43G (34G DT) Final Fish

[Greckel]

Hey everyone,

I keep trying to come up with the last fish to add to my 43G reef (34G DT; Reefer 170). Currently, the tank has:
-Hermits
-Snails
-1x Green-Banded Pistol
-2x Wheeler Gobies
-1x Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
-Corals

I intend to add:
-2x Clowns
-1-2x Trapezia Crabs
-1-2x Pom Pom Crabs
-1x Bubble Tip Anemone
-Maybe 1x Tuxedo Urchin

Starting on Tuesday, I will have a refugium in the tank that I can mature before adding the fish.

I am looking for one final fish that:
(1) Won't eat the inverts. I care a lot about the inverts.
(2) Swims the water column rather than residing on the bottom of the tank. The tank has a fair amount of swimming space. I recognize this is a particularly difficult because most nano fish are not open water swimmers.
(3) Adds a splash of color.

I think I am suffering from analysis paralysis simply because there is so much information about various fish/invert combinations, and everyone has a horror story. These are some of my thoughts:

-Dottybacks: I like to colors of Royal Dottybacks and I hear they have a big dominating personality. Unfortunately, they eat ornamental shrimp and my cleaner shrimp is one my favorite inhabitants.
-Wrasses: Wrasses have such wonderful color patterns. Two problems: (1) They seem to harass the hell out of everything and (2) most of the more unique species appear to be larger than my tank can handle. Of course, there is the Six-Line Wrasse, but I've seen this fish described solely as "demon spawn."
-Royal Gramma Basslet: This fish looks beautiful, similar to the Royal Dottyback. I cannot find much about their temperament or their likelihood to attack tank mates.
-Chromis: I really like the blue of the Chromis, but I could only afford to put one in the tank. As a shoaling fish, I think I would stress it by not providing it with a proper shoal.
-Firefish: This looks like it might be a good option. My biggest complaint is that -- for some reason -- the appearance of the firefish doesn't really excite me.
-Azure Damselfish: This would probably be my top choice. But I know clowns are also damsels and damsels do not play nicely with other fish.
-Yellow Tang: Just kidding...

What's a reefer to do?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Hey everyone,

I keep trying to come up with the last fish to add to my 43G reef (34G DT; Reefer 170). Currently, the tank has:
-Hermits
-Snails
-1x Green-Banded Pistol
-2x Wheeler Gobies
-1x Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
-Corals

I intend to add:
-2x Clowns
-1-2x Trapezia Crabs
-1-2x Pom Pom Crabs
-1x Bubble Tip Anemone
-Maybe 1x Tuxedo Urchin

Starting on Tuesday, I will have a refugium in the tank that I can mature before adding the fish.

I am looking for one final fish that:
(1) Won't eat the inverts. I care a lot about the inverts.
(2) Swims the water column rather than residing on the bottom of the tank. The tank has a fair amount of swimming space. I recognize this is a particularly difficult because most nano fish are not open water swimmers.
(3) Adds a splash of color.

I think I am suffering from analysis paralysis simply because there is so much information about various fish/invert combinations, and everyone has a horror story. These are some of my thoughts:

-Dottybacks: I like to colors of Royal Dottybacks and I hear they have a big dominating personality. Unfortunately, they eat ornamental shrimp and my cleaner shrimp is one my favorite inhabitants.
-Wrasses: Wrasses have such wonderful color patterns. Two problems: (1) They seem to harass the hell out of everything and (2) most of the more unique species appear to be larger than my tank can handle. Of course, there is the Six-Line Wrasse, but I've seen this fish described solely as "demon spawn."
-Royal Gramma Basslet: This fish looks beautiful, similar to the Royal Dottyback. I cannot find much about their temperament or their likelihood to attack tank mates.
-Chromis: I really like the blue of the Chromis, but I could only afford to put one in the tank. As a shoaling fish, I think I would stress it by not providing it with a proper shoal.
-Firefish: This looks like it might be a good option. My biggest complaint is that -- for some reason -- the appearance of the firefish doesn't really excite me.
-Azure Damselfish: This would probably be my top choice. But I know clowns are also damsels and damsels do not play nicely with other fish.
-Yellow Tang: Just kidding...

What's a reefer to do?

The azure damsel is a relatively well behaved damsel. Other relatively peaceful damsels include Chrysiptera arnazae, C. springeri, and C. tricincta.

Royal grammas are a lot more peaceful than dottybacks.

Some have reported that chromis whittle their numbers down. This is not a problem that I have had with high flow and frequent feedings.

Some other possible options are some of the cardinal species. Most are pr forming, but blue eyes are social.

Yellow assessors hide at first, but eventually are quite outgoing.

 

[rich nyc]

i like firefish. get a pair.
royal gramma nice but shy.
dottybacks stay away from
wrasses-flasher wrasses are peaceful. love them.
cardinalfish are cool too

 

[eatbreakfast]

Flasher wrasses should relly have a tank 36" long as their displays can be quite elaborate.

If you go for a pr of firefish ensure they are a bonded pr, because consexuals are intolerant of one another.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

If you add the sixline last it shouldnt be much of a demon.

I just picked up a tail spot blenny and he is pretty sweet. He free swims some and perches some.

But if you are looking for a pure swimmer I would do a pinkstreaked wrasse, or one of the pygmy wrasse's (tanaka's, white banded, yellow banded)

 

[Greckel]

Is 6 fish (3x bonded pairs) pushing it in a 34g DT?

 

[Greckel]

The azure damsel is a relatively well behaved damsel. Other relatively peaceful damsels include Chrysiptera arnazae, C. springeri, and C. tricincta.

Royal grammas are a lot more peaceful than dottybacks.

Some have reported that chromis whittle their numbers down. This is not a problem that I have had with high flow and frequent feedings.

Some other possible options are some of the cardinal species. Most are pr forming, but blue eyes are social.

Yellow assessors hide at first, but eventually are quite outgoing.

It's encouraging to hear that the Azure Damsel is relatively well behaved. I am also glad to hear the Royal Gramma is more peaceful than the dottybacks. I hadn't looked at the yellow assessor, but it also looks like a good option.

If you add the sixline last it shouldnt be much of a demon.

I just picked up a tail spot blenny and he is pretty sweet. He free swims some and perches some.

But if you are looking for a pure swimmer I would do a pinkstreaked wrasse, or one of the pygmy wrasse's (tanaka's, white banded, yellow banded)

I hadn't seen the pygmy wrasses. The Tanaka's in particular looks like an interesting option.

 

[rich nyc]

i dont think it is pushing it. They are small fish. Tanaka's nice but make sure like firefish and other wrasses you have a cover

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

I like your firefish and azure damsel choices. Love them both, as well as other chrysiptera sp.

I would go with an assessor, my favorite fish. Rainford/hectors would also be nice in this tank, though not open water swimmers mine are always out.

Dottybacks too aggressive imo

Wrasse, some could work but i wouldnt. My tanaka will pick at small inverts and is quite cryptic, definitely not open swimmers. 6 are lines too mean imo

Grammas can be a risk to small inverts though most likely ok. Definitely better choice than dottybacks

Lots of good options!

 

[Greckel]

After some additional research, it came down to the Gramma and the Azure Damsel. I am going to go with the Azure Damsel. They just seem to have so much personality.

Final Question: Do I add the clowns or the damsel next?

 

[Maritimer]

Much would depend on their sizes. When I got my clowns, they were about 3/8" long - I'd say add clowns that small first. If your clowns are close to fully adult, possibly consider adding the damsel first.

Under most circumstances, I would add the clowns before the damsel.

~Bruce