community aquarium
- Thread starter cortlan
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surfinusa
Guest
get like 5 green chromis those are colorful and active fish they are always swimming :happyfish
poniegirl
Active Member
I agree, for schooling fish you will need a tank that is longer.
You can have fish in pairs, for a smaller scale effect.
I have a pair of chromis and they "school". Also a pair of wrasse that school, tho I think that is pure luck and not a normal behavior for them.
If you down-size the notion of what constitutes a school...
You can have fish in pairs, for a smaller scale effect.
I have a pair of chromis and they "school". Also a pair of wrasse that school, tho I think that is pure luck and not a normal behavior for them.
If you down-size the notion of what constitutes a school...
poniegirl
Active Member
Originally Posted by cortlan
are you saying i could have like 3 pairs of fish . :joy: how about 5 blue reef chromis
No.
By "footprint" ophiura meant the size and shape. Your tank is higher than it is front to back or side to side.
Different types of fish have "areas" of the water that they are best suited for and where and how they feed, what territory they will want to claim. For instance, chromis like the middle and top levels (most damsels fish do), blennys and gobys like the bottom level.
Because of the shape of your tank, you need to almost consider it as if it were 3 separate tanks. The top level is, for example, 1 15 gallon, the middle level is another and the bottom level is another.
To stock it for the health of your fish, you can choose, say, 2 fish per level. 2 that will dwell mostly in the substrate and lower areas, 2 that will stay mostly in the middle/top and 2 in the top/middle.
You will need to research your fish with those limits in mind to avoid feeding and territory issues.
It will also make your tank more pleasant to look at, with activity on all levels.
Keep us posted!
are you saying i could have like 3 pairs of fish . :joy: how about 5 blue reef chromis
No.
By "footprint" ophiura meant the size and shape. Your tank is higher than it is front to back or side to side.
Different types of fish have "areas" of the water that they are best suited for and where and how they feed, what territory they will want to claim. For instance, chromis like the middle and top levels (most damsels fish do), blennys and gobys like the bottom level.
Because of the shape of your tank, you need to almost consider it as if it were 3 separate tanks. The top level is, for example, 1 15 gallon, the middle level is another and the bottom level is another.
To stock it for the health of your fish, you can choose, say, 2 fish per level. 2 that will dwell mostly in the substrate and lower areas, 2 that will stay mostly in the middle/top and 2 in the top/middle.
You will need to research your fish with those limits in mind to avoid feeding and territory issues.
It will also make your tank more pleasant to look at, with activity on all levels.
Keep us posted!
ophiura
Active Member
THe hogfish and harlequin tusk are totally inappropriate. They get very large and are very active. This is a small tank, with an unfortunate "footprint" in terms of fish selection.
You can probably do 2 chromis and 2, maybe 3 small fish that hang out near the rocks. Perhaps a sixline wrasse, pair of clowns, or similar
You can probably do 2 chromis and 2, maybe 3 small fish that hang out near the rocks. Perhaps a sixline wrasse, pair of clowns, or similar
stanlalee
Active Member
I would look into captive bred sea horses, clown gobies, cardinals. you have no chance of schooling in a 45g hex. where ever the fish are they are already in the school. clown gobies and seahorse wont give you a bunch of activity but they will certaintly give you personality and color. they are all slow finicky eaters so they will do well together. Clown gobies stay perched out in the open when not harrassed and sea horses are always a conversation piece. I'd add a few low flow corals to make the clown gobies comfortable. Forget about active fish in a 45 hex, unless they are going up and down there isn't much room for activity.
payton 350
Member
i would say skip active fish and go more with clown type instead ....i have 3 chromis in a 55 and even though they are small they dart the whole length of the tank...i almost feel like the tank is still too small for them
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by cortlan
would i be better with just active fish and skip the schooling idea?
The general point is, I think, that you don't really have room for active or schooling fish. Probably the most active fish I would consider would be something like a sixline, which will be all over the place around the rockwork. But others could be really cramped in there.
would i be better with just active fish and skip the schooling idea?
The general point is, I think, that you don't really have room for active or schooling fish. Probably the most active fish I would consider would be something like a sixline, which will be all over the place around the rockwork. But others could be really cramped in there.
poniegirl
Active Member
Originally Posted by cortlan
how about 2 chromis green or blue reef. a cuban hogfish. and a harlequim tusk I am starting this tank from scratch .what about order of fish as i need a few to start tank, to let it cycle? :joy:
PLEASE do NOT use living animals to cause a cycle!
The cycle is natures way of cleansing and is highly toxic in the first stages. To make a fish go through it is cruel.
Instead, go to the FAQ up on the menu bar below the Message Board keys. Read up before you begin setting up your tank. You can use raw store bought shrimp to get your cycle going.
wangotango
Active Member
Originally Posted by cortlan
you dont like starting tank with $3.99 fish from petsmart
as stated above, NO. chances are the fish will die. its far better to cycle the tank with rock, old water or sand from an existing tank, or raw shrimp.
you dont like starting tank with $3.99 fish from petsmart
as stated above, NO. chances are the fish will die. its far better to cycle the tank with rock, old water or sand from an existing tank, or raw shrimp.
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by cortlan
you dont like starting tank with $3.99 fish from petsmart
If it is cost you are worried about, there are far cheaper ways of cycling. Not to mention, you will probably be taking the tank apart to try and get that fish out again.
All you need is an ammonia source.
You can get a bunch of fish food and put it in.
You can get a shrimp from the grocery store and put it in.
You can get uncured live rock and put it in.
you dont like starting tank with $3.99 fish from petsmart
If it is cost you are worried about, there are far cheaper ways of cycling. Not to mention, you will probably be taking the tank apart to try and get that fish out again.
All you need is an ammonia source.
You can get a bunch of fish food and put it in.
You can get a shrimp from the grocery store and put it in.
You can get uncured live rock and put it in.