Shallow reef tank fish suggestions??

[Reefer_Madness]

I'm in the process of setting up a shallow reef. It's a DB 48x18x12. It will be mixed reef to make it flowing and different. The look down view on shallow reefs is pretty amazing. I want to capitalize on that.

 

Reefscaping is still in the works. Haven't fully figured out what I want to do. I do know it will be a fine sand bed.

 

I need some suggestions for fish or other critters. A new tank is like moving into a new house. Buying that first piece of furniture is so hard to do!

 

I don't want to screen the top, so no jumpers or fish that spook.

 

I've thought about a haram of clowns or anthias. An all wrasse setup maybe. I've also thought about small tangs or a mixed bag of different fish and colors.

 

Anybody have suggestions?

[epleeds]

Just so you know, all fish can jump. Being at 12" and no screen there isn't a guarantee that the fish won't jump if startled.

[zygote2k]

dottybacks are perfect

[Reefer_Madness]

Just so you know, all fish can jump. Being at 12" and no screen there isn't a guarantee that the fish won't jump if startled.

I appreciate the advice, but I do realize that all fish can jump. Biology and common sense...

 

I'm just trying to stay away from known jumpers. Dottybacks would fall in that category as Z said below.

[GOSKN5]

Any reason not to screen the top? Even if rimless there are some sleek options that you can hardly see if at all...

 

But on topic.. I wouldn't do any wrasse without top.. clowns are jumpy too.. anthias as well and usually need a bigger tank imo for a harem...

 

Gobies, basselettes, smaller angels are better bets against jumping IME... but I have seen em all jump haha...

[Reefer_Madness]

Trying to keep the wife on the idea of the look down. Told her about the documentary we all go by in setting up out tanks...Finding Nemo. Fish do jump!

[Reefer_Madness]

This tank is my inspiration.

 

Same size and light.

[YHSublime]

I would aim the not have that gross return on yours. No wrasse, unless you want carpet wrasse. Best bet in my experience is clowns. Eric said it best, all fish jump.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[sethsolomon]

I would go with any of the following:

• Dottybacks
• blennys
• watchman gobies
• dragon face pipefish
• dragonettes
• bristle tooth tang? (Will have to re home after 2 years or so)
• deep water bassletts
• gungens
• boxfish (would be super fun in a shallow tank)
• cardinals
• damsels
• flame hawkfish  (Cant have peppermint shrimp)
• dwarf fuzzy lion  (No shrimp)
• small goatfish

[lutz123]

Have you thought about doing a particular biotope? It may make it easier to pick your stock.

 

Just a thought here... The thing about shallow reefs is that, in nature, shallow reefs are often in more turbulent areas - not conducive to a "look down" because of the high flow. Lagoons though are typically calmer overall, and the species that reside in those areas have a calmer environment. Or a tide pool?

 

I agree that the fish concern is a big one. Typically in look down tanks you find inverts. Anything that resides in groups may squabble and that's the biggest jump risk in my opinion. I lost two clowns to jumping in a 16 inch deep tank.

 

I will say though that I would love a bangaii/mangrove/urchin shallow tank.

[thakki]

Just a thought here... The thing about shallow reefs is that, in nature, shallow reefs are often in more turbulent areas - not conducive to a "look down" because of the high flow. Lagoons though are typically calmer overall, and the species that reside in those areas have a calmer environment. Or a tide pool?

 

 

This is exactly what I was thinking. 

[Reefer_Madness]

I'm still debating on what exact to do. Good input!!

 

I've been planing on making it a high flow with a button to turn off the flow when I "look down" using a breakout box on my Apex.

[Reefer_Madness]

I would go with any of the following:

• Dottybacks
• blennys
• watchman gobies
• dragon face pipefish
• dragonettes
• bristle tooth tang? (Will have to re home after 2 years or so)
• deep water bassletts
• gungens
• boxfish (would be super fun in a shallow tank)
• cardinals
• damsels
• flame hawkfish (Cant have peppermint shrimp)
• dwarf fuzzy lion (No shrimp)
• small goatfish

Good suggestions!!

[Reefer_Madness]

I think I will set up a build thread for my new tank and continue this conversation there.

