Help - Small Fishes for Zoa and Shroom Tank

[forddna]

I have a 37g (same footprint as 20L or 29). It is currently cycling with live rock from someone else's established system.

As soon as I get the "all clear" what fish would you recommend? Again, they (or "it") would be kept with Zoas and mushroom corals.

It should not be a fish for experts only - I'm a newb with saltwater fish. (have freshwater planted tanks, though)

Also, I plan to purchase a 180g in the next couple of weeks and begin setting it up over a couple of months. The fish I put in the 37g would be moved to the 180g. That tank will be a mixed reef with much more waterflow than the 37g. I was told Banggai's like slow/still water. Is that right? If so, scratch that off..

[sjfishguy]

Sixline wrasse. They are great for eating all types of zoo pests that may come into your tank as well as other unwanted reef pests. I got one that got rid of a zoo nudibranch infestation. They are cheap, colorful, and pretty hardy once eating (make sure you see it eat in the store). I also love royal gramma; again, cheap, hardy, and beautiful.

[forddna]

Cool..thanks! Anything good or bad with Purple Firefish?

[sjfishguy]

purple firefish is fine but I wouldn't put one together with a royal gramma. Sixline and firefish should be fine.

[forddna]

Thank you!

[Mark426]

Sixlines are very peaceful when small....but...as they grow...they get to be mean SOB's. Caution.

[forddna]

Is there another wrasse you would recommend?

[sjfishguy]

I know people say that, but I have had three different sixlines over the years and have never found them to be mean. Just my personal experience, but it is good to hear all sides.

[spamin76]

I had a six-line and I also got one for my mom's tank. They were both little pains in the @#$%@ but they are good at munching on pests. All in all, I would recommend them, just keep in mind that they have can end up mean.

Firefish are awesome, very peacful(I had a fire fish and a 6-line in a 55, and the 6-line was pretty mean to the fire fish).

I think there are a lot of gobies that are great for small tanks - they are very funny fish to watch.

There are many flasher wrasses that do well in smaller tanks, and they are generally pretty peaceful( as well as quite pretty) - they are not as hardy as some of the other fish mentioned, and they can be pretty pricey too. I would say they aren't "perfect" beginner fish, but they are not hard to take care of either.

If you want a firefish though, I think they are great - not hard to care for and very interesting to watch.

[forddna]

Okay, if I got a pair of Purple Firefish (i read that they like to be in pairs), would most gobies eat the same diet?

[LockeOak]

Sixlines and firefish are known jumpers, so make sure the tank is covered.

[forddna]

Thoughts on Blue Reef Chromis? (Chromis cyaneus)

[Chibils]

I would recommend a yellow coris instead of a sixline.

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

The Chromis are great fish for most aquariums. If you don't go with a six-line you can go with a small solar wrasse. They're pretty easy to care for and they're pretty docile from what I've seen. As far as gobies go I'd recommend most shrimp gobies. They've got great personalities and they're harmless to firefish. You could also check out a possum wrasse. Those are pretty cool looking.

If you want something really cook check out pajama cardinals or banggai cardinals.
Really, the table's open here.

[CadetMKultra]

Hector's Goby, or a similar hover goby. I love mine, and they are quite small. Molly miller blenny is a good choice, or maybe a group of barnacle blennies. They're a riot. I have a Banggai Cardinal. He's OK, but in a small tank, they don't get along with eachother. He killed his GF.

[Reef-LeGeNd]

helfrichs, flaming prawn goby.

[euod]

I actually did the same environment with yellow corris, lubbock, flame wrasse, and a small powder blue tang which will be transfered to 180 gal soon.

[jerome736]

i've got a 6-line wrasse in my 40 breeder that I absolutely love. He plays nice with the two clowns and the blue spotted jawfish, and its a pleasure to watch him divebomb my rock and corls to eat pods.

[forddna]

Okay, let's say I go with:

2 Purple Firefish
1 Yellow Coris Wrasse
1 Flame Wrasse

Sound good?

[Saltwaterstart]

Sounds good.

Instead of the two different wrasses, I would try to find a pair of either Mckoskers or Carpenters flasher wrasses.

Beautiful colours, and pretty cheap if they aren't snapped up.

[forddna]

Thanks!