What fish to get next to complete my aquarium?

cvpis4me · 03/04/2018, 12:23 PM

I have a 65 gallon aquarium that currently has 6 fish:
2 ocellaris clownfish
3 purple firefish
1 orange stripe prawn goby

I'm looking to get another fish or two to complete my aquarium. The problem is that my firefish and goby are all preferring the lower part of the aquarium and sandbed. My choice was going to be a blenny but I don't want it to have to compete for the same real estate so I want to choose a fish that's going to utilize the entire aquarium. I read the blue or green chromis are good for that but my LFS doesn't sell those because they said they tend to be more aggressive. They suggested a fairy wrasse instead. Or would a hawkfish be okay?

Pet Detective · 03/04/2018, 12:56 PM

Blue Green Chromis are an excellent choice....get 3 of them, they school together, in my experience they are one of the least aggressive Damsel fish, way less so than a clown fish even, I have 3...tried more, always ends up being 3, 1 male, 2 Female.

They are very hardy and have nice colors under good lighting, you couldn't go wrong with choosing them.

LauraGreenImp · 03/04/2018, 02:05 PM

BG chromis do great in my 150g tall - they love that upper real estate, which is why I chose them. I got 7 tiny ones all together, now they are 6, really varied in size, but they school politely. I’m assuming the big 2 are F.

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nereefpat · 03/04/2018, 03:26 PM

I'm not sure multiple chromis will tolerate each other in a 65gallon. One would work.

I would get the fairy/flasher wrasse. Or a yellow wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)

Indymann99 · 03/04/2018, 03:46 PM

I have 4x BG Chromis in my 120g

I like the movement.

******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8">

Pet Detective · 03/04/2018, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

I'm not sure multiple chromis will tolerate each other in a 65gallon. One would work.

I would get the fairy/flasher wrasse. Or a yellow wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus)

They are schooling fish, 3 would work...I'm quite sure about it.

nereefpat · 03/04/2018, 05:42 PM

They live in aggregations.

It may work out, but this board is full of folks who have tried multiples and ended up with one.

Pet Detective · 03/04/2018, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

They live in aggregations.

It may work out, but this board is full of folks who have tried multiples and ended up with one.

Aggregations, congregations, shoaling, schooling....semantics

My point is they are hardy, very colorful, inexpensive and far less aggressive to tank mates than most Damsels....a good choice.

This board is also full of posts where people have kept multiple Chromis in a 65g, is it hit or miss?...sure, it always is but for $5.99 it's well worth the shot.

kevin j. · 03/04/2018, 06:19 PM

How are your three purple firefish doing together?

Salty Waffles · 03/04/2018, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

They live in aggregations.

It may work out, but this board is full of folks who have tried multiples and ended up with one.

Add me to that list. Started with 5. Now I have 1. The aggressor would take out the "chosen one" at night with the lights off.

LauraGreenImp · 03/04/2018, 06:41 PM

Bad pic of my almost 3yr old ..ahem.. aggregation of chromis. Started w 7 *tiny* ones. From 6 to 7 first mo in DT (why not in QT? no idea). 6 remaining vary in size a lot now, but they play nice w each other. cvpis4me has smaller tank, not recc *7*, but 3...

everything can be ‘hit or miss’ in this hobby

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cvpis4me · 03/04/2018, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin j.

How are your three purple firefish doing together?

2 of them paired up almost immediately so the third has sort of been ostracized. There are days when he's harassed and days when they're all together and not bickering. However they don't sleep in the same cave together anymore. I've considered taking him back to the fish store but he's doing okay for now

Scott07 · 03/04/2018, 08:09 PM

How about a pygmy angel? There are a few of the smaller angels that would do well in a 65.

Indymann99 · 03/04/2018, 08:28 PM

I think the success to keeping multiple Chromis is to have plenty of rockwork for EACH to have a separate hole to sleep in at night. As stated the weakest will get "picked off" if it doesnt have a safe place to hide at night. I started out with 6x in QT and 4 made it out (looking back I would have doubled the PVC elbows in the QT tank for hiding places). I have had 4x Chromis for 5yrs now.

my 0.02

Krzydmnd · 03/04/2018, 09:37 PM

Pygmy angelfish are very active tank swimmers and quite beautiful.

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LauraGreenImp · 03/05/2018, 08:01 AM

…from SEVEN down to SIX…. *smh*

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Uncle99 · 03/05/2018, 10:35 AM

Royal Gramma, mid water, colourful, peaceful and not overly expensive...

nereefpat · 03/05/2018, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pet Detective

Aggregations, congregations, shoaling, schooling....semantics

My point is they are hardy, very colorful, inexpensive and far less aggressive to tank mates than most Damsels....a good choice.

This board is also full of posts where people have kept multiple Chromis in a 65g, is it hit or miss?...sure, it always is but for $5.99 it's well worth the shot.

I don't think it's semantics. Chromis don't school in nature, and they don't school in our tanks. They tolerate each other according to how much space there is.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=chromis

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=chromis

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=chromis

Pet Detective · 03/05/2018, 04:51 PM

^^
Copied directly from Live Aquaria website:
Chromis are related to damselfish and clownfish, but are typically less aggressive. They enjoy being in a school of three or more, and make a spectacular display in large numbers. Chromis are ideal fish for the reef aquarium, since they will not bother invertebrates and corals.

They used the word SCHOOL, but I guess that's incorrect.....almost exactly what I said in my original post.

