Schooling fish for a 150g reef

[t11t5]

Im setting up a 150g reef. I want to add small groups of different small fish. What fish would be best for this? Thanks.

 

[benjc]

I know common, but personally, I love the look of a large school of chromis. Plus, they are inexpensive, hardy, and can live a long time.

 

[jt_milstead]

-School of Chromis.
-Harem of Lyretail Anthias.
-School of Cardinals.
-School of Squirrelfish (Soldierfish).

 

[Reefing Newbie]

With chromis it is very iffy. Some people have groups of 15(large tanks) and don't have any problems. Others can't keep more than 1 or 2 alive. I would suggest resplendent, ignitus, dispar, lyretail and carberryi anthias. Keep only one male though because two males usually fight unless it is a very large tank.

 

[Reef264]

I have a School of 3 blue reef chromis, they do fine.They do however chase one another from time to time.Great decision, I don't regret buying them!

 

[NatureNerd]

This question comes up every month or so. Chromis will swim together for awhile. My group of 5 did great for a little more than one year. I loved the way they hung out together. As they mature, they start to get more aggressive with each other. Suddenly one starts to get thin and then is gone. Then the next smallest starts getting picked on. It doesn't get enough food and it dies. And so on and so on until one is left. I have seen this in several tanks. Yes, there are exceptions and yes, maybe with larger numbers it doesn't happen as much. One of the aquariums in Australia that I visited had several dozen in a huge tank. They did fine. That said, I have never personally seen a tank with between 3-10 chromis that have been together for more than two years. Remember these fish should live greater than ten years.

I really wish that this was not the case because these are attractive, hardy fish that look great when swimming in a loose bunch. They truly remind me of several of the shallow reefs I dove at on the great barrier reef.

 

[Dragon moray ki]

Cardinals

 

[Monkeyfish]

Best bet for a "school" is one of several species of cardinals such as Zoramia leptacanthus or Apogon leptacanthus.