Fish for a 90g

[Fishyz]

I'm going to be setting up a 90g FOWLR tank and i was wondering what fish I should put in it. I really want to do a tang- preferably a regal or kole. Any suggestions on other fish?

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

Always a pleasure to respond to a post like yours. You're planning which so many don't do!

The 90 gallon aquarist isn't very well suited for most tangs. However there is a member of the tang family that would be okay in that sized and dimensioned aquarium (assuming it the standard 90 gallon). That is the Sailfin Tang. They don't grow too large and they don't swim long distances like the other members of their family. The fish is very attractive (IMHO) and has a kind of 'dignity' to it that other fish just don't seem to have.

You mentioned tangs but nothing else. The other fishes are really up to your preferences, so long as they will fit well. For instance, the large angelfishes shouldn't and can't be properly housed in this sized aquarium. So don't let anyone sell or convince you to try to keep any of the large angelfishes.

The tank would accommodate one dwarf angelfish, if you like those. Look over a website that sells fishes under their 'dwarf angels' category to see what might be available. Hold out for the one you want!

A Hawkfish would be okay in that aquarium. Look over some of those that won't grow over 6 inches.

The tank could accommodate a single or pair of Anemonefishes. Something to consider.

If you want and can achieve a more gentle community of fishes, then the Tang mentioned above would do well with two or three from the Butterflyfishes group.

There are damsels to choose from, gobies (those that dig will need the appropriately deep sand bed), smallish wrasses, etc.

Keep planning and don't deviate. Remember to try and not to overstock! For fishes suitable for that aquarium you want to stock: young fishes -- 10 or less inches; sub-adult and adult -- 18 inches.

Holidays

[Fishyz]

I did consider doing a sailfin tang, but the LFS said that I would need a larger tank. My LFS also said that I would need a larger tank to do a butterfly, but is there any one that would be ok in a 90g? I do want to do a pair of maroon or clarki clowns. Would you recommend doing any type of anthias? Thanks for your help.

[leebca]

I would disagree with your LFS about a Sailfin Tang, but being conservative can't hurt.

Butterflyfishes fall into two categories: thin and medium. This relates to their bio-load to the tank. If I knew more about the system you plan, I could figure out how many of each kind of fish you could put in, but if you are setting up what I would call a 'basic' system, then the maximum bio-load of the 90 gallon would be about 18 bio units. Each Butterfly of the thin type is worth about 3 bio units and thus the tank could hold up to 6 thin Butterflyfishes. If your preference is a medium kind of Butterflyfish, then these take up 4 bio units each, and that would mean only 4 of those, maximum.

The tank is suitable for Butterflyfishes, either 4 to 6 depending on the kind you want, and each one starting out to be in the less than 3" length range. Butterflyfishes don't need a lot of swimming space so what is important is their bio-load on the system, which for them can be smallish.

Since you've decided on a pair of Maroon or Clarkii, then let's take the worse case scenario -- the Maroon. You have a top bio load unit level of 18. Each Maroon of the pair will take 5 units for a total of 10. You've used up 10 of the 18 leaving you with 8. With that 8 you could add 2 Butterflyfishes, BUT the Maroon pair will defend their territory very aggressively. A Butterflyfish probably won't hold up against the territorial defenses of a mated pair. You'll need to find other fishes that can be put in with such a mated pair.

In my opinion almost any Anthias is not a good choice for a home aquarium. These fish should eat small meals very frequently. Although they can be 'trained' to a 3 times daily feeding, they should have at least 6 in order to live a long and healthy life in captivity. Do you have that kind of time to spend feeding the fishes?

What will go with the pair of Anemonefishes you want is a Hawkfish or Wrasse or Goby or Pygmy Angelfish that doesn't reach sub adult sizes over 5". These are just examples of the groups of fishes that would work fairly well.

It should be important to remember to put the pair of Anemonefish into the aquarium last. I also hope you plan to use a quarantine procedure/process.

