Shallow reef stocking help

SeymourDuncan

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
2,385
Reaction score
70
Location
Corn, Indiana
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey guys, it's about time for my first fish (of this tank). It's different than any tank I've had. It's 12 inches deep. 5x2ft wide. The overflow has no teeth. I have no sand. What are my options?
ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1403392638.997282.jpg
 

Mike J.

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
3,636
Reaction score
67
Location
Nicholasville, KY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I didn't think that Hogfish were jumpers? A school of Blue/Green Chromis, a Tribal Blenny, a pair of Unarmed Perchlet.
 
OP
OP
S

SeymourDuncan

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
2,385
Reaction score
70
Location
Corn, Indiana
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You don't think the chromis would flop over the overflow do ya? In my old tank they always slept up at the top of the overflow but the teeth prevented any floppers. I could probably put a piece of egg crate over the opening but I like that my snails can travel into my overflow and keep it clean. They can't get into the PVC at all, and the fish would have to be tiny to go through the guard.
 

Mike J.

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
3,636
Reaction score
67
Location
Nicholasville, KY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My tank has an open top, three Chromis and a Tribal Blenny have been in there for years. A few years ago I did have a Mandarin jump; they are jumpers.
 

ahmed.boomer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 21, 2014
Messages
327
Reaction score
67
Location
Harrisonburg, VA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My tank has an open top, three Chromis and a Tribal Blenny have been in there for years. A few years ago I did have a Mandarin jump; they are jumpers.
I'm surprised a mandarin could jump out. I've had mine make its way into my sump by jumping into the overflow. I've lost 2 firefish, diamond goby, yellow cleaner goby, and an ocellarius clown which still baffles me to this day.
 

Vinnybagodoughnuts

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 21, 2014
Messages
71
Reaction score
117
Location
Earth
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have also had a Mandarin jump.:( I think the fact your system is shallow is more of a concern as I too have open top systems with no jumpers.
 
OP
OP
S

SeymourDuncan

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
2,385
Reaction score
70
Location
Corn, Indiana
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yeah this is quite a hard decision. I would be happy with one or two cool fish. An eel would make this the coolest tank ever but there is no way of keeping one in without cutting the waterfall out of the equation or making a crazy dome for the hole tank lol. Mandarin was my first thought but like you said, they jump so I never got one. Besides if I got a pair and they wanted to breed there is nowhere near enough depth to do their ritualistic dance. In my old 90 they had a blast. I should have made this thing 10 foot by 4 foot and 2 feet deep because I love the proportion. Come one fishy I know your out there!!!
 

Kworker

Tang Lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Messages
2,075
Reaction score
173
Location
Long Island, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I may have been lucky, but despite having fish that are known as jumpers I never had any do it. I had my purple firefish who never even went above the bottom layer of the water column, lost it suddenly during the night may have been the emerald crab. My sixline has been in my 30gal frag tank with open top for a few months now. He only exists the water when he sticks his head out to beg for food. Other than that he is poking around the frags for stuff to nibble on and doesnt even go near the surface.

I think they will only jump if you give them a reason to. I still would still agree it is best to try and avoid the possibility of jumping though.
 
OP
OP
S

SeymourDuncan

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
2,385
Reaction score
70
Location
Corn, Indiana
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I also have cats and dogs, the cats have actually eaten a snowflake eel that escaped my first tank...so i also have to consider fish that do not contain toxins as well, though the list is not that long it is still important to avoid. They have never actually went on top of the tank to catch the fish though, but they sure do like watching them from a safe distance. they hate the sound of the overflow haha
 
OP
OP
S

SeymourDuncan

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
2,385
Reaction score
70
Location
Corn, Indiana
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
A dwarf lion is one fish we talked about, though i would have to say bye to my peppermint shrimp who clean my fingers. though toxic, i have never had one jump in any tank
 

Marshall O

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 3, 2013
Messages
697
Reaction score
16
Location
Central MA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Dwarf Lions can jump. I can almost guarantee it will at some point in an open top tank.
 

Kworker

Tang Lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 25, 2012
Messages
2,075
Reaction score
173
Location
Long Island, NY
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I may have been lucky, but despite having fish that are known as jumpers I never had any do it. I had my purple firefish who never even went above the bottom layer of the water column, lost it suddenly during the night may have been the emerald crab. My sixline has been in my 30gal frag tank with open top for a few months now. He only exists the water when he sticks his head out to beg for food. Other than that he is poking around the frags for stuff to nibble on and doesnt even go near the surface.

I think they will only jump if you give them a reason to. I still would still agree it is best to try and avoid the possibility of jumping though.

Um yeah, disregard what I said. My sixline jumped and is currently stiff and shriveled up. Poor little fella, really like him.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

DO YOU THINK TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS ARE MORE HELPFUL OR HURTFUL TO REEFING?

  • More helpful.

    Votes: 9 36.0%
  • More hurtful.

    Votes: 2 8.0%
  • I think it depends mostly on the technology.

    Votes: 10 40.0%
  • I think it dependsmostly on the reefer behind the technology.

    Votes: 8 32.0%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new