Are eight fish to much for 75 gal

re_vogel · 07/26/2011, 12:08 PM

I have an established 75 gal (5 yrs old) with 100 lbs of LR, a Refugium, and skimmer. Currently I have two clowns (hosting an anemone), a six line, a scopes tang, and a foxface. I was thinking of getting a Coral Beauty, a Bicolor blenny, and a Golden Headed Sleeper Goby. Is this too many fish for a 75 gal?

curlykid · 07/26/2011, 12:09 PM

Yes

Inigma · 07/26/2011, 12:13 PM

Of course some might say your tang alone is too much for your 75.

If you ask your lfs, they'd say you have plenty of room, buy more fish.

I personally think you should pull out the tang and fox face and add a handfull of smaller fish if you like having more fish. That way you have more fish and less bio-load.

d0ughb0y · 07/26/2011, 12:57 PM

yes. the tang alone is heavy on bioload, so are blennies (not sure about goby).

sporto0 · 07/26/2011, 01:54 PM

If it's just fish only, you can do it, if it's a reef tank, thats way too many fish.

cloak · 07/26/2011, 02:10 PM

I think you'll be ok. You might have to change out a little bit more water at a time or step up the frequency at which this is being done but it can definitely work.

curlykid · 07/26/2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inigma

Of course some might say your tang alone is too much for your 75.

If you ask your lfs, they'd say you have plenty of room, buy more fish.

I personally think you should pull out the tang and fox face and add a handfull of smaller fish if you like having more fish. That way you have more fish and less bio-load.

yeah, i agree. do NOT listen to your LFS. Unless it is completely family owned, you know the owner, and the employees well, do not trust them. They are out to make money.

re_vogel · 07/26/2011, 02:20 PM

Am I correct in saying the issue regarding the number of fish has to do with the Ammonia and Nitrate produced? Are those the only issues??

sporto0 · 07/26/2011, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by re_vogel

Am I correct in saying the issue regarding the number of fish has to do with the Ammonia and Nitrate produced? Are those the only issues??

Basically yes, if this isn't a reef tank, then it's not really an issue, higher nitrates won't affect fish adversley. You might have to bump up the amount of water being changed a bit. The Scopas Tang does not get that big, so I wouldn't worry about that, with your stock list, I don't really see an aggression issue there.

re_vogel · 07/26/2011, 02:30 PM

ok. Next question. What if I dont have a Nitrate issue because of an oversized Refugium or Carbon dosing. Would there still be an issue?

ChargerOnDavins · 07/26/2011, 02:32 PM

Honestly, I overstock the heck out of my tanks. I use lots of live rock placed to leave as much room for fish to swim as possible, a sump with chaeto, and frequent sometimes weekly water changes for my large bio loads in my tanks. I've never had a problem. I also have quite a few corals.

Tangs are large bio load, but I won't tell people how many my family (parents) and I have in various tanks, that have been fine for years, and when they outgrow (we buy small tangs) we move to a bigger tank, or sell them to another aquarist with larger aquarium. Probably traded 6-10 tangs over the past 6 years.

Metal Man 1221 · 07/26/2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by re_vogel

Am I correct in saying the issue regarding the number of fish has to do with the Ammonia and Nitrate produced? Are those the only issues??

No those arnt the only issues. They are important to consider when stocking a tank. But you also have to consider the size of the fish and specific requirements, such as which fish you cannot stock together and if some fish get fussy about territory.

This is especially true with larger fish that like and need to swim long distances.

IMHO youve got a full tank

Dave & Monica · 07/26/2011, 02:52 PM

I have 24 fish in a 72 gal. Biggest are a 6" powder blue & 5" yellow tangs.

You're hitting on the issue. Bio load. Nitrates and Phosphates will limit your coral growth. I recently had issues with algae and what I'll call "old tank syndrome". - but now I got the bio load under control and coral are not just surviving, but thriving.

