Clownfish or Chromis first?

charnkiat · 05/14/2016, 12:52 AM

I'm cycling a 34g (Red Sea Max 130C) tank. After it's done cycling, I would like to keep a pair of clownfish and a group of 3 blue green chromis. And I was wondering which should I add to the tank first.

2 x clownfish will be less bioload but more territorial.
3 x chromis will be less territorial but more biolad.

So what should I put in first?

Sapelo · 05/14/2016, 04:50 AM

Honestly i dont think you're going to get three chromis to coexist peacefully in a 34 gallon. I have a trio in my 300 gallon and even there they can so some aggression/territorial issues.
Most clownfish will use 30 gallons of space.
In my opinion you need to rethink your stock list.

Dogshowgrl · 05/14/2016, 05:11 AM

Depends on what clowns. I always start my tanks with a clown, because it is captive bred and what ever rock they chose as home I move (just that rock) when I add new fish and I have never had an issue. And you will most likely lose all but one of the chromis. They picked each other off in my 125 until I I was down to one. I use a bacteria to help with the cycle so I lose anyone. I wouldn't want to live in ammonia that high. Good luck!

Marchillo · 05/14/2016, 06:12 AM

I have two chromis in my 80g that show aggression towards each other. I would not do 3 in my tank and if I didn't inherit both from another reefer I would have only done 1.

michellejy · 05/14/2016, 10:04 AM

I will be the odd one out here, apparently. Depending on the type of clowns you plan, you will normally start with captive bred juveniles, which aren't really going to have aggression issues to speak of.

I did buy a group of black and white chromis from Diver's Den years ago. One died almost immediately, but the other two remained a bonded pair for 5 years. (A heater malfunction killed them at that point.)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Reeferfourlife · 05/14/2016, 10:45 AM

Go with a pair of designer clowns and skip the Chromis. Instead get a wrasse and blenny. I rather get a fish that is helpful to the tank. Chromis don't do anything and very territorial.

kgeig001 · 05/14/2016, 12:33 PM

You start with three chromis and will end up with only one very aggressive chromis. When I upgraded my tank a couple years ago, the first thing on my priority list was to get rid of that guy. My tank has been peaceful ever since.

vikinglord13 · 05/14/2016, 08:36 PM

Hmm, if you want to stick with the combo having a clown pair and chromis would be pretty difficult. Clowns and Chromis are in the same family of fish and are very territorial.

I have 1 Maroon Clown (probably the most aggressive clown) and an azure damsel (most damsels and chromis are in the same genus) and the clown chases the damsel a lot. If your clowns ever spawn they will most likely get even more aggressive than normal, especially in a smaller tank.

I agree with RFL and think you should go with a wrasse and blenny, or just a blenny. You have a smaller tank, and really, wrasse can be aggressive too. You could get a goby, or something that hangs out in the rockwork or digs tunnels. That would get him out of the way and would be something neat to look at.

You could make up for the fewer fish and get a cleaner shrimp too. Those are interesting to watch.

05/14/2016, 12:52 AM	#1
charnkiat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 146	Clownfish or Chromis first? I'm cycling a 34g (Red Sea Max 130C) tank. After it's done cycling, I would like to keep a pair of clownfish and a group of 3 blue green chromis. And I was wondering which should I add to the tank first. 2 x clownfish will be less bioload but more territorial. 3 x chromis will be less territorial but more biolad. So what should I put in first?

05/14/2016, 06:12 AM	#4
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	I have two chromis in my 80g that show aggression towards each other. I would not do 3 in my tank and if I didn't inherit both from another reefer I would have only done 1. __________________ 80G Frag as DT Proflex Sump Model2 Reef Octopus Skimmer 2xMP10 & 2XR30W Pros I love technology

05/14/2016, 10:04 AM	#5
michellejy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OH Posts: 1,076	I will be the odd one out here, apparently. Depending on the type of clowns you plan, you will normally start with captive bred juveniles, which aren't really going to have aggression issues to speak of. I did buy a group of black and white chromis from Diver's Den years ago. One died almost immediately, but the other two remained a bonded pair for 5 years. (A heater malfunction killed them at that point.) Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk __________________ Michelle Current Tank Info: 30G FOWLR Clownfish tank soon to be replaced by JBJ 28 Gallon Nano

05/14/2016, 12:33 PM	#7
kgeig001 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tampa Fl Posts: 171	You start with three chromis and will end up with only one very aggressive chromis. When I upgraded my tank a couple years ago, the first thing on my priority list was to get rid of that guy. My tank has been peaceful ever since. __________________ Kirk Current Tank Info: 220 gallon mixed reef, 37 gallon anemone tank

05/14/2016, 04:50 AM	#2
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	Honestly i dont think you're going to get three chromis to coexist peacefully in a 34 gallon. I have a trio in my 300 gallon and even there they can so some aggression/territorial issues. Most clownfish will use 30 gallons of space. In my opinion you need to rethink your stock list.

05/14/2016, 05:11 AM	#3
Dogshowgrl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 298	Depends on what clowns. I always start my tanks with a clown, because it is captive bred and what ever rock they chose as home I move (just that rock) when I add new fish and I have never had an issue. And you will most likely lose all but one of the chromis. They picked each other off in my 125 until I I was down to one. I use a bacteria to help with the cycle so I lose anyone. I wouldn't want to live in ammonia that high. Good luck!

05/14/2016, 10:45 AM	#6
Reeferfourlife Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: So Cal Posts: 102	Go with a pair of designer clowns and skip the Chromis. Instead get a wrasse and blenny. I rather get a fish that is helpful to the tank. Chromis don't do anything and very territorial.

05/14/2016, 08:36 PM	#8
vikinglord13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 484	Hmm, if you want to stick with the combo having a clown pair and chromis would be pretty difficult. Clowns and Chromis are in the same family of fish and are very territorial. I have 1 Maroon Clown (probably the most aggressive clown) and an azure damsel (most damsels and chromis are in the same genus) and the clown chases the damsel a lot. If your clowns ever spawn they will most likely get even more aggressive than normal, especially in a smaller tank. I agree with RFL and think you should go with a wrasse and blenny, or just a blenny. You have a smaller tank, and really, wrasse can be aggressive too. You could get a goby, or something that hangs out in the rockwork or digs tunnels. That would get him out of the way and would be something neat to look at. You could make up for the fewer fish and get a cleaner shrimp too. Those are interesting to watch.