One more fish???

I have a 75 gal tank w/ fuge that has about 100 lbs live rock along with SPS and softies. I have 1 large LTA, a big tomato clown, 2 cardinals a small scopis tang (which will need rehomed at some point) and a yellow tail damsel. I am thinking of adding perhaps a goby or blennie but do not want to overload the tank. All my params have been stable for some time. This will be my last fish if i can support it. Am i pushing the limits?

 

IMHO you might be pushing the limits but would be ok if you really are going to rehome the tang (the sooner the better). As I'm sure you've heard from many people, a 75g. simply isn't big enough for tangs. Another possible problem is the damsel. Those little buggers sure are pretty but they are very aggressive. Since it's already in your tank and has established its territory, any new fish coming in, especially a goby or blennie, has a good chance of dying because the damsel will literally harass it to death. Gobies and blennies are peaceful fish---they don't have a chance against a damsel. FWIW, clown fish are part of the damsel family.

I really like your idea of adding a goby or a blennie. They're delightful fish. If you could rehome the tang and the damsel, a fun choice to consider is the Midas blennie. They're beautiful, glide through the water, and have a great personality.

Again, just MHO.

 

Thats why i solicit the advice... i have not seen any agressive behavior with the damsel so far, but he was the last fish added also. Unfortunately i got bad advice (once again) from my lfs when i got the tang so i know that a rehome is in the future. Any special feeding requirements for the midas?

 

Local fish stores are notorious for giving poor advice so don't feel alone in this.

I fed my blenny a variety of meaty foods. I only suggested them because I had one and by far he was my favorite fish. One thing to note though is that they're jumpers. You may choose to avoid those if you can't put a mesh top over your tank.

 

Information taken from Drs. Foster and Smith, Live Aquaria

Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)


Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided.
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 6"
Color Form: Blue, Yellow
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Africa, Indonesia, Maldives
Family: Blenniidae

What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here

overview
The Midas Blenny is an excellent candidate for a reef tank. It is a beautiful, deep golden-yellow with a shadow of blue under the chin and bright, blue-rimmed eyes. When swimming, the motion they use is very eel-like.
This blenny will appreciate a minimum tank of 30 gallons or larger with numerous rocks on which to perch. Sometimes, the Midas Blenny will vex small planktivores and has been known to nip at firefish and gobies. Larger tanks are advantageous as many of the Midas Blenny's aggressive behavior traits seem to relate to a confining tank situation.

Unlike most blennies, the Midas Blenny requires a meaty diet including finely chopped crustacean flesh, mysis and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp, along with frozen herbivorous preparations, micro and blue-green algae.

 

IMO you are not overstocked right now. You have 1 clown, 2 cardinals, 1 damsel and 1 small tang. You have already mentioned the removal of the tang which will lighten your bioload. The tomato is the only other large fish you have in there. The cardinals and damsel are small fish IMO and do not contribute as much waste as a tang or other larger fish. 5 fish in a 75g with 3 already being small fish is good for another one or two fish as it is. Once the tang is gone You could even try another then. As long as they are smaller fish.
Look at wrasses, gobies, anthias. Theres tons of colorful fish which stay smaller which would be fine.

 

I would get rid of your damsel and get your blenny or goby etc. although you will most likely not be overloaded, like others have said your damsel will harrass any small fish you put in the tank.

 

Well, I found a very nice pink spotted goby that is about 4 inches long. He was added to the tank yesterday afternoon and other than being moved out of the immediate area of the clown he has had no issues. He is much bigger than the damsel and as of this immediate moment there has been no harassment. He seems to have found a nice cave to hang out in for the time being. I will keep close watch to see if there is any aggression.

 

dont get anything else until the tang is out of there, also there will be some major aggression with the damsel in there.