Stocking concerns for 90 gallon.

[MDahms]

Hi everyone. I have a question about my 90 gallon stocking. I don’t want to overstock but may still have room for more fish diversity. The tank is 90 gallons and the sump is 35 gallons. Lots of rock with 3 bommies I built that house many caves and swim throughs. A couple inches of sand on the bottom.

Stocking list currently includes
3 Scissortail Dartfish
1 Firefish
3 Black Bar Chromis
1 Pajama Cardinal
1 Pink Streaked wrasse
1 Melanaris Wrasse
1 Yellow Flanked Fairy Wrasse
1 Royal Gramma
1 Blue Neon Goby

Also many soft corals, LPS, and a couple SPS.

I also have a Yellow Watchman Goby soon to be in quarantine and a Tiger Pistol Shrimp to pair with it and they will likely go into this aquarium.

I think this is alright so far as the fish all have their own space but was curious if this is the upper limit for this size of aquarium? If any more additions were to happen they would likely be more Black Bar Chromis but I have also considered something with more colour that would be active in the mid to upper water column.

Thoughts or recommendations?

Thank you.

 

[Uncle99]

A yellow tang?
A copperband?

 

[MDahms]

A yellow tang?
A copperband?

I don’t have any algae grazers as far as fish go, just snails and tuxedo urchins. I have considered a Tomini Tang or even a blue or yellow eyed Kole Tang. Never had a Tang before as all my other tanks are too small.

 

[Rob A]

A Tomini would work also a valentini puffer if you don't have corals would also work they are great fish.

 

[Reefara]

A tomini would be perfect honestly for your 90 gallon... also for the valentini comment just watch out for nitrite they very messy eaters

i got some tools and planners here... still working on them but might be some help for you.
reefara.com

 

[MDahms]

A Tomini would work also a valentini puffer if you don't have corals would also work they are great fish.

The Tomini has been on my radar. I was concerned it might be a bit too boisterous though likely nothing worse than my Melanaris Wrasse? I don’t have experience with Tangs so have been cautious about adding one.

I also updated my post to include my corals as I have soft corals, LPS, and a couple SPS in this tank so have to avoid fish that like to peck at fleshy LPS.

 

[Rob A]

The Tomini has been on my radar. I was concerned it might be a bit too boisterous though likely nothing worse than my Melanaris Wrasse? I don’t have experience with Tangs so have been cautious about adding one.

I also updated my post to include my corals as I have soft corals, LPS, and a couple SPS in this tank so have to avoid fish that like to peck at fleshy LPS.

A yellow fox face would work too and they are pretty chill.

 

[MDahms]

A yellow fox face would work too and they are pretty chill.

I haven’t really considered a Fox Face as I’ve never really been drawn to them, though the Magnificent Fox Face is beautiful. It’s likely also well above the budget I’d planned on. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Daniel Doherty]

A yellow fox face would work too and they are pretty chill.

I haven’t really considered a Fox Face as I’ve never really been drawn to them, though the Magnificent Fox Face is beautiful. It’s likely also well above the budget I’d planned on. Thanks for the suggestion.

Nah I’d be more inclined with a small tang to be honest. Foxfaces get chunky enough when fully grown, and can actually pick at corals once big.
There shouldn’t be any issues with the tang and the melanarus.
How long is your tank? This is possibly more important than tank volume when dealing with tangs.
I’m guessing it’s 4 ft. In this case, the a bristletooth rang would be the main family I’d be looking at. Kole tangs, white tails bristletooths, blue eye would all be good candidates, but I do agree that the tomini would probably be the best option, as it stays the smallest and that’s my preference for keeping the scale of a tank.
You could possibly add a zebrasoma species, such as a yellow, purple or scopas tang. I’ve definitely seen it done with success. I haven’t any experience with them though so don’t want to advise you. Best of luck, sounds like a great setup!

