Pre-built stocking plan

75-gallon Mixed Reef Stocking Blueprint

75-gallon mixed reef stocking blueprint - 6-8 fish + full coral diversity.

Setup

75-gallon drilled tank, 30g sump, protein skimmer, 2-3 powerheads, 2x LED fixtures

Fish stocking

Pair Ocellaris clowns
Royal gramma
Six-line wrasse
Yellow watchman goby + tiger pistol shrimp pair
Banggai cardinal pair
Kole tang (year 2)
Possible centerpiece: flame angel or coral beauty (reef-safe-with-caution)

Invertebrates

40x mixed CUC
2x cleaner shrimp
Crab cleanup squad

Coral progression

Year 1: full soft coral + LPS
Year 2: SPS coral diversity (birdsnest, monti, acro, stylo)
Year 3: rare LPS + designer cultivars

Stocking timeline

Week/Phase 1Cycle 6 weeks

Week/Phase 2CUC + first fish week 7

Week/Phase 3Coral start month 3

Week/Phase 4LPS month 4+

Week/Phase 5SPS month 6+

Week/Phase 6Tang year 2

Week/Phase 7Last fish year 2

Tools for this build

Use the stocking calculator to verify, the water change calc for ongoing maintenance, and the maintenance schedule generator for printable weekly tasks.

More blueprints

Browse the full blueprint library for other tank sizes + types.

Aquarium-keeping fundamentals

Whatever specific topic brought you here, four fundamentals govern long-term aquarium success: water quality, parameter stability, biological filtration, and species-appropriate husbandry. Skip any one and the others struggle to compensate.

Water quality: ammonia + nitrite at zero, nitrate under 30 ppm freshwater + 10 ppm reef. Test weekly with API or Salifert kits. Use our water parameter checker to score your readings against your tank type.

Parameter stability: stable wrong parameters beat fluctuating ideal parameters. Most fish tolerate a wide pH range if it's stable. Sudden swings of 0.4+ pH or 5+°F kill fish faster than chronic suboptimal values. Use temperature controllers (Inkbird) + automated dosing for consistency.

Biological filtration: the bacterial colony on your filter media + rock + substrate is the engine. Never replace all media at once. Use our filter turnover calculator to size correctly.

Species-appropriate husbandry: research adult size, territoriality, diet, and tankmate compatibility before purchase. Use our tank stocking calculator + compatibility guides.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an aquarium take to set up? 4-6 weeks for full cycling + first stocking. Use our cycle ETA calculator + how long does cycling take.

What's the best aquarium for beginners? 20-gallon long. Big enough for parameter stability, small enough for budget + space. See beginner picks.

How often should I do water changes? 25-30% weekly. See water change frequency Q&A + water change calculator.

Why does my fish keep dying? 5 leading causes: uncycled tank, wrong species pairings, no quarantine, undersized tank, neglected water-change schedule. See full diagnosis.