Blue Green Chromis or Other Fish?

I'm looking to add another fish to my 24 gallon reef tank. Currently I have a small, very, very, VERY shy Royal Gramma and I heard that grammas become more active if there's another fish in the tank. I also have one peppermint shrimp, one cocoworm, an emerald crab, and CUC with some LPS and softies. Future fish include a pair of clownfish to finish the stocking.


So Question 1: would a single blue-green chromis do alright in the tank or are they truely better with a school?


Question 2: if not, what other fish would you recommend? I have sugar sized sand so a burrowing fish might not work unless I add some crushed coral (would rather not). The tank is not old enough for dragonets and other copepod guzzlers.



I can't order it online, so it has to be common enough to get at a LFS or be special ordered from one. If no to the chromis I was thinking a clown goby or chalk bass, but don't know much about them, just what I've read online. If the three fish (gramma, 2 clowns) are already too much let me know too.


Thanks for any advice!

 

I would say the two clownfish and a purple firefish if you have a cover on your tank. Chromis are pretty active and agressive and I think that tank might be a little small. Also that royal gramma is pretty aggressive and territorial. I had a royal gramma and he stayed right around his little home and gaurded it. I currently have two green chromis and one likes to pick on my pink skunk clown.

 

We have a Blue-Green Chromis in with a pair of O. Clowns and they get along great. In fact most of the time they are swimming around together as one school.

 

IMHO I believe you'll be stocked to maximum capacity when you get the clowns. They can be very aggressive and in a small tank oftentimes even more so. And, they get a lot bigger than many people think.

 

Clown gobies would be cool in your tank. Maybe even a citron goby.

 

Thanks for all the replies so far!

For the clowns we're only looking at occys and percs because of size requirements, so no worries about getting a clown that'll outgrow the tank in months.

It seems general thoughts are no to the chromis. Anyone have experience with chalk bass then? I'd really like a blue or green fish (that's not a little SOB damsel).

I do have a lid but there is a gap about half an inch towards the back that is cut out to accomodate the chiller tubes. I've read firefish are notorious hide-and-seekers and I kinda want something that'll be out and about.

And don't worry, I'm not even considering a mandarin or dragonet. I've read too many threads about mandarins dying in captivity and know to stay far away from them.

Right now it seems the clown goby or just the clownfish are the only options. What about just one clownfish and another fish?

 

I'd start by looking at these:
Nano Fish

But I think a pair of occ's and then a firefish/chalk bass/small wrasse like this:
Live Aquaria

I'd get a black and an orange occ so ya have different coors in the tank

I'm not sure I'd get a small goby as they seem to hide alot and not move much, just IMO.

I think a blue chromis would be fine though, and they are active and move alot, just try to get one without the black shoulders, as those seem to be more aggressive

EDIT after reading som# reef3r post, cardinal would be cool, and I'd advise against the gramma too

 

With the royal gramma, i personally wouldnt add more than 1 fish, but to each his own. My royal gramma is extremely aggressive, to the point were he kills shrimps and crabs just for coming to close to his cave. Some possible fish you could add: neon goby, bangaii cardinal, possum wrasse, sixline wrasse, or a smith's blenny.

 

I love liveaquaria, but most of the nano fish they recommend seem to burrow, and I don't have the substrate for them. The pygmy wrasse is beautiful, but I'm unsure where I'd get one since I can't buy my fish online and I heard wrasses can peck at featherdusters (we have a cocoworm).

As for the different colored clowns, is there anything I'd need to know about adding two different colors, or does it not matter as long as they're the same species (ie 2 occys or 2 percs)?

My peppermint shrimp has literally walked over the gramma's cave and the gramma did nothing. Same for my CUC. I don't think aggression will be a problem.

My LFS said sixline wrasses can potentially peck at featherdusters which is why I haven't gotten one of them (our cocoworm is right outside the grammas cave). Can the same be said for the possum wrasses?

Anymore thoughts on chalk bass too? Keep the suggestions coming please!