OK, so the top has been closed and now it is time to restock with fish... looking for some suggestions of interesting and beautiful fishes to place back in the tank. keeping in mind that this is currnetly only a 38G that will be upgraded to a 75 G RR around the furst of the year....I know that I will be getting rid of the G/S maroon clown that I have now and going to a pair of percula's and that I am also interested in a fairly easy to keep and good size angel as well as a tang...
restocking help
- Thread starter rnhrtfan
- Start date
firefish2020
New member
Yellow tang would also be fine in a 75 just don't keep to many "bigger fish".
firefish2020
New member
Don't waste your money on a Yasha in anything larger than a 29 LOL you will likely never see that fish until you feed. Yellow head Jaws are a bad choice as well, as most will not eat and are serious jumpers though there are some exceptions, I kept one for over a year in one of the old 33 we used to have at the shop.
firefish2020
New member
Yep that's what I mean, you never see those things until you feed. Did you see there shrimp buddies, they are there also? They are far more enjoyable in a small tank IMO, especially for there price 
I want fish that I will see that is for sure. Already spent money on fish that I can't see now and that sucks.!!! Don't want too may bigger fish 1-2 that will "stand out" or are "center pieces" in the tank with smaller tank mates (clowns, gobies, firefish ect.). The tank will be mostly comprised of LPS and softies so that may help for suggestions.
firefish2020
New member
Yellow Tang (eats algae) and a Kole Tang (eats film algae) would be great. Koles are hard to get to eat at first though but they are a great fish. Also could do a Copper band instead of one of the above.
fishmon
New member
If you like the jawfish, bluespots are beautiful and pretty available lately and there hardy. I have one in my display at the shop and he is awesome. I also have the yasha in my seahorse display. He's been there for over a year and the ONLY time you see him is when fed. A cool, hardy, smaller tang is the Tomini "flamefin" tang, they do really well.
OK I may open a can of worms here but I have to ask. What determines how big of tank it takes to acommidate a particular fish.?. Most all articles and books (except fish guides) say that a 1-2 and sometimes 3 inch per gallon rule is a safe bet.? if that is the case then why would a 7" angel with a couple of small fish not work on a tank down to as small as a 55??? obviously you wouldn't want the fish so large it couldn't turn around but what makes an angel too big for a tank smaller than 90-100 G? this is just for my knowledge I am not doubting anyone.
firefish2020
New member
Most larger fish require a good 6 foot or larger tank to to have enough "run room" and live a long life. SW fish have to exercise and need plenty of room to do so, that's why flow and tank size still play such a vital role in not only reef systems but also fish only tanks. You also have to account for nutrient export, a large fish in a small tank will need far more filtration to maintain ecological balance and health than in a larger tank.
MattG
Premium Member
I think a lot of the tank size to fish ratios come from observing fish in nature. If you have ever done any diving/snorkeling and observed tangs in the wild they will take off in a direction and swim for very long distances. Most of the time much longer then any of our aquariums would provide.
IMO the most important aspect of tank size when trying to accommodate a fish is tank length. Most active fish do much better in long tanks. I wouldn't personally put any tang in a tank shorter then 4 feet. For some tangs this seems to be fine for others 6 feet or larger seems to work better.
There are many great dwarf angels but with them there is a good chance they might nip at your corals. I had a flame angel in my previous 30 that did great. A number of people would say that it was too small of a tank, but i disagree. Just use common sense. If its a fish that swims constantly a longer tank is better. If its a fish that doesn't swim around a ton a short tank is fine. The exception as Ron mentioned is messy eaters. A large lionfish, although very placid is not appropriate for a small tank because of the bioload that is needed to sustain it.
I like a variety of the different gobys. Diamond watchman or yellow watchman are very interesting fish.
If you want to keep a dwarf angel i say go for it. Just be willing to accept the consequences. My favorite common dwarf would be a flame.
IMO the most important aspect of tank size when trying to accommodate a fish is tank length. Most active fish do much better in long tanks. I wouldn't personally put any tang in a tank shorter then 4 feet. For some tangs this seems to be fine for others 6 feet or larger seems to work better.
There are many great dwarf angels but with them there is a good chance they might nip at your corals. I had a flame angel in my previous 30 that did great. A number of people would say that it was too small of a tank, but i disagree. Just use common sense. If its a fish that swims constantly a longer tank is better. If its a fish that doesn't swim around a ton a short tank is fine. The exception as Ron mentioned is messy eaters. A large lionfish, although very placid is not appropriate for a small tank because of the bioload that is needed to sustain it.
I like a variety of the different gobys. Diamond watchman or yellow watchman are very interesting fish.
If you want to keep a dwarf angel i say go for it. Just be willing to accept the consequences. My favorite common dwarf would be a flame.
If you want fish that you continually see, try tank/bred raised fish. It is light night and day. It's the difference between a hand fed bird and one wild caught, if you get my drift.
When you walk into the room, there nose is on the front glass waiting for you.
When you walk into the room, there nose is on the front glass waiting for you.
firefish2020
New member
Actually I have seen tank raised just as unresponsive and unhealthy unfortunately as ocean caught fish. Plus there is only a small hand full of tank bred species available to the hobby so far. It has a lot to do with there environment from what I have seen. Give a fish a lot of flow and places to hide and you have a happy fish in most cases.
