The single best fish for a 29 Gallon

[LJA]

Was considering making a poll for everyones best choice, if you could only put one fish in your 29G mixed reef, what would it be? Please also include any choice of a dwarf angel and other semi-reef safe fish.

I'm doing this because as I already have one Chromis and one Ocellaris clown and want to add one or two more fish but can't decide.

My considerations:

Flame Angel
Coral Beauty
Royal Gramma
Sixline
1 more Ocellaris + something else
1 more Chromis + something else


This will eventually be a mixed reef consisting of mainly softies and LPS.

Thanks for your input

 

[Packersfan21]

royal gramma and midas blenny.

 

[LJA]

I like those choices. Anyone else have a good idea for new additions?

Also an unrelated question: Are chromies stressed when they are kept alone (single individual of that species) in a tank or are they fine? I know they like to school in larger tanks but this one actually swims along with my clown sometimes and I think thats really cool, is it lonley since I rescued it from my LFS tank of about 30 chromis? or is it fine?

Thanks.

 

[john37]

Sunburst anthias

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[Chibils]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12771184#post12771184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37
Sunburst anthias

[/IMG]

+1!

Or assessors (Assessor flavissimus and A. macneili).

 

[Amoore311]

Sixline Wrasse and Midas Blenny


AWESOME fish with great personalities

 

[LJA]

Thats an awesome looking Anthias, I was under the impression from my LFS that there are no Anthias that will be okay in a tank as small as a 29. I'll do some research on it though.

Live Aquaria specifies that it needs a minimum tank size of 125 gallons, but on a differant one it said 30 gallons....

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+20+52&pcatid=52

So far, would this stocking list be okay if I provide enough filtration? :

1 Chromis
1 Ocellaris Clown
1 Royal Gramma
1 Midas Blenny
1 Sunburst Anthias

My filtration would be done via:

30 Gallon rubbermaid sump
10 Gallon Fuge
~40 lbs Live Rock
DSB in fuge and DT
Coralife SS 65
Bi-weekly water changes of 10 Gallons (About 15%)

Total water volume ~70 Gallons

Great suggestions so far!

 

[john37]

the sunburst anthias doesnt need a lot of swimming room. i think the reason why some say you need a large tank is b/c they need frequent feedings and a small aquariums water quality will degrade a lot faster than a larger tank.

 

[Timbor]

Flasher wrasses are great too. I keep a carpenter's flasher in my 35. Very great fish, always follows me around the room.

If you had the setup, I would recommend a yellowheaded jawfish. Only get one if you are willing to provide at least 4" of sand with ample rubble.

On a side note, how will your total water volume be 70g with a 29g and 10g sump? Is there another tank attached to the system?

Tim

 

[LJA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12772087#post12772087 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Timbor


On a side note, how will your total water volume be 70g with a 29g and 10g sump? Is there another tank attached to the system?

Tim

I have a 30G Rubbermaid sump

10G Fuge

29 Gallon DT

~69 Gallons

All of which is hidden in the closet next to my tank until I either upgrade or buy a better stand that can hide this stuff.

If the only reason they recommend a tank that large is for filtration I think I have a new front runner for next fish in the tank!

I'll continue to research it, thanks.

 

[LJA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12772060#post12772060 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37
the sunburst anthias doesnt need a lot of swimming room. i think the reason why some say you need a large tank is b/c they need frequent feedings and a small aquariums water quality will degrade a lot faster than a larger tank.

How often do you feed yours?

 

[DrBegalke]

IMO a 29 is too small for any anthias.

Of your list above, I would go for the flame angel.

Of your other options, maybe a pair of clowns (might mean getting two new juvenile fish though and replacing the existing one).

Some of my other favorite fish for this size:
firefish
orchid dottyback
blenny
alleni damsel
talbot damsel

 

[Packersfan21]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12772304#post12772304 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBegalke
IMO a 29 is too small for any anthias.

Of your list above, I would go for the flame angel.

Of your other options, maybe a pair of clowns (might mean getting two new juvenile fish though and replacing the existing one).

Some of my other favorite fish for this size:
firefish
orchid dottyback
blenny
alleni damsel
talbot damsel

I wouldn't reccomend a flame angel in a 29 gallon because in a smaller tank they are more likely to nip corals and can have increased aggression. imo a cherub angel or a flameback angel are the only suitable angels for a 29 gallon.

 

[LJA]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12772304#post12772304 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBegalke
IMO a 29 is too small for any anthias.

Why, is it the swim area or filtration in your opinion?

Can anyone else who has owned this fish comment on it?

 

[Chibils]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12773865#post12773865 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LJA
Why, is it the swim area or filtration in your opinion?

Can anyone else who has owned this fish comment on it?

Most anthias are VERY active swimmers, but the sunburst is different in that it's solitary (not shoaling) and is more sedentary.

 

[jubjub]

are mantis's reef safe? prob go with a peacock mantis....... but real fish i would go with a flame angel...mine has alot of personality bright reds/blues and they are affordable. also i might mention that i do see my flame kinda like pecking at my candy cane corals but i think they just have a natural urge to peck the coral isnt damaged, but he also peck's at the sand and rock etc

they run about $50us

 

[LJA]

Yeah, my LFS sells them for $69 which is a little overpriced for them IMO.

I think I've been talked out of any angel for my 29G though. That Anthias is sweet looking. I'll probably have my LFS order it and pick it up out of the distributors bag before it hits their tanks. Otherwise might try Live Aquaria for the first time.

Thanks everyone for all the ideas and input.

 

[DrBegalke]

I think a 29 is too small for a combination of reasons, one of them being filtration, but also the practical/space considerations of aquascaping a 29 with enough caves, etc..

From Wet Web Media: re: sunburst anthias

"For such small fish, should still be sizeable to accommodate plenty of cover, caves for their selection, especially should you be getting more than one male. A hundred gallons is about right, with lots of live rock, and preferably subdued lighting, or at least a shadier region out of the typical "noon sun in the tropics" conditions most hobbyists supply. Remember, Serranocirrhitus are collected in scuba depth waters, in cave-like settings. "

I think a 29 will ok for a flame b/c it will be the only fish, no need worry about aggression... If there will be competing tankmates, then no, and certainly not with another angel. I've had a few flame angels, none of them have been detrimental to corals (never kept a clam with them), but people do report it.

 

[Packersfan21]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12775083#post12775083 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBegalke
I think a 29 is too small for a combination of reasons, one of them being filtration.

From Wet Web Media: re: sunburst anthias

"For such small fish, should still be sizeable to accommodate plenty of cover, caves for their selection, especially should you be getting more than one male. A hundred gallons is about right, with lots of live rock, and preferably subdued lighting, or at least a shadier region out of the typical "noon sun in the tropics" conditions most hobbyists supply. Remember, Serranocirrhitus are collected in scuba depth waters, in cave-like settings. "

I think a 29 will ok for a flame b/c it will be the only fish, no need worry about aggression... If there will be competing tankmates, then no, and certainly not with another angel. I've had a few flame angels, none of them have been detrimental to corals (never kept a clam with them), but people do report it.

In his first post he mentions that he already has a clown and a chromis.

 

[DrBegalke]

"if you could only put one fish in your 29G mixed reef, what would it be?"

I don't know, I got the impression he was looking at adding just a flame angel/etc OR keeping either the chromis or the clown and adding one more fish...

I reread it and its a little unclear... if keeping both the chromis and the clown, I would go with something small like a firefish.