Best fish

I have a 75 gallon reef tank with about 135lbs of live rock and numerous corals, Currently, I have a blue damsel and a yellow tail damsel. I did read the sticky post about beginner fish but still wanted opinions about what fish to add. I have been told by my LFS that the damsels need to come out, so I will take them back to the LFS this week. I am not sure what kind of fish to get and how many. I am leaning towards a hippo tang and a clown fish (kids request). I would like the fish to be colorful and active. Any suggestions? My tank is about 4 months old. Also how many Hippos or other tangs could I keep.

 

I would get a pair of clowns first.
With a 75, you would be limited to one tang. Hippos you would have to trade out as they mature.

 

Packleader, Because of the size they get when they mature?

 

Yes, although this would take a while.
For permanent tangs, I would look at something like a yellow, sail fin, purple, etc (anything from that family). In general they are about the smallest of the tangs.

 

Thank you for the suggestions. I have just begun this hobby and already I want to upgrade because of the limitations of my tank...lol.

 

Look into some bristle tooth tangs. They hsow alot of personality and are GREAT Algae eaters,

 

I like the bristletooth tangs too, for a 75, the ctenochaetus genus. Only 1 tang for a 75 IMO.

Check out flasher and fairy wrasses, cirrhilabrus and paracheilinus genuses, as well. They are good smallish fish with lots of color and like to swim around a lot. Most are good tank-mates.

Some of the halichoeres genus of wrasses are nice too like the melanurus and radiant wrasses.

I personally don't like clowns for a 75, if you have a pair and they start mating they can eventually get territorial and since your tank isn't huge they can monopolize a decent portion of it. If you just have one I think you're missing out on some of the most interesting behavior with clowns. Ultimately it's up to you though of course.

I also like neon gobies and the shrimp/watchman gobies paired up with a pistol shrimp, very interesting to watch I think.

If you're going to have a bit of a sandbed you could look at a jawfish too, very cool fish.

For most of these fish make sure you have a canopy or something covering the tank, lots of jumpers here.

 

a hippopotamus has no place in a marine tank. Plus they will out grow it very quickly, like at birth

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sorry.

 

Yellow tangs are great. They are some of the most hardy tangs and have great coloration and very active. Other tangs that would fit right into your tank are mimic tangs and kole tangs.

 

My kids want the clowns...the whole Nemo thing. Maybe I can steer them in a different direction. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, now I have to look some of these fish up. I know a few of them. I do have a glass top so jumping should not be a problem. So my tank is probably a little to small for a Pacific Blue Tang? Thanks again everyone for the suggestions 8)