Looking for a perfect nano fish

[JaneG]

Hello all,
I know there are a lot of topics like this, but I feel like I have almost no options! I currently have a jawfish and a pair of ORA Mandarins. The tank is 20g with a huge sump, skimmer, waterchanges 1/week, and I'm vodka dosing so I'm not too worried about being overstocked (and my SPS are getting a touch pale actually). Basically, I want 1 (or possibly 2 if I kept the fish in a pair) more fish. However, I need a fish that will:

Fit in 20g
Not be aggressive (my fish are quite peaceful) or a super aggressive feeder
Not have any chance of nipping SPS
Leave my inverts alone (I have a few ornamental shrimp)
Swim in the water column (preferably...or at least not infringe upon my bottom-dweller's territories)
Be fine with HIGH flow (I have a vortech MP10 on full blast!) and bright light
Have at least some personality or good looks

I feel like I have pretty much no options...does anyone have an idea? Thanks a bunch!

 

[nanoreefer1000]

cardinalfish or firefish maybe
possum wrasse is another one but they will eat pods

 

[JaneG]

cardinalfish or firefish maybe
possum wrasse is another one but they will eat pods

Thanks for the suggestions! I had a possum wrasse a while ago but he was so secretive (but now that I think about it, I might like another one!). I don't know about cardinals or firefish though because I thought I read they couldn't handle high flow at all?

 

[nanoreefer1000]

Thanks for the suggestions! I had a possum wrasse a while ago but he was so secretive (but now that I think about it, I might like another one!). I don't know about cardinals or firefish though because I thought I read they couldn't handle high flow at all?

sorry can't help about the flow

 

[sucker_fish]

clown goby, lots of personality and small peaceful fish. I also like the helfrichi firefish, peaceful and i think the most attractive firefish.

 

[JaneG]

clown goby, lots of personality and small peaceful fish. I also like the helfrichi firefish, peaceful and i think the most attractive firefish.

I love clown gobies! I see them all the time and really want to impulse buy one, but I always hear they can nip SPS polyps or at least irritate them to death by perching on them Are the firefish ok with high flow and light in your opinion? I can't find much about it but they always seemed like such slow fish to me.

 

[pacislandaqua]

yasha gobies?

 

[small alien]

The only thing with that is the op already has all bottom dwelling fish. I would do a bangaii cardinal. They'll find a lower flow spot to hang out. Also perhaps a single captive bred ocellaris clown. Good luck.

 

[29reef]

Cherub angel, this might be a little bit more risky because they can be polyp munchers. If you don't mind possibly losing some of your PE I think one would be okay in the tank. I would find a small one and qt it and possibly test it's reef compatability before going in the display.

 

[JaneG]

Cherub angel, this might be a little bit more risky because they can be polyp munchers. If you don't mind possibly losing some of your PE I think one would be okay in the tank. I would find a small one and qt it and possibly test it's reef compatability before going in the display.

That sounds like an interesting option. I also like Brazilian Flameback Angelfish (Centropyge aurantonota) but I've heard that they also can nip - the quarantine/test is a great idea though. I'm mainly concerned about aggression with them, however. But at the same time, I've read that most fish except the most aggressive won't pester Mandarins due to their noxious slime coat, and jawfish look so different and don't inhabit the same area as angels. :reading: I'll have to do much more reading, though.

I've thought a lot about bangaii cardinalfish, and it sounds like they do have a good chance of eating small shrimp (I have a small male harlequin shrimp who eats frozen). I love yasha gobies too, but I'm not sure how my jawfish would like it. :hmm5:

 

[MCCOOL]

The firefish won't have a problem with high flow, I have one with 2 mp10's without issue. I don't have any personal experience with the helfrichi, I believe they come from deeper water which might cause an issue with the light.

I'm a big fan of my P. Inermis, it would be a suitable choice.

 

[MCCOOL]

Actually, after a little more thought, I'd add 3-5 A. parvulus.

 

[rachenbrazil]

Assessors would be awsome!