Need ideas for schooling fish

rot_stupid

rot_stupid

Member
It's been awhile since I've been on, We havent added anything to out tank in a long time and we have just let it run. now I'm thinking of adding some new fish. I want to add some sort of schooling fish, so I could have around 5 in the tank. I have a 150g tank that currently houses 1 snowflake eel, 1 clown, 1 lunar wrasse, 1 Sgt Major and a yellowtail damsel that I just can't seem to catch to get out. Does anyone have any ideas of what type of fish would be good to add? I currently don't have any corals, but hope to have some in the future so I kinda need reef safe fish.
 
myreef05

myreef05

Member
4-5 blue/green reef chromis. Their colors shimmer and change with direction of light and angle they swim.
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
i love my chromis :)
but for that big of a tank, look into some anthias if you can afford them.
 
scotty37

scotty37

Member
I really like the look of the Chromis, what is the reasoning behind paying more for the Anthias? I havent seen an Anthias that I like more than the Green Chromis, and would like to know why one would pay so much more for the alternative. This is my first research into these, so Im hoping for some good insight here before I get my new tank up and running.
 
maelv

maelv

Active Member
I had a couple of bartlett anthias, but one jumped out...the bigger prettier one...but I also have several chromis as well. And correct, for the price of one anthia, I could have purchased 10 chromis....food for thought....(approx $45 bucks)
 
myreef05

myreef05

Member
Originally Posted by scotty37
I really like the look of the Chromis, what is the reasoning behind paying more for the Anthias? I havent seen an Anthias that I like more than the Green Chromis, and would like to know why one would pay so much more for the alternative. This is my first research into these, so Im hoping for some good insight here before I get my new tank up and running.
I guess personal preference. The color choice needs to be made for the tank balance IMO.
 
rara12

rara12

Member
I think a good alternative to the chromis and anthias would be the chalk bass. They are shoaling fish in the wild AND ARE 100% reef safe. You could do maybe seven of them and that would look nice. Or the heniochus butterflys would be nice in a trio. You could just drop in like four more Sarget major. They school even if they are a bit agressive. I bought one for my 200g and i dont regret it.
 
renogaw

renogaw

Active Member
the reason i like anthias is the coloration. especially on the male. chromis can get to 2-3 inches and are nice and shiney though so its tough decision :) if the anthias were'nt so expensive i would have gone with them :)
 
rara12

rara12

Member
Originally Posted by rot_stupid
Thanks for the insight. Do most butterfly fish swim in schools?

in the wild alot do but in tanks the dynamic breaks down and they tend to kill each other. But some can be kept in groups. The heniochus butterflys will school in tanks but you have to be carful as there are several species and only one thats reef safe.
 
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