Schooling chromis in 90 gallon

grant476 · 02/09/2010, 07:12 PM

Can i have a school of 7 chromis in my 90 gallon if i have these other fish, I want 7 because I like them a lot and I've heard that in smaller numbers and even numbers they will kill each other. These are the other inhabitants i plan on getting

1 yellow tang
2 percula clownfish
1 sleeper blue dot goby
1 yellow clown goby
1 tail spot blenny

MaJaCa · 02/09/2010, 07:17 PM

I have no idea... I just bought 6 chromis together the other day, introduced them into my tank, and 3 days later I only have 4 left. (one somehow got into the overflow even though I it covered w/ gutter guard... impossible to get out)

Never heard of the "even numbers thing. Good luck.

chilwil84 · 02/09/2010, 07:19 PM

is there gonna be coral in the tank? if so what type? what skimmer do you have or plan to have? how much do you like water changes? do you plan on feeding multiple times a day spaced apart by more than a hour or to? if it is gonna be a fowlr and you can spread out your feeding than sure, otherwise need some answers to the above questions.

grant476 · 02/09/2010, 07:23 PM

What if I got 2 dispar anthias and only had 3 green chromis, or maybe even just 1 chromis? I would do about a 10 gallon water change every week and I feed once a day, and it will be a reef tank

chilwil84 · 02/09/2010, 07:33 PM

anthias really need multiple feedings a day to survive longterm. 10 gallons would be fine if you are not planning on having sps. do you plan on having a sump? a section with macro algae in it will help provide some food for the chromis, but they would still need a 2nd feeding a few hours apart. a single would more than likely do fine because the tank will produe some food for it inbetween feedings. i have tried the 3 chromis idea a couple times and have always ended up with one. when you do get a chromis or group make sure yiou look them over good and quarenteen them because they usually arent treated really well by shops since they are so cheap.

grant476 · 02/09/2010, 07:35 PM

I think i'll just get one, do i have to do larger water changes if i want to keep SPS?

chilwil84 · 02/09/2010, 07:37 PM

not with a good skimmer and making sure you maintain your sand bed. you might have problems with the yellow goby since they have a nice tendency to sit on sps and irritate them.

bhammer · 02/09/2010, 08:00 PM

I have tried even, odd, a couple, many and in the end, they widdle down by killing the smaller/weaker ones. A year ago, I watched one try to swim a smaller one into the nem I have. I have 5 now in a 280 and that is the most I have been able to keep. In my 115, I couldn't keep more than 3 at a time but 4 did last quite some time.

btkrausen · 02/09/2010, 08:23 PM

I tried 6 of them in a 76 gal, and like the others have said, they slowly dwindle themselves down. I eneded up with 2 after a month, and they stayed together for the duration of my tank. Been reading RC for quite a few years, and I generally see the same thing.

Indymann99 · 02/09/2010, 08:40 PM

I started with 6 in QT... only 4 made it through 4 weeks of QT, however I have had the 4 in the DT for about a year. As you can see they "kind of school" more so when threatened.

120g 48x24x24

baja_01 · 02/09/2010, 09:08 PM

If you want something that schools more go with something like a Longspine Cardinalfish.

grant476 · 02/09/2010, 09:41 PM

i don't really care if they school or not i'd just like to keep a few chromis. I'm thinking maybe i'll buy 6 and they'll probably dwindle down to 3, i know that sounds bad expecting them to die but i'm thinking maybe if i get three then they'll kill each other until there is only one left. Or maybe thats just dumb :P

davocean · 02/09/2010, 10:03 PM

Had same 6 for 6 years here, only died from heater failure.
Replaced w/ 5 more, had those for a year and a half, no probs.
Right now I have 4, coming up on a year, no probs.
Not sure why some have neg exp w/ them, cause I'm not.

FranktheTankTx · 02/09/2010, 10:18 PM

Get as many as you want. Chromis are very easy on bio load - almost nothing. Who cares if they die anyways, they cost $4. They either die in your tank or LFS. Screw 'em - buy a few every other month or when needed.

