice looking in catalogues, but I don't know if they will be peaceful in groups the way their green counterparts are.

 

[EricBrian]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8081312#post8081312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stgla
Have you read up on blue reef chromis? I am considering adding some to a 75g as well but not sure. They are nice looking in catalogues, but I don't know if they will be peaceful in groups the way their green counterparts are.

I've always only heard good stuff. Never that they are aggressive. What makes you think that they might be?

Thanks

 

[stgla]

They stay in groups when young, but as they grow, they compete for dominance and kill each other off, leaving you with one or two survivors.

Do a search for chromis cyanea. HEre is one thread to get you started.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=769452&highlight=chromis+cyanea

 

[EricBrian]

Cool. I'll try to find more later.

Thanks

 

[bertoni]

Looks good to me! I did some checking on the powder brown, and it is small-tank tang, after all. I do agree that the Chromis might become problematic.

 

[EricBrian]

THanks Jonathan.

About the Chromis, do you know if there is a similar small fish as beautiful blue and schools?

Thanks

 

[yoboyjdizz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8082688#post8082688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
Looks good to me! I did some checking on the powder brown, and it is small-tank tang, after all. I do agree that the Chromis might become problematic.

I wouldn't keep a powder brown in that size tank.. There one of the more delicate tangs and need far more room to swim and graze. They can get very aggresive as they age and espically in a smaller tank. Don't add any fish after it, mainly because it won't let you. Most sites advertise it as ok in a 75 but they also recomend a naso is ok for a 125. The yellow or kole tang would be a far better choice imo...