Want a new ACTIVE swimmer.

TomTheWicked · 09/19/2013, 12:22 PM

My 40B currently has:

2 x O. Clownfish
3 x Green Chromis
1 x Firefish
1 x LTA Anenome

The problem I have with my tank is there's just not much movement/life around the tank. The clowns hang out around the 'nem, the Chromis hang out in their corner, the Firefish just hang out by his "home". Can someone recommend a few fish that would give my tank some "life". Only coral I have in the tank currently is a 3"x4" piece of GSP, but I plan on adding more soon and would like a reef-safe fish.

Thanks in advance.
-Tom

Sugar Magnolia · 09/19/2013, 12:25 PM

How about one of the smaller dwarf angels... I have an African Flameback in my tank that cruises the tank grazing on the LR all day. Maybe a small coris wrasse? You've got two peaceful fish in the tank so you'll want to stay away from anything that tends to be boistrous.

TomTheWicked · 09/19/2013, 12:29 PM

How does the African Flameback do in a 40B?

I see you're in NoVA -- what LFS do you go to?

Sugar Magnolia · 09/19/2013, 12:38 PM

It's doing just fine. I've had it for about a year now. Gets along fine with the other tank mates and so far hasn't bothered any of my corals.

LFS I usually use Blue Ribbon Koi for the snails/hermits and such. I use the Marine Scene for my fish because they QT them before they are offered for sale.

sellersmd · 09/19/2013, 01:44 PM

My Six Line Wrasse tends to be a pretty active swimmer during the day, but is quite reclusive at night.

Fizz71 · 09/19/2013, 02:41 PM

+1 on wrasses and angels. You want "grazers"...sadly the best ones are tangs, but they need a lot of space. Wrasses graze for pods, tangs for plant life and angels for whatever the h*ll they can find (sometimes our corals and clam's mantle)

I'm surprised your chromis hide, mine used to gather in the middle of the tank and just hung out in the water column. Same with anthias.

Sethjamto · 09/19/2013, 04:21 PM

Love my Yellow Coris Wrasse. Very active swimmer and very bright!

greech · 09/19/2013, 04:22 PM

I would stick to the fairy/flasher type wrasse and avoid the larger wrasses. Not necessarily because of size but their tendancy to put a whoopin' on a CUC. Melanarus, Christmas, yellow Coris and Mystery are some types I would suggest avoiding in a 40B.

Had a potters angel in mine for a while. It ate very well for a year+ and then kind of started to get unhappy. A cherub size angel would do good but may be aggressive and may nip corals (less likely than the medium sized angels through).

How about a midas blenny? Mine swims in open water a lot and perches now and then.

faithenfire · 09/20/2013, 11:01 AM

my blenny is always popping around? or the grammas tend to swim around from what I've seen

the sixline wrasse was a good swimmer, but she was mean to everything
maybe a little yellow or green coris-but wrasses also like ot jump, so you would need a cover of sorts typically

Reeferz412 · 09/20/2013, 11:31 AM

+1 on the flameback. I own one and the only advice I can give you is add it last. Super spunky fish. They go all over the place. Also the yellow corisse is an awesome add as well. I have owned both and was super happy with their personalities.

chain · 09/20/2013, 11:34 AM

My sixline wrasse swims around all the time and even through the rock work and everything. He's very active.

oscarinw · 09/20/2013, 11:56 AM

Six line wrasses are arguably quite territorial and/or bullies. I would personally stay away. I would definitely favor the reef safe wrasses such as the fairies (Cirrhilabrus) or the flashers (Paracheilinus) and even consider a Leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon).
Just keep in mind these are all jumpers so be sure to have a 'bouncing media' on top

TruReef · 09/20/2013, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oscarinw

Six line wrasses are arguably quite territorial and/or bullies. I would personally stay away. I would definitely favor the reef safe wrasses such as the fairies (Cirrhilabrus) or the flashers (Paracheilinus) and even consider a Leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon).
Just keep in mind these are all jumpers so be sure to have a 'bouncing media' on top

Dead on...... I've had several sixlines, and until the last one, never had a bully. This last one was the king of the 90g reef, he even bullied a sailfin tang 20 times his size.....stick to the wrasses.....my 180g will be wrasse dominant with a pair of clowns and a few other species mixed in.