[Fishyz]

I'm still "planning out" the tank, and I am going to build at least a 20g sump. I am also going to have at least 50 lbs of live rock and have a good protein skimmer on the tank, maybe an Aqua C. Would I be able to have 2 tangs in the tank, or is that pushing it? If I skipped the maroon's and had a pair of ocellaris, how much would the bio load be? Is there any specific type of butterfly which you would recommend? Thanks again

[Fishyz]

I've also noticed that there are two types of sailfin tangs: the Desjardini Sailfin Tang and there is just the sailfin tang. Which one are you referring to? Thanks

[leebca]

Two tangs aren't a real option. Tangs require no less than an 180 gallon aquarium. But a small Sailfin Tang or small Yellow Tang can either one be okay in the 90.

The Sailfin Tang is Zebrasoma veliferum. The problem with common names is that they are randomly and quite often incorrectly applied. The Desjardini Tang is Zebrasoma desjardini and more (or less) properly known as the Indian Ocean Sailfin Tang or the Red Sea Sailfin Tang or the Desjardini Tang. The Sailfin Tang doesn't get as large nor grow as fast nor need as much space as the Desjardini Tang, so it requires less space until it reaches its adult size.

50 pounds of live rock will reduce the ability of the aquarium to hold fish. You'll have to reduce the bio-load (number of fishes) unless you increase the LR to at least 150 pounds in the display and 30 pounds in the sump, or all 180 pounds in the display. Make sure your total circulation is between 8 to 10 system volume turnovers per hour, too. The type of filter in this case doesn't matter much.

With the 180 pound live rock load, you're back up to the 18 bio-load units. At 50 pounds, I'm afraid you only have about 12.5 bio-load units. Increase the volume in the sump (about 100 gallons in the system when it' running) [NOTE: that is about a 35 gallon sump] and you might get another bio-unit or two. Don't forget all the things that live rock does: What is Live Rock, Anyway?

The Amphiprion ocellaris pair will require about 8 units leaving 10.

This pair of Anemonefish will also defend their territory, but might be comfortable to not extend their sphere of influence much beyond 3 cubic feet of water. Again, they would be the last fish to add.

A hardy Butterflyfish that might get along with the Anemonefish would be the Vagabond, Auriga, Longnose, Klein's, Doublesaddle, Burgess, and possibly a Raccoon. Two from the above list would be fine. You could put three in the tank, but they would not include the Burgess or Raccoon.

You would first have to develop a mature tank. See: The Mature Aquarium. Then you would put in one Butterflyfish into your QT and when ready, into the mature aquarium. After you have thus added your third Butterflyfish, then you put the Anemonefish through quarantine one at a time. You'll finish stocking your disease-free aquarium in about 10 to 12 months.

The key factor to success will be patience.

[Fishyz]

I'll probably only do one tang in my tank, with a butterfly or flame angel, and some smaller fish like gobies and blennies, maybe a wrasse or two. Is there any other "larger" fish that would be ok in a 90g which aren't to aggressive?

[leebca]

No larger fish suitable for a community tank. I mean, you could just put one Triggerfish in that tank, or one Puffer and then no other fishes. Remember, large fishes have larger mouths which mean if another fish will fit inside that mouth, that is where you can expect it to go!

[Fishyz]

I've changed my thinking so many times--first I wanted to do a trigger and a valentini puffer, with no small fish, but now I'm going to skip the puffer and trigger and do a community tank. Out of all the butterflies you mentioned above, which is the hariest? would one racoon be ok in a 90g? Thanks again

[leebca]

The Klein's, Auriga, and Vagabond are relatively hardy Butterflyfishes. The Raccoon is fairly hardy. As mentioned, they will work in a 90 gallon, depending upon what other fishes you want to keep, and how much of the bio-load the fish take up.

[Fishyz]

Thanks for your help. I'm going to be picking up the tank sometime this
week . I'll make my final decisions on fish once I get the tank up and running.