 

[MDahms]

Nah I’d be more inclined with a small tang to be honest. Foxfaces get chunky enough when fully grown, and can actually pick at corals once big.
There shouldn’t be any issues with the tang and the melanarus.
How long is your tank? This is possibly more important than tank volume when dealing with tangs.
I’m guessing it’s 4 ft. In this case, the a bristletooth rang would be the main family I’d be looking at. Kole tangs, white tails bristletooths, blue eye would all be good candidates, but I do agree that the tomini would probably be the best option, as it stays the smallest and that’s my preference for keeping the scale of a tank.
You could possibly add a zebrasoma species, such as a yellow, purple or scopas tang. I’ve definitely seen it done with success. I haven’t any experience with them though so don’t want to advise you. Best of luck, sounds like a great setup!

Thanks. Yes it’s a 4 foot tank, 48”x18”x24”.
I think the Tomini would be the best match too as so many of the other fish are small. The Melanaris is maybe half grown, the Royal Gramma is mature, and the Fairy Wrasse is still quite small compared to its eventual size.

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

This is what I have in my ~75 and I might add a couple more. No more tangs/bigger fish, but I'm a firm believer that healthy fish () is what helps corals really take off and grow. You need more utilitarian fish to combat algaes and pests. Too many wrasses IMO.

1 - Foxface Lo (Siganus Vulpinus)
1 - Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis)
1 - Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
1 - Yellow Watchman Goby w/ Tiger Pistol Shrimp(Cryptocentrus cinctus)
1 - Tail Spot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura)
1 - Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
1 - Maroon Lightning Clownfish (Amphiprion biaculeatus sp.)
1 - Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
1 - Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
1 - Aiptasia Eating Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) ADDED 2/28/26
1 - Spotted Target Mandarin (Synchiropus picturatus) ADDED 2/28/26
3 - Blue/Green Chromis (Chromis viridis) ADDED 4/3/25

 

[Bucrob]

Hi everyone. I have a question about my 90 gallon stocking. I don’t want to overstock but may still have room for more fish diversity. The tank is 90 gallons and the sump is 35 gallons. Lots of rock with 3 bommies I built that house many caves and swim throughs. A couple inches of sand on the bottom.

Stocking list currently includes
3 Scissortail Dartfish
1 Firefish
3 Black Bar Chromis
1 Pajama Cardinal
1 Pink Streaked wrasse
1 Melanaris Wrasse
1 Yellow Flanked Fairy Wrasse
1 Royal Gramma
1 Blue Neon Goby

Also many soft corals, LPS, and a couple SPS.

I also have a Yellow Watchman Goby soon to be in quarantine and a Tiger Pistol Shrimp to pair with it and they will likely go into this aquarium.

I think this is alright so far as the fish all have their own space but was curious if this is the upper limit for this size of aquarium? If any more additions were to happen they would likely be more Black Bar Chromis but I have also considered something with more colour that would be active in the mid to upper water column.

Thoughts or recommendations?

Thank you.

3 chromis will likely turn into 1 within a month or so, they do better in bigger schools. I think your mix of wrasses is fine though, they are all different niches just add the pink streaked first then the fairy then the melanurus since they can be a bully. You could likely get a tang or a foxface in there like a yellow tang on his own would do good or a bristletooth of some sort but you definitely need some algae control in their even just a tailspot blenny or starry blenny. This is my stocking list for a 4ftx2ftx2ft aquarium:

2 Ocellaris clowns (Amphiprion ocellaris)

2 Skunk Clowns (Amphiprion akallopisos)

3 purple firefish (Nemateleotris decora)

1 yellow corris wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)

1 leopard wrasse bluestar(female) (Macropharyngodon bipartitus)

1 Carpenter Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri)

2 banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)

2 Tangs ( blue hippo + yellow) (Paracanthurus hepatus+Zebrasoma flavescens)

1 goby (1 yellow watchman (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

1 Golden Angelfish (Centropyge aurantia)

1 One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus)

1 Red Scooter Blenny (Synchiropus ocellatus)

1 Copperband Butterfly (Chelmon rostratus)

4 Green Chromis (Chromis viridis)

3 Lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)

1 Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)

1 Tailspot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura)

 

[ReeferMadness1023]

Hi everyone. I have a question about my 90 gallon stocking. I don’t want to overstock but may still have room for more fish diversity. The tank is 90 gallons and the sump is 35 gallons. Lots of rock with 3 bommies I built that house many caves and swim throughs. A couple inches of sand on the bottom.

