I need recommendations for a upper tank swimmer

[CaliCO]

Hi,
So I have a 29 gallon tank w/ lots of live rock that will be a reef tank eventually. What recommendations do you have for fish that swims mostly in the upper half of the tank?? Bonus for peaceful fish.

Currently stocked with:
1x oscellaris clown
1x midas blenny
1x blood red fire shrimp

Everything is going great in my tank so far and my fish/shrimp get along well (they actually all hang out together most of the time since they are buddies ) , but they also tend to hang near the middle/bottom of the tank most of the time. The clown and blenny swim around up top too, just not their main spot. This new fish will either be my last fish or second to last fish that I get for this tank. Thanks for any ideas!

 

[PicassoClown04]

Hi! My cherub angel is best friends with the clowns and is a very active swimmer! Been reefsafe as long as I’ve had her couple family photos I have a very similar stock to you, pair of clowns, fire shrimp, sexy shrimp, and the cherub!

 

[CaliCO]

Hi! My cherub angel is best friends with the clowns and is a very active swimmer! Been reefsafe as long as I’ve had her couple family photos I have a very similar stock to you, pair of clowns, fire shrimp, sexy shrimp, and the cherub!

Nice! That tank looks awesome. Cherub would definitely be cool, especially if they are peaceful. Im looking forward to adding coral soon!

 

[X-37B]

Carefull with the pygmy.
I loved mine but after 4 months it went rouge on sps.
Some people have good luck with them but I did not.
Pajama cardinal is cool. I have one and it mostly floats around the tank in the open.

 

[CaliCO]

Carefull with the pygmy.
I loved mine but after 4 months it went rouge on sps.
Some people have good luck with them but I did not.
Pajama cardinal is cool. I have one and it mostly floats around the tank in the open.

Does the pygmy attack soft corals and LPS? I probably won't have SPS in this tank since I just have the dual orbit marine pro lights.

 

[K7BMG]

Yes nice looking tank.
Though you may be hard pressed to find a fish that stays in the open like that.
Just not a naturally safe space for fish to be alone.
Now if you had a school of something might be a different story.
But this is not practical obviously.

 

[Sticker shock]

Leopard wrasse may work for you. May not be a top only type of fish, but covers every area of the rock work top to bottom. Always out and about and active (until lights out), eats everything I give it, and is kind of a stunner to look at.

 

[X-37B]

Does the pygmy attack soft corals and LPS? I probably won't have SPS in this tank since I just have the dual orbit marine pro lights.

It picked at all my corals sps and lps but mostly sps as my tank has more of them than others.
It was well fed too.
3-4 times a day.

 

[CaliCO]

Yes nice looking tank.
Though you may be hard pressed to find a fish that stays in the open like that.
Just not a naturally safe space for fish to be alone.
Now if you had a school of something might be a different story.
But this is not practical obviously.

Yeah that makes sense. It wouldn't necessarily have to stay in the open, just would like something that would swim up there a little more often than my other fish which mostly cruise the rockwork on the bottom half.

 

[Ef4life]

I enjoy my blue/green chromis group, always active swimmers all over the tank.

 

[X-37B]

I enjoy my blue/green chromis group, always active swimmers all over the tank.

Yes they are quite active as I have 6 in my 120.

 

[CaliCO]

Leopard wrasse may work for you. May not be a top only type of fish, but covers every area of the rock work top to bottom. Always out and about and active (until lights out), eats everything I give it, and is kind of a stunner to look at.

The leopard wrasse is an awesome looking fish! I've seen them at the LFS. I just read they should be in a 50 gallon minimum though :/

 

[CaliCO]

I enjoy my blue/green chromis group, always active swimmers all over the tank.

Would you recommend two instead of one?

 

[Sticker shock]

The leopard wrasse is an awesome looking fish! I've seen them at the LFS. I just read they should be in a 50 gallon minimum though :/

I'm not sure why the requirement for a 50 gallon. As long as you see him eating frozen I think you'll be fine.

 

[Ef4life]

Would you recommend two instead of one?

I have a group of 6, and had them for about 1.5 years now.

It seems like lots of people start off with a small group of 2-3 and get whittled down to 1 after a while from aggression between them. Imo they are very active and need multiple feedings per day, I believe many don’t feed them enough and that causes aggression between them. Also a larger group spreads out any aggression so one fish isn’t singled out as much.

 

[CaliCO]

I have a group of 6, and had them for about 1.5 years now.

It seems like lots of people start off with a small group of 2-3 and get whittled down to 1 after a while from aggression between them. Imo they are very active and need multiple feedings per day, I believe many don’t feed them enough and that causes aggression between them. Also a larger group spreads out any aggression so one fish isn’t singled out as much.

Yeah I would get a large group if I had more room, but I think 4 fish total will be my limit.