Fish That Swim in Upper Water Column

[raylinds]

I have just started stocking a 110 tank that will be mixed reef. My tank is tall (30"), and I would like to include some fish that will swim in the upper part of the tank above the reef.

So far I have a Red Lined Wrasse and an Orchid Dottyback. My tank is covered.

I plan on adding:
Clownfish
Flame Angel (I know, questionable for reef, but I've had good luck)
Foxface Lo
Tang (type yet to be determined)
Possibly Benggai Cardinal or two (these may fit the bill, but I want to see if there are more choices).

Perhaps Blurgreen Chromis?

Thanks

 

[Geebs19]

My Wrasses are all over the tank, one particularly stays in the upper portion of the tank. When my foxface is out, only about 10% of the time he is usually all over as well.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Scissortail or zebra dartfish might be worth looking at.

 

[HB AL]

My triggers Clown, Sargassum, Assasi and Blueline all spend most of there time swimming in the zone your looking to fill.

 

[will25u]

Reef Chromis. Ours is constantly out.

ETA - not the same as the Blue/Green Chromis you frequently see.

 

[Jesterrace]

Wrasses and Anthias would both be excellent choices. Both are very colorful and active all over the place.

 

[adtravels]

Lyretail anthias

 

[mta_morrow]

Any flasher wrasse will spend most of their time at the top. Multiples like 3 or more of different species put on an awesome display once they turn male. I have a trio of zebra darts that stay out and in the upper 1/2 of the tank. My blue throat trigger is active up high as well.

 

[X-37B]

I have 6 blue green chromis in my 120. Along with 1 clown 1 cherub pygmy angel 1 neon dottyback 1 pajama cardinal and 1 lawnmower blenny.
Cardinal just floats around but is very quick.
Clown stays in the frogspawn.
Blenny cruises the rocks.
Angel and dottyback swim through the rockwork together which is odd.
The chromis are everywhere in the water column.
I do feed 4 times a day.

 

[Waters]

I agree with the Flasher Wrasses comments....my McCoskers never leaves the upper water column other than to grab food.

 

[najer]

Red firefish?

 

[bhuyett]

Anthias, fairy and flasher wrasses and evening tangs will swim in different areas of the water column.

You didn’t say what sort of flow you have in your tank. If high flow, firefish and dartfish are not good candidates for the upper water column.

 

[S2G]

Anthias, fairy and flasher wrasses and evening tangs will swim in different areas of the water column.

You didn’t say what sort of flow you have in your tank. If high flow, firefish and dartfish are not good candidates for the upper water column.

That's a really nice setup

 

[S2G]

My foxface, blue chromis, and yellow tail damsel are always using the upper water column. I have an emporer that does the same but it's not suitable long term

 

[nereefpat]

My triggers Clown, Sargassum, Assasi and Blueline all spend most of there time swimming in the zone your looking to fill.

Would any of those fit in a 100?

 

[HB AL]

Yup, just start with small ones especially if you have more than one, get em the same size and let em grow up together. Also a lot of rock is key for biological reasons and for them to have there own sleeping quarters.

 

[nereefpat]

Yup, just start with small ones especially if you have more than one, get em the same size and let em grow up together. Also a lot of rock is key for biological reasons and for them to have there own sleeping quarters.

It was sort of a tongue in cheek question. You've seen the eventual sizes of these triggers, right?

Clown - 1.5 feet: https://www.fishbase.de/summary/2300
Sargassum - 9+" : https://www.fishbase.de/summary/4285
Assasi - 10+": https://www.fishbase.de/summary/25420
Blue line - 1.5 feet: https://www.fishbase.de/summary/4466

 

[HB AL]

Having successfully kept triggers of all kinds for the last 30+ years some spanning decades of life, thanks for pointing out what was the obvious to me but it might have informed others that did not know
@nereefpat

 

[Sea MunnKey]

My filefish loves to "streak" it's top dorsal fin above the water surface and zoom from one end to the other daily (body submerged but dorsal fin cutting thru' with water splashing). When the lights are turned on & I don't know why. Possibly happy to see it's owner ....

 

[nereefpat]

Having successfully kept triggers of all kinds for the last 30+ years some spanning decades of life, thanks for pointing out what was the obvious to me but it might have informed others that did not know
@nereefpat

Then why would you recommend blue line and clown triggers for 110 gallon reefs?