Suggestions for reef safe, non-agressive fish not prone to jumping?

[jostafew]

Hey everyone, I'd love some suggestions for new fish that are reef and invert safe, non-agressive, and not overly prone to jumping... I know, easy right?!

I've got a 70gal DT (30x24x24) with an open top that is intended to be first and foremost a mixed reef tank. Tank has a sugar sand bed that's up to 3" deep in places.

Current fish include:
- Canary Wrasse
- Azure Demoiselle
- Clown Goby
- Black False Perc. Clown

Usual inverts including snails, a small star, urchins, cleaner shrimp, hermits...

Had:
- Royal Gramma for over a year, went carpet surfing one day out of the blue
- Neon goby that died recently due to an unknown illness (all other fish appear healthy).

Current prospects:
- Orchid Dottyback
- Bicolor Chromis
- Blackbar Chromis
- Oblique-lined dottyback (McCulloch's dottyback)
- Jawfish (either Yellowhead or Bluespot)
- Yellowstripe cardinal
- King Demoiselle (Pink Demoiselle)
- Possibly a group of Glass cardinals (Apegon Lepcanthus)
- Also considering a dragonet. System is 1-1/2 years old, and has a fuge in the sump to help with pod population.

Any comments on my current prospects would be appreciated as well. I'm in the vancouver area so I'm dealing with J&L and Ocean Aquatics as sources, so preferrable candidates would be something they would carry or bring in.

Thanks in advance!

[intarsiabox]

Ever consider making a top out of clear 1/4" plastic mesh? That would open up some really nice wrasse options for you.

[BMahura]

I have an 8 fish school of threadfin cardinals and have loved them. I've had them for about a month now. They eat Like pigs and they all keep very close together at all times.

[jostafew]

I've considered it for sure (the mesh top), but I have yet to find a nice clean looking example that will work on a rimless tank. I'd love to be able to do a firefish, but don't want to risk a jumpy fish like that.

[shrimpchips]

All those fish are jumpers - some of them pretty good too! I've never heard of a fish that hasn't jumped (including frogfish). Also, by covering up, you won't need to limit your choices to unlikely jumpers, and then you'll be able to get a fish you really like

[ScubaSteve]

Dottybacks and chromis can become jerks with time. Jawfish are excellent carpet surfers. Mandarin would probably be a good choice.

Fish that deeper water have less of a tendency to jump. Leopard wrasses will dive for the sand before jumping but they are challenging to keep. Dwarf angels would be good but their reef safe-ness can be questionable.

I have a rimless as well, so I share your pain. I'd like to keep the rimless look, so I'm limited in my selection or run with the risk of jumping fish.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

Mandarin would probably be a good choice.
.

I would have to disagree with the mandarin suggestion......70g is too small IMO....especially when you factor in that he has a canary wrasse (pod eating machine).......Ive never been a subscriber to the idea that "I have a fuge in my sump so I have lots of pods in my display" theory.....the chances that pods are gonna A) find the return pump and B) survive the trip through the blender are very small.....you may get lucky and find one that is eating a frozen food but then you have to factor in the more aggressive eaters....

[Leah]

I really like Assessors as they stay small and are pretty. But not to good with Gobies of the same shape.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by fishytime

I would have to disagree with the mandarin suggestion......70g is too small IMO....especially when you factor in that he has a canary wrasse (pod eating machine).......Ive never been a subscriber to the idea that "I have a fuge in my sump so I have lots of pods in my display" theory.....the chances that pods are gonna A) find the return pump and B) survive the trip through the blender are very small.....you may get lucky and find one that is eating a frozen food but then you have to factor in the more aggressive eaters....

70g is definately big enough for a Mandarin.. I do agree though that fact other pod dependent fish it would be tougher.

I have a mandarin in a 20... Doing exceptionally well. Hob fuge does not have return pumps but pipe drain at the end. She is eating all the time.

Chromis and dottys.. Aggressive. Damsels.. Aggressive. Your azure damsel will most likely give any new additions the gears. Mine was such a biotch it even beat other damsels up.

Clowns. Small tang. Dwarf angels. Smaller wrasse as well.

I believe any fish could jump if frightened or chased.

I would not close the top but perhaps build a canopy with higher sides and open top.

I built my top about 200mm tall all sides. Hides my lights as well as keeps jumpers in.

Blennies are super cool too. I have a tailspot and he is awesome.

[ponokareefer]

I'd agree to stay away from the mandarin. I got a pair from a fellow canreefer that was eating flake and frozen food, but after I got my candy hogfish, they both ended up starving to death. While they will eat some flake and frozen food, they were still constantly looking for pods and the hogfish were much quicker and better at eating the pods. And yes, I do have a refugium full of pods.

Until a jawfish establishes their "hole", they are known as huge jumpers.

The only dottyback I would consider in a peaceful environment would be an orchid. All the rest can get very aggressive.