My point is you can deal with bio load - but sooner or later, the more fish you put - the sooner you'll have to deal with Bio load. More seriously though is stressing out fish. If stressed, they will bump off tank walls and run into rock. Or be overly aggressive. All my fish are happy, and I think a part of it is getting fish when they are really small. I find it funny – with all those fish, they all hang out mostly together. You’d sear I could add 10 more – I won’t and someday will sadly have to trade out the tangs. Like ChargerOnDavins said.

On bioload - for about a year, I noticed my tank didn't look like it use to (tank up 5+ years now). the path of focusing on red slime/cryo blooms and no coral growth led to focusing on NO3 and PO4. I built a sulfur denitrator and reduced NO3 down to >5ppm, still had algae, coral growth, and tank not looking right issues. Afterwards, focused on PO4 - doubling the GFO, but first used lanthanum chloride to get PO4 down yielded dramatic effects. Today, my corals (SPS especially) have exploded with growth. Things look great and algae is gone as well.

I have a DSB, I have an 30gal Refugium, with micro algae, oversized skimmer (ETS600), and continue on using GFO. I simply didn't test for NO3 or PO4 having the incorrect assumption that all was well if I kept Alk, Calc, and Mag in check. I’m wiser today and learned never to let NO3 and PO4 go unchecked. I don’t dose a carbon source but honestly had a mini crash when I tried to use biopellets.

For NO3: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1288082

For really high PO4: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hanum+chloride

Dave & Monica · 07/26/2011, 02:59 PM

Actually 22 - not 24
4 percs (two mated pairs)
2 golby clowns
4 bartlets
3 chromies
2 tangs
2 flame angles
2 blue damsels
1 golby (looks like the crakin from clash of the titents)
2 (ahh forgot thier names, poke-a-dot tail... in this month Coral Mag too)....

d0ughb0y · 07/26/2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave & Monica

learned never to let NO3 and PO4 go unchecked.

that is, imho, the key point.

believe me, you don't want to deal with nuisance algae. its not called nuisance for nothing. so there are many ways to keep no3 and po4 under control, either you keep only a few fish, or stay on top of no3/po4 export.
keeping few fish is the easier choice.

Felixc395 · 07/26/2011, 03:12 PM

I think that many fish is fine. It does make a difference based on your skimmer too.

FiShScaLe · 07/26/2011, 03:41 PM

What are your equipment specs? Sump size, What skimmer, how often/large are your water changes? These are questions that come into play as well. As for the sleeper goby I'd stay away from him for the fact that they can turn a tank upside down by moving sand around all day long. I used to have one in a fish only set up and he still did damage. Made a huge sand hole under one of my rock structures causing it to come crashing down

Great sifters though

javajaws · 07/26/2011, 04:16 PM

I'm sorry but all of you who gave blanket yes/no answers don't know what you're talking about. There are many more variables at work here than just a simple number. Vogel, read the posts of people who ask the hard questions. Only you will be able to tell us if 8 is too many.

Heck, for some people 1 is too many.

0 tds · 07/26/2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javajaws

Heck, for some people 1 is too many.

LOL!!! so true

Keep in mind that the more bio load you add the less margin for error you will have. A small problem can turn in to a big problem quickly. If your power goes out the more fish you have the less time you will have to get water moving again. Just ask your self if you are going to be able to keep up with the extra load. If you can be honest with your self then you will get the right answer. If you do add more fish I would do it SLOOOOOOW and watch your tank for any signs of problems. You might also need to be perpaired to remove a fish if you do encounter problems.

Good luck

re_vogel · 07/26/2011, 06:32 PM

I have a 75 gal RR with a twenty gal sump, reef octopus extreme 160 skimmer, regugium. I change 5 gal water per week and have about 3500 gph flow.

Felixc395 · 07/26/2011, 07:01 PM

With a good skimmer like yours, I really don't see the problem. I have a 75 with an 1000xp SSS and I can handle ten, twelve easily.

