Small fish in big tank selection advice needed

[muda]

Hi,

I would happily use your advices to select few smaller fishes that would go in to my 300 gal tank. It is containing 7 tangs already along with 4 clowns, 4 damsels, fox, imperator angel and few others.
My intention is to have more smaller fishes that would pick on small bits of food that big fish is not interested in. Damsels are doing very good job as they are smalest in my tank , but I am afraid to add more of them.

I would add 4 or 5 more small fishes

Please share your doubts and ideas.

 

[muda]

To have a better idea:

 

[ThRoewer]

From what you describe you would need some gobies and Wrasses like Sixlines that are constantly scouting the tank for food..

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[Dmorty217]

a harem of grammas or dartfish would fit the bill

 

[carrots]

How about a group of blue green chromis. Your tangs and large angel will keep them in a tight grouping and the damsels will keep them in the upper portion of the tank.

 

[muda]

Thanks for suggestions. Sixline is on the list.

Can I have multiple grammas ? I already have one and like it.

Wont dartfish and gobies jump? My tank is open.

What do you thing regard Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani) ?

 

[carrots]

Yes you can have multiple grammas in that size tank. I would still use an acclimation box to introduce anyone to that established tank.

 

[ThRoewer]

I have 3 Gramma and 3 fridmani in a 100 gallon tank. Works just fine and they are spawning like crazy... But they are all not good at going after food on the ground. For that you may consider other dottybacks like the neon (Pseudochromis aldabraensis) for example.

I would avoid green chromis like the plague they often carry (Uronema).

A pair of Marine Bettas would work as well if you don't have small shrimp. My guys pick up all the food scraps that land in their caves. To get a pair just get a small and a slight larger one.

 

[muda]

Thanks guys

I think I will stick with another gramma, sixline and few fridmani for now.

 

[ayef12]

You can go for a bunch of Banggai Cardinal Fish. I love them they are really cool in the tank.

 

[OrionN]

Royal Gramma will not go for dry food but almost exclusively eat frozen.
You can keep a pair of Sixline but they can get aggressive.
Melanurus wrasse is a really nice fish that is always on the hunt.
I would get a few fairy wrasse that are a little me on the aggressive hardy side, like Lubbock Wrasse, Blue throat, Naoko. Really need to get a tight lid if you want to add wrasse.

 

[ThRoewer]

Royal Gramma will not go for dry food but almost exclusively eat frozen.
...

My 3 Gramma eat dry food, flakes, pellets,... you name it. They could live of it if necessary.
Same goes for my Regal Angels, Marine Bettas, Orchid Dottybacks, Assessors, Blue Spot Jawfish, Ventralis Anthias,...
I'm still working on winning over the Mandarins and Pipefish, though the latter are rather unlikely to go for it as it isn't suited for their snouts. But in the past I had a Mandarin male that would go for pellets and flakes.

 

[OrionN]

My Royal Gramma and my Marine Betta would not go for dry food and my Mandarin never eat anything but pods that they hunt.

 

[ThRoewer]

My Marine Bettas even pick it off the ground or the water surface.

 

[CoralNerd]

How about some Anthias

 

[muda]

Which anthias are most red in color ? Not pink and not orange ?
Wife would like something red in tank.

 

[ThRoewer]

The problem with Anthias is that many of the species are with fully grown sizes of 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm) anything but small.
Also, if red is the color you want then you may have better luck finding what you want among the Apoogon species.

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[CoralNerd]

Plenty of 3.5" Anthias, Resplendent Anthia is a good example.

 

[Michael Hoaster]

I'm having good luck with Tuxedo Damsels. Not aggressive but big enough to defend themselves. They are social but not schooling, so they need some room-perfect for a big tank.