Need fish stocking ideas for new reef

[DurocShark]

My daughter has the primary say in what's going into my new 70 gallon tank. And I'm having trouble getting her narrowed down, so am looking for suggestions.

Tank dimensions: 36x15x30. Yes, it's 30 inches high and 36 inches wide.

She only requests 2 different types of fish:

• A BIG fish!
• A school

I tried to explain we won't be able to get very big (like grouper big), nor will we be able to have true schooling fish. At least not enough to get them to school.

My key fish idea was a tang that hits around 6" and a few blue green chromis. She's on board with the chromis (even though they won't group unless they get the crap scared out of them), but doesn't like any of the tangs I've shown her except for maybe the sailfin (which I love and would be happy with).

I was thinking maybe the Vermiculated Angel, knowing they might nibble on corals. Other dwarf angels are too small for her, so anybody have any other ideas?

 

[Saltgator]

I think a dwarf angel would go good in a 70. They are hit and miss with coral. Another good bigger fish that isn't too demanding would be a foxface. They do have size but would be a better candidate than a tang. I would stay away from a tang unless a upgrade was a year out. If you don't want chromis, what about firefish? They stay in small groups and pair off as well. Just another idea. Good luck.

 

[DurocShark]

I hadn't thought of the Foxface. Thanks!

I'm thinking I may have to build this as a FOWLR just to have more options available...

 

[Cment]

Schooling Cardinal fish are pretty cool..

 

[DurocShark]

Agreed. I do like them. Daughter doesn't, even though she made me get pajama cards for my nano. Grrr...

 

[eatbreakfast]

A kole or tomini tang will work inthat tank.

Randalls or dispar anthias are pretty social

A marine betta is an interesting fish that gets to a "good size" but also be appropriate for that tank.g

 

[carlson]

In my 75 I had until it started eating my coral. I also have some clowns, fire fish, and a few chromis. If you can get three good sized chromis to keep from picking on each other too bad they will kind of school. I wouldn't get more than three though because they tend to kill each other off

 

[eatbreakfast]

I keep seeing others post that groups of green chromis kill each other off, but I have often kept groups of them together without that happening.

 

[carlson]

Yeah I've have them killing each other and great success. It depends on their sizes, their space, and how many you have