Charley Diesing · 07/26/2011, 07:07 PM

I love it how there is no clear answer for his question. He's probably just gonna go with what he wants to do to start with... lol

Brycen97 · 07/26/2011, 10:15 PM

Too much for a reef sorry

cboy · 07/26/2011, 10:34 PM

Lol I have 7 in my 29

20% water changes weekly

Moving them one at a time into a 75 now. One a week

A. Grandis · 07/27/2011, 01:59 AM

I have 10 fishes in my 75gal. 2 small tangs!
If you keep the maintenance and partial water changes you will be able to have an amazing tank with fishes and lots of inverts.
Compatibility is another thing to think about. You need to know what you're doing.
Skimmer and ~10% water changes every other week will help you.
Once an a while you can use GAC and keep feedind the fish normally.
There will be algae and nitrate/phosphate issues. You really need to be doing your maintenance and observe the system all the time.
But it's possible with most of the fishes in the small size (around 3 inches).
After a while you'll learn how to maintain the system in a very good balance and than it's all good, with no changes.
Grandis.

07/26/2011, 12:08 PM	#1
re_vogel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 262	Are eight fish to much for 75 gal I have an established 75 gal (5 yrs old) with 100 lbs of LR, a Refugium, and skimmer. Currently I have two clowns (hosting an anemone), a six line, a scopes tang, and a foxface. I was thinking of getting a Coral Beauty, a Bicolor blenny, and a Golden Headed Sleeper Goby. Is this too many fish for a 75 gal?

07/26/2011, 12:09 PM	#2
curlykid Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: America Posts: 722	Yes __________________ Sent from my fingers using sensory organs

07/26/2011, 04:16 PM	#18
javajaws Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 1,620	I'm sorry but all of you who gave blanket yes/no answers don't know what you're talking about. There are many more variables at work here than just a simple number. Vogel, read the posts of people who ask the hard questions. Only you will be able to tell us if 8 is too many. Heck, for some people 1 is too many. __________________ Everyone has an opinion. Accept the fact now that someone isn't going to like yours sooner or later. Current Tank Info: 110g in-wall, ATI 8x54w T5, 2xMP40es, SRO XP-2000i, 2-part Ca/Alk, Apex controlled

07/26/2011, 10:15 PM	#23
Brycen97 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: St. Louis Posts: 201	Too much for a reef sorry __________________ Only 15 and reefing on my own Current Tank Info: Cycling 20 Gal. Long

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07/26/2011, 12:13 PM	#3
Inigma Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: California Posts: 453	Of course some might say your tang alone is too much for your 75. If you ask your lfs, they'd say you have plenty of room, buy more fish. I personally think you should pull out the tang and fox face and add a handfull of smaller fish if you like having more fish. That way you have more fish and less bio-load.

07/26/2011, 12:57 PM	#4
d0ughb0y Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: sf bay area Posts: 5,165	yes. the tang alone is heavy on bioload, so are blennies (not sure about goby).

07/26/2011, 01:54 PM	#5
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	If it's just fish only, you can do it, if it's a reef tank, thats way too many fish.

07/26/2011, 02:10 PM	#6
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I think you'll be ok. You might have to change out a little bit more water at a time or step up the frequency at which this is being done but it can definitely work.

07/26/2011, 02:20 PM	#8
re_vogel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 262	Am I correct in saying the issue regarding the number of fish has to do with the Ammonia and Nitrate produced? Are those the only issues??

07/26/2011, 02:30 PM	#10
re_vogel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 262	ok. Next question. What if I dont have a Nitrate issue because of an oversized Refugium or Carbon dosing. Would there still be an issue?

07/26/2011, 02:32 PM	#11
ChargerOnDavins Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 44	Honestly, I overstock the heck out of my tanks. I use lots of live rock placed to leave as much room for fish to swim as possible, a sump with chaeto, and frequent sometimes weekly water changes for my large bio loads in my tanks. I've never had a problem. I also have quite a few corals. Tangs are large bio load, but I won't tell people how many my family (parents) and I have in various tanks, that have been fine for years, and when they outgrow (we buy small tangs) we move to a bigger tank, or sell them to another aquarist with larger aquarium. Probably traded 6-10 tangs over the past 6 years.