Pet Detective · 03/05/2018, 05:15 PM

Juvenile blue-green chromis schooling in ocean current over hard corals, Fijii. Makogai Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago, Fiji

This must be incorrect as well....but what do I know, must be an "Aggregation" of Chromis, of course it's not just semantics.....

Pet Detective · 03/05/2018, 05:49 PM

se·man·tics
səˈman(t)iks/
noun

semantics: the meaning, or an interpretation of the meaning, of a word.

You say Tomatoe, I say Tomato

ALLLLLLLLL Righty then.....this house is clear

oldhead · 03/06/2018, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pet Detective

Juvenile blue-green chromis schooling in ocean current over hard corals, Fijii. Makogai Island, Lomaiviti Archipelago, Fiji

This must be incorrect as well....but what do I know, must be an "Aggregation" of Chromis, of course it's not just semantics.....

Hundreds in pretty much unlimited space is a big difference as apposed to a tiny glass cage.

03/04/2018, 12:23 PM	#1
cvpis4me Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 20	What fish to get next to complete my aquarium? I have a 65 gallon aquarium that currently has 6 fish: 2 ocellaris clownfish 3 purple firefish 1 orange stripe prawn goby I'm looking to get another fish or two to complete my aquarium. The problem is that my firefish and goby are all preferring the lower part of the aquarium and sandbed. My choice was going to be a blenny but I don't want it to have to compete for the same real estate so I want to choose a fish that's going to utilize the entire aquarium. I read the blue or green chromis are good for that but my LFS doesn't sell those because they said they tend to be more aggressive. They suggested a fairy wrasse instead. Or would a hawkfish be okay?

03/04/2018, 02:05 PM	#3
LauraGreenImp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Nashville Posts: 131	BG chromis do great in my 150g tall - they love that upper real estate, which is why I chose them. I got 7 tiny ones all together, now they are 6, really varied in size, but they school politely. I’m assuming the big 2 are F. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro __________________ No glass box turns into a beautiful reef tank quickly. Current Tank Info: 150gT Mixed Reef - help me trap/remove/destroy my hateful Molly Miller Blennys!

03/04/2018, 03:26 PM	#4
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	I'm not sure multiple chromis will tolerate each other in a 65gallon. One would work. I would get the fairy/flasher wrasse. Or a yellow wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

03/04/2018, 03:46 PM	#5
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	I have 4x BG Chromis in my 120g I like the movement. ******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"> __________________ 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

03/04/2018, 05:42 PM	#7
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	They live in aggregations. It may work out, but this board is full of folks who have tried multiples and ended up with one. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

03/04/2018, 12:56 PM	#2
Pet Detective Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 328	Blue Green Chromis are an excellent choice....get 3 of them, they school together, in my experience they are one of the least aggressive Damsel fish, way less so than a clown fish even, I have 3...tried more, always ends up being 3, 1 male, 2 Female. They are very hardy and have nice colors under good lighting, you couldn't go wrong with choosing them.

03/04/2018, 06:19 PM	#9
kevin j. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Broadview Heights Posts: 75	How are your three purple firefish doing together?

03/04/2018, 06:41 PM	#11
LauraGreenImp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Nashville Posts: 131	Bad pic of my almost 3yr old ..ahem.. aggregation of chromis. Started w 7 tiny ones. From 6 to 7 first mo in DT (why not in QT? no idea). 6 remaining vary in size a lot now, but they play nice w each other. cvpis4me has smaller tank, not recc 7, but 3... everything can be ‘hit or miss’ in this hobby Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro __________________ No glass box turns into a beautiful reef tank quickly. Current Tank Info: 150gT Mixed Reef - help me trap/remove/destroy my hateful Molly Miller Blennys!

03/04/2018, 08:09 PM	#13
Scott07 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 384	How about a pygmy angel? There are a few of the smaller angels that would do well in a 65. __________________ 65 gallon mixed reef Good maintainence and husbandry is a cumulative effect, not a single event.

03/04/2018, 08:28 PM	#14
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	I think the success to keeping multiple Chromis is to have plenty of rockwork for EACH to have a separate hole to sleep in at night. As stated the weakest will get "picked off" if it doesnt have a safe place to hide at night. I started out with 6x in QT and 4 made it out (looking back I would have doubled the PVC elbows in the QT tank for hiding places). I have had 4x Chromis for 5yrs now. my 0.02 __________________ 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

03/04/2018, 09:37 PM	#15
Krzydmnd Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 48	Pygmy angelfish are very active tank swimmers and quite beautiful. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

03/05/2018, 08:01 AM	#16
LauraGreenImp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Nashville Posts: 131	…from SEVEN down to SIX…. smh Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro __________________ No glass box turns into a beautiful reef tank quickly. Current Tank Info: 150gT Mixed Reef - help me trap/remove/destroy my hateful Molly Miller Blennys!

03/05/2018, 10:35 AM	#17
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Royal Gramma, mid water, colourful, peaceful and not overly expensive...

03/05/2018, 04:51 PM	#19
Pet Detective Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 328	^^ Copied directly from Live Aquaria website: Chromis are related to damselfish and clownfish, but are typically less aggressive. They enjoy being in a school of three or more, and make a spectacular display in large numbers. Chromis are ideal fish for the reef aquarium, since they will not bother invertebrates and corals. They used the word SCHOOL, but I guess that's incorrect.....almost exactly what I said in my original post.

03/05/2018, 05:49 PM	#21
Pet Detective Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 328	se·man·tics səˈman(t)iks/ noun semantics: the meaning, or an interpretation of the meaning, of a word. You say Tomatoe, I say Tomato ALLLLLLLLL Righty then.....this house is clear