I think they add a nice color to the tank.

jmoney · 02/09/2010, 10:18 PM

I've kept a group of 4 in my 75 for well over a year, they pretty much keep to themselves

02/09/2010, 07:12 PM	#1
grant476 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 8	Schooling chromis in 90 gallon Can i have a school of 7 chromis in my 90 gallon if i have these other fish, I want 7 because I like them a lot and I've heard that in smaller numbers and even numbers they will kill each other. These are the other inhabitants i plan on getting 1 yellow tang 2 percula clownfish 1 sleeper blue dot goby 1 yellow clown goby 1 tail spot blenny

02/09/2010, 07:17 PM	#2
MaJaCa Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 95	I have no idea... I just bought 6 chromis together the other day, introduced them into my tank, and 3 days later I only have 4 left. (one somehow got into the overflow even though I it covered w/ gutter guard... impossible to get out) Never heard of the "even numbers thing. Good luck. __________________ Oceanic 115g DT, 20g prop tank, 33g sump/fuge, 500w MH, 240w T12, RKE, Octopus Skimmer

02/09/2010, 08:40 PM	#10
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	I started with 6 in QT... only 4 made it through 4 weeks of QT, however I have had the 4 in the DT for about a year. As you can see they "kind of school" more so when threatened. 120g 48x24x24 __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

02/09/2010, 09:08 PM	#11
baja_01 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: AZ,USA Posts: 887	If you want something that schools more go with something like a Longspine Cardinalfish. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin

02/09/2010, 10:03 PM	#13
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Had same 6 for 6 years here, only died from heater failure. Replaced w/ 5 more, had those for a year and a half, no probs. Right now I have 4, coming up on a year, no probs. Not sure why some have neg exp w/ them, cause I'm not. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

02/09/2010, 07:19 PM	#3
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	is there gonna be coral in the tank? if so what type? what skimmer do you have or plan to have? how much do you like water changes? do you plan on feeding multiple times a day spaced apart by more than a hour or to? if it is gonna be a fowlr and you can spread out your feeding than sure, otherwise need some answers to the above questions.

02/09/2010, 07:23 PM	#4
grant476 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 8	What if I got 2 dispar anthias and only had 3 green chromis, or maybe even just 1 chromis? I would do about a 10 gallon water change every week and I feed once a day, and it will be a reef tank

02/09/2010, 07:33 PM	#5
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	anthias really need multiple feedings a day to survive longterm. 10 gallons would be fine if you are not planning on having sps. do you plan on having a sump? a section with macro algae in it will help provide some food for the chromis, but they would still need a 2nd feeding a few hours apart. a single would more than likely do fine because the tank will produe some food for it inbetween feedings. i have tried the 3 chromis idea a couple times and have always ended up with one. when you do get a chromis or group make sure yiou look them over good and quarenteen them because they usually arent treated really well by shops since they are so cheap.

02/09/2010, 07:35 PM	#6
grant476 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 8	I think i'll just get one, do i have to do larger water changes if i want to keep SPS?

02/09/2010, 07:37 PM	#7
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	not with a good skimmer and making sure you maintain your sand bed. you might have problems with the yellow goby since they have a nice tendency to sit on sps and irritate them.

02/09/2010, 08:00 PM	#8
bhammer Addicted User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 743	I have tried even, odd, a couple, many and in the end, they widdle down by killing the smaller/weaker ones. A year ago, I watched one try to swim a smaller one into the nem I have. I have 5 now in a 280 and that is the most I have been able to keep. In my 115, I couldn't keep more than 3 at a time but 4 did last quite some time.

02/09/2010, 08:23 PM	#9
btkrausen Fish Hoarder Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 1,033	I tried 6 of them in a 76 gal, and like the others have said, they slowly dwindle themselves down. I eneded up with 2 after a month, and they stayed together for the duration of my tank. Been reading RC for quite a few years, and I generally see the same thing.

02/09/2010, 09:41 PM	#12
grant476 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 8	i don't really care if they school or not i'd just like to keep a few chromis. I'm thinking maybe i'll buy 6 and they'll probably dwindle down to 3, i know that sounds bad expecting them to die but i'm thinking maybe if i get three then they'll kill each other until there is only one left. Or maybe thats just dumb :P

02/09/2010, 10:18 PM	#14
FranktheTankTx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,306	Get as many as you want. Chromis are very easy on bio load - almost nothing. Who cares if they die anyways, they cost $4. They either die in your tank or LFS. Screw 'em - buy a few every other month or when needed. I think they add a nice color to the tank. __________________ Frank the Tank "What, I thought we were in the trust tree... in the nest? Are we not?" Current Tank Info: Custom Rimless 60g (30.5"x24.5"x18.5")

02/09/2010, 10:18 PM	#15
jmoney Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 970	I've kept a group of 4 in my 75 for well over a year, they pretty much keep to themselves