09/19/2013, 12:22 PM	#1
TomTheWicked Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Frednecksburg, VA Posts: 170	Want a new ACTIVE swimmer. My 40B currently has: 2 x O. Clownfish 3 x Green Chromis 1 x Firefish 1 x LTA Anenome The problem I have with my tank is there's just not much movement/life around the tank. The clowns hang out around the 'nem, the Chromis hang out in their corner, the Firefish just hang out by his "home". Can someone recommend a few fish that would give my tank some "life". Only coral I have in the tank currently is a 3"x4" piece of GSP, but I plan on adding more soon and would like a reef-safe fish. Thanks in advance. -Tom __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'till it is" Current Tank Info: 40B w/20G sump, custom stand

09/19/2013, 12:25 PM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	How about one of the smaller dwarf angels... I have an African Flameback in my tank that cruises the tank grazing on the LR all day. Maybe a small coris wrasse? You've got two peaceful fish in the tank so you'll want to stay away from anything that tends to be boistrous. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/19/2013, 12:29 PM	#3
TomTheWicked Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Frednecksburg, VA Posts: 170	How does the African Flameback do in a 40B? I see you're in NoVA -- what LFS do you go to? __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'till it is" Current Tank Info: 40B w/20G sump, custom stand

09/19/2013, 12:38 PM	#4
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	It's doing just fine. I've had it for about a year now. Gets along fine with the other tank mates and so far hasn't bothered any of my corals. LFS I usually use Blue Ribbon Koi for the snails/hermits and such. I use the Marine Scene for my fish because they QT them before they are offered for sale. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/19/2013, 02:41 PM	#6
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	+1 on wrasses and angels. You want "grazers"...sadly the best ones are tangs, but they need a lot of space. Wrasses graze for pods, tangs for plant life and angels for whatever the h*ll they can find (sometimes our corals and clam's mantle) I'm surprised your chromis hide, mine used to gather in the middle of the tank and just hung out in the water column. Same with anthias. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

09/19/2013, 01:44 PM	#5
sellersmd Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 81	My Six Line Wrasse tends to be a pretty active swimmer during the day, but is quite reclusive at night.

09/19/2013, 04:21 PM	#7
Sethjamto Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 845	Love my Yellow Coris Wrasse. Very active swimmer and very bright! __________________ 8ft 300g, Reeflo Dart Gold return, MRC 48" High-flo reef sump, MRC MR4 dual beckett Skimmer, (2) Reefbreeders Photon 48's, Reef Angel, LMIII continuous water change/ATO setup..

09/19/2013, 04:22 PM	#8
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	I would stick to the fairy/flasher type wrasse and avoid the larger wrasses. Not necessarily because of size but their tendancy to put a whoopin' on a CUC. Melanarus, Christmas, yellow Coris and Mystery are some types I would suggest avoiding in a 40B. Had a potters angel in mine for a while. It ate very well for a year+ and then kind of started to get unhappy. A cherub size angel would do good but may be aggressive and may nip corals (less likely than the medium sized angels through). How about a midas blenny? Mine swims in open water a lot and perches now and then. __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

09/20/2013, 11:01 AM	#9
faithenfire it's all IMO Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 430	my blenny is always popping around? or the grammas tend to swim around from what I've seen the sixline wrasse was a good swimmer, but she was mean to everything maybe a little yellow or green coris-but wrasses also like ot jump, so you would need a cover of sorts typically __________________ Looking for a 26 gallon bit of a underwater paradise. Current Tank Info: I am a caretaker of a 7ish year old 26 gal bowfront tank. I have watchman goby, a gold stripe neon goby, a rainford goby, pajama cardinal, possum wrasse and a clean up crew including a wall/rock climbing serpent star

09/20/2013, 11:31 AM	#10
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	+1 on the flameback. I own one and the only advice I can give you is add it last. Super spunky fish. They go all over the place. Also the yellow corisse is an awesome add as well. I have owned both and was super happy with their personalities. __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

09/20/2013, 11:34 AM	#11
chain Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Canonsburg, PA (S. of Pittsburgh) Posts: 67	My sixline wrasse swims around all the time and even through the rock work and everything. He's very active.

09/20/2013, 11:56 AM	#12
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	Six line wrasses are arguably quite territorial and/or bullies. I would personally stay away. I would definitely favor the reef safe wrasses such as the fairies (Cirrhilabrus) or the flashers (Paracheilinus) and even consider a Leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon). Just keep in mind these are all jumpers so be sure to have a 'bouncing media' on top