Stocking list currently includes
3 Scissortail Dartfish
1 Firefish
3 Black Bar Chromis
1 Pajama Cardinal
1 Pink Streaked wrasse
1 Melanaris Wrasse
1 Yellow Flanked Fairy Wrasse
1 Royal Gramma
1 Blue Neon Goby

Also many soft corals, LPS, and a couple SPS.

I also have a Yellow Watchman Goby soon to be in quarantine and a Tiger Pistol Shrimp to pair with it and they will likely go into this aquarium.

I think this is alright so far as the fish all have their own space but was curious if this is the upper limit for this size of aquarium? If any more additions were to happen they would likely be more Black Bar Chromis but I have also considered something with more colour that would be active in the mid to upper water column.

Thoughts or recommendations?

Thank you.

3 chromis will likely turn into 1 within a month or so, they do better in bigger schools. I think your mix of wrasses is fine though, they are all different niches just add the pink streaked first then the fairy then the melanurus since they can be a bully. You could likely get a tang or a foxface in there like a yellow tang on his own would do good or a bristletooth of some sort but you definitely need some algae control in their even just a tailspot blenny or starry blenny. This is my stocking list for a 4ftx2ftx2ft aquarium:

2 Ocellaris clowns (Amphiprion ocellaris)

2 Skunk Clowns (Amphiprion akallopisos)

3 purple firefish (Nemateleotris decora)

1 yellow corris wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)

1 leopard wrasse bluestar(female) (Macropharyngodon bipartitus)

1 Carpenter Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri)

2 banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)

2 Tangs ( blue hippo + yellow) (Paracanthurus hepatus+Zebrasoma flavescens)

1 goby (1 yellow watchman (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

1 Golden Angelfish (Centropyge aurantia)

1 One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus)

1 Red Scooter Blenny (Synchiropus ocellatus)

1 Copperband Butterfly (Chelmon rostratus)

4 Green Chromis (Chromis viridis)

3 Lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)

1 Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)

1 Tailspot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura)

You don’t have any issues with three blennies?

 

[Zionas]

I would do 1 bigger fish and 1 dwarf Angel and space wise I think that’s it. The Wrasses take up the water column and with the addition of 1 larger fish I think bioload and territory wise you’re at your limit. JMO.

You could consider:
(1) Tomini or any Bristletooth Tang that’s not the Chevron (usually not available these days anyway)

(1) Biota Yellow Tang (some will disagree with putting one in a 90 but I seen many do it and they live long lives)

(1) CBB (note, more difficult than most fish)

(1) Swallowtail Angel of some kind (Spotbreast, Watanabei, Bellus)

Some will say a One-Spot Foxface is fine.

If you want something a bit different, maybe one of those captive bred Marine Bettas from BIOTA.

Also, I’d add a Centropyge of some sort to your list. IMO every tank needs at least 1 Angel (coming from a Pomacanthid lover). There’s captive bred Coral Beauties (BIOTA), African Flamebacks (MERS via BIOTA), and rarely Flames (BIOTA, think they’re working on more).

I don’t suggest Multibar, Venusta, Colin’s or Golden (Aurantia) unless you build the tank with them in mind. This includes the CB versions of which many fail with CB Multibars and Venusta from Bali Aquarich, including those bought through BIOTA.

When available again, you could consider a Milletseed Butterfly (Hawaiian endemic) from BIOTA. People seem to be fine with them nipping here and there.

