75 gallon reef tank stocking suggestions?

tanuki

tanuki

Member
I know it is early in the game to let the residents move in, but I want to start reviewing their applications before I can approve any leases :)
I have a 75 gallon tank, and need some help deciding on a good balance of animals/ coral etc. I guess the only criteria is:
1-2 clowns
Starfish
I would like to build this based on lifetime residents, I do not like the idea of swapping out fish as they outgrow the tank etc. If I want bigger fish, I will buy a second tank. If I buy a second tank I am going 200+ gallons because I want a shark :)
I am interested to hear some opinions/ ideas for my build. I would like to have life at all levels of the tank.
Oh and if you know of a good trick the clean the salty looking film off the acrylic inside the tank, please chime in.
Thanks
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
The MagnaFloat cleaners work best, just make sure you buy the one for acrylic, not glass. Or you can just use a clean, soft rag and wipe it down by hand, which is the safest way, since acrylic scratches easily.
If I recall correctly, you really wanted to have a tang, yes?
Once your tank is mature and there is enough established live rock for one to graze on, you could probably get away with a Kole or Tomini, commonly referred to as the "Bristletooth Tangs." Some of these include the Bristletooth Tomini, Yellow Eye Kole, Two Spot Bristletooth, etc. They're all part of the Ctenochaetus group of tangs.
So assuming you wanted a tang, here's the stock list that I would recommend:
Yellow Eye Kole Tang
BiColor Blenny
2 Ocellaris or Percula Clownfish - I wouldn't go with any of the bigger varieties
1 Flasher or Fairy Wrasse, such as a McCosker's or Red Velvet (You actually can do one of each - flasher and fairy)
1 Green Banded Goby, or similar small goby
1 Golden Assessor Basslet
Maybe a dwarf Angel such as a Coral Beauty
Maybe a trio of Firefish
The options are endless for fish and corals, but that's an idea for fish
As far as corals go, a lot will depend on your lighting. Some corals, such as SPS require higher lighting. Start with soft corals such as palythoas, zoanthids, mushrooms, etc and once you have a good handle on them, you can move onto some LPS such as brain coral, favia, torch, frogspawn, duncans, etc.
 
clown-keeper99

clown-keeper99

Member
My 2 cents:
x2 false perc. clowns
x3 bluegreen chromis
x1 algea blenny
x1 dwarf angel (Flame angels are my favorite)
x1 longnose hawk
the brittle is the hardiest starfish I have ever come across
 
tanuki

tanuki

Member
Thanks for the great start/ ideas.
I do like that Yellow Eyed Kole Tang quite a bit. Looks very cool.
How are the Algea Blenny's in comparison with the Gobby?
That Flame Angel is VERY impressive too. Could that Flame do ok with the Tang in the same tank?
As I have been looking, I am finding that I like some of the Triggers and batfish too. I remember seeing a Niger Trigger at a friends though that was VERY aggressive and basically needed to live alone. Is this generally the case?
Thanks again for the great ideas. I am liking where this is going.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanuki http:///forum/thread/386168/75-gallon-reef-tank-stocking-suggestions#post_3390455
Thanks for the great start/ ideas.
I do like that Yellow Eyed Kole Tang quite a bit. Looks very cool. They're one of my favorites. Very peaceful as well
How are the Algea Blenny's in comparison with the Gobby? You could do one of each. I have two gobies and two blennies in my tank, they get along fine. Usually gobies will fight with gobies and blennies will fight with other blennies in smaller tanks, but you should be fine with one of each.
That Flame Angel is VERY impressive too. Could that Flame do ok with the Tang in the same tank? They should be fine. I've noticed that flames can be a little aggressive, so make it towards the end of your stocking list if you choose one.
As I have been looking, I am finding that I like some of the Triggers and batfish too. I remember seeing a Niger Trigger at a friends though that was VERY aggressive and basically needed to live alone. Is this generally the case? Triggers are aggressive, and really do not belong in anything under 100G or they become more aggressive. Batfish are very neat fish, but grow HUGE and have been known to eat inverts (mainly anemones) and corals.
Thanks again for the great ideas. I am liking where this is going.
 
tanuki

tanuki

Member
^Yeah I had read that the skimmer and filters generally take out the larva, but a google search brought up a few threads of cases where people had begun to see them reproducing in their tanks.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanuki http:///forum/thread/386168/75-gallon-reef-tank-stocking-suggestions#post_3390492
^Yeah I had read that the skimmer and filters generally take out the larva, but a google search brought up a few threads of cases where people had begun to see them reproducing in their tanks.
They almost never do. People "think" they're seeing baby snails, but usually what they're seeing is Collonista snails that come as live rock hitchhikers. These guys will reproduce, but you want that. If you're truly afraid of a snail outbreak, add some hermit crabs when you think your snail population is out of control. Those suckers kill snails just for the pure fun of it.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
hermits only kill snails if they dont have a shell to move in! Not for fun, survival of the fittest! Jeez u really dont like hermits BTL! I dont like the big ones so i feel ur pain!
Tanuki
If i ever get my 75 goin i plan on have a trio of chalk basslets and a spotted linkia! Thats all ive decided on so far, maybe a coral beauty and my longnose hawk from my other tank...and my blenny from my other tank lol
 
tanuki

tanuki

Member
^Thanks for the info I think my fav fish are the ones that are kind of strange and really don't look anything like freshwater fish. I guess that makes sense?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/386168/75-gallon-reef-tank-stocking-suggestions#post_3390500
hermits only kill snails if they dont have a shell to move in! Not for fun, survival of the fittest! Jeez u really dont like hermits BTL! I dont like the big ones so i feel ur pain!
Tanuki
If i ever get my 75 goin i plan on have a trio of chalk basslets and a spotted linkia! Thats all ive decided on so far, maybe a coral beauty and my longnose hawk from my other tank...and my blenny from my other tank lol
I give them shells. I've literally watched a hermit kill a snail and NOT take its shell, just ate it and walked away.
They issue is that they are opportunists and omnivores, if they see food, they'll eat it, and this includes snails.
 