07/26/2011, 02:52 PM	#13
Dave & Monica Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 1,255	I have 24 fish in a 72 gal. Biggest are a 6" powder blue & 5" yellow tangs. You're hitting on the issue. Bio load. Nitrates and Phosphates will limit your coral growth. I recently had issues with algae and what I'll call "old tank syndrome". - but now I got the bio load under control and coral are not just surviving, but thriving. My point is you can deal with bio load - but sooner or later, the more fish you put - the sooner you'll have to deal with Bio load. More seriously though is stressing out fish. If stressed, they will bump off tank walls and run into rock. Or be overly aggressive. All my fish are happy, and I think a part of it is getting fish when they are really small. I find it funny – with all those fish, they all hang out mostly together. You’d sear I could add 10 more – I won’t and someday will sadly have to trade out the tangs. Like ChargerOnDavins said. On bioload - for about a year, I noticed my tank didn't look like it use to (tank up 5+ years now). the path of focusing on red slime/cryo blooms and no coral growth led to focusing on NO3 and PO4. I built a sulfur denitrator and reduced NO3 down to >5ppm, still had algae, coral growth, and tank not looking right issues. Afterwards, focused on PO4 - doubling the GFO, but first used lanthanum chloride to get PO4 down yielded dramatic effects. Today, my corals (SPS especially) have exploded with growth. Things look great and algae is gone as well. I have a DSB, I have an 30gal Refugium, with micro algae, oversized skimmer (ETS600), and continue on using GFO. I simply didn't test for NO3 or PO4 having the incorrect assumption that all was well if I kept Alk, Calc, and Mag in check. I’m wiser today and learned never to let NO3 and PO4 go unchecked. I don’t dose a carbon source but honestly had a mini crash when I tried to use biopellets. For NO3: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1288082 For really high PO4: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hanum+chloride

07/26/2011, 02:59 PM	#14
Dave & Monica Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 1,255	Actually 22 - not 24 4 percs (two mated pairs) 2 golby clowns 4 bartlets 3 chromies 2 tangs 2 flame angles 2 blue damsels 1 golby (looks like the crakin from clash of the titents) 2 (ahh forgot thier names, poke-a-dot tail... in this month Coral Mag too)....

07/26/2011, 03:12 PM	#16
Felixc395 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,612	I think that many fish is fine. It does make a difference based on your skimmer too.

07/26/2011, 03:41 PM	#17
FiShScaLe Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 168	What are your equipment specs? Sump size, What skimmer, how often/large are your water changes? These are questions that come into play as well. As for the sleeper goby I'd stay away from him for the fact that they can turn a tank upside down by moving sand around all day long. I used to have one in a fish only set up and he still did damage. Made a huge sand hole under one of my rock structures causing it to come crashing down Great sifters though

07/26/2011, 06:32 PM	#20
re_vogel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 262	I have a 75 gal RR with a twenty gal sump, reef octopus extreme 160 skimmer, regugium. I change 5 gal water per week and have about 3500 gph flow.

07/26/2011, 07:01 PM	#21
Felixc395 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,612	With a good skimmer like yours, I really don't see the problem. I have a 75 with an 1000xp SSS and I can handle ten, twelve easily.

07/26/2011, 07:07 PM	#22
Charley Diesing Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,162	I love it how there is no clear answer for his question. He's probably just gonna go with what he wants to do to start with... lol

07/26/2011, 10:34 PM	#24
cboy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 69	Lol I have 7 in my 29 20% water changes weekly Moving them one at a time into a 75 now. One a week

07/27/2011, 01:59 AM	#25
A. Grandis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Honolulu Posts: 3,418	I have 10 fishes in my 75gal. 2 small tangs! If you keep the maintenance and partial water changes you will be able to have an amazing tank with fishes and lots of inverts. Compatibility is another thing to think about. You need to know what you're doing. Skimmer and ~10% water changes every other week will help you. Once an a while you can use GAC and keep feedind the fish normally. There will be algae and nitrate/phosphate issues. You really need to be doing your maintenance and observe the system all the time. But it's possible with most of the fishes in the small size (around 3 inches). After a while you'll learn how to maintain the system in a very good balance and than it's all good, with no changes. Grandis.