• Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.

29 gallon FOWLR - 1 more fish - What should it be?

O

old salty

29 gallon FOWLR - 1 more fish - What should it be?

I have about 20+ lbs of live rock, 4 small Blue/Green Chromis and 2 False Clowns. All are doing well. I am looking to add 1 more fish but it's got to be beginner friendly. This fish will be the centerpiece of the tank. Something nicely colored and not shy. A ooooo ahhhhh fish. Also has to be less then 50 bucks! Post your thoughts and thanks!
 
N

NJ_ychung1

get rid of one clown. get rid of 3 of the chromis damsels then get a lawnmower blenny and a shrimp goby.

your damsels will eventually kill themseleves down to one dominant one. 29 gal is too small a space for them i think. prolly 2 perculas will out grow this space as well.

imho only.
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

That is indeed a fair number of fish. I think the clowns alone are OK but the 4 chromis are bit much as ychung stated especially if you want to add yet another fish. I like the shrimp goby idea would be extremely interesting fish for a small tank. Small pygmy type angel fish maybe if you lowered your bioload..assume you don't have a sump or skimmer right? Assume 1 inch of fish per 5 gallons as a rule vs 1 per 1 gallon of fresh.
 
O

old salty

I do small weekly water changes plus a large monthly water change. The Chromis I have are not territorial at all. I think I got lucky. They all get along and school together. The clowns even enjoy them. I'm taking notes and more suggestions are welcome. I like the dwarf/pygmy idea.
 
C

calaxa

The chromis may run the risk of bickering and there may be casualties but I don't think they will be a problem. They are not like other damsels and if any fighting, they keep it only to themselves. That is a lot of fish in a 29 but luckily, all are very low bioload. I think you can get away with this. As for the centerpiece fish, well the 29G really limits you. I would have said a dwarf angel (ie flame, coral beauty, lemonpeel, etc.) of some sort but it is questionable. I believe the flame requires the least space (even though in books you will see coral beauty does). Perhaps a bi-color angel (never owned so not sure).

I like the lawnmower and shrimp goby idea but they're an acquired taste and not an "oooh---ahhh" specimen. I'm actually thinking royal gramma might be the best looking that meets your criteria of budget and able to live in a 29G tank.
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

Most of the online places to order give you a reference for size. 101 Saltwater Fishes is a nice reference guide for size at least.
 
C

calaxa

Wrasse is ok. I'm not into a lot of them. Some get quite cranky like the royal gramma. Some are not reef safe so you gotta research if you got any corals. And I believe all are jumpers so you run the risk that they might jump out and die if not in covered tank.
 
S

SurfnTurf

A coral beauty angel should be ok in a 29 with live rock - they love to swim through openings (some real tight) in the rock structure which is fun to watch.
 
C

calaxa

My experience with CBs were they liked swimming in larger tanks. He could get away with it but it probably will not be happy. They say flame angels also need large space but my experience with them is they like to dart in and out and not need the space the CBs needs. Still, it's hard to recommend either in a crowded 29G but he can get away with it. Either one will become the dominant fish in the display and is definitely a very nice fish to look at. I would probably do it myself but not saying it's the correct thing and hence my hesitation earlier about a dwarf angel or any type.
 
S

SurfnTurf

My coral beauty is healthy and happy in my 29 (she told me herself) but its true that its a beauty's prerogative to change her mine and no two ladies are ever exactly the same, so yes a bigger tank is always better.
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
You should go with the flame angel. They are relatively hardy for an angel and can be found at most LFS. You can also get a juvenile which are only about 1 inch or so. We have a small flame in a 20 g for now before we upgrade to a bigger tank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top