75 gal mixed reef stocking

[willy00]

I’m trying to finalize my fish stocking plan for my 75 gallon mixed reef. This tank has some established LPS colonies and I plan to add some sps, Goniopora, mushrooms, and perhaps a few softies. Current inhabitants are:

1 occ. clownfish, firefish, lawnmower blenny, pearly jawfish.

My plan is to add a melanurus wrasse, and white tail Bristletooth tang. After a year or so of letting refugium and pod population establish, a leopard wrasse. This brings the total to 7 fish, and I’d like to finalize the list with something yellow free swimming in the water column.

I’m debating between a bicolor dwarf angel, and a biota yellow tang (would introduce the same time as bristle tooth). Would love people’s input on the list and opinions on 2 tangs vs 1 tang and bicolor angel. I can accept the risk of some corals being munched but am also wondering what long term compatibility is associated with 2 small tangs in a 75 g as well!

 

[Euphyllia97]

If I were you I would skip on a yellow tang or bicolor dwarf angel. With your current stocking, the chances of agression in a 75 are high. If you want yellow I would consider a yellow wrasse or even a yellow clown goby (amazing personality, swimming a lot compared to other gobies, peaceful and small). It would be helpful for the territorial behaviour of the other wrasses if they are with 3 :)

 

[Chessmanmark]

Here’s what I have in my 90 for comparison;

Foxface (the whale in the tank)
Scopas tang
Filefish
2 Canarytop wrasses
Coral Beauty
Clown
Flame Hawkfish
Yellow Assessor (which hides most of the time)
Flametail Blenny

 

[willy00]

Here’s what I have in my 90 for comparison;

Foxface (the whale in the tank)
Scopas tang
Filefish
2 Canarytop wrasses
Coral Beauty
Clown
Flame Hawkfish
Yellow Assessor (which hides most of the time)
Flametail Blenny

Any aggression with this list? The 90 is 4 foot length right?

 

[Chessmanmark]

No aggression.

Yes a 90 is the same footprint as a 75, but 3” taller.

I think feeding your fish adequately eases aggression. Then they are left fighting for their sleeping spot.

 

[willy00]

If I were you I would skip on a yellow tang or bicolor dwarf angel. With your current stocking, the chances of agression in a 75 are high. If you want yellow I would consider a yellow wrasse or even a yellow clown goby (amazing personality, swimming a lot compared to other gobies, peaceful and small). It would be helpful for the territorial behaviour of the other wrasses if they are with 3 :)

What are your thoughts on swapping the Melanurus wrasse for a yellow choris, and a flame black pygmy angel instead of the bicolor?

 

[Chessmanmark]

Funny you should ask, my Vrolik’s, which is basically a Melaurus, just perished after 5 years and I replaced it with the 2 Canarytop wrasses, basically a Coris. I like pairs of fish. They are more interesting, with the exception of clowns that pick a corner and stay there when they are spawning.

A Melanurus is a great fish. IMO they are peaceful. They eat worms, pods, small crustaceans. They outcompete fish like Mandarin gobies.

Angels are always questionable with corals. I had a flame that was a model citizen and one that picked at everything. I also had a Coral Beauty that was great and one that wasn’t. You can get a profile of a fish, however not all fish act the same. They have their own personalities.

It’s aggravating when they mess with corals, and with angels that is usually a high probability. Everyone has their own tolerance for fish that kill their corals.
What’s yours if the angel picks at them?

 

[PharmrJohn]

Funny you should ask, my Vrolik’s, which is basically a Melaurus, just perished after 5 years and I replaced it with the 2 Canarytop wrasses, basically a Coris. I like pairs of fish. They are more interesting, with the exception of clowns that pick a corner and stay there when they are spawning.

A Melanurus is a great fish. IMO they are peaceful. They eat worms, pods, small crustaceans. They outcompete fish like Mandarin gobies.

Angels are always questionable with corals. I had a flame that was a model citizen and one that picked at everything. I also had a Coral Beauty that was great and one that wasn’t. You can get a profile of a fish, however not all fish act the same. They have their own personalities.

It’s aggravating when they mess with corals, and with angels that is usually a high probability. Everyone has their own tolerance for fish that kill their corals.
What’s yours if the angel picks at them?

I had a Coral Beauty and a Flame Angel in my 90. They, too, we're model citizens.

 

[willy00]

Funny you should ask, my Vrolik’s, which is basically a Melaurus, just perished after 5 years and I replaced it with the 2 Canarytop wrasses, basically a Coris. I like pairs of fish. They are more interesting, with the exception of clowns that pick a corner and stay there when they are spawning.

A Melanurus is a great fish. IMO they are peaceful. They eat worms, pods, small crustaceans. They outcompete fish like Mandarin gobies.