tanuki

tanuki

Member
I looked at a few of the suggested fish yesterday when I went to buy live rock. The Flame Angel is BRIGHT. I think it is funny when you go to the store and there is no real info on the animals. I haven't started buying yet, but do the sales people talk to you about your set up to make sure you aren't just buying on impulse/ and know what you are getting into?
Here are a few creatures I like, but I don't know that all of their sizes will work anyway. I also know this list would definitely overstock the tank, but I am thinking of a long list, then cutting it back a bit :) Also are there schooling fish at all? Like a tetra of the sea?
Calico Crab (Probably gets too big)
Pom Pom Crab
Serpent Starfish
Mandarin Goby
Six Line Wrasse
Percula/ Ocellaris both look good
Fuzzy Dwarf Lion Fish (How are these? I have read from some REEF SAFE and Others say they are not)
Red Scooter blenny
Reef safe Puffers?
Reef Safe Eels?
Princess Parrot Fish
Pajama Cardinal
Naso or Kole Tang
Ok that is today's wishlist. I am sure things will change.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanuki http:///forum/thread/386168/75-gallon-reef-tank-stocking-suggestions#post_3390726
I looked at a few of the suggested fish yesterday when I went to buy live rock. The Flame Angel is BRIGHT. I think it is funny when you go to the store and there is no real info on the animals. I haven't started buying yet, but do the sales people talk to you about your set up to make sure you aren't just buying on impulse/ and know what you are getting into? Some places will talk to you about your setup and give you honest advice, but unfortunately, most places don't care and just want to make money.
Here are a few creatures I like, but I don't know that all of their sizes will work anyway. I also know this list would definitely overstock the tank, but I am thinking of a long list, then cutting it back a bit :) Also are there schooling fish at all? Like a tetra of the sea? Best way to go about it, make a huge list. List everything you like. The more we know you like, the better we can help you pick fish. Yes, there are schooling/schoaling fish. Anthias and chromis are the two most common. If you place three or four of the same type of flasher or fairy wrasses together at the same time, they will sometimes also form a harem, especially if only one is male. Firefish will sometimes group together, as well as cardinals. In large setups, tangs will group together as well.
Calico Crab (Probably gets too big) Cool crab, but it will eat just about anything you put in the tank. They're VERY aggressive.
Pom Pom Crab One of my favorites.
Serpent Starfish
Mandarin Goby Once your tank is established it should be fine. If you can get your hands on a ORA Mandarin that is already trained to eat frozen, you'll be even further ahead of the game.
Six Line Wrasse Beautiful fish, but very aggressive. I had one that killed a mandarin on me and attacked just about every other fish in the tank. If you must have this fish, the best way to cut down on aggression is to make it the absolute last fish you add. Some people get lucky and their Six Line is a model citizen. The issue is, they're quick, and learn every inch of your rock work in about 20 seconds. They're impossible to catch once they're in a reef.
Percula/ Ocellaris both look good
Fuzzy Dwarf Lion Fish (How are these? I have read from some REEF SAFE and Others say they are not) They'll eat anything they can fit in their mouth (small fish, the Pom Pom Crab could be at risk, shrimp, etc). Best to have them converted to frozen before putting in a reef tank. I know people that have them in reefs successfully, but not many do. They are reef safe in the sense that they won't eat your coral, but they aren't reef safe in the sense that they can eat your shrimp and other inverts.
Red Scooter blenny Choose him or the mandarin, don't do both, they'll fight with each other and be fighting over the same food source.
Reef safe Puffers? It's hit or miss with some of the Toby Puffers. I know a few people that have Leopard Puffers that behave. Again, it's one of those fish that you just have to ask yourself if it's worth the risk, because they can nip at corals and inverts.
Reef Safe Eels? They'll eat your shrimp, but they're not going to harm your corals.
Princess Parrot Fish One of my favorites. Completely too aggressve and too large for your setup. Not reef safe.
Pajama Cardinal It took me a long time to like mine. But I like that they're nocturnal (for the most part) and dart around the tank at night, it gives it some life)
Naso or Kole Tang Naso will grow entirely too big for your setup, Kole would do fine.
Ok that is today's wishlist. I am sure things will change. I can't even begin to tell you how many times my 180 stock list has changed, LOL
 
tanuki

tanuki

Member
^Why do I love your responses so much? haha Knowledge.
Maybe I will catch a bunch of sand crabs and just harvest them so I don't have to think about all this other stuff.
 
tanuki

tanuki

Member
^I can help if you get cichlid questions :)
how are emerald crabs? they eat everything and everyone too?
I think I like clams too.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator

^I can help if you get cichlid questions :)

how are emerald crabs? they eat everything and everyone too?

I think I like clams too.
Emerald crabs usually behave themselves.
 
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