Stocking question for an established 75 gallon tank

ssky · 04/18/2018, 07:34 AM

Hi all,
As the title says, I need some help with my stocking options. Some basics.

75 gallon standard (48x18x20) 2 years old
20 gallon sump with skimmer

Currently have 1 clown fish, 1 engineer goby, 1 pajama cardinal, 1 red fire fish
few hermit crabs anda couple of nessarius snails

LPS corals: forgspawns, candy corals, chalice coral

I have tried couple of royal gramma but had bad luck with them. The last one lasted 6 months before disappearing all of a sudden. I still do not understand why they died. no stress no nothing just vanished one day. Then I tried wrasses (yellow coris wrasse twice and flasher wrasse twice) all died with a couple of months again no rhyme or reason. Interestingly never found their corpses. Probably the crabs and snails feasted before I could find anything.

My parameters are all inline with standards, I feed less and change water every 2 weeks.

So here is the history, now I am trying again to add another fish. So far I am looking at kole tang and a orchid dottyback. Any other suggestions?

Thanks

ssky · 04/18/2018, 07:37 AM

My water parameters are:

Salinity 1.024
Temp 76 F
Nitrates <20
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
ph 8.1
Alk 8.7
Mg 1200
Ca 420

Easy E · 04/18/2018, 07:00 PM

The orchid dottyback would probably be a good choice. Most are tank bred now and very hardy. The tank may be a bit too small for a Tang.

Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk

Uncle99 · 04/18/2018, 07:26 PM

Nitrate seems a tad high.
48" is the minimum length for the kole, so that's a toss up whether that would work longer
Term...
Dottybacks great but can be quite territorial...may flash others...but IMO...doable...

j.falk · 04/18/2018, 07:32 PM

Is it possible that the missing fish jumped out of the tank and a family pet might've eaten them? Or there could be dried fish chips somewhere behind the tank?

Uncle99 · 04/19/2018, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.falk

Is it possible that the missing fish jumped out of the tank and a family pet might've eaten them? Or there could be dried fish chips somewhere behind the tank?

Dried fish chips.....LOL

Now that's funny!

ssky · 04/20/2018, 09:46 AM

Well I wish that was true but in all honesty, the fishes just disappeared. I know they are dead but they died in the tank. Nothing jumped out. I checked all around when they went AWOL. But oh well sometime there are fishes that no matter how hard you try they just don't last in your tank while similar fish will thrive in another tank.

I think that is why everyone says all tanks are not equal.

Bent · 04/20/2018, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssky

Well I wish that was true but in all honesty, the fishes just disappeared. I know they are dead but they died in the tank. Nothing jumped out. I checked all around when they went AWOL. But oh well sometime there are fishes that no matter how hard you try they just don't last in your tank while similar fish will thrive in another tank.

I think that is why everyone says all tanks are not equal.

How big is that engineer......

I have a theory as to what happened to your fish.

ssky · 04/23/2018, 07:17 AM

My engineered goby is approx inches and is one of the oldest mate but I have never seen it harassed any fish. quite a model citizen

Frogmanx82 · 04/23/2018, 09:13 AM

If you have plenty of nooks and crannies for a Kole tang to explore you shouldn't have much problem. I really like mine. I've had the same experience with royal grammas, seem to be doing fine and then one day gone. I have a hard time keeping one for a year. I've had my clowns for 10 years. I think you'd be happier with the tang over the dottyback. Its really more of a centerpiece fish that is active and always out in the open.

04/18/2018, 07:34 AM	#1
ssky Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 115	Stocking question for an established 75 gallon tank Hi all, As the title says, I need some help with my stocking options. Some basics. 75 gallon standard (48x18x20) 2 years old 20 gallon sump with skimmer Currently have 1 clown fish, 1 engineer goby, 1 pajama cardinal, 1 red fire fish few hermit crabs anda couple of nessarius snails LPS corals: forgspawns, candy corals, chalice coral I have tried couple of royal gramma but had bad luck with them. The last one lasted 6 months before disappearing all of a sudden. I still do not understand why they died. no stress no nothing just vanished one day. Then I tried wrasses (yellow coris wrasse twice and flasher wrasse twice) all died with a couple of months again no rhyme or reason. Interestingly never found their corpses. Probably the crabs and snails feasted before I could find anything. My parameters are all inline with standards, I feed less and change water every 2 weeks. So here is the history, now I am trying again to add another fish. So far I am looking at kole tang and a orchid dottyback. Any other suggestions? Thanks

04/18/2018, 07:00 PM	#3
Easy E Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 101	The orchid dottyback would probably be a good choice. Most are tank bred now and very hardy. The tank may be a bit too small for a Tang. Sent from my RS988 using Tapatalk __________________ “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. ~Mark Twain~” Current Tank Info: 55 gal FOWLR w/15 gal above tank refugium, 10 gal nano FOWLR

04/18/2018, 07:32 PM	#5
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	Is it possible that the missing fish jumped out of the tank and a family pet might've eaten them? Or there could be dried fish chips somewhere behind the tank? Last edited by j.falk; 04/19/2018 at 09:46 AM.

04/23/2018, 09:13 AM	#10
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	If you have plenty of nooks and crannies for a Kole tang to explore you shouldn't have much problem. I really like mine. I've had the same experience with royal grammas, seem to be doing fine and then one day gone. I have a hard time keeping one for a year. I've had my clowns for 10 years. I think you'd be happier with the tang over the dottyback. Its really more of a centerpiece fish that is active and always out in the open. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

04/18/2018, 07:37 AM	#2
ssky Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 115	My water parameters are: Salinity 1.024 Temp 76 F Nitrates <20 Nitrite 0 Ammonia 0 ph 8.1 Alk 8.7 Mg 1200 Ca 420

04/18/2018, 07:26 PM	#4
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Nitrate seems a tad high. 48" is the minimum length for the kole, so that's a toss up whether that would work longer Term... Dottybacks great but can be quite territorial...may flash others...but IMO...doable...

04/20/2018, 09:46 AM	#7
ssky Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 115	Well I wish that was true but in all honesty, the fishes just disappeared. I know they are dead but they died in the tank. Nothing jumped out. I checked all around when they went AWOL. But oh well sometime there are fishes that no matter how hard you try they just don't last in your tank while similar fish will thrive in another tank. I think that is why everyone says all tanks are not equal.

04/23/2018, 07:17 AM	#9
ssky Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 115	My engineered goby is approx inches and is one of the oldest mate but I have never seen it harassed any fish. quite a model citizen