75 Gal Mixed Reef Stocking Ideas

[Michael Rossi]

Hi Everyone! I've been slowly stocking my tank and know what type of fish I want next, but I've been doing a ton of research and like doing research prior to any purchase.

So far I have:

• 3 Clownfish
• Blue Tang
• Yellow Tang

Next on my list is a wrasse, but I'm not sure what kind. I've been reading different opinions on the six line wrasse, but I like the utilitarian nature of the species.

I was also looking to get a sand sifting goby, but again, I've been reading they are harder to keep and many times cause more problems than their worth.

Any other stocking suggestions?

 

[GoVols]

Well.
3 clowns will be trouble down the road and a six line will be hard to catch if it starts being a nuisance down the road. The blue tangs get huge.

If you have a cover those sand shifting diamond gobies are great, just get one to start eating Mysis (asap) so they don't starve after working through your sand bed.

 

[Zionas]

A smaller Halichoeres will be perfect for your wrasse requirements. You could maybe even do 2 in a 75 if it’s 4’ long.

Some species to look into:

-Yellow Coris

-Melanurus

-Yellow and Purple

-Red Lined

-Adorned

-Claudia’s Wrasse (“Christmas Wrasse”- Halichoeres Claudia)

-Two Tone Wrasse

-Pearly Wrasse

-Neon Wrasse

-Vrolik’s Wrasse

-Grey Head Wrasse


I would do maybe 3 different species, 1 each.


Instead of sand sifting gobies, get a shrimp Goby.


Clownfish should generally be kept to a pair.


A dwarf angel like a Coral Beauty or Flame, or any of the smaller species like the Pygmies / Fisher’s. If you want a Tang, the only ones that’ll work are a Tomini, Squaretail Bristletooth, White Tail, or maybe a Yellow Eye Kole. Yellow and Blue will have to be rehomed down the line.



x2 Ocellaris Clownfish

x1 Flame / Coral Beauty / Pacific Pygmy / Fisher’s / Fireball / Atlantic Cherub Angelfish

x2 Halichoeres spp. wrasses (example: x1 Yellow Coris, x1 Melanurus)

x1 Yellow Watchman or another kind of shrimp goby (Randall’s, Pink Bar, Wheeler’s, High Fin, Dracula, Orange Spotted etc.) + Randall’s Pistol Shrimp if you want a shrimp to go with it

x1 basslet (Royal Gramma, Swissguard, Blackcap, one of the Assessor basslets)

x1 Bicolor / Tail Spot Blenny

x1 Tomini / Yellow Eye Kole / Squaretail Bristletooth / White Tail Bristletooth Tang

x1 McCosker’s / Carpenter’s Flasher Wrasse (or another smaller 3-4” Fairy Wrasse species)

x1 Multicolor Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse (or another smaller 3-4” Fairy Wrasse species)


Assuming your tank is 4’ long, should make for a nicely stocked tank.


If you don’t want Fairy / Flasher Wrasses and you only want one Halichoeres spp. wrasse, a trio of Firefish or Zebra Dartfish could also work, I think.

 

[Michael Rossi]

Assuming your tank is 4’ long, should make for a nicely stocked tank.

Yes, its four feet long.

Yellow and Blue will have to be rehomed down the line.

Yeah, I got them small so I should have a couple years, but my LFS will gladly take them back when they outgrow the tank. Either that or I'll need to upgrade :)

Clownfish should generally be kept to a pair.

That was always what I thought as well. My LFS said it wasn't as much of a concern as they are all captive breed now and said that he had three in his tank without any issues. I'll keep an eye out for aggression towards the unpaired clown to see if one need to be returned, but so far it hasn't been an issue.

And thank you so much for the suggestions. I'll be spending the next few days researching them!

 

[Zionas]

I am glad I was of help! Good luck to you and I hope you’ll put it all together!