Do you have big tanks with small fish?

[AZMSGT]

I’ve always like the smaller “nano tank” fish. Yellow clown goby, fire fish... I’m QTing them at the moment but plan on adding them to my Tank in my Sig block (625L/160G). I know they will look a little lost in the larger tank. I’m looking at adding more Firefish type fish in the future too.

Just wondering who has these and other small fish in their large tanks.

 

[eraser2001]

I have one firefish in my 225g and it always stays in same location. Nobody bullies it

 

[CindyKz]

No idea how many gallons or what the dimensions are of that tank, but I have multiple smaller fish (wrasses, cardinal fish, royal gramma) in my 180 gal. I'll be adding larger fish as I go, but I like the look of the smaller fish. It gives the illusion of a larger tank and just looks more proportionate to me, like a "real" reef Bigger fish in small tanks always make the tank look cramped, in my eyes.

 

[SeaJay]

I have a royal gramma, purple dottyback, purple fire fish and a rainford goby in my 135. I have some larger fish too, but I also like the look of the small fish.

 

[FishyDP]

I have small schools of firefish, chromis and anthias in my 150g. They add alot of motion to the tank. I would like to have an even number of small, medium and larger fish but my yellow tang will not allow it.

 

[ca1ore]

I generally prefer more small fish than fewer large fish. In my current 450, I have both. Group of damsels 60 strong.

 

[AZMSGT]

Group of damsels 60 strong.

Wow..

 

[o2manyfish]

My display tank is 400g. My big fish is my wife's Achilles tang. But I am a small fish person. So in addition to all the tangs I have 25+ damsels, 13 Assesors, 10+ pseudochromis, neon gobies, 8+ Barnacle Blennies, 10+ Salifin blennies, Trio of Tail Spot Blennies, Red Cap Gobies, Green Bar Gobies, and some tiny tiny eviotas (see only a few times a year). I love that the closer you get to the tank the more things you spot that are alive and well.

Dave B

 

[Nicholas Dushynsky]

I generally prefer more small fish than fewer large fish. In my current 450, I have both. Group of damsels 60 strong.

Do you have a photo of your tank, I prefer the smaller fish.

 

[29bonsaireef]

I purposely collect the tiny fish for my tanks.

Having a bunch of small fish really makes the tank look bigger, and more natural imo.

Here's a few of my small fish (the 1" and under gang)

Cell phone pic some of the chromis, juvi creole wrasse, and little blue damsel

 

[Phycodurus]

i also go the small fish route on my 180G main tank to maximize the sense of scale: chromis, possum wrasses, assessors, banggai cardinals, leopard wrasses, mandarin dragonets, gobies & blennies ... and one black molly lol. i might add Centropyge angels later (but that’s iffy cuz i have tridacna clams).

i’ve even opted to not replace my Lysmata cleaner shrimp ... i go with all ornamental anemone shrimp and their like.

 

[o2manyfish]

i also go the small fish route on my 180G main tank to maximize the sense of scale: chromis, possum wrasses, assessors, banggai cardinals, leopard wrasses, mandarin dragonets, gobies & blennies ... and one black molly lol. i might add Centropyge angels later (but that’s iffy cuz i have tridacna clams).

i’ve even opted to not replace my Lysmata cleaner shrimp ... i go with all ornamental anemone shrimp and their like.

I have the white mollies. Great Algae eaters. Don't bother any fish or any coral. I have some pricey fish in the tank but the Mollies always get noticed before the pricey fish.

Dave B

 

[biecacka]

29bonsai, what are the first two fish you posted above?

Dave, did you have to acclimate the white mollies from brackish water first?

Corey

 

[motortrendz]

I have a ton of smaller fish in my tank, love the look of always seeing something going on wherever I look. But I also have 2 lager fish that tang police would hang me for. Eventually I plan on Upgrading my tank by 3x so we hope to keep our big guys as they have become family pets with names. Lol. As of now theyr happy and healthy and no aggression for space. So all is good.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I have no fish in my tank..... that count?

 

[29bonsaireef]

29bonsai, what are the first two fish you posted above?

Dave, did you have to acclimate the white mollies from brackish water first?

Corey

First is a blue chromis. Second is a blue reef damsel

 

[biecacka]

Thank you. They just look so small in those pictures. I’m looking for some small fish to fill in my 240

Corey

 

[ca1ore]

Do you have a photo of your tank, I prefer the smaller fish.

You can see it in my build thread on the monster tank forum - Simons450

 

[rogersb]

15 small fish in my 125. I prefer that look over a handful of large fish. I'm looking to add 5 - 7 more small fish. I've snorkeled and gone diving a handful of times and whenever I've gone it seems the reefs are covered in small fish so this is also more realistic to me.

 

[AZMSGT]

You can see it in my build thread on the monster tank forum - Simons450

Just a suggestion go in your profile and add the link to your build. It will restore your tank build banner on the left. Also it makes the banner clickable and takes people straight to your build.