New tank cycling, fish selection question

[Jpmumaw]

So I obviously need to work on my lighting camera skills lol! I have the tank up an cycling, salt is at 1.023, 79 degrees, lights about 25%, used live sand, dry rock 110lbs, set my sump up with a refugium, not done the base still need to put cabinetry face on but that can wait. It's a 90 gallon wide and now to address my question. At this point I intend on a coral tank with limited amount of fish maybe you guys can lead me in he right direction. Mated pair of clowns, pair of mandarins(yes I know the requirements), few cleaner shrimp, aside from that nothing set in stone but with the tank length I want a school of 8 to 10 small fish. What's the best for that? I'll post more pics from my tank setup when I get home.

 

[aaron23]

i think you're asking what type of schooling fish should you get? I'd recommend the blue streak cardinals. many other schoolers end up dwindling down to a few because they end up being territorial when there's no longer a threat in the aquarium.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Blue/green chromis always look cool in a school.

 

[aaron23]

Blue/green chromis always look cool in a school.

they end up killing eachother off. i had 5 now i have 1

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Never a problem with any that I've owned.

they end up killing eachother off. i had 5 now i have 1

 

[Jpmumaw]

Yeah I would very much like to replicate a real reef as closely as possible in looks. And every reef I've ever seen has had this massive ball of flashy really small fish swimming around the top!

 

[Brew12]

Never a problem with any that I've owned.

Any thoughts on if having other aggressive fish in the aquarium before adding the chromis helps?

 

[Jpmumaw]

Couple more pics of my tank and the sump with refugium

 

[Brew12]

Great looking set up!

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

A dozen in a long 150. the most aggressive fish was a female clown. Don't know if their aggression increases in fewer numbers.

Any thoughts on if having other aggressive fish in the aquarium before adding the chromis helps?

 

[Jpmumaw]

Are chromies really the only small option? I didn't see any other schooling fish options but I'd rather not go with them as it seems everyone has them. And thanks brew12 I'm pretty happy with it so far guess I'll make this my build thread or is there a better place for that?

 

[cmcoker]

Chromis don't really school...
I would look at some anthias or wrasses for the look of active fish above and around your reef. I haven't kept anthias, but wrasses are colorful, active fish. A group of several different species of flasher and/or fairy wrasses would be my vote.

 

[Jpmumaw]

Wanted to update the tank info show some pics on what I did so far! Starry blenny, juvenile yellow eye, mated pair of black clowns, 2 chromies, 2 cleaner shrimp, few snails various types, and three corals