[SunWyrm]

If it helps, my build thread kinda has a pic of my screen top... it's not as pretty, but it does a great job, and it's not the worst thing to look at if it means I can keep the fish I want without killing them. I only use it when I'm not enjoying the tank and remove it if I'm in the room, feeding, nice pictures, etc. 

For stocking suggestions, focus on fish that are pretty from above. With my 360g I used to love getting up on a ladder and watch the tank from above, since everything seems to glow from the lights, so I really wanted that for my new tank.

My coral beauty is something out of this world when looking down. I also went for movement that's pretty from above, so my spotcinctus clowns were a must. Blues and purples and different movements are the best to go for. 

I also have neon gobies, chalk bass, and some carribean sailfin blennies. Finishing up my stocklist with a flasher wrasse, and a bangaii cardinal.

[rtelles]

Would advise against anthias with no top. I have a trio of anthias that was originally 4, but the male will ultimately pick on the females (it's what they do) and their response will be to dart away. Mine slipped through a tiny opening in the corner of the glass-covered tank while I slept. I've seen the rest jump up into the mesh netting multiple times since I added it. Lost a ruby red dragonette the same way, despite dragonet's reputation for not being jumpers. 

[Reefer_Madness]

Would advise against anthias with no top. I have a trio of anthias that was originally 4, but the male will ultimately pick on the females (it's what they do) and their response will be to dart away. Mine slipped through a tiny opening in the corner of the glass-covered tank while I slept. I've seen the rest jump up into the mesh netting multiple times since I added it. Lost a ruby red dragonette the same way, despite dragonet's reputation for not being jumpers.

Thanks for the insight.

[Reefer_Madness]

If it helps, my build thread kinda has a pic of my screen top... it's not as pretty, but it does a great job, and it's not the worst thing to look at if it means I can keep the fish I want without killing them. I only use it when I'm not enjoying the tank and remove it if I'm in the room, feeding, nice pictures, etc.

 

For stocking suggestions, focus on fish that are pretty from above. With my 360g I used to love getting up on a ladder and watch the tank from above, since everything seems to glow from the lights, so I really wanted that for my new tank.

My coral beauty is something out of this world when looking down. I also went for movement that's pretty from above, so my spotcinctus clowns were a must. Blues and purples and different movements are the best to go for.

I also have neon gobies, chalk bass, and some carribean sailfin blennies. Finishing up my stocklist with a flasher wrasse, and a bangaii cardinal.

Great taste! I like the way you think.

[CaptBlenny]

i haven't seen a screen top that I like yet. I would like to find one so I can get different fish. I had two hawkeyes jump out then stopped getting them. 

[SunWyrm]

I made mine with clear screen netting off Amazon, some zipties, rimless clips off Ebay, and eggcrate. Could definitely be prettier, but I couldn't think of anything else that could go around my overflow/return pipes like I wanted. At least it gets the job done, and I don't have any issues with light or condensation.

[L8 2 RISE]

This is what my screen top looks like on my rimless, old pics but just what I could find.  I guess I'm partial, but I don't think it draws away from the reef at all.  When you want to look down, it would be easy to just take the top off when you hit the button on your apex to turn the flow down.  I've found that many of my fish that have jumped in the past, jumped at night when they were more easily spooked.  You could just put it on at night to avoid that if you wanted.  

 

Love your idea and have always wanted to try a look down tank!  But it really stinks to find your favorite fish on the floor.  

 

 

[tpallas]

Banggais

[Guest WTF Aquatics]

Good suggestions!!

Agreed, there are always tons of options but most depending on the ability of the species being pieceful all in the same tank.

[matt]

Have you considered sacrificing some gas exchange and dropping a large acrylic tray into part of the open top and using netting elsewhere? Think giant removable porthole. The old fluval 5g has most of its top below the water line and those picos seem to work...and a sump for gas exchange may help compensate...I dunno...just a thought

[Guest WTF Aquatics]

I won worry about flow if your going to have sand in the 12" deep tank. Most powerheads are hard to get to not blow sand. I drilled about 8 or 9 holes for a closed loop in our old shallow tank. That worked our really well.