fish in the water column

[rsarvis]

My tangs stay in the bottom third of the tank most of the time. Is that normal?

 

My smaller fish, though they swim in the middle of the water column (and in some cases, the top), but they don't swim around the whole tank as much. I'd like to get some attractive fish that will swim around the whole tank in the middle and upper part, 'cause right now it's pretty empty-looking.

 

If it's a species thing, what species are middle- to upper-water-column swimmers? Or do I need to build up my rockwork higher?

[treesprite]

look for some schooling fish that hang near the top.

[rsarvis]

That's what I'm asking, though; which species hang near the top? Any recommendations re colorful, active swimmers that will take advantage of the whole tank length/width of the tank?

 

look for some schooling fish that hang near the top.

[lanman]

My blue-green chromis tend to hang out in the upper third of the tank. So do my lyretail anthias.

 

bob

[Highland Reefer]

The mustard tang & hippo that I have and yellow tang I have had in the past, swam all over the tank. When I 1st introduced them to the tank, they hid quite a bit, but after a while, they ranged the entire tank. They do like to hid in the rock when they get frightened. I currently have live rock up close to the top. You can try feeding them some some greens in a clip at a higher position. Good luck.

[treesprite]

My tank stays in the lower half. I put a nori clip up close to the top. Maybe they just prefer being around the liverock and so if the rock is higher the fish will roam higher.

[dbartco]

my wrasse is all over the place. but hen again, so are my tangs...

[rioreef]

Put you face up near those lights of your and see how long you hang out.

[vaironman]

I would agree with Bob's suggestion on a harem of anthiases. They like to hangout near top portion of the tank. I've MH light and sitting 6" above top of open tank. A school of green chromis also love to roam the middle and top level. As Dough mentioned, wrasse will also like to adventure everywhere, top to bottom. Wrasse has personalities, love to know its surrounding environment.

[rsarvis]

Great to hear about the anthias! I'm in the process of buying a harem from someone. I used to have a group of chromises but I sold them. My six-line died a month or two ago, but I have a different kind of wrasse that's awesome. he doesn't swim around in the rockwork as much as six-line did, but he swims everywhere and is fearless (the bicolor pseudochormis is a bit of a bully for the smaller fish and I think is why the smaller fish congregate to one side of the tank... I might try to get rid of him, but he'll be impossible to catch, plus he was one of my first fish).

 

I would agree with Bob's suggestion on a harem of anthiases. They like to hangout near top portion of the tank. I've MH light and sitting 6" above top of open tank. A school of green chromis also love to roam the middle and top level. As Dough mentioned, wrasse will also like to adventure everywhere, top to bottom. Wrasse has personalities, love to know its surrounding environment.