Look for a non jumper for shallow rimless

[one4gatr]

Ok... so I have been at this hobby long enough now to have learned a few things and to make some rookie mistakes. One of my rookie mistakes was my old 44g corner tank that I bought to fit my room rather than understand what it took to run a SW tank. Anyway I have learned alot since those early days and figured out what I wanted in a tank. So I built my new tank 24x24x10 shallow rimless... build thread here:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1874748

I kept a few fish in the 44g and lost them to ich brought in by a cheap damsel. So I have been fishless for a while but was thinking I might give in and buy one again as my daughter wants more to look at then the corals, crabs, and snails. So what I am looking for is a reef safe fish that isnt a jumper. I am think I would prefer something that is an omnivore as there will be times I might need to leave the tank for a few days and also for the simplicity of feeding but I am not locked in on that. Thinking something colorful and interesting would be nice. Would also like to find something reasonably priced as I would rather drop money on corals than fish anyway.

I would appreciate any suggestions you may have.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Beblebe]

I would suggest a Royal Gramma, or a pair of clowns. Both should be pretty cheap and active.

 

[Wolverine]

Beblebe gave some reasonable suggestions. One thing to keep in mind is that if the fish is alive, it can jump; even if you get an angler, there's a chance you'll find it on the floor if the tank is open.

 

[one4gatr]

Beblebe gave some reasonable suggestions. One thing to keep in mind is that if the fish is alive, it can jump; even if you get an angler, there's a chance you'll find it on the floor if the tank is open.

Yup I know that ANY fish regardless of their "general" nature is capable of jumping. I am really looking for a more general guideline rather than a definitive answer. Shoot I cant tell you how snails crawled out of my 44g which had a 24" high wall and a slight lip.

I know from what I have seen in most LFS they keep a good portion of their fish in tanks with no lid. Now some have eurobraces and others dont but as you said ANY fish can jump.

Beblebe... yeah I had a false perc before and have a buddy who has one and is willing to part for a decent price. I was also wondering about Gobies... maybe a Mandarin or a Barnacle Blenny.

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[Reefman29]

+1 on the clowns. Gobies are out of the question. Damsels, a cardinal fish, hawkfish, and pseudochromis.

 

[Reefman29]

A nice pistol shrimp and watchman goby pair

 

[one4gatr]

A nice pistol shrimp and watchman goby pair

Yup... was already contemplating that one. But in your previous post you said no gobies...

Damsels - yeah maybe - cheap and wouldnt break my heart if they did jump
cardinal fish - I just think they are plain ugly but to each his own
hawkfish - i like but potentially not reef compatible
pseudochromis - mixed feelings on these. they have some reasonably priced ones such as bi-color and purple dottie backs but the others can get quite pricey. The are definitely on the shortlist.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[AquaKnight]

cardinal fish - I just think they are plain ugly but to each his own

You don't have to get an ugly one :thumbsup:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+26+1431&pcatid=1431

 

[one4gatr]

Point taken Aqua... I was thinking more of one of these types lol...

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+26+85&pcatid=85

 

[TripleT]

Awesome fish. Don't think they are prone to jumping, but if others know otherwise...

I'd definitely put egg crate on top for a cover, for at least a few months. Let whatever fish you get acclimate to the tank, and traffic outside of the tank.

Have you bought a QT yet?

Or maybe go with inverts instead? A few of these?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+525+1135&pcatid=1135

 

[one4gatr]

Have you bought a QT yet? - Yup got one (learned after my last experience)

Or maybe go with inverts instead? - Already have a few in another tank. Will soon be adding more to this tank. My concern with Shrimp and I know this from experience they are DEFINITELY jumpers (especially when frightened).

What kind of Gobie is that?

Yeah I have considered the egg crate temporarily I just dont think you can plan for every eventuality that might spook a fish though. Thats why I thought perhaps the Barnacle Blenny might work as it tends to "hole up" most of the time... same as some gobies.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Reefman29]

Sorry when I said no gobies, I was thinking like firefish gobies. Watchmans are like always on the bottom. Mine only comes out to eat and rarely has more than half of himself out of his burrow. Blue spot jaw fish are cool too and the burrow.

 

[JSeymour]

I've noticed bottom-oriented fish tend to jump more than openwater fish. Gobies, wrasses, eels, and blennies are the biggest jumpers.

 

[one4gatr]

Gobies, wrasses, eels, and blennies are the biggest jumpers

Dang... there goes my theory. I had just presumed that a "less active" fish would be less likely to skydive. Back to the drawing board.

Thanks for the input.

Mark

 

[TripleT]

Blue spot jaw fish are cool too and the burrow.

These are definitely jumpers. :bounce1:

 

[TripleT]

Have you bought a QT yet? - Yup got one (learned after my last experience)

Or maybe go with inverts instead? - Already have a few in another tank. Will soon be adding more to this tank. My concern with Shrimp and I know this from experience they are DEFINITELY jumpers (especially when frightened).

What kind of Gobie is that?

Yeah I have considered the egg crate temporarily I just dont think you can plan for every eventuality that might spook a fish though. Thats why I thought perhaps the Barnacle Blenny might work as it tends to "hole up" most of the time... same as some gobies.

Thanks,

Mark

I've seen a cleaner shrimp dart across a tank with some serious speed. I wonder if sexy shrimp (previous pic) can generate the same kind of speed.

The fish in the pic is a scooter dragonet. The more I think about it, I bet these will jump as well... just less frequently than other bottom dwellers.

With that tank I would look into making a screen out of plastic netting. Something like this:

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums...en-top-tanks-standard-rimless-w-pictures.html

It'll interfere with the clean look of your system... but preventing unnecessary death will be worth it.

Open tops + fish = ticking time bomb.

Fish tank rule #2: If you think something can go wrong, it will.

 

[johno4]

You don't have to get an ugly one :thumbsup:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+26+1431&pcatid=1431

Would these be ok in a small school in a 30 gallon? Say like a group of 3 or 5.

 

[wfournier]

Would these be ok in a small school in a 30 gallon? Say like a group of 3 or 5.

I was looking at doing that but from what I have read once they mature, like bangaii's a dominant pair will form and kill the rest.

 

[auem]

i too feel a small shoal of cardinalfish such as orange stripe or long-spined will be a safer choice.....

 

[SkyPapa]

I have 2 displays covered but my 36x24x12 frag tank has had 3 blue/yellow tail damsels for a while and no jumping.
It seems I have a pair and a single.
The pair has a large branched digita for home and the other one has a stag.