Utilitarian fish/stocking fish for 60 breeder?

[jonelder68]

Needing ideas on utilitarian fish for my SPS 60 gallon breeder build? Besides a pair of clowns and a flame angle if I can find one to behave I’m open to everything else. Questionable on a bristle tooth tang? Worried about tank size. I’m not one to place fish and remove once they’ve grown. What other good utilitarian fish for my tank size? Sump is 60 gallon breeder as well paired with a 20L refugium. Planning on heavy stocking the tank and feeding heavy to keep nutrients up. Worried without a heavy bio load I’ll be having to dose. So, any suggestions/ideas?

 

[goosemans]

Six line, yellow coris, Molly miller, algae blenny. I think the tang will be fine with the length

 

[jonelder68]

Six line, yellow coris, Molly miller, algae blenny. I think the tang will be fine with the length

Just read up on most you listed. Seems to cover almost everything! Great list thanks.

 

[skey44]

Yup ctenochaetus ftw. I’d probably say f the tang police and get a zebrasoma too
Also remember there are many halichoeres wrasses not just “yellow coris” get a fish you love and remember they require a sandbed or at least a sand spot as they sleep buried in the sand.

 

[jonelder68]

Yup ctenochaetus ftw. I’d probably say f the tang police and get a zebrasoma too
Also remember there are many halichoeres wrasses not just “yellow coris” get a fish you love and remember they require a sandbed or at least a sand spot as they sleep buried in the sand.

Been curious on biota yellow tangs hmmm…

 

[skey44]

I’d grab a tiny scopas they’re great fish

 

[steveschuerger]

Bristletooth tang is fine. I’ve had one in my previous 60 . Comb tooth blennies like lawnmower or orange spot is good as well. Halichoeres wrasses that stay in 2-4 inch range or maybe smaller fairy wrasse. Sand sifting gobies are good if you don’t have corals on ground level that can get buried.

 

[skey44]

Bristletooth tang is fine. I’ve had one in my previous 60 . Comb tooth blennies like lawnmower or orange spot is good as well. Halichoeres wrasses that stay in 2-4 inch range or maybe smaller fairy wrasse. Sand sifting gobies are good if you don’t have corals on ground level that can get buried.

I don’t think there’s a sand bed…

 

[Northern Flicker]

Been curious on biota yellow tangs hmmm…

Biota YT will come in very small, and would likely be completely comfortable for a year or
so but then ideally should be moved to a 6ft tank.

They swim and swim and swim!

I wouldn’t mix tangs in 60b also. Bristetooth would be happy though.

 

[steveschuerger]

Bristletooth tang is fine. I’ve had one in my previous 60 . Comb tooth blennies like lawnmower or orange spot is good as well. Halichoeres wrasses that stay in 2-4 inch range or maybe smaller fairy wrasse. Sand sifting gobies are good if you don’t have corals on ground level that can get buried.

Yeah BB. No Halichoeres or SS gobies then

 

[skey44]

I think a tiny tang could be in this tank for a good bit longer than a year. OP wants to feed more. Don’t think the bristle tooth and zebrasoma will hate each other if enough food available. He also has a lot of footprint, which I find more likely to reduce tang aggression than length. I’m an overstocker but like the op I don’t want to dose nutrients… If you do it slow and have plenty of filtration I doubt it will be a problem. I think zebrasoma are fine in a 4 ft. Just no paracanthurus or acanthurus. I’m not getting in a tang war, but if you want utility nothing better than a scopas
Ime.

 

[jonelder68]

I don’t think there’s a sand bed…

I’m going to attempt TBS live sand bed. If it stays put! Otherwise we’re going bare bottom. Tanks not running yet…wife decided day of filling she wants to do tile flooring entire downstairs. So tank got got delayed few weeks until I finish flooring.

 

[jonelder68]

I think a tiny tang could be in this tank for a good bit longer than a year. OP wants to feed more. Don’t think the bristle tooth and zebrasoma will hate each other if enough food available. He also has a lot of footprint, which I find more likely to reduce tang aggression than length. I’m an overstocker but like the op I don’t want to dose nutrients… If you do it slow and have plenty of filtration I doubt it will be a problem. I think zebrasoma are fine in a 4 ft. Just no paracanthurus or acanthurus. I’m not getting in a tang war, but if you want utility nothing better than a scopas
Ime.

More volume in filtration than tank size. Built so if/when upgrade it will still be sufficient. So yes heavy feeding on this will be required I have a feeling.

 

[skey44]

I’m not familiar with the tbs live sand, but for high flow and wrasse compatibility I haven’t seen anything better than Caribsea “reef sand” so far.
But tbh in my tank it’s still barely tolerating vortechs at 20pct. I have a 80 gallon shallow reef display similar to your frag tank.

 

[goosemans]

Good luck with the tank, I like your scape

 

[jonelder68]

I’m not familiar with the tbs live sand, but for high flow and wrasse compatibility I haven’t seen anything better than Caribsea “reef sand” so far.
But tbh in my tank it’s still barely tolerating vortechs at 20pct. I have a 80 gallon shallow reef display similar to your frag tank.

Seems it’s chunky. I also have 80lbs of caribsea special grade. Was originally going to use it and seed it with the live sand. But lately thinking just go all live sand?

 

[skey44]

Very cool, definitely chunky.
FWIW I put 40lbs of special grad in my tank and calling it good.

 

[jonelder68]

As far as feeding I’ve got a avast plank plumbed into return. If works like I’m hoping multiple daily feeds shouldn't be a problem. I’ve got about every food there is also to make up a blend of food. We shall see…

 

[skey44]

As far as feeding I’ve got a avast plank plumbed into return. If works like I’m hoping multiple daily feeds shouldn't be a problem. I’ve got about every food there is also to make up a blend of food. We shall see…

Yup those poor tangs in your display will just be abused lol
“Bro I just need more bio load”

 

[jonelder68]

Yup those poor tangs in your display will just be abused lol
“Bro I just need more bio load”

We’ll see how it goes but I know with the 20L refugium and half the 60 breeder sump with chateo I’ll be running low nutrients. Going to have to have lots of fat fish!