[ZBT3091]

I have an empty 75 gallon tank. Filtration is an Eheim Classic, two hang on penguin 7000s and im getting a protein skimmer soon. I am really new to marine tanks, and somethings are really confusing me. I was wondering what it means when certain fish are not called reef safe. I obviously understand that they cant be kept in reefs, but does it means taht they eat the coral and live rock? or invertebrates? or both?? I plan on making this 75 gallon tank a reef tank. I dont know what live rock i want to add or what invertebrates, but after doing research i was thinking about stocking it with: 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Powder Blue Surgeon, 1 Regal Tang, 1 Copperband Butterfly fish, 1 Heniochus, and a forceps fish. I know i will add these fish after im done cycling of course. I was also wondering if buying matured live rock, and buying the seawater from stores that says it speeds up the nitrification, and also the live sand that has the microorganisms will really help the cycling. I was also wondering what kind of invertebrates, if any i could keep with these fish and if i couldnt keep invertebrates would that really badly affect the reef?

[NorthernReefer]

Read my friend!! Three Tangs in a 75 gallon tank is way too many. A Regal requires a minimum of 100 gallon. The Yellow & Powder Blue also require lots of swimming room and an area to claim as territory. You are asking for lots of problems as Regal's & Powder Blue's are Ich magnets as well. Read books or online and do some more research before you stock your Reef. Remember that we have to supply optimum living conditions for all of our fish.

[ZBT3091]

what if i were to take out 2 of the tangs and add a lionfish. Or one of the tangs altogether. Are these fish reef compatible and compatible with each other? is the tank still overstocked? Also what kind of invertebrates would be best suited

[returnofsid]

Lion Fish are not only NOT reef safe. You won't be able to keep any crustacean or motile inverts. They'll eat them. Also because of their eating habits and needs, they contribute a GREAT deal to the bio-load. If you're wanting a reef tank, you want a very light bio-load. I think you'd be okay with 1 tang, as long as it was a Yellow or Scopas tang. Anything else will get too large and/or are too prone to getting Ich. If you do introduce a Yellow tang, make sure that it's the last fish introduced....after any other less aggressive fish. They're quite aggressive most of the times. Also, I wouldn't suggest keeping any Tang if you have any other fish that are primarily herbivours, especially not until you have a very well established system with macro and micro algae for them to eat. Tangs needs lots of veggie matter, the best is in the form of natural algaes that will grow in your tank.

[ZBT3091]

I will probably be upgrading the tank to between 150-300 gallons within a year, probably around 6 months. Would it be alright if i stocked the two tangs with the other butterflyfishes if they were to be upgraded within the 6 months? Or will they outgrow it too soon. Are all of the butterflyfishes i listed reef safe?

[returnofsid]

Most butterfly fish are NOT at all reef safe and the rest are questionable...lol. Some butterfly fish have very specific diets that are hard for keepers to meet.

[weez1959]

I would add only the yellow tang in a 75 gallon but as the last fish introduced. They are very territorial and pick on new fish in a big way.
Also butterflies are very delicate fish that require a well established tank and they will munch your coral.

Even if you upgrade you will need a good protein skimmer with any tang, when they poop it's like a s$%t storm! they're like crop dusters!

Lawnmower blennies are not very colorful but they make up for it in personality, a pair of clowns is also fun to watch.

Also if you are planning on a reef, you'll need some really good lighting, possibly metal halide if you plan on hard corals and clams.....

Hope this helps

[almostdiva]

you can keep both the heniochus and the forceps in pairs or small schools (3 fish) in aquariums. I wouldn't try to do it with tangs in your 75 though -- wait until you upgrade. You could keep those 3 tangs in a 300g, even in a 250 or a 150, but not with all thos b-flies (more for everyone getting along than space). I would WAIT or rethink the copperband. They are often delicate and they take a long time (sometimes...) to get eating. Do a search on "copperband" and you'll see LOTS of threads where people here (including me...) have talked about keeping them. I would absolutely NOT recommend keeping one in a tank less than 6 months old that does not have both live rock and a good skimmer (unless you want to "donate" $30 to your fish store). Their feeding behavior in the wild is to use that long, skinny nose to pick stuff out of the crevices of the reef. They do the same thing in aquariums.

My priority list for you would be: skimmer, live rock, lights (think about the kinds of coral you like and buy lights based on their requirements). When I started keeping reefs, I didn't do things in the right order, and I lost a lot of fish. It's expensive and you get sad and frustrated. Take a look at the Aqua-C skimmers for your 75G. They're good/efficient and not too expensive. If you're really serious about jumping to 150+ in a year, I would say do it now (or get as close as you can). You'll have to replace all the hardware -- what works on your 75 won't be big or long enough for 150+ gallons.

[ZBT3091]

Would adding live sand and matured live rock greatly reduce the cycling time? Also could i use filters from my freshwater tank (two hang on Penguin 7000s and one eheim classic) as filters for the salt tank? or are they useless

[ZBT3091]

After doign a lot of research, i think my final stocking list will be: 1 Regal Tank, 1 Goldrim Tang, 1 Copperband, 1 saddleback.
A few bangaii cardinals. 1 BiColor Blenny, Cleaner Wrasse, Neon gobies, and Percula clowns. What inverts will be safe with these fish

[weez1959]

That sounds like alot!
Don't forget to QT everyone

[ZBT3091]

What should be the latter of the first introduced to the last for these fish to reduce agression

[weez1959]

I would start with the copperband, it's easily stressed by aggresive fish so letting it establish itself might be a good idea. Then I would add the blenny, cleaner wrasse and the neon gobies. Then wait a bit and add the clowns. Then I would add the Regal tang and then the goldrim and banggai last.
Voila! Hope this helps
Anyone have a different idea on this?

[weez1959]

oh yeah I forgot the saddleback, which are you talking about, the clown, butterfly or hogfish, all have a saddleback...

[ZBT3091]

saddleback bfly

[weez1959]

I'm not sure the 2 bflies wouldn't fight and the saddleback will munch on coral...