[Mark024]

Okay this is my second post in 20 minutes I think but I was looking at some of the member pages- beautiful tanks guys- and have some questions. I am in the processof setting up a 75 gallon reef- my first one- and am wondering what kind of fish load it can handle. I have a sump that fits about 25 gallons and a seperate refugium that handles around 15, so my sytems capacity, after putting in 90 lbs. of live rock, is around the 100 gallon range. I have always read or assumed that reefs had to be sparsely populated, in a tank my size something like 5 or 6 small fish, but some of the members have a pretty high fish load. I'll use MtnDew Man's tank as an example, which is an amazing 75 gallon SPS tank with 12 fish in it. What extra steps need to be taken, besides time to let the tank mature and balance, to support such a fish load? Also, how do you determine when a tank is ready for the first corals, adn whenafter that is it safe to add more? I know you can test the water but a 2 month old tank can have perfect water quality but not support a boatload of corals. Anyhow thank you for your time and for any opinions you can give me.

-Mark

[Joaco]

Originally Posted by Mark024

I am in the processof setting up a 75 gallon reef- my first one- and am wondering what kind of fish load it can handle. I have a sump that fits about 25 gallons and a seperate refugium that handles around 15, so my sytems capacity, after putting in 90 lbs. of live rock, is around the 100 gallon range.

It's not only a question of water volume (stability & quality), but also fish behaviour (territoriality, available swimming distances in tank, etc)

From the viewpoint of fish behaviour, it's not the same to have a 50 gal tank with a 200 gal refugium, than the other way around. Even when both systems are holding the same volume of water.

Originally Posted by Mark024

What extra steps need to be taken, besides time to let the tank mature and balance, to support such a fish load?

It really depends a lot of what kind of fish. From the water quality point of view: Diet, size & type of fish (waste production), typeof corals you want to keep with them, etc.
As a very general thumb rule, more fish = more waste = higher nutrient level. So keeping high nutrient loving corals will be easier in a tank with a high fishload (only from the waste/nutrient level point of view), unless you keep extra attention to export or/and process that higher load of waste.

Originally Posted by Mark024

Also, how do you determine when a tank is ready for the first corals, adn whenafter that is it safe to add more? I know you can test the water but a 2 month old tank can have perfect water quality but not support a boatload of corals.

I would say wait 3 months before you add soft corals, and 6 months for SPS. But that's just my opinion, it may sound like overkill for others. Lets see what other reefers think.

Joaco

[Elmo18]

Joaco hit on the main points of the fish issue. The more fish, the more waste, and the more oxygen it needs. In other words, there must be enough dissolved oxygen in the water to provide for the fish, your corals, your inverts, and your DSB (if you are going that direction).

I would also say about 6 months at least before SPS when starting a new tank. When i started my 75 gallon tank, i waited 8 months before adding ANY type of coral in. I only had a heater, live rock, powerheads, returns, and lights. Coralline algae should grow like crazy during that time period. I know some add SPS sooner, but it was just a peace of mind for me. I had a disastrous 80 gallon previously when i put too many things at once, and that was only a month after i cycled. Softies, as Joaco mentioned can go in sooner, before SPS.

Definitely awesome that you're doing a 75 gallon reef tank. Ok, now time to let others chime in

- Elmo