The medium sized Angels that IMP work for a 90 (6”) tops are:
-Red Sea Angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthotis) (Poma Labs will likely have more batches of them, not the most colorful and more “unique” than just “pretty”, but an option)
-Singapore Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus mesoleucos) (the wild ones can be finicky and prone to disease, if Poma Labs ever does them again, buy from them)

-Grey Poma Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus Melanosoma) (again, all wild specimens of this genus can be tough)

Yellow Pyramid Butterfly.

A Roaops subgenus Butterfly (all deepwater, Burgess cheapest, then Mitratus, then Marquesan, Tinkeri and Flavocoronatus unavailable)


What else? Think that’s it.

And BTW I don’t consider one of the Centropyge I mentioned here to be “bigger fish.” 3-4” tops.

 

[Uncle99]

I don’t have any algae grazers as far as fish go, just snails and tuxedo urchins. I have considered a Tomini Tang or even a blue or yellow eyed Kole Tang. Never had a Tang before as all my other tanks are too small.

Both the yellow and the CB spend all day cleaning rockwork.

 

[MDahms]

This is what I have in my ~75 and I might add a couple more. No more tangs/bigger fish, but I'm a firm believer that healthy fish () is what helps corals really take off and grow. You need more utilitarian fish to combat algaes and pests. Too many wrasses IMO.

1 - Foxface Lo (Siganus Vulpinus)
1 - Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis)
1 - Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
1 - Yellow Watchman Goby w/ Tiger Pistol Shrimp(Cryptocentrus cinctus)
1 - Tail Spot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura)
1 - Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)
1 - Maroon Lightning Clownfish (Amphiprion biaculeatus sp.)
1 - Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)
1 - Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
1 - Aiptasia Eating Filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus) ADDED 2/28/26
1 - Spotted Target Mandarin (Synchiropus picturatus) ADDED 2/28/26
3 - Blue/Green Chromis (Chromis viridis) ADDED 4/3/25

I think you’re right. I decided to order a small Tomini Tang so that there is an algae grazer. I had interest in an algae grazing Blenny but my Royal Gramma would likely not tolerate it. It has a history of aggression towards Blennies.

 

[MDahms]

3 chromis will likely turn into 1 within a month or so, they do better in bigger schools. I think your mix of wrasses is fine though, they are all different niches just add the pink streaked first then the fairy then the melanurus since they can be a bully. You could likely get a tang or a foxface in there like a yellow tang on his own would do good or a bristletooth of some sort but you definitely need some algae control in their even just a tailspot blenny or starry blenny. This is my stocking list for a 4ftx2ftx2ft aquarium:

2 Ocellaris clowns (Amphiprion ocellaris)

2 Skunk Clowns (Amphiprion akallopisos)

3 purple firefish (Nemateleotris decora)

1 yellow corris wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)

1 leopard wrasse bluestar(female) (Macropharyngodon bipartitus)

1 Carpenter Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri)

2 banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)

2 Tangs ( blue hippo + yellow) (Paracanthurus hepatus+Zebrasoma flavescens)

1 goby (1 yellow watchman (Cryptocentrus cinctus)

1 Golden Angelfish (Centropyge aurantia)

1 One Spot Foxface (Siganus unimaculatus)

1 Red Scooter Blenny (Synchiropus ocellatus)

1 Copperband Butterfly (Chelmon rostratus)

4 Green Chromis (Chromis viridis)

3 Lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)

1 Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)

1 Tailspot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura)

Thanks. I had really wanted to add more colour so had considered Lyretail Anthias but then decided to go with a utilitarian fish. I just ordered a small Tomini Tang.
The other fish are all in the aquarium. Only aggression was between the Melanaris towards the Pink Streaked but that lasted only a day. The Fairy Wrasse is still in an acclimation box so hopefully its introduction goes well. The other fish (Watchman Goby and Tomini Tan) will be in quarantine for a while. Not sure I’ll see any aggression when they are finally introduced.
I don’t think the Black Bar Chromis behave like Blue Green Chromis. If they pair up they will defend their territory but otherwise they barely even squabble, though they do interact with each other a lot. Not nearly as colourful but I’m hopeful they will be nice additions long term.