Angels are always questionable with corals. I had a flame that was a model citizen and one that picked at everything. I also had a Coral Beauty that was great and one that wasn’t. You can get a profile of a fish, however not all fish act the same. They have their own personalities.

It’s aggravating when they mess with corals, and with angels that is usually a high probability. Everyone has their own tolerance for fish that kill their corals.
What’s yours if the angel picks at them?

Depends on the coral…. Haha. I’d be fine with it eating zoanthids all day but if it ate a Goniopora, fish might be going on vacation to the LFS. I think I’m willing to take the risk with a dwarf angel but I’ve never kept one so I think it’s just roulette based on individual fish personalities

 

[willy00]

Funny you should ask, my Vrolik’s, which is basically a Melaurus, just perished after 5 years and I replaced it with the 2 Canarytop wrasses, basically a Coris. I like pairs of fish. They are more interesting, with the exception of clowns that pick a corner and stay there when they are spawning.

A Melanurus is a great fish. IMO they are peaceful. They eat worms, pods, small crustaceans. They outcompete fish like Mandarin gobies.

Angels are always questionable with corals. I had a flame that was a model citizen and one that picked at everything. I also had a Coral Beauty that was great and one that wasn’t. You can get a profile of a fish, however not all fish act the same. They have their own personalities.

It’s aggravating when they mess with corals, and with angels that is usually a high probability. Everyone has their own tolerance for fish that kill their corals.
What’s yours if the angel picks at them?

I’ve never seen a vroliks wrasse but it looks awesome! Might have to consider this too

 

[Marine Betta]

I’m trying to finalize my fish stocking plan for my 75 gallon mixed reef. This tank has some established LPS colonies and I plan to add some sps, Goniopora, mushrooms, and perhaps a few softies. Current inhabitants are:

1 occ. clownfish, firefish, lawnmower blenny, pearly jawfish.

My plan is to add a melanurus wrasse, and white tail Bristletooth tang. After a year or so of letting refugium and pod population establish, a leopard wrasse. This brings the total to 7 fish, and I’d like to finalize the list with something yellow free swimming in the water column.

I’m debating between a bicolor dwarf angel, and a biota yellow tang (would introduce the same time as bristle tooth). Would love people’s input on the list and opinions on 2 tangs vs 1 tang and bicolor angel. I can accept the risk of some corals being munched but am also wondering what long term compatibility is associated with 2 small tangs in a 75 g as well!

I think the tangs could work. They will fight some, but the two listed tend to be two of the more mellow species. Angels are fine with most corals, but I would not put them in a tank with brains/fleshy corals (I.e. trachies, cynarina, acanthos, favias, acans, etc.) There is a very good chance of them relentlessly picking at these corals and killing them. If you go the dwarf angel route, lemon peels are pretty. Midas blennies are a good, reef safe option too, but he may not get along with your lawnmower blenny.

 

[willy00]

I think the tangs could work. They will fight some, but the two listed tend to be two of the more mellow species. Angels are fine with most corals, but I would not put them in a tank with brains/fleshy corals (I.e. trachies, cynarina, acanthos, favias, acans, etc.) There is a very good chance of them relentlessly picking at these corals and killing them. If you go the dwarf angel route, lemon peels are pretty. Midas blennies are a good, reef safe option too, but he may not get along with your lawnmower blenny.

I already have multiple fleshy lps so I’m not loving the angelfish idea much anymore… thanks for the input!

 

[willy00]

After thinking through these responses I’m now thinking of either a wrasse trio (yellow Coris being one) vs a biota yellow tang. What I really want is the yellow tang/white tail bristletooth combo but it’s obviously the less responsible choice… I might give it a shot and if the aggression becomes an issue I could rehome, or upgrade!

 

[Euphyllia97]

What are your thoughts on swapping the Melanurus wrasse for a yellow choris, and a flame black pygmy angel instead of the bicolor?

That would indeee give you more chance of long term success :)

 

[55semireef]

I’d add a lot more rock to your 75g for starters. Not only that, your tank looks sterile. Tangs require mature rock to graze on and it makes the biggest difference in the world.

 

[rayadog]

^ I agree, add more rock to add any more fish. Once you do that should be better. My yellow coris is always out swimming and willing to lend a hand; cool cool fish.

I do like the look of your scape though; just not enough for fish

 

[willy00]

I’d add a lot more rock to your 75g for starters. Not only that, your tank looks sterile. Tangs require mature rock to graze on and it makes the biggest difference in the world.

The first pic was probably a week after adding that new rock so i'd agree that was not suitable for a tang. I still haven't added any additional fish yet but the lawnmower blenny has been picking at it quite a bit so that's a positive sign. How long do you recommend waiting? I'm getting to the point where i'll have to start manual removal for GHA soon, it's growing quite a bit