Green Chromis

[emoR ekaJ]

my fish plans are as follows:

1. Common firefish (already have)
2. school of green chromis
3. true percula clown
4. yellowhead blue jawfish
5. pair of banner cardinals
6. purple tang
7. mandrine dragonite

that is the order that I plan to add the fish too. I will have numerous corals and inverts. I have heard that three chromis will make a school, but how many does it take to make a nice looking school? THANKS!!


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my instant messinger is emoRekaJ87 I am on alot so IM me

[This message has been edited by emoR ekaJ (edited 11-24-2000).]

[just an observer]

I think 6 chromis make a fair school. The Mandarin Dragonet should not be introduced until your tank is very well established and has a thriving pod population.Some of them can be trained to eat frozen/prepared food ,but the general consensus is that this just prolongs death a little while longer.The best results are had by suppling a live , natural menu for these guys .

[This message has been edited by just an observer (edited 11-24-2000).]

[Alice]

Hi;

I couldn't find what size tank you're setting up...if you've previously posted, forgive me.

I've tried putting in "schools of chromis" for customers who have insisted in tanks ranging from 55's to 240's and have yet to get them to "school". What they've done is sometimes kinda of hang out together but they've never done the swimming in unison that is commonly thought of as schooling and that was in the bigger tanks.

What happened in all the cases ranged anywhere from the lowest on the pecking order getting harrassed to death to all out warfare. These are members of the damsel family and in a tank environment, even a large one, they stake out territories and defend them. In the open ocean they may school together in the "safety in numbers mode" but it just doesn't work in the tank environment.

Sorry to have to tell you that but it may save you some heartbreak, hassle and money.

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Reefkeeping is my life; I can't afford a hobby too!

[FishDaddy]

Jake,
IMHO, thats too many fish for a 70 gal. tank.
From your list, I would limit the load to the Percula (I'd recommend a pair); Firefish; the Banggai's(if that's what you are referring to as Banner Cardinals), the Tang and, perhaps, the Jawfish.
I tend to be conservative on fish bioload in a reef tank in order to maintain better water quality for the corals. Of course, many reefers do carry more fish. I have a pair of Ocellaris clowns and a Cherub Pygmy Angel in my 55. I will probably add another small fish at some time, either a Goby or a Firefish but thats about it.
Dick

[Sue Truett]

I totally agree with Alice, my 8 green chromis last schooled on New Years day, I guess they were celibrating too. I have had the fish since the tank wa setup almost 3 yrs. ago. Green chromis are a schooling fish, they just do not do it regularly. If you are looking for a schooling fish these cannot be trusted to school. It is on their time table, they do hang out in the tank together, but thats all. I also agree with not getting a mandarin this soon. These guys need a heavily populated pod. system to feed on. HTH....

[emoR ekaJ]

sorry for the misunderstaning Aice, it is a 70. for filtration I will have a 25 gal sump with algeal scrubber, refugium filled with tang heavan, a tunze 100 gal protine skimmer, and I have a fluval 304, but I am still in debate wheather to use it or not.

Dick I thought that I was leaning to the overstocking too, I will eliminate the chromis. As for the mandrine, I have millions of pods, my cleanershrimp frequently breed, I plan on getting "sea bunnies" and I won't add it
until after about 8 months.

thanks for the suggestions

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my instant messinger is emoRekaJ87 I am on alot so IM me

[This message has been edited by emoR ekaJ (edited 11-25-2000).]

[FishDaddy]

Jake,
Sounds like you have a nice setup and a good handle on things. Good job!
Dick

[Alice]

Excellent Jake; let us know how the "sea bunnies" work out.

~Alice

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Reefkeeping is my life; I can't afford a hobby too!

[emoR ekaJ]

thanks for the comments, they are apreciated very much, I will see how the sea bunnies work out. the stand I have is verry short, so I am building a taller stand so it will be eye leval, I am also building a hood where I can put 2 250w MH retro kits, I will get all of the seabunnies and live sand and stuff when I an switching stands.