Schooling Fish which are best for 300 gal Reef tank

[ReefRealEstate]

Hey all. Setting up a tank and going full reef but I would like to know your suggestions for schooling fish. Best species and size. Also wondering thoughts on how many fish I can put in a tank this size without collapsing it. :fish1:

 

[Dmorty217]

Anthias for the first part of the question. The second part is tricky but in short with smaller fish and proper husbandry you could easily have over 100 fish in a 300g

 

[jbvdhp]

Schooling Fish which are best for 300 gal Reef tank

I'm currently facing your situation too, RRE.
I'm checking out an 11/2/2 foot m today, so total volume is 330 I think. This is what I would do with that size tank if I buy it: My plan is to have a bunch of bimac or carberryi or Barlett Anthias (for the pink tones), a bunch of blue reef chromis (maybe blue green), and a half dozen or so yellow tangs. Simple fish, per se, but the color effect is really nice

 

[d-man]

Lol, JB, see u soon.
Yes, anthias would be best for shoaling...but even with a large group sometimes they won't do it. Certain anthias are better for it, but they have their downsides as well.

Lyretail shoal well in good groups but get aggressive with each other, same with bartletts

Dispar and carberryi stay tight but are a lil more finicky in the beginning but not terribly so. And they stay small.
Bimacs are large and don't shoal very well
Evansi stay together, are very beautiful but are very difficult to get to eating prepared food.

 

[d-man]

Chronus are a waste. They will look nice at first but will dwindle down through continual battle royales, til 1 or 2 in that size tank remains

 

[d-man]

I'm going to try bartletts and a shoal of convict tangs in my 12' 860g tank, so we will see how that works out

 

[alprazo]

Shoal yes, School - only if there is a predator in the tank trying to eat them will fish school. I have tried silversides, mullet and menhaden. All schooling fish. All stopped schooling shortly after being placed into a tank. When I temporary added a brown shark to the pool the fish formed a school.

 

[jbvdhp]

Lol, JB, see u soon.
Yes, anthias would be best for shoaling...but even with a large group sometimes they won't do it. Certain anthias are better for it, but they have their downsides as well.

Lyretail shoal well in good groups but get aggressive with each other, same with bartletts

Dispar and carberryi stay tight but are a lil more finicky in the beginning but not terribly so. And they stay small.
Bimacs are large and don't shoal very well
Evansi stay together, are very beautiful but are very difficult to get to eating prepared food.

I checked out Derek's (d-man) tank for sale locally. I'm trying whatever I can to see if I can make this purchase.

He has a nice plywood tank he build. Such awesome dimensions with really nice, high end fish.

 

[ThRoewer]

Orchid dottybacks!
No kidding - I put my 4 all together into my new 100 gallon tank and was expecting a bit squabbling and everyone staking out a little territory, but instead they all hang out together.

It's only a few days so far, but it actually matches the description how they behave in the wild.

 

[ReefRealEstate]

I'm currently facing your situation too, RRE.
I'm checking out an 11/2/2 foot m today, so total volume is 330 I think. This is what I would do with that size tank if I buy it: My plan is to have a bunch of bimac or carberryi or Barlett Anthias (for the pink tones), a bunch of blue reef chromis (maybe blue green), and a half dozen or so yellow tangs. Simple fish, per se, but the color effect is really nice

Like the Regal tang eye shadow. Too funny. Thanks for info.

 

[ReefRealEstate]

Orchid dottybacks!
No kidding - I put my 4 all together into my new 100 gallon tank and was expecting a bit squabbling and everyone staking out a little territory, but instead they all hang out together.

It's only a few days so far, but it actually matches the description how they behave in the wild.

Love the dotty backs. Any idea what that go for $ in Canada?

 

[ThRoewer]

No idea for how much they go in Canada, but here in CA tank raised go for about 30USD.

Two of mine are ORA and the others Sea & Reef.

 

[jbvdhp]

Like the Regal tang eye shadow. Too funny. Thanks for info.

Lol

It's fitting to my hobbies and eyes are my profession

 

[snorvich]

Chronus are a waste. They will look nice at first but will dwindle down through continual battle royales, til 1 or 2 in that size tank remains

This. Plus high risk of uronema marinum.