Shallow Tank stock

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PiscesTank

New member
I am looking for some good suggestions on stocking a very large shallow tank. It is 6 foot long by 3 feet wide by 20 inches tall on one side and it tapers down to 16 inches tall. I would like to stick to fish that are naturally shallow (in the reef/ocean not personality). I cannot seem to find any info on shallow Vs. deep.

This is kind of a unique set up. I have split the tank in half and drilled drain holes so the larger side drains into the smaller. Both side also have there own overflow and return. So the left half is 3 feet by 3 feet by 20inch. I have this half stocked with a Picasso Trigger, a Narrowlined Puffer and a large (5-6 inch) Spider Decorating crab. The right side has a Domino and 4 Stripe Damsel, 2 Engineer Gobies, 1 Firefish, a Blue Spotted Sea Hare, a Frogspawn, a large Feather Duster and 2 Star Polyp frags.

I am looking for of a social swimmer, if there is one. I was informed of Anthias, but can find out if they will be ok in the shallow tank.

Also, I have 275-ish pounds of live rock with good caves and whatnot.
 
I don't really know anything about shallow v deep, but this sounds lie a really cool tank! can you post some pictures?
can't wait tosee how this turns out!
 
Most reef fish you find are going to be considered "shallow water" fish, most fish you can buy are shallow water fish. For example triggers and such are considered shallow water fish. So if you tank is around 200 Gallons you can really do anything even tangs if you wanted. Best way I could explain it is in the ocean, coral reefs are all shallow due to their light needs to allow growth. Thus all the fish there are "shallow water" fish, hope that helps.
 
mikem101 said:
Most reef fish you find are going to be considered "shallow water" fish, most fish you can buy are shallow water fish. For example triggers and such are considered shallow water fish. So if you tank is around 200 Gallons you can really do anything even tangs if you wanted. Best way I could explain it is in the ocean, coral reefs are all shallow due to their light needs to allow growth. Thus all the fish there are "shallow water" fish, hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Thank you! this was my general thought, but then i started reading about certain fish liking to be at the bottom, mid and top of a tank, and in 16 inches theres not a lot of of the 3, lol.
 
Thats true they will swim at different levels of your tank but, there isnt anything that would have a problem in a tank that size. Just give them plenty of good hiding spots they can get into.
 
While swimming in the caribean the reef was about 5 feet deep and there was everything even lage fish 1-2 feet long swimming about. Just regard fish to the gallons they need.
but bottom dwellers and hawkfish, basslets, clowns, angels and eels are all group shallow. Damsels and chromis and tangs are large area pack swimmers.
 
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