First fish recommendations

[Sean W.]

Hey guys,

I'm at the tail end of my 45 day fallow period after a ich outbreak killed my first fish. So I'm getting ready to buy a new batch of first fish that are going into my 90 gallon LPS/softie tank.

I want to get relatively inexpensive fish for these as I will be trying a new QT method (chloroquine phosphate) and don't want to try a new technique on expensive fish.

I'm also looking for the first 3 or so fish that will swim all over the tank, not hide in the rocks and never be out.

So recommendations for:
- 3 or 4 peaceful first fish for 90 gallon
- inexpensive ( up to $40ish )
- won't hide and never see them
- will swim around the whole tank


Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[czoolander]

Foxface rabbitfish.............. beautiful , active , peaceful and fully reef safe

They are my favourite fish well not technically as the emperor angelfish is my 1A favourite but foxface is my 1B my favourite

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

For peaceful that will swim out on the open I would recommend bangi cardinalfish or green chromis.

You could do a clownfish two bangi cardinalfish and a royal gramma.

 

[Sean W.]

Foxface rabbitfish.............. beautiful , active , peaceful and fully reef safe

They are my favourite fish well not technically as the emperor angelfish is my 1A favourite but foxface is my 1B my favourite

I thought about this, but since the tank is new, there is no algae for them to eat...

 

[Sean W.]

For peaceful that will swim out on the open I would recommend bangi cardinalfish or green chromis.

You could do a clownfish two bangi cardinalfish and a royal gramma.

cardinal fish just stay in one spot, I want designer clownfish that are expensive and Royal gramma hides in the rock work.

 

[czoolander]

I thought about this, but since the tank is new, there is no algae for them to eat...

Mine doesnt really eat algea on the rocks haha. Get an algea clip and put some nori on there for them. They wont starve trust me haha

 

[kevgib67]

cardinal fish just stay in one spot, I want designer clownfish that are expensive and Royal gramma hides in the rock work.

My royal gramma only hid for the first week or so and is always out and about as much as my other 5 fish, but personalities can very. An inexpensive fish ($ 9.99) with popping color would be a yellow tailed damsel. Very peaceful compared to a lot of other damsels. I even swore off damsels after having the devil’s spawn an orange tailed damsel over a decade ago but wanted a splash of blue. I know I’m kicking a hornets nest on this forum but I’ve had 6 line wrasses for years with no problems and love watching them in constant hunt mode all over the rocks, good pest control too. Im sure someone will offer you an alternative such as a pink lined wrass. Best of luck.

 

[Pure Fishigan]

I love my pink Fairy wrasse he gets along well with the other tankmates

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

cardinal fish just stay in one spot, I want designer clownfish that are expensive and Royal gramma hides in the rock work.

The Cardinal fish stay in one spot out in the open. Which makes the other fish feel its safe to venture out of there holes into more open water including the royal gramma. There is a name for that type of fish but I can't recall it right now.

If they aren't your taste that's fine. Hopefully someone can recommend something else that fits your desires.

 

[Sean W.]

The Cardinal fish stay in one spot out in the open. Which makes the other fish feel its safe to venture out of there holes into more open water including the royal gramma. There is a name for that type of fish but I can't recall it right now.

If they aren't your taste that's fine. Hopefully someone can recommend something else that fits your desires.

interesting idea...

Dither fish

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

interesting idea...

Dither fish

Thanks! I could not remember the term! There are lots of fish that fall into that if you don't want to use cardinalfish. You can use them to coax shyer fish out into the water column. Not all fish some really love their caves. But it can help expand selection of fish that will hang out in open water because the dither fish make them feel its safe.

 

[Goby Bryant]

cardinal fish just stay in one spot, I want designer clownfish that are expensive and Royal gramma hides in the rock work.

youre too picky for us to help

 

[steveschuerger]

If you don’t want anything too expensive, try chromis. They’re nice looking , hardy, and peaceful.

 

[neo1738]

Any basslet will usually be more seclusive or skiddish I would think. A tang will definitely flow around the tank and my YT eats pellet, frozen, algae waffers, pods..... actually he eats everything. Most hungry fish in the tank.

 

[Newb_reefer1]

If you don’t want anything too expensive, try chromis. They’re nice looking , hardy, and peaceful.

I second this statement. Green chromis are awesome little guys & they fit all you’re criteria. You can get them dirt cheap like $7 each, with a group of 3 you would spend less than you’re maximum. They are very active swimmers normally but I think all fish occasionally will hide for their own reasons…

 

[Thunder_reef]

My Foxface eats everything I put in the tank…nori, pellets, meaty foods…he’s a great eater!!

 

[Sean W.]

I thought the Chromis fish were notorious for killing each other until there's just 1 left?

 

[Thunder_reef]

I thought the Chromis fish were notorious for killing each other until there's just 1 left?

I’ve always heard that as well so I’ve avoided them myself

 

[Cell]

I cannot own a reef tank without a pair of clowns.

 

[Newb_reefer1]

That has not been my experience with chromis or anthias. Not sure where you’re getting that information from but in a 90g you have plenty of room. In fact if I had the space you have I’d even go up to a group of 5 or more. Just feed them well and you’ll never have any issues.