Need Help with Stocking Fish

nickkohrn · Mar 16, 2019

System Specifications:

70-gallon (265 liters) display with dimensions of 36" x 24" x 24" (90cm x 60cm x 60cm)
- Photos attached for reference
Bare-bottom
8" x 8" x 4" (20cm x 20cm x 10cm) MarinePure plate for biological filtration
Bonsai structure for coral placement
Two dens to provide shelter for fish
- 5" x 4" x 3" (12cm x 10cm x 7cm)
Three EcoTech Marine Radions (bright display, color temperature of 20K)
High flow (Two EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40s & future Maxspect Gyre)

This system is intended to have an SPS-only display, so I am looking for a fish, or two, that will provide some movement as well as utility, meaning that it will help defend against unwanted parasites, worms, bugs, etc.

I am not looking to pack this display full of fish; rather, I want the emphasis to be placed upon the corals. Therefore, I would rather have one, or two, utilitarian fish. They don't need to be flashy, rare, expensive, or even beautiful. However, I would like them to be able to provide some movement since the corals will not.

Wrasses are my favorite fish, but my display is not as long as I would like it to be for fish that are much more active, such as wrasses. I wouldn't mind one, or two, smaller wrasses, but they likely need to be a fairy or flasher due to the display being bare-bottom. A screen lid will be purchased prior to any fish being added.

I have been having an extremely difficult time attempting to decide which fish I want, so I am asking for your thoughts and/or recommendations.

Do you have any fish in mind that may be a good fit for my system?

ndrwater · Mar 16, 2019

Melanarus wrasse and a yellow Tang. Bugs/pests handled, algae kept at bay. Done.

jp_75 · Mar 16, 2019

How about:
Pygmy Wrasse
Flame Wrasse or Mc Cosker Wrasse
Chalk Basslet
Sailfin Blenny
maybe some kind of Goby

Jesterrace · Mar 16, 2019

ndrwater said:
Melanarus wrasse and a yellow Tang. Bugs/pests handled, algae kept at bay. Done.

Not for a 3 foot long tank. YT's IMHO need 5 feet of length to do well long term and the Melanurus needs 4 feet. @the OP, I can't believe I am going to say this, but I think a 6 line Wrasse and Damsel Combo might be what you are looking for (6 line for pests, Damsel for Algae Grazing) and they both have a fiesty enough temperament that they should hold their own against each other.

Jesterrace · Mar 16, 2019

jp_75 said:
How about:
Pygmy Wrasse
Flame Wrasse
Mc Cosker Wrasse
Chalk Basslet
Sailfin Blenny
some kind of Goby

The first 4 won't do any functional service for him though. He wants pest and algae removal services with a couple of fish and do the focus on Corals in this tank. Basically it's a good sized Frag Tank. The Sailfin Blenny will definitely work although I think a Starry Blenny would be more practical in the long run.

jp_75 · Mar 16, 2019

70 gallon is good size tank. He can put few fish...
Aren’t Pygmy Wrasse a pest pickers?
Had Starry Blenny before... Very aggressive towards similar shaped fish. My Sailfin is good algea eater and always in front of my tank.

nickkohrn · Mar 16, 2019

Jesterrace said:
Not for a 3 foot long tank. YT's IMHO need 5 feet of length to do well long term and the Melanurus needs 4 feet. @the OP, I can't believe I am going to say this, but I think a 6 line Wrasse and Damsel Combo might be what you are looking for (6 line for pests, Damsel for Algae Grazing) and they both have a fiesty enough temperament that they should hold their own against each other.

It's funny that you mention these two fish because they are what I was looking at when I was in my local shop. They order fish only from Biota and ORA, and they quarantine them separately for six weeks. They will also quarantine for longer if you prefer, but you have to pay 20% of the cost of the fish, and they will replace the fish if it doesn't survive quarantine. Since they have six line wrasses and lemon damsels, I was thinking about one of each, but I was unsure of the utility of the Lemon Damsel. I agree that they will likely keep each other in line, so adding them at the same time will be an easy way to let them establish dominance from the start.