Should I get rid of my starter chromis? 120g reef

[BPPmichigan]

I started my 120g reef tank with 6 green chromis. My tank is still somewhat new. I have added a chevron tang. I really wanted a good collection of showcase fish. No expense spared. I'm worried these chromis are going to take over the tank. I know they typically aren't aggressive, and don't seem to bother the chevron at all, but they seem to take up a lot of the tank. Feeding time seems like pigs on slop. Just pure madness when food is in the tank. Should I try and get them out? And if so, any suggestions? They are very responsive to me, I walk up to the rank and they come right to the glass, I feel they are close enough nip at my fingers when put flake food in. So I could scoop em with a net. Any thoughts? Would it be crazy to put some of them in my refugium?

[goliwala]

I hate one Chromis left on the tank. It eats all food so fast that I have to feed extra just so other fish can get some. I tried everything short of removing all rocks but no luck catching it. I would say get them out now before you have more fish and corals in there.

[scooter31707]

How big are they? If you purchase semi-aggressive fish which most showpiece fish are and get them 2-5 inches in size, I think you will be ok. Fish like tangs, angels, hawkfish, and wrasses will hold their own. IMO, they will eventually kill off themselves.

[BPPmichigan]

They are small currently. They aren't really aggressive. They just go nuts when I feed them. I would just prefer to use the space for something a little flashier. I eventually want a purple tang, golden Angel, long nose hawk(maybe a flame, not sure), red stripe hog, mandarin goby, maybe a pair or rare anthias(Bartletts or sunburst), and I would love a trigger. I know triggers are not always reef safe but I have been seeing a lot in reef tanks.

[Dmorty217]

They will get rid of themselves over time

[kmbyrnes]

+1 ^

[JoeVandal49]

^^ Not always.

I have been very successful with a group of 4 chromis in my display for an extended period of time.

[Winwood]

Originally Posted by Dmorty217

They will get rid of themselves over time

I always see posts like this, and I have to say that I have defied this statement, with 4 separate groups, over the better part of 15 years. My current 9 have been with me for over 15 months and are one of the favorite parts of my tank.

[ThRoewer]

Originally Posted by Winwood

I always see posts like this, and I have to say that I have defied this statement, with 4 separate groups, over the better part of 15 years. My current 9 have been with me for over 15 months and are one of the favorite parts of my tank.

I feel it depends on how the tank is set up, how big it is and what other fish are there with them.
In the wild they live in groups in large branchy corals. They hover there looking for food but always ready to dive into the coral in case of danger.

I can imagine, if the tank is large enough and the setting right that you can replicate this to some degree in a reef tank.

I still remember the days when you got told only to keep one of each kind of fish because there is no way to tell males from female and they would kill each other anyway. Clownfish, mandarins, syngnathidae and a few other were the exception then.

I think we know better by now...

[davocean]

I have had multiple long term success w/ them as well, longest run was 6 for 6 years, and that only ended from a heater failure in a holding bin during a swap.
Another 5 I had 3 years in another tank
Right now I have 5, completely peaceful, I totally expect them to remain that way.
The mix of blue/green w/ my orange lyretail anthias is stunning, and they all shoal together often

[Winwood]

All of my tanks have been modest in size. Largest was a 6' 125 and the smallest was a 35 hex. My current setup is a 30x30x20 inch cube. My experience every time is you buy x amount, lose a few initially until a hierarchy establishes, then adjust your feeding to make sure the lowest on the totem pole is getting enough to eat.

[davocean]

I think they ship poorly and being cheap make them not a priority.
I have had this grouping in tanks from 67g to 180g, 120g is present.
I too have bought a number and had a couple die right away, but what survived stayed cool.
What's funny to me is I hear this similar outcome on my local sites and local reefers all the time, only here do I hear imminent death and doom.
I often wonder how many are just parroting info or afraid to speak up against the grain of thought here.

[ThRoewer]

Originally Posted by davocean

...
I often wonder how many are just parroting info or afraid to speak up against the grain of thought here.

My point exactly. There are so many myths floating around in this hobby that have long been disproved but are still parroted around.

Usually if fish that occur in groups in the wild don't get along in your tank you may have done something wrong when putting them together or picked the wrong specimen (the largest and prettiest are likely all males).

[GoGo98102]

8 blue green chromies, 14 months. Still 8 and the only fish in my tank that still shoal together.

[VWD]

I like them and have 5 got about 7 months ago, really small, they are doing fine, Great fish.

[scooter31707]

Also, I noticed you said you have a Chevron currently and in the future you want a Purple Tang. What size is your 120? If it is a 4ft or 5ft, I would not recommend a Purple nor the Chevron.