Suggestions for upper tier fish

Carmen · Mar 14, 2014

I have a 75 gal. with 50 gal sump.
Inhbinets are:
2 x Oss. clowns
1 x lawnmower blenny
1 x Coris wrasse
1 x Randal's goby w/ shrimp
1 x Royal Gramma
2 x Lyretail Anthias

These are all in the middle or bottom of the tank. I want to add one more fish and want it to be one that swims in the upper tier. I was considering a white tailed bristletooth tang (correct name?) Or some kind of dwarf angel fish. I have a peaceful tank, though and am a little worried about the angels. Are they even upper tier fish? Or the bristletoothed? What are some other ideas?

guidedbyechoes · Mar 14, 2014

First one that comes to mind is the midas blenny

08wingrider · Mar 14, 2014

My Naso and Blue Jaw trigger swim at the top tier of my 265g. Reef safe and I also have clowns tribal Blenny and other friendly fish.

fishroomlady · Mar 14, 2014

I was thinking midas blenny too! Mine swims all over....green chromis also seem to like the upper tier. I'm not a fan but cardinals may be more upper but I'm not sure on that. Wrasses also seem to prefer upper third. My coral beauty stays more in the lower half.

tlewy · Mar 14, 2014

I hear that the higher the rock work the more comfortable fish will be at the top of the tank.

To address the original question I believe a school of chromis may do the trick.

DSP · Mar 14, 2014

My vote is for Midas blenny to

Marshall O · Mar 14, 2014

08wingrider said:
My Naso and Blue Jaw trigger swim at the top tier of my 265g. Reef safe and I also have clowns tribal Blenny and other friendly fish.

Glad to hear that, but neither the Naso or BJT are suitable for a 75

My vote is also for a Midas Blenny

Kworker · Mar 14, 2014

tlewy said:
I hear that the higher the rock work the more comfortable fish will be at the top of the tank.

To address the original question I believe a school of chromis may do the trick.

+1 I agree... I noticed my yellow tangs don't come up past the mid height of the tank and it happens to be where my rock scape stops for the most part since I chose minimalistic.. I raised it a bit and I noticed they come up a bit even though its rare.

But my chromis are ALWAYS at the top level they love playing in the flow.

Carmen · Mar 14, 2014

KCbutnotsosunshine said:
+1 I agree... I noticed my yellow tangs don't come up past the mid height of the tank and it happens to be where my rock scape stops for the most part since I chose minimalistic.. I raised it a bit and I noticed they come up a bit even though its rare.

But my chromis are ALWAYS at the top level they love playing in the flow.

Very good responses! Thanks guys! I wasn't even thinking of the midas blenny. As for Chromis, I read that the blue chromis will knock each other off untl there's only 1 or 2 left. Does anyone have any experience with other types of chromis?

Carmen · Mar 14, 2014

Actually, my rock work is probably 3/4 of the way up the tank. I have lots of caves and the fish love to explore them.

nvMarco · Mar 14, 2014

I would stay clear of the Chromis. I have 6 orange line Chromis and two of them are a mated pair. They don't place nice at all with the other 4 and that's an understatement.
Too bad that the pair doesn't realize that it's really my six line wrasse that enjoys their babies every time. Excellent snack!

+1 on the rock, and btw my Sailfin and Foxface love the upper region of the tank.

ReefMadScientist · Mar 14, 2014

Peppermint Angel

tlewy · Mar 15, 2014

I am about to combat the same issue with upper level of my tank. I can't raise rockwork and I have a chromis already, I plan to add 4 more to try to get them to school. I have heard of aggression but if you have enough then it should not be as big of an issue. I think at least five and in odds. But like I said this will be an experment for myself, and I am going off of a buddy's tank.

DSP · Mar 15, 2014

Carmen said:
Very good responses! Thanks guys! I wasn't even thinking of the midas blenny. As for Chromis, I read that the blue chromis will knock each other off untl there's only 1 or 2 left. Does anyone have any experience with other types of chromis?

Iv kept chromis in almost every tank Iv ever had and never had this problem, I also know lots and lots of people that never have that problem, I would get the blue green chromis just make sure u add Atleast 5 and they should be fine, Yes there's a chance they fight but theres a chance any fish will fight the same species, so many people chromis successfully there a great fish.

DSP · Mar 15, 2014

tlewy said:
I am about to combat the same issue with upper level of my tank. I can't raise rockwork and I have a chromis already, I plan to add 4 more to try to get them to school. I have heard of aggression but if you have enough then it should not be as big of an issue. I think at least five and in odds. But like I said this will be an experment for myself, and I am going off of a buddy's tank.

I agree

3dees · Mar 15, 2014

I have a scissor tail and a pair of zebra gobies that are always at the upper half of the tank.

Paul B · Mar 15, 2014

I was also going to say sizzortail. They stay in the middle near the top and are cheap. Either that or a manta ray, but their tail may scratch your ceiling.

fishroomlady · Mar 15, 2014

very interesting on the scissortail. I just got back from my LFS and noticed they had three in a tank and they were up near the top swimming. I thought of this thread