Good Schooling Fish for a 120

[Urabggr]

Right now I have a 120 (soon to be BB mostly SPS) with two GSM's, a YWG, a yellow tang, a coral beauty, and a royal gramma. I'm looking to finish of my fish stock and I think a small school of 3-5 fish would be nice. At first I thought about anthias, but multiple feedings per day is somewhat out of the question for me.. plus I'd like to keep bioload to a minimum. Any other recommended colorful schooling fish? I know of a bunch, but I was just curious what you guys would reccomend. Thanks!

 

[Bojan]

I recommend Chromis viridis.

 

[Urabggr]

Hmm... blue/green chromis do sound good. I was also looking at threadfinned cardinals but it seems like the chromis are easier to come by. Any chance of spawning with the chromis?

 

[Angel*Fish]

I have 4 threadfin cardinals - they don't fight - but they mostly hang out in pairs - the 4 stay in close proximity to each other but they just hang in one spot all day

If you get chromis (or threadfins) they are initially disease prone and should be quarantined & even maybe treated for parasites - you'll have better luck with the "picking each other off one by one problem" if they aren't already harborboring pests

If I was going to try the chromis, I'd want as many as 9 very healthy ones

HTH

 

[iNfaMous_reeF]

I have 7 Chromis in my 135 and they do not school. They usaull stay in the same end of teh tank, but they go their own way, mostly.

I bought them for the same reason, I wanted a schooling fish, but they are still pretty cool anyway.

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7755472#post7755472 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iNfaMous_reeF
I have 7 Chromis in my 135 and they do not school. They usaull stay in the same end of teh tank, but they go their own way, mostly.

I bought them for the same reason, I wanted a schooling fish, but they are still pretty cool anyway.

What other fish do you have?

 

[lux_06]

yeh it has been said that if you have another fish in the tank that intimidates the chromis, they will tend to school more as they want to look like a bigger fish to avoid being eaten or harrassed.

 

[Chihuahua6]

How about some blue Damsels? I know I'll hear it for suggesting this because they're mean however the fish you currently have should be able to hold their own. I'm going to add some to my 500. I love colorful fish and nothing gets any bluer than these.

Marie don't you have some blue and yellow Damsels?

 

[Angel*Fish]

Why yes I do! They are Chrysiptera hemicyanea, very mild mannered tiny damsels. I have 3 - but they have never schooled -Each has its own home - one dominant, one is the mate and the other one is the "mate wanna be". I know two of them spawn & they lay eggs in a Gulf of Mexico whelk shell, which is home to the dominant fish

Every morning they asociate together to reaffirm the social heirarchy - but no schooling. I highly recommend them, in a 500g, I'd have a bunch more.

 

[Urabggr]

Heh, I'd like to stay away from damsels as much as possible. Even though i've never kept one with other fish, my experiences with wild damsels has convinced me to never involve them in a community aquarium. Plus, a friend of mine lost close to $100 in fish because of a damsel.

 

[vanmle]

What fish would be big and scary enough to scare chromis into schooling but safe enough for a reef? In a 120, it might be hard to find fish big enough, but what about a 300 or 400 gallon tank?

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7758678#post7758678 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Urabggr
Heh, I'd like to stay away from damsels as much as possible. Even though i've never kept one with other fish, my experiences with wild damsels has convinced me to never involve them in a community aquarium. Plus, a friend of mine lost close to $100 in fish because of a damsel.

I would never suggest you put a damsel in your tank

However for others finding this thread it might be useful to know which damsel caused so much havoc. It is common mistake to assume all damsels are "bad' just because some of them are terrors. The word "damsel" is like "wrasse" there is a huge variety of fishes in the group, including chromises and anemone fish. ( Although I noticed in his most recent book, S. Michael avoided classifying anemone fish as damsels as he previously had.) It just does many mild mannered fish an injustice almost to call them damsels as many people respond just the way you did.

Here's a photo of my little sweeties BTW, it is the top left orange & pink fish that is a big bully in my tank. I've been trying to catch him for the last 2 days - grrr!

 

[Jeffrey Porter]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7755472#post7755472 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iNfaMous_reeF
I have 7 Chromis in my 135 and they do not school. They usaull stay in the same end of teh tank, but they go their own way, mostly.

I bought them for the same reason, I wanted a schooling fish, but they are still pretty cool anyway.

i've posted this pic a couple of times but these are my 10 chromis. they always school and have no other dominant fish in the tank to scare them. they also never get tooo aggressive with one another.

 

[Valab]

Heniochus diphreutes - 1, 2 or 3 of them.

 

[reef_ky]

I have 6 firegoby's that school in my tank....sometimes they split up in two groups of 3, but most of the time they school.

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7761191#post7761191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reef_ky
I have 6 firegoby's that school in my tank....sometimes they split up in two groups of 3, but most of the time they school.

I thought they would fight..maybe we're not thinking of the same fish -- what's a fire goby?

 

[reef_ky]

fire dartfish (Nemateleotris Magnifica)........they were recommended by a fellow reefer with a similar size tank as a good schooling fish...I introduced them about 3 weeks ago & everything is fine!!

 

[Angel*Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7761400#post7761400 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reef_ky
fire dartfish (Nemateleotris Magnifica)........they were recommended by a fellow reefer with a similar size tank as a good schooling fish...I introduced them about 3 weeks ago & everything is fine!!

Same fish...I see you have a 300+g tank - That would make a difference! In smaller tanks they are known for killing off the weakest fish one by one until only one or a pair is remaining - good luck & post pictures!