Fish For Frag Tank

[gofor100]

Hey Guys,

My frag tank (approx. 24"L X 24"W X 17"T) is all set up (and plumbed into my main tank) and will house a number of different corals and clams (including some LPS/acans/scolys that I will be target feeding).

Having said that... I'm looking for relatively small/medium fish that:

1) Has some color to it
2) Won't steal food from the acans and/or scolys when target feeding
3) Is less likely to jump from the open top (I know all fish might jump, but looking for one that is not a HUGE risk).
4) Serves some kind of function- this is not necessary, but it would be nice if the fish ate parasites that might end up in the tank (even though I dip everything going in).

I was thinking of one of the following... tell me what you think or if you have any suggestions:

> Six-line wrasse- nice color, and eats flatworms and some other parasites (I believe)
> Yellow-tail damsel- nice color, and is hardy/cheap
> Mystery wrasse- nice color and I believe it eats various parasites (not quite sure... assuming that it is similar to the six-line wrasse)

Any comments/suggestions are welcome!

Thanks,

Chad

 

[Beaun]

A halichoeres species wrasse would be a good to concider as well.

 

[snorvich]

I was thinking of one of the following... tell me what you think or if you have any suggestions:

> Six-line wrasse- nice color, and eats flatworms and some other parasites (I believe)

> Mystery wrasse- nice color and I believe it eats various parasites (not quite sure... assuming that it is similar to the six-line wrasse)

Any comments/suggestions are welcome!

Thanks,

Chad

The two fish I left in your list will both jump. Not IF but WHEN :mixed:

 

[gofor100]

A halichoeres species wrasse would be a good to concider as well.

Good suggestion, however, I already have a Yellow "Coris" wrasse (not really a "Coris" but identified as such), and luckily it is being kept in my covered DT... if it wasn't for the canopy, then he would have already gone carpet surfing (I've actually seen him jump out of the water, and hit the canopy and then bounce back into the water).

Thanks for the response though

 

[gofor100]

The two fish I left in your list will both jump. Not IF but WHEN :mixed:

So that leaves me with the Yellow-Tail Damsel... any other suggestions?

 

[javimarino]

Iam with snorvich. The LFS told me the six line is the only wrasse that dont jump. Once shame on you, twice shame on my. I had two that jump. I suggest a Gramma Loreta, lot of color, hardy and cheap.

 

[Arati]

for me since its going to be the only fish, I would be thinking of all the fish i cant keep in the reef. I would put in an angler fish or some kind maybe a rhino. I love those guys and never had a good spot for one.

 

[gofor100]

for me since its going to be the only fish, I would be thinking of all the fish i cant keep in the reef. I would put in an angler fish or some kind maybe a rhino. I love those guys and never had a good spot for one.

Interesting thought... although, since it's still technically a reef tank, I'm not sure if I want a big waste producer.

I have always been interested in one of those dwarf lionfish though... hmmmm. Not sure...

Good suggestion though...

 

[Ryan-UF]

Maybe a blenny? They can get big after years and years but a small/med starry blenny would fit nice. Good omnivore, would keep algae off those hard-to-reach parts of your racking.

 

[MCCOOL]

What about a pipefish species? I know they can be tricky to get eating, but they eat pests, and won't jump.

 

[iamwrasseman]

i would suggest that if you are going to get a fish for a frag tank it be a wrasse that will eat flatworms and other tiny critters . i will have to be covered as Steve has stated but at least he will be working for you .

 

[gofor100]

i would suggest that if you are going to get a fish for a frag tank it be a wrasse that will eat flatworms and other tiny critters . i will have to be covered as Steve has stated but at least he will be working for you .

That's what I was initially thinking, but I can't really cover the tank. So that might be out of the question.

Thanks,

Chad

 

[gofor100]

What about a pipefish species? I know they can be tricky to get eating, but they eat pests, and won't jump.

VERY interesting suggestion... never even thought about that. Do they have a high metabolism (meaning do I need to feed them frequently)? If so, I'll probably stay away since I don't want my nutrients to get out of whack (I keep SPS).

Very interesting suggestion though... I might have to look into that.

 

[gofor100]

Maybe a blenny? They can get big after years and years but a small/med starry blenny would fit nice. Good omnivore, would keep algae off those hard-to-reach parts of your racking.

That would be my first choice... but I've already got one in my DT and I'm looking for something different.

What about a Hector's Goby or something that will eat filamentous algae?

 

[scubasteve06]

How about a Goby/pistol shrimp pair? I know a purple reef lobster would also be cool to throw into that mix. I second the pipefish idea. Also a yellow or green clown goby would be cool too. My old LFS had a YWG pair with a pistol shrimp a purple reef lobster pair and a pipefish in one of their frag tanks. In another they had a pair of platinum percs. In another they had a harem of spotted mandarins. And in the last one they had a flame hawk and a red scooter dragonet. Mind you all these tanks were around 60-70g. I think any of the fish I just named would be perfect for your frag tank except maybe the flame hawk.

 

[gofor100]

How about a Goby/pistol shrimp pair? I know a purple reef lobster would also be cool to throw into that mix. I second the pipefish idea. Also a yellow or green clown goby would be cool too. My old LFS had a YWG pair with a pistol shrimp a purple reef lobster pair and a pipefish in one of their frag tanks. In another they had a pair of platinum percs. In another they had a harem of spotted mandarins. And in the last one they had a flame hawk and a red scooter dragonet. Mind you all these tanks were around 60-70g. I think any of the fish I just named would be perfect for your frag tank except maybe the flame hawk.

I like where your heads at... but the frag tank is barebottom, so no goby/pistol shrimp pair for me

Some yellow clown gobies would look nice, but they sometimes will eat polyps of SPS corals at the base... and that wouldn't probably work out too well in a tank full of SPS frags.

A Flame Hawkfish has always interested me... except I don't really want a fish that will perch and potentially knock frags over.

Hmmmmm...

 

[gofor100]

Just had a thought... what about a Sunburst Anthias?

I've had one before, and it doesn't seem like it would be a jumper (since they are a deep-water dwelling fish and not the typical "skittish" anthias.

What do you think?

 

[solitude127]

I wish I could get my 6 line to jump out, he's one mean SOB. But to answer your question, I have a pair of clowns in my frag tank. 24x24x12. I've heard of clowns jumping out as well but I know more people who have had clowns that didn't jump out than people that have.

 

[IFbettas]

Just had a thought... what about a Sunburst Anthias?

I've had one before, and it doesn't seem like it would be a jumper (since they are a deep-water dwelling fish and not the typical "skittish" anthias.

What do you think?

Personally, I wouldn't risk keeping a sunburst with an open top. My sunburst always hangs out high in the water column and has gotten really close to jumping out a couple times. That's mostly because my potters angel gives her a hard time, but I still wouldn't risk it even if the anthias was all by herself.

FWIW, just because a fish is from deeper water doesn't make it any less likely to jump. Many of the fairy wrasses which are excellent jumpers are found at depths around 100+ feet.

I think a damsel or two is a good choice as far as tank size and the fact that many of them will nibble at algae, but I know they are not the most exciting fish. As already suggested, you could try out an angler or frogfish.

Another suggestion is a pair or small group of a cardinalfish species; they aren't very likely to jump, IME.

 

[acoff87]

tailspot blennies are cool
geometric hawkfish- (Plectranthias inermis